# An open letter to Terry Francona **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 27, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523 "2004-10-27T19:38:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/1 "2004-10-27T19:38:26Z")
Dear Sir: Play Pokey. Sincerely, Exgineer ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/2 "2004-10-27T19:42:45Z")
Dear sir: Send me Johnny Damon. I will return him (mainly) unmolested. Please be sure to punch airholes in the box. Susan ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/3 "2004-10-27T20:01:45Z")
Dear Sir: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for benching Pedro after the seventh even though he was still pitching well. Sincerely, Muldoonthief. P.S. What the hell are you chewing? ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/4 "2004-10-27T20:18:32Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Dear Sir: > > P.S. What the hell are you chewing? Is he the one that chews medical tape? Susan ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/5 "2004-10-27T21:07:18Z")
Well, a quick google returned this. Search for Francona - it’s about half way down. Actually, you’ll probably be happier if you stay away from the secret of his chew - I wish I had. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/6 "2004-10-27T21:46:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Play Pokey. Gumby will appreciate that. ---
**Author:** ![Mithril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mithril/32/3517_2.png) [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/7 "2004-10-27T22:29:51Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Well, a quick google returned this. Search for Francona - it’s about half way down. Actually, you’ll probably be happier if you stay away from the secret of his chew - I wish I had. The link didn’t work…would you please try again? I have to know! ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/8 "2004-10-27T22:36:20Z")
> [@Mithril](#): > > The link didn’t work…would you please try again? I have to know! I did some Googling, and it appears Mr. Francona is chewing tobacco. What’s the big deal? I’ve done it. It’s not exactly like he’s the first guy in MLB history to do it. Nicotine is good for reaching a relaxed, clear-headed state. Being on the Sox bandwagon for this Series, I’d rather he chewed than not–there’s nothing worse for a manager in a World Series game to not be able to think clearly. Sure, he may lose a tooth or something. That’s his deal. I don’t see what’s so disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/9 "2004-10-27T22:38:25Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > …I’ve done it… Additional note: I’ll admit that “ **fetus** has done it” is probably not a good reason to do much of anything, considering my history. Just sayin’, though, it’s not like he’s chewing dogs’ paws or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Mithril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mithril/32/3517_2.png) [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/10 "2004-10-27T22:49:38Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > I did some Googling, and it appears Mr. Francona is chewing tobacco. What’s the big deal? I’ve done it. It’s not exactly like he’s the first guy in MLB history to do it. Nicotine is good for reaching a relaxed, clear-headed state. Being on the Sox bandwagon for this Series, I’d rather he chewed than not–there’s nothing worse for a manager in a World Series game to not be able to think clearly. > > Sure, he may lose a tooth or something. That’s his deal. I don’t see what’s so disgusting. I googled too, and found the same thing. That’s why I asked for the link. Such disgust couldn’t be attributed to MLB’s most predominant vice. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/11 "2004-10-27T23:40:40Z")
> [@Mithril](#): > > I googled too, and found the same thing. That’s why I asked for the link. Such disgust couldn’t be attributed to MLB’s most predominant vice. Actually, I would be willing to bet that drinking and (uncommitted?) sex probably rank higher these days. Although I must admit I don’t know much about the rate of spittin’ tobaccy use in the MLB these days, and have simply always assumed it was something ballplayers used to do but generally don’t anymore now that Science knows how bad it is for you and now that they get free sunflower seeds in the dugout. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/12 "2004-10-28T16:05:45Z")
Sorry, messed up the vB. Here’s the link: [http://thecharlocksshade.typepad.com/the\_charlocks\_shade/](http://thecharlocksshade.typepad.com/the_charlocks_shade/) And here’s a quote: “That’cud’ Francona is chewing is more than just gum. What you do is get a lot of bubble gum, chew it up, then wrap it around a nice sized wad of leaf-style (i.e. Red Man, etc.) chewing tobacco, then put the whole thing back in your mouth and chomp away.” It was the mix of bubble gum and chew that I found revolting. Of course, I’m so happy now I’d let him get away with chewing baby ears if he wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/13 "2004-10-28T16:29:46Z")
> [@fetus](#): > > Actually, I would be willing to bet that drinking and (uncommitted?) sex probably rank higher these days. Although I must admit I don’t know much about the rate of spittin’ tobaccy use in the MLB these days, and have simply always assumed it was something ballplayers used to do but generally don’t anymore now that Science knows how bad it is for you and now that they get free sunflower seeds in the dugout. One in three MLB players chew: [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/s\_74265.html](http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/s_74265.html) Thankfully, that number is down from 50% in 1987. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-open-letter-to-terry-francona/271523/14 "2004-10-28T17:51:12Z")
Terry managed that game perfectly. What in hell happened to the Cards? They’re better than that. I’m still hungover.