Terry Francona to be in Fox booth

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NEW YORK -- Fox analyst Tim McCarver will miss the first two games of the AL Championship Series because of a medical procedure and will be replaced by former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

McCarver will have a "minor heart-related procedure" later this week, the network said Wednesday. He's expected to rejoin announcer Joe Buck for Game 3 next Tuesday.

Francona is free after the Red Sox announced last Friday they would not pick up his contract option after eight seasons and two world championships. Boston blew a nine-game lead in the AL wild-card race, going 7-20 in September.

In the 2004 ALCS, Francona led the Red Sox to a comeback from a 3-0 series deficit against the Yankees en route to the franchise's first title since 1918.

McCarver, who turns 70 on Oct. 16, has called the last 21 MLB postseasons. A two-time All-Star, the former catcher played in the majors from 1959-80, winning the World Series with St. Louis in 1964 and '67.

Francona's father, Tito, was McCarver's teammate with the Cardinals from 1965-66.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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