04-09-08 Terry Francona

Joining us now on the eighteenth tee hot line as Red Sox manager Terry Francona Terry has also brought to you by. I'm making insurance Leonard hair transplant and interest systems good afternoon Terry. -- I liked it here transplant it's okay I didn't have that. A personal shot. I can't -- as I'm reading I don't think I've heard about sponsor yeah I didn't and that's all I can take. Hey at least you don't -- or anything like that you don't have a row. So cold over -- but. But I still pretty good -- Yeah -- ever considered it is we -- hair transplant and he got a fake hair. -- no I think by the time -- start.

Look for publicly challenged to start at least Amanda. Our guys could pull off -- buck -- pulled it off that it it is in the quick we talk about baseball.

It's not pay out about an hour ago we had a chance to talk with bill Buckner and and and I I said to Michael it was it was really one of the highlights of my day yesterday. And I know watching you in the dugout it looked like it really touched you was well.

Altman and maybe hit me like a ton of rex being not I had gotten a little -- win for this was happening. And not a little -- you know it got somebody kind of Olerud rich and I figured that house would kind of come now. Didn't quite know what to expect built and to look at his reaction. And in the way the fans all wheels Orioles we will -- on special that does not seem like always somethin'. Talks off today and that there.

What do you think about the other aspects of the -- I mean I was -- earlier I think this met a lot not -- not that it meant more than 2005 but I thought everything the way it was put together in 2008. Was more impressive than O five -- I was pretty damn good.

You know what I'm glad leaders say that I'm not proud of organization it was a -- for the organization you know then experienced together. And -- sometimes these things which markets -- down. And I'm not sure you can't just trying to watch for the players' reaction. That you try to watch some of the fans how very active in. -- they'll look at all the tigers try to told Jim -- we appreciate your patience and all the sudden you know you're drop to raise flag and it's it'll told I don't organization. Probably spent a lot of time trying to do something very classy -- local writer people say they pulled it off.

It's kind of cool to the wade Jim. Had I think all of his players from the tiger sitting in the dugout watching that thing.

Yet that's not surprising. He's the -- class you guys are going to run tournament struck told a couple times. I appreciate your patience and he said he -- this'll this'll date you guys deserve it and it was he was great about.

Doesn't work this way Tito but after a ceremony like that -- yeah -- haven't so much emotion you almost feel like -- we have to win this game we can't possibly lose after the production we put on before the game.

Well it pretty here and that that belt but small picture that we don't Bloomberg good job mobile combo of and I want to say we gotta be myself well of didn't pass -- him. You don't lose that game as a that's what we're really showed up for and that are all based around how we play the game. And and and fortunately we put together a good ballgame because. You're gonna -- the Toronto. That you know that's not a fun way -- that is going to get around it to we have to get around that we tried to but that's not all we showed up for the could be a relic that.

Some times players in in offensive funk -- just -- into some buzzer block and I and I was thinking as I watched the ball that that big poppy with the bases loaded. If this is a month later in the schedule that ball go on and and you got a grand slam in your in your books.

talked about it over looking what the weather was the -- ball has no -- took off his bat from rebels grand slam. That makes it far not been and we look like it'll get maybe we can do -- that game instructional but it as opposed to be -- 1000. David you took a disappointing little and -- that it that's what happens a lot of times. When guys are not. Would not numbers early it is -- it's usually combination of things -- a year or not -- as consistently as you want to. Then you run some unfortunate locket that's the way it normally happens.

It'll give us a glimpse into your world the world of managing in in this situation -- what the center field job. -- Coco Crisp that very early in spring training he he wants to play from short Jacoby ellsbury he wants to play do you feel like you have to repeat yourself to those guys just so you communicate with communicating with them when what -- double play and how does that work for you.

You know which were trying real hard question that we don't read and everybody knows brad mills bowl bronco players like before and explain who meet and exploration. And -- were almost impatient -- actually noted I've missed communicated want to Reuters -- we didn't get to Jacoby. And I told them -- draw ought to that'll never happen again as regards wanted to -- the -- you want to. You deserve this year and and I apologize to because you're -- I think he showed -- not going to battle like that at all. And we look at there's a ballot we have to strike right now and it's not perfect read it -- If it -- soul you were great games into the season and that's also -- from real lose sight of it'll come June. You know it was we did in to -- the grind of -- we talk all time this will seem like a long time ago it doesn't right now. But war heroic war to find out what makes us a better team and we'll just do the best camp.

Do do you both guys have a have a sense of what's happening I mean do they did they both. Understand they like but they both understand where you're coming from.

