06-04-08 Terry Francona, Red Sox Manager

Every Wednesday at this time we talked with a manager of the Boston Red Sox. Joining us now on the AT&T hotline is Terry Francona Terry is also brought to Miami insurance interest systems doctor Robert Leonard. At 1800 get a fair good afternoon Terry Gregory at. I I have to admit when I saw the news this morning the TV news and southern vision of -- that big black cast on David Ortiz is arm it did make me happy to see that.

Yeah I'll walk through the -- room yesterday and everything all what we already talked about here with a cast on my honorable reassurance village everybody kind of had to deal looked at a you you're wondering did you see -- cast on on the big boys and it it did. Kind of turned from long but that's for sure.

Are you said initially that you think surgery is unlikely what what makes you. So confident you sham that that's a reassuring statement I do you how do you come to.

Well Michael what -- what I was -- Lowe's -- trying to paraphrase what the doctors have told me. You know I don't have any business diagnosing David -- did he'd be playing tonight. Around it'll put got a look -- People are -- really tried to exploit that pretty concisely and not trying to exaggerated -- and lower expectations. And the termed it used to be was very unlikely and that that that -- great. You know kind of found along the way here you don't. Trying to be honest what were able to talk Bobby is probably the best way to go around sometimes medically we're not allowed -- and things. The order on all that stuff but all sold. You know what if your -- you want to do as a little guys about playing there's got to be a reason. And tried to pretty much to -- Brady goes toward -- try to talk explain to people -- on.

We have David Ortiz out war two or three weeks or possibly a month. Do you sit down in your office and go over. A number of scenarios or do you say I know David is going to be out I want to try to have a consistent lineup over these 33 weeks to a month.

I don't bulk up to three weeks to a -- first ball and Henry must say that is generally do is give a giveaway that told that would change anyway. We have a homestand. Ever and what is it going to a couple of things epic -- many hamstring residual from bother them sole as long as maybe just DH thing. You're probably going to be some consistent field longer body else is healthy and that's Ellsbury in left. Coke -- sort of I'm mainly is able to play left field little bit and towards in this homestand. And that frees us up to maybe give -- she's about about maybe Carter Gilbert who would be your agent until made it could be -- you'll probably get a pretty much stay put.

And this isn't the sort of thing where you guys -- think and we gotta go gotta somebody out there.

You don't replace David amiga world we -- we've had a luxury of not too many teams have had you we have a full fledged full time DH -- them. More productive that probably a -- baseball. Values don't -- those guys that that's not realistic or tied polite topic right now we do we want it to -- guys you know if we're professional hitters have a guy like Casey we can do something real guys like many were we -- tournament DH and and put up. Different type of golf sold out -- maybe play a little bit different type game but to still win games subtle think this again it's not. You'll replace David would like to Parcells but -- but that means we can't --

Terry your team has the best home record Major League Baseball you're 22 and five after last night's game. I don't we've asked this question at various times in the past but have you got a handling your own mind about why the team hasn't been as successful on the road is at home.

Well it's not for lack of discussion we've talked about as a staff somethings were kind of scratch our head out. You know we just came from road trip or we were some big big ball parks. I think our hitters got attacked differently also wanting to states they'll grind out the count 1 year old want all the time. You know that's not these views way to -- some of the ways we do that is by -- not a -- Ortiz were scary but. You -- approach going to tackle first pitch strike could you give pitchers not a result and -- swing at what they thought assaults which got him between a little bit and we played some pretty good -- I think our bullpen we used differently homer to -- which I think it has to so it's tough to. The good news is our home has outweighed the battle the world but we need to pick it up on the -- that's for sure.

Sixty games in baseball 58 games in baseball nothing really just to drop. So we've seen teams get off the 35 and 23 starts before and be in first place. We haven't seen that Tampa bay race different name get off to a 35 point restart what makes them different this year as compared to. When you -- an old war even over there or even old old seven Terry.

