Being Away From Baseball Almost Killed Terry Francona
USA Today– “Francona, 58, will be managing his first game in Cleveland at Progressive Field in 18 days. He was last seen in Cleveland leaving the dugout in the fifth inning July 4 against the San Diego Padres.
His heart was pounding at the rate of 200 beats a minute, and he was so light-headed, he thought he was going to pass out.
He was rushed to the Cleveland Clinic for tests, and was hospitalized for three days until doctors diagnosed the problem that caused him to leave the dugout with chest pains four times since last August.
He was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, and underwent a 10-hour surgery on July 7 to have a catheter ablation procedure.”
Read Francona’s full interview here.
Tito Francona is the definition of a baseball guy. Managing games through the midst of an irregular heartbeat that resulted in him feeling like he was having heart attacks on a consistent basis. Initially, he didn’t want to step away with the Indians right in the middle of a divisional race. Some games it got bad enough he had to head down the tunnel and sit down in the locker room to get rid of the dizziness and heart palpitations. His condition continued to get worse, and he hasn’t been in the dugout since the 4th of July. After a 10-hour surgery where a catheter was inserted into his heart, he’s ready to suit up again.
This is great for baseball, too. Francona is one of the premiere managers in the game, and he always gives some of the most candid interviews. I’ve really missed seeing him flip off cameras and throw enormous lips in while spitting ropes out of the dugout. Almost doesn’t seem like baseball season without it.
Indians’ players realize that some of Francona’s health issues fall at their feet as they have had an underwhelming season after coming within one game of a World Series crown. Without Francona, and with guys like Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall still on the DL, the Indians aren’t making it out of the Central. But Francona is a leader of men, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him whip them into shape starting tomorrow. And I hope they get hot, I really don’t want to see Tito’s heart explode down the stretch because he can’t handle the stress. Hopefully these health issues stay at bay for the rest of the season. If they don’t, I’ve always found that packing a fat bomb helps reduce stress immensely. Keep those stress levels down, Tito; just throw in a chaw when you’re feeling light headed.
Written by @TSchmit23