Terry Francona Texted Theo Epstein To 'Be A Little More Cautious' With Kyle Schwarber
(CBS) Indians manager Terry Francona will partially get his wish this weekend at Wrigley Field. He won't see quite as much of Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber.
Two games into his return from a serious knee injury, Schwarber hasn't been cleared to play defense, meaning he'll be relegated to pinch-hitting duties in the next three games of a World Series that's even 1-1.
That will be welcoming news to Francona, who on Thursday's travel day texted an old friend -- Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, whom he worked under in Boston. Francona's message?
"He texted me, 'You guys should really be a little more cautious with Schwarber and his knee -- I don't think he needs to play again this series,'" Epstein said on the Spiegel and Goff Show on Friday. "So I texted him back we'd be that cautious with Schwarber as soon as he understood that (Corey) Kluber and (Andrew) Miller have a lot of innings and need to throw next year, so he should probably shut them down as soon as possible."
Epstein and Francona remain good friends, forever bonded by leading the Red Sox to championships in 2004 and 2007.
"He's a great guy. He went through a lot together in Boston. I'm really proud of the job he's done in Cleveland. It's a little bit surreal to be back in a World Series environment with him on the other end, but I think it just shows the importance of a great manager to see him and Joe (Maddon) here in the World Series. It's been an honor and a pleasure to work with both guys."
Listen to Epstein's full interview below.