I think couple things that we're seeing right now is they're stating their pitching. I mean they're they're given good starting pitching couldn't people just to get him to improve the bullpen anyway to not get there in the fifth inning he'll serve their their starter give up seven. They're able to match up they have three lefties in the bullpen. -- you don't even last year we talked about their lineup being athletic. Other year it's more experience they brought a few veterans competitive but got a good team. Okay and they sustain it got to hope not or she government will brutal we want -- to win. They do have a good team and it just makes a tough division -- offer. Until we wanted to all the moral victory but our prison literally -- 500 -- to that stuff one year old divisions like that particular -- so much.

And I get the feeling that you could bring Justin Masterson and for a spot start every couple weeks and he'd be just as good for every time.

College is trying to explain to the media stated Masterson a starting in Geneva skip a beat didn't really treated like you -- special and that's a compliment to him. We feel like -- prediction project is pretty well. I didn't stick around the Stanford Oberstar which in all I think he got a kick out of court. I think that'll be really good for -- shot today. Couple more -- but haven't been made public atmosphere and and want to Major League game and kind of digest some things to get that opportunity to do that yet.

No we asked John Farrell this question yesterday about -- he comes up here with the big club he's pitched in three games -- won all three he's two and always looked great. Because back to the minor leagues and he doesn't look quite the same. And he got an idea -- you talked to him about why he thinks that.

That's in the game that they consistency would young pitching that's. Open it if he was probably here at all those starts you have probably seen it here also -- maybe not it's just you know repetition. These -- table and our games to execute pitches you see that a lot of temperatures we see it against bustle of its -- public vote great game in the the next people mock or Alberto go to triple -- get knocked around her body -- what's going on. Young pitchers when they execute can win but the consistency of their execution pixel.

Now wondering if this is telling tales out of school if you can't tell me I guess I understand. But I want to let you know based on his tee shirt last night David Ortiz still loves you. He wore T shirt that said I still love White people.

There's things that are some things good guys saying Billick called balls that. I think -- normal personal walked Q and they would be most sport attached to let. If it is done in a wave it. I don't know I think people I think I think the world war from from our clubhouse. But Arnold barriers -- we've talked a lot you need to have they execute and but in the same time I don't think players are polish look at the color of somebody's Q I think a pretty neat and it made. Beat you people are able to comprehend that on the outside. You walk in this club Bosnia -- Red Sox uniform and that's something I really respect the bar dies the other a lot of stuff that -- said. It isn't meant in a derogatory manner. But tickets are actually pretty cool.

And I wasn't meaning to ask about that but not to bring it up. I wanted to I want to get your opinion on it. I mean a lot of corporations have diversity seminars and they have these speakers who say you should do this you should do that. You guys do it because you have so many people are from different background do you have those seminars like other corporations that.

Michael we actually did a couple of years ago at spring training and a diplomat -- I thought they were years behind our club house. I don't I just thought -- just. I just put it bluntly every two to treat somebody. Differently by the color of their scarce public candidate just did discuss. So again we have a lot of back and forth because there's a lot of conflict with the people we have. Put two I don't think we need -- person turning ethnic week I think we got a double outfield what people.

Want to give -- chance to talk a little bit about the Allen and the baseball operations staff here for a moment I'm looking at a pitching staff that started the season down Curt Schilling. At various times already has lost Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz and I mean good starting pitchers solid guys in anybody's rotation gold by the wayside and yet I don't see much of a drop in anything here.

I'm kind of glad you brought this up going to give me a chance to maybe bright -- baseball all the cars. Don't think for minute go to this season that we ever bought or very thought that we would be five pitchers all the way through. That no wonder gulf war war we pretty much ability as an aberration. Keeping guys healthy I keep it'll be productive -- guys go down. And we've been able to put some people communal principle masters and signing a colon. It's not always see you probably won't be -- it'll work luggage you'll on the road to come back to help us up. Trying to keep some guys have some age on them healthy and productive. Our guys work hard and middle -- our softened -- it's not just lockquote regional stability Masterson. This kind of I think thought out that he would come up her -- from point especially if we muted. Not to rