"I still catch myself saying, 'we,'" Francona told a group of reporters, according to The Boston Globe. "It's hard to go eight years and say 'we' and 'us.' … I've had to do a few things but I've tried to kind of lay under the radar a little bit and let it go away."
Francona's newest gig has him partnering with Joe Buck on FOX's broadcasts of the MLB playoffs. He was in the broadcast booth on Saturday to call the Rangers' 2-1 victory over the Tigers in Game 1 of the ALCS in Arlington, Texas, and he will also call Monday afternoon's Game 2. While the analyst job adds another line to his resume, don't expect Tito to be in TV for too long.
"I hope I have fun," Francona said. "I want to have fun. I'm more comfortable in uniform and I always will be."
After his work with FOX is finished, the 52-year-old Francona said he will evaluate his future and see what options are available. If a managerial position does not open for the 2012 season, a spot as a bench coach may be viable, but that won't become clear for some time, Francona said.
"First of all, you don't know what's available," he said. "You don't know what people want. I don't know. Sometimes those things kind of rise where somebody will call you and say, 'Hey, you interested in this?' and it kind of gets your juices flowing. It's still a little early for me."
Another consideration could be taking some time off away from the game, which is what Lou Piniella did in 2006 between stints managing the Devil Rays and Cubs, and what Dusty Baker did in 2007 after leaving the Cubs but before joining the Reds. Francona said a break from baseball is possible, but only after conversing with his family and friends.
