05-13-08 Ken Rosenthal

Joining us right now on the line as he does every Tuesday at this time from fox fox sports dot com. In the box baseball package as well he has our buddy Ken Rosenthal hey can I don't. Great thank you better than apparently the National Football League is they try to sort through all this junk right now. Well certainty even knowing what because all of these are. And in it's based on what I'm hearing on ESP and they agree with you completely. So that's all we're all waiting around for this weekend if we have to does break out of this thing quickly don't take it personally have a -- yet I don't worry about it I want to hear Roger Goodell is well.

Well since we do have you let's ask you about a team in the American League east that is hang around and not just hanging around but. On the doorstep of first place. I knew Tampa would be improved this year I don't think the newly named to raise would be this good they are they -- kind of for real to me how about you.

For the past couple of years I've had players -- need at the rays -- here on the mound every night if -- playoff. With the equivalent cat and -- point was that they just need more consistent pitching opposite helpful as well. Other Internet -- can't frankly they haven't performed the way they could offensively just yet it at a number of guys. Below expectations in just now with Kazmir returning with Floyd coming back an outrage return imminent. You're becoming whole. So they are -- serious team they are teams and he's only going to get better become more young pitching in the minors that is maybe a year away but still could be formidable so. Right now aren't they the most serious threat to the Red Sox yes that's related Beers.

Even more serious than the New York Yankees --

Yes and I saw of the Yankees over the weekend and -- and the Yankees have a world of talent as real well and they are not going to be. Perhaps -- prediction will be better but. They also point in issues because the agent at two major players out right out. In the rotation be on. Really -- in the concern. I don't perceive as it's better headed in not as of late. But those 45 spot -- public. Got -- Rasner pitched really well in Detroit that day. In it's possible that -- it will come back as he is tomorrow sort Thursday and pitched well by. Let's -- there rotation is. Not view is it is not -- several other.

One of the things that the Red Sox have been at least we think trying to do is is trade Coco Crisp. So far the two headed monster in center fielders performed admirably well. With a little disharmony that we know while. A logical landing spot would've been Chicago except apparently Jim Edmonds is the guy in their sights right now.

Right it and keep in mind its commitment without -- many things that giving up any players so he has more attractive. -- Coco Crisp would be. Edmonds would be basically try our. He works out -- eat out there -- no worse off before we can just bring back PA and at that point perhaps trade Coco Crisp. On days and JD goes down which days many DH Ortiz that they are whatever the equation like the fit in ought not perfect and he's not getting the bat ideal third -- happen that. Considering -- Bristol developing player albeit a very exciting one. If I would Red Sox I would --

You know we saw Josh Byrnes here in Boston can for a long time so naturally nobody give him all the credit for the Diamondbacks but. Really who deserves credit for the way they've played this year in their success last -- well.

Certainly deserves could now. Also some of the other thing they Donnelly and -- and good -- they revived Eric. There's no question in capped off with and haren that they have. Very good things under his watch. The one thing that bears noting however is that most of their players or well. -- from draft run by Mike Rizzo -- was now the national. He was the maxed out director the -- most of these guys game. He can't talk about the Diamondbacks that formation of their roster without -- Those certainly earned -- deserves credit but there's so which was foundation in December and -- benefited.

Long before there was -- thick thick piece of nighttime reading called the Mitchell report there were rumors about Eric Gagne in his. Abuse of performance enhancing drugs. And then we saw from the -- report it was confirmed or not confirmed but it was it was thrown out there that he had done some things. Since that time that I think sense. 2000 the second happened at 2007 to the president. Eric Gagne doesn't like the same guy is there any connection between stronger testing in the fall off of Eric Gagne.

Put an effort -- like luckily enough. Can we speculate on -- all that long yet and it's not just Eric Gagne. He is the case with a lot of players that you wonder about with declining performance and whether it was related to. They used to TDs and not. Certainly we've got eight -- direct correlation between. Even know these names get thrown around now much more regularly in a five years ago. Armstrong called St. something like that without actually knowing. I don't know. Besides -- indicated but to be sure couldn't.

The -- Red Sox open a two game series in Baltimore tonight against the Orioles in tomorrow afternoon's game Jon Lester will take on Daniel Cabrera. Cabrera is a guy who has kind of been an interesting sideshow for the Red Sox and their fans anyway of -- hot hadn't and we all know the history. But there are times when he teases you just enough. With -- stuff to make you think that this guy can be really good Major League pitcher where do you stand -- Cabrera and how you think he will eventually be.

It straight quality starts including -- games last week in the city in which ones get -- like -- out. That's a dominant that -- it was a sinker. Obviously before jumping on that bandwagon equivalent of one. He is someone who has thrown to be the best game I've Evers -- it immensely and TV but it person I've seen him. At I'd be absolutely. Ridiculously -- As a matter of pitcher keeping his live together. And also maintaining composure which something that it's -- all along. Is benefiting from the our meal and iron or pitching. Tony -- guy and Cabrera to -- and it -- Credits I think more flexible and therefore be able to work easier with a -- if they need to -- or as a team for the past month -- very good pitcher on it but again. He still has been a Cabrera he's got this little bit longer extort.

Let's talk about a couple of other pitchers who were doing well so far and one of them is not a surprise Brandon Webb is a cy young winners so we know about his dominance. Quickly there's a surprising to you at all and and it's so tell us why.

Surprising only in last it was a struggle for him. -- into spring training competing for the starting job to -- did you. Sewed it back out to what he has done over the first six weeks these in the after. Being viewed in that sent by the Indians that's certainly -- surprise. However when you look at his career record and look what he did to were to doubt it. -- averaged fifteen to pitch two innings twice with eighteen -- into doubt. From that perspective shot but any time you look and you -- you're able. It is Spain age I don't care who that is. That is surprised. He's got confidence he's got a little bit more light on his fastball change when he goes out. There's feelings of inevitability that he's going to pitch well he has that feeling. And that's where comes from.

Can if you were a betting man would you bet that Julio Lugo will be the shortstop. For this Red Sox team September October.

That -- is a request. I would -- no but. Say that I wonder how they would get from point a to point B in what I mean is. This year and they -- the next two years -- get rid of him ward. -- Action and still make this'll work that's what I wondered. They obviously it. -- it short oh perspective you have to say well he can happen it can happen again but you'd and so erratic. There is a lot alike great. They've got Cora they could make a trade for someone presumably I just like all -- Just the possibility not that it in the -- right. Really all venues that this.

Final question before we let you go on it concerns the Yankees and and I am I'm curious about the physical situation -- Alex Rodriguez. Who says he's okay. Says he could play is eligible to come off the DL and get the Yankees satan now at least not through the weekend what's going on.

So far it just seems that the being -- clutch. He certainly came back too quickly the previous time or couple weeks ago when he first was injured and therefore you were be trusted. So hungry want so badly to play now and -- in general in this pitchers mostly but also position players. Exercise greater caution today in the -- perhaps in the past. And take another week it takes a week I don't think Yankees deal that.

Can we appreciate time is always will talk to you next week -- And I can't it's wondering if we're going to be here Roger