I think so together there's a difference between. You know liking -- and then what they feel special them personally and it and what is best for the team at this moment you know -- you know again. What was Detroit -- lefty righty lefty it only makes sense. Two to play Albert tonight to play in the last it's wrong just because little boy and super three or four days stretch with a day off that -- again it it is not perfect. But we rule would get cool off. Or Balata and the epidemic come back to these things usually have a lawyer working at a sold out our job is to win games. And and communicate and -- forward not go the other way.

Is -- a concern Terry on your part that in your in your attempt to try to do what's right here for both guys and for the team. That that it it makes it hard for either guy to get into a groove offensively.

Just -- very conservative -- a lot it's also for our job to handle that and to make it work particularly we have some guys that aren't -- group anyway. Think tonight's if there isn't normal example where. In the course of the season -- or corporate guys were probably get a day off and played two games I just don't feel like it's in our best interest of the team right now we gotta let these regular guys. To get themselves somewhere in trouble -- groove and so you'd give the lineup changes from a they'll come later as we get some -- I travel that it makes a little bit more sense team wise to do it.

Gone back a bit since Sunday in Toronto Julio Lugo had a rough time field three errors. Did you say anything to a guy after -- three errors or does he know on his own without any type of reminding. Then and I had a terrible day -- I need to move on what what what was your approach.

While hoping that he understands that part of it sometimes that's easier said than done and actually had a pretty good talk before the game just as we do sort title players and well I gave pretty good speaks to fire -- that most of the top of the want the other way. Then you know again then there's -- I also understand given night but he comes opposite side run. But my view that is a little -- six games into the season. And I don't think you do things with veteran players that early especially when you have that they like that I think you can. Possibly win the the battle brutal war you know what I mean that's probably bad terminology -- kept it expects to its global picture big. Big picture and we try to balance that's what it is actually not very easy sometimes like still. Believe in what we do you have to believe in guys. Even one that's a tough state. Maybe they're even push themselves.

Other than the first two innings in Tokyo Daisuke Matsuzaka has looked as locked in May be as we've ever seen in here are you sensing that yourself -- what do you think he's doing that's making him out.

Yesterday from the very first -- which was great to actually. He he really showed he was going to command the strike zone and not just you know it gets loose and free delivery and Ellis needs to do -- to Altman called for the game in the weather a good life will put Australia -- in business in his fastball cutter. I used both sides of the plate he. -- something he wanted to. 11 count -- huge hitting county he commanded what he needed to an end to -- the -- our favor.

Oh what Ortiz the Josh Beckett doing going forward MM -- was on the on a pitch count in Toronto. If he's still on a certain pitch count or is he getting closer to -- Josh back.

He's not he's not. I thought wake him up -- almost as. Beckett like usual -- especially with his fastball Russell was secondary pitches were what were there will be but just get explosives to explode analyst fastball some movement especially down which was good to speak to locate and media -- this -- his first outing out of Florida. So we need to keep an eye on him but I I think you give him every 45 starts -- this and he's strong enough to signal built himself up or all the sudden it's pitching. And the game will dictate wanted to -- not as not a post -- her daughter to receive enough pitches or they'll still get great approach.

These are all grown men they're professionals they can count just like we can they knew that when Beckett came back somebody was going to have to go they know that when timlin comes back somebody's going to have to go does that make it hard for some of those guys who might think they're on the bubble to perform properly without hanging over him.

Still I don't doubt it. Event there's an obvious move that has happened. And Mike completion to play at night. And deactivated him a candidate there's also about steps on the horizon. The old weathered I read in the paper doesn't always speculation and even if it's correct or not and so -- guys is -- we want to get our team. Go compete people did not. I think it's human nature to be very communal every hitter I faced my job is probably oval on an even if it's not true. You know these guys you know that this is an important decisions from there their jobs are on the line. Italy it is difficult we need to -- Pruitt and command and played baseball and until we can't do that it's going to be --

We know you well enough to know that these things are always hard for you when they happen. But what goes into the decision making process for instance with Kyle Snyder how do you come up with the -- the guy who's got to make the move.

Well I don't hold -- run through all of our meetings because they're a rather expensive. As you can imagine we tried desperately to get on the same page. You all -- could -- OJ -- Johnson or anybody to these conversations and and there's a lot of talk in the eagles want to get to that that it should be but he had a viewpoint field connect. Traumatic from a different standpoint from an organizational which I appreciated because week it has some Brazilian form you can get so wrapped up and build the game your planned. Digital street level -- tomorrow but two weeks on the road -- wanted to try to take a deep breath and and and absorb what he's saying -- he's terrific dental. We just try to it'll look at things somewhat more long range also. And and not just loose losing pitching is difficult. And what you have to make a roster move knowing that any date somebody grabs their backer grabs or are also and I got to replace somebody -- we try to think about all the things.

