The manager does deserve some credit for twice bringing a team back from the brink of elimination. I agree completely with Klydon that the comeback against NY and from a 3-0 deficit is more significant than what happened this year. But had they lost to Cleveland, Francona would have been crucified (whether rightly or wrongly) about not pitching Beckett in Games 4 and 7. Francona deserves credit for sticking to his plan and having it work.

It's true that the players Irishman mentioned all played important roles in the 2004 comeback. Regardless of whether Boston wins this year (and it certainly seems likely that they will win), Francona does deserve credit for 1) winning the WS in his 1st season as manager of the team in '04 and 2) taking his team to a WS a second time in a four year span.

I'd say the only thing more impressive from a managerial standpoint in the past 20 years is Torre's run of making the WS 4 times in 6 years and winning 4 titles.