04-02-08 Terry Francona, Sox Manager

Every Wednesday throughout the baseball season. It will be our pleasure to talk baseball with a manager of the Boston Red Sox Terry Francona and -- kick it off with today's visit good morning -- how are. -- to a great do you know where you are no country you're you know Communists but.

Yeah yeah not necessarily not order -- regardless -- we've been underworld goal the world went cold from early dispute and played a night game they gave with a quick turnaround.

Terry you have gone out of your way throughout the course of spring training in the early part of of the season your players have gone out of their way. To not use travel is any excuse to not talk about it are you happy with how your team is handled all of this stuff so far.

Yeah I'm in denied that don't pay much attention to the media articles -- glad that that's the way it's compile because we've tried hard to kind of I have -- message along and as a staff. Really buy into -- phobic about it the players feed off -- for sure -- you know again our schedule won't do so we're supposed to win games topic anybody ever claimed it was a competitive advantage by duel we did. But whereas but very slick baseball to be representative hopefully we were good ones. Ballplayer and a great job World War world look to their -- to do a lot of things and the one thing that we don't ever want to forget about is the reason we're there to win game.

You know usually you're the one being second guessed during the game another really surprise you that he was done some good decisions but last night. It was the umpires and tell me how the conversation went well and it appeared. To us watching on TV that Jason Garrett -- hit -- home run they called double a double how that conversation.

You know all the bulb went to the right off the vote offered parent and you know anytime a ball pulled for going to blow lobby because we've it'll -- all we wanted to call right -- all the -- want to do our favor. And I have complete check of the second baseman barked over what he's gonna want that money to behind our subway -- But that just check immediately did they talked about it toward both the crew chief city -- we can't over purpose. He goes on what we saw -- didn't see that we wouldn't be enough. Which which understanding -- you can run the only don't have the ability to go look at the replay camera like our guys do of cobalt ball. Then it happened quick you hope they get it right if they don't get it right -- open get a bigger favor did you want to happen.

In that situation I'm sure you have respect for that group but. It's not a question of physics I mean if you're on the scene and you see the ball. Go up in the air you know a ball's not going to go straight up in the air if it hits. On that yellow line would have hit. On top of that to go up I mean.

Well just -- trying to talk about but they finish with a quarter and an apparent spoke with the detonated you know waited. But it is built built second Purdue -- it happen mid it'll. -- the only marlin records of the group -- game to the going to help sort of a chain. Good call and it's really not going to help Billy better hope it'll get you just hope that the polka right.

want to talk to about Barrett tech for a minute BK is in in his first at bat I think it was I think you put a hit and run on. Second at bat you put it --

That -- pop -- or third on and on a -- of first pitch.

And you put the hit and run on and and Jerry Remy made it interesting point on the telecast he said sometimes a manager will do that. To help -- guy concentrate even more if that's the right phrase the kind of helped jumpstart him a little bit is that what you were thinking about when.

I don't know exactly that's exactly the kind of takes some but thank you gotta look no he he goes on it -- he's got to get his. Barrel of the bat -- all that all you have to do doesn't matter to striker although my work is just do that. People ball hit the ball and then later another bet he took a changeup. And then took a pretty good like you got a pretty good look at it. Then give up one about both -- a great -- right but I think a couple sequences that are not have been hit and run but. Not swinging the changeup in the third -- got him. Feel a little bit better bottom albeit an upgrade of some good points.

And and and it looked like you got almost instant reward for for what you were trying to do because he really swung the bat pretty well the rest of again.

Well again I don't -- just you know maybe the maybe idea for it runs certainly helpless when bottle Olympic it's good for him. But I think that that the changeup that he took down. They didn't you know kind of quotas be down. And what -- slowed -- down near the bigger instantly quickest but the reverse or hit your feet above all of placed better batter has or dragon. I think got really helped a lot of.

Tito I said the deal earlier that very tickets park catcher part. Advance scout with his preparation that you think that's an accurate way of putting enemy how would you describe his preparation.

Well not even just that they have to go out during the game that -- what you call that they'll be good news good they have have been -- left there's -- about. You look at over Japan -- a couple being a political struggle. But -- really good news bar part of the when he doubles went about it doesn't ever take away from what is the one catching and I think sometimes. The amount of energy put to -- catching. Certainly technically it was that -- and if that's the way it has to be we can look with a because catching. And running the -- was going to be first and foremost we're glad you understand that because we can still win games summed up first -- tidbits. Every to his energy was going into that game try to keep both in the game penny did and what -- got a hitter not. Ended up not being as important as boycott.

You play with a -- guys now a lot of people in your baseball career did you ever come across the catcher. Who did at the opposite way you focus more on his hitting then -- and his defense and how did that go over in the club.

Sure there has visited lot of guys and I've heard stories and it did we're historic ballparks when he was young. How you doing such a good hitter and that howl you know Jim -- he got to be horrible veteran catcher really started care more ball run of the game. And and divvied up the World Series rings to approve -- nobody wasn't around and you the the important thing is that the guy that most have been hit. He's got to catch and run negate oral or -- it's hard to win.

Remember I asked -- in Tokyo about dice K's first outing and I said is it possible. That he was nervous -- me he never shows any thing but and and as you look back on it now and then look at the way he performed last night the think that was a possibility in Tokyo.

Are I'm sure Montreal kind of emotion -- We talk we -- what we go back our hometown I always feel you magical back to a country get the rubber during the road blocks by it would baseball. All the interest that people thought of -- pitches it was meant. You don't want by that date and it's hard -- you lose you -- a lot of things were gold group -- sure but lot of remote and but from our point of view simply. Not commanded her wall early and it cost them up sixty pitches and it when he started -- rhythm. We're reporting of people we're just knocked over the bar and ordered up because we think we put his health at risk -- of the.

It was pitch count the reason for taking him out with two outs in the inning last night.

it was Jack Cust. Jack Cust had reached deep fastball earlier in the game that I've followed a pretty good pitch his ability to -- ball another ballpark. Now when you do get to a certain pitch count and there's. More of a chance of state football quarterback over the plate and what Cust could do a bit there we were going to face of.

Don't you don't her from dale how the Japan trip was for him his. Impressions about you mean to what was the flu like over there for you what was the experience like for you.

The experience of people were fantastic you couldn't ask to be treated any better. I was okay with everything until we got the regular season games that I I felt a lot of anxiety because. You want to -- routine and an all routine -- games are played or certain way. And it was anything but routine and that's what got difficult for we have the technology tried not to be you know but it just. It'll there was no retrieved the food used -- tried hard to regular American food in the club -- and it just. You know wasn't quite which used to not my place all. Just the way laws. And I it'll I'd heard all the stories about -- you'll -- partly comeback I felt I felt good over there a couple of more my fault or want to return to battle -- government -- I don't I don't think. I'm a whole lot different a lot of our guys had a tough time. I didn't want the games -- over there how wouldn't feel like they counted because it was an exhibition type atmosphere.

The guy cross me ventured into some portion meet. At dinner how about you anything.

I don't know what poker what -- and -- on this. At least it was at least to my knowledge of not.

Not if you have anything to say about it and I got probably don't worry about what I didn't know -- how. How hard is it to play a 193 consecutive games at first base without making an error.

You know water and how about the way he plays it to me doesn't just sit there and you know he's very active he throws the ball on bonds told he'll try to -- on both poised and it just gives me on the road thought that you have to brag about a -- national little bit what he's done obviously Duncan came over the third baseman. Had to work hard -- to be a visually -- third baseman. Go to a new position and of one of the -- globe and it is probably going to get better just because of volatile position.

Another young kid was all their last night Jacoby -- and I read a quote from you couple weeks ago. Well I think somebody was asking you are you going to bat him leadoff and he said no we don't need that kind of pressure on him last night he's batting leadoff with just because of who we had available what was the reasoning behind that.

Yeah we're trying to stretch the lineup by a little bit and actually ended up being in the pretty -- we scored two runs but you pick him up but. In the situation got hit an old -- got it worry you didn't spoke. The balance of all we're looking for my point about close over the course of portable golf all season. I think starting big guy out like that every day. You're you're RBI put them in a position they don't need could be felt -- my point which city not play last night it he gave a lot of post certainly a little bit better look at would -- in their today. We'll play -- senator because -- pigeon that again try to terrible plate Cora at short. Try to get below left handed bat try to keep some balance and try to go find a way to win.

You told me that Tim Wakefield got the start in the LA coliseum is kind of up a bit of an honor for him you know you were going to have a 115000 people in the place and it was kind of up an honor for him. When he looked at that at the left field wall that he still think it was an honor.

At the -- we will -- been boundless step -- I'd bold move like teleglobe Kentucky derby -- or talked about they have a blinder column. Because bellowed out all looked like you could split over real world to quote you know. All -- side -- effort not like that nobody got hurt the game got played relatively clean. And Indy did a great job they ought to be a lot of people -- for a great cause and it didn't really get in the way the game too much so. And that's -- I have model budget my worries but everything cue ball pretty good. The polar were great you know flexibility with a Q work brought into the game and our players who could go over that.

But yet to reach deeper into your bag of psychological trips to get through these first few games because I know for me. I felt like yesterday's game. Was the real season opener all of you play two games that counted in Tokyo you play three exhibition games and I gave the count how would you how did you. He -- it rolled it through your mind and get it through the.

You know they'll likely -- we're albeit it -- like the real opener and then. We've been introduced to wake we got two more it'll and to want to throttle more often have been joking we've -- not going to be I doubt -- have to. I think we're tired of all the smiles in the pageantry and it's up badly it's good for the game but we we want to play baseball. And what we didn't -- grind that it everybody you'll have some subsequently.

What are you looking for this afternoon Jon Lester goes to the mound for yet. How did you assess his his first game in Tokyo on what are you hoping improves on today.

Well I thought it stopped those tremendous it would let up political Warner back over the plate against the built around you threw it -- but other that I bought. The way he his stuff came out of his hand. I think sometimes. We need to remind him how good he can be -- years because it is he you know he can dominate a game. With his presence and just walk a little bit quicker not letting hitters to -- all the box. And they -- football -- or process but. You know nothing about completing her back -- living like that just -- young tidbit. Would that got his development and erupted at times and now he's continuing to put his stuff was good.

He'd always tell people that you enjoy debating baseball talking about baseball ideas as much as anybody I've come across the year get an opportunity to do that this year on a weekly basis are you looking forward to this.

Yeah that's what I hear all that will leave a yeah. You know what Michael -- we've talked a lot it is fun to talk about baseball and I guess but -- writers are encouraged them. It'll because of they have a question and I'll have a may have dropped ball. And a lot of times. They won't ask an old swing open and and that's when there's some miscommunication because they're they're better -- reasonable --

So is there anything off limits that France can't ask your.

What doesn't mean I'm going to they have little mistake you certainly --

They can ask anything. I don't know what we'll do that that's going to be every week they'll level come out of the question for your game situation we won't it won't be to date.

Felt good it -- up doping elected I'd. But it felt good I think who gamble we do things -- needs to be a reason and then development -- because. Sometimes when you when your planet you go to a game a week or you watch a particular game underwater why guys are available they're usually pretty good reason.

Final question from me has to do with Sunday starting pitcher theoretically you've kind of said. Right now it's Josh Beckett unless something changes when you think Gil lock into saying okay that's the guy go on the mound against Taliban on Sunday.

Probably after his side again we we don't have of the ballpark control model available to us. Which is the little bush stressing they -- motor cross first complement her full he'll do -- in Florida. And then it'll come public join us effect we we have to won't commit suicide day Bockwoldt meets -- side very we're going to find a place to -- Fonda plays and throttle we could go through that -- You know that's just competitive double flexible seemed to be -- Q orderly older we'll do the -- we can't adjust. It'll I think we -- or hoping it expected back it'll take that start but it still feel much stoppage on cut all that would want opponent just two majors. If he's okay you know it just doesn't have to be just installed but I think we all kind of expected it that's for.

My last question for you to you know is in regards to your final day in Fort Myers and that's the last time I saw your team in person. And that was today guys said we're not going to go to Japan we're not going to play this game less our coaches can be taken care of one did that surprise you that reaction from your players into what -- do. For your team.

Well as far as the team goes and -- and our unity as -- team I think is unsurpassed which is good. -- I considered player was a lot of anxiety going all we got that mean. You know my job is to give our team all in one direction but then you're it's also the entire organization and lot of a lot of people got put him a couple of tight spot -- date myself included. You know waited to -- over the whole situation what they debate particulates they put -- best total overstated I don't I was terribly disappointed. About the communication from. For MLB because I tried real hard and they before. And I got no cooperation and that's what try to convey the next they -- all the -- capitol page because they were kind of -- allotted to bring this -- but what did. And I got no help. And won the players to look at and -- that I was surprised you know being. But maybe questioned the -- Thursday law of we're together all the time. And an older they care about go to like that sure -- rolled the ball well put the -- typical political we're going to be able to get rid of it apparently not going to be televised. And I want people that they get through that over the prospect.

Terry we're looking forward to visiting with every week we'll see at the ballpark -- Yeah I don't think that is Terry Francona the manager of the Boston Red Sox he will join us each and every Wednesday throughout the season. And you'll get the opportunity to -- to manage along with Tito it's -- we are calling Red Sox second -- just for the sake of coming up with a snappy title but. A you'll take a game situation that happened sometime in the previous week in other words we talked to Terry on Wednesday. From -- stated Tuesday. You'll look at something that happened and one of those games and he'll say. You know in the 85 inning of that game on Friday Terry you pinch hit someone so why didn't you pinch hit such and such -- will presented to Terry. He'll answer is he set a beat -- answer he's wrong. He almost almost always has an answer when it relates to baseball issues like this and if your its second -- chosen you'll want weekly prize on ice went will take all the weekly winners will throw their names and had a the end of the season we will pick one out at the end of the season. And you'll have -- lunch with Terry in the manager's office at Fenway Park and talk all the baseball you