It's only 24 hours only 24 hours one day off but I'll -- wondering. After Japan after Oakland after Los Angeles after Toronto. What did that one day off do for you would do for your team before you played the home opener here yesterday.

Well I you don't what is it looked like it -- a lot because we played a clean crisp game. You know if we would have played badly rebel it was a deal that whatever the -- that's just took some of the things that you have to fight. When you start about the nineteen day road trip it's not just -- The ninety days to test of the three Keating of questions and it'll and it escalated its. -- we went through what we -- through Clark. -- for different reasons for different people. Some guys had trouble sleeping some guys didn't give their hours old I felt that more to -- that it -- back everybody was different. All we gotta get down to and we fight this every year because at the at the beginning of the year is different guys on a routine and didn't reduction. That's long -- try to work for.

And so for you personally and you get back you were refreshed did it feel like and I don't have enough hours in the day because -- got off days just not enough for me to get everything done that I need to get done.

All of naw I think part of the feeling bad every day. Is that what you feel -- it's almost but I don't feel when the season sparked by shall open -- him anyway. And I got a little when the teams -- I think we talked about -- classic when the games counted in Japan but that's what I have -- of Strobl wasn't comfortable. It wasn't my routine we will win a short team meeting if we do before the first game of the season. And I wasn't helped Cleveland. The message didn't come across exactly like -- wanted too because we were not. Placed people walking around again it erupted. And I was mad at myself and -- lecture is over and took a conversation about it later somebody yelled let's just come the way we work. You gotta get -- be repeated -- cultural level and then we were have a tough time doing that.

Well we always joked that everybody whoever who grew up in New England as the Red Sox fan feels that they could do your job. And we're going to give some people opportunity to prove it here it's time for our very first Sox second gas brought to you by Mohegan sun world that like. In today's baseball strategy question comes from Roger Appleton of Dover, New Hampshire. He's going back to Sunday 74 loss against the blue jays at Rogers Centre Roger writes why didn't you bring in Manny Delcarmen to face Vernon Wells in the bottom of the fifth wells -- a 330. Lifetime hitter against -- five home runs. Beckett seemed to be tiring as he was about twenty pitches over the 65 he threw his last outing. Wells is that is a career 250 hitter against del Carmen with no extra base hits in eight at bats at this question.

That's a good question actually if these teams like he's on his weight room that rather. Rationally of the political league built would -- open -- more on you don't have to -- the question I think deserves to be answered. The one thing I think we need it. A couple things is I try to go every number that's out there and he's right you know those numbers -- exactly right at least tied to my recollection opening -- you to adapt try to remember is his job back on the mound. He's basically actually cy young award when he was right there to forty game what are. He's a guy. I'm not going to march out -- the mound after four and two thirds innings of digital -- medical problems to operate with. The first was this guy that's never going to war or -- wanted to bet that it's my responsibility especially late -- to know those what did you total. That's not the time to break out of stat sheet. Two good guys figure depending on addiction as far along as you can get -- thing is that. Going into the series you always try to. To minimize their best hitters and a matchup we actually really want it was -- against Frank Thomas but the -- was. 1% with three strikeouts notre base -- that change in a hurry but that gimme you're trying to be aware of -- you can give him some other dangerous hitters and it didn't work prosper well.

Well for being selected Rogers won 100 dollar food and gift beverage gift certificate to Mohegan sun Mohegan sun the world that play. I was good way to start this when Terry that was good baseball went.

I want a good question is something tonight. Played over my mind a hundred times didn't like the result but I I think that. The thinking is that -- you back on the mound we need to -- he deserves a chance to depend private and then what it's like started gold okay we're going to do it about that's just what it works.

And just to be clear we've we've gotten some responses from people stallion value won't be able to ask -- tough questions. He won't want to answer those -- answer pretty much any question we throw it to right.

While I actually enjoy those types of questions but I'm supposed to have a answer that by -- on -- I do appreciate their post like that as opposed to a it'll put a couple of the book Carl Edwards and had not generally do. Appreciated but not it's great for the game and it it is it's I can see -- somebody would have that I just again Josh Beckett news is Josh Beckett and until he. -- it might be needle is like kind of struggled out smarter he'd stay not to go to war depended on him I don't care what the number Mark but it. We we need Josh to be Josh.

Terry will appreciate time is always will talk to next week take care you know that is our Red Sox manager Terry Francona. Brought to you by AT&T with more bars in more places switched to the wireless network with the best global coverage AT&T. Your world Philip