DETROIT — It wasn't about the last day. It was about the last 11 years.
The Guardians have played their final game with Terry Francona as their manager. While it still hasn't yet been announced — even though it is openly being called the "worst-kept secret in baseball" — it is expected to be made official within the next few days. It remains to be seen if Francona will be in any sort of a special advisory role with the club moving forward.
True to Francona's nature, he remained in the moment right up until the final pitch. He was more focused on the job at hand. While repeatedly being asked about his time in Cleveland over the last week, Francona made it clear he wasn't viewing the end of the season in that way.
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He doesn't know how he'll feel to step away from baseball, at least for the moment.
"I don't know. I hope [it'll be] wonderful. I'm OK with not knowing," Francona said this weekend. "I want to go get healthy. … I don't know what I'm going to miss, but I'm OK with that. I don't know how you can do something for 44 years and not miss something, but we'll see."
Francona has noted that three upcoming procedures — a shoulder replacement and two hernias — played a key part in his decision to step aside. He noted that he couldn't do the job like he felt was necessary, and that "bothers me."
The last few days weren't on his mind as much as the last 11 years that he's been with Cleveland.
"I told [the players] the other day, I'm going to be rooting like hell for these guys. Might be in a rocking chair or something, hopefully be on a golf course, but I will never not root for these guys," Francona said. "I love these guys, man. This has been 11 years of good."
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Sunday was the final game, the final lineup card, the final pitching change, the final who-knows-how-many pieces of bubble gum chewed in the dugout.
Throughout the weekend, Francona made sure to mention he knows he'll miss some things, mainly the people. Among all the wins and losses, he valued going to battle with the people in that clubhouse the most.
"I really enjoy the day-to-day [stuff]. It got harder. That's why I'm going to shut it down. But living through stuff is what I really enjoy," Francona said. "Even just the tougher times when you do it with people you respect and enjoy. I always felt like we would figure it out, or try to, and I enjoy that part of it."
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Francona's departure will most likely bring with it a multitude of other changes. Whomever the Guardians hire as the new manager for 2024 will have at least some say on several coaching staff decisions. Players on the bubble could have an all new coaching staff to try to impress next spring.
Francona was asked about players not wanting him to leave.
"S***, there might be some that are thrilled," Francona joked. "I don't know. I do think change sometime is unsettling. I mean, for the coaches, the was the hardest thing. That was the hardest thing for me, was thinking about, OK, just becoming — I'm coming to the realization that I'm done — well, they're not done, but my decision could affect them. That was hard."
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The Guardians signed and presented a jersey to Francona before the game. Afterward, he made sure to hang back for an extra minute to address the team.
"I just needed to tell 'em, 'Thank you,'' Francona said. "I mean, we didn't accomplish what we set out to this year, but they didn't shortchange anybody in effort, and they're such good kids. Nobody's getting arrested. It's like we can just talk about baseball, and I really enjoy these guys.
"I want 'em to know that because when you don't win, sometimes you're not able to maybe convey that as well as you should, and you shouldn't have to win to care about guys."
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And now, lineup cards turn to time spent with the kids and grandkids.
"I'm kind of pissed we lost, I always think that," Francona said. "I don't like when we lose but, I mean, the grandkids are here and I'll go take them to dinner and play with them. Let 'em tire me out. And I guess I should start practicing that because I'll probably get to do it more, which is great."
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians manager Terry Francona retiring, discusses time as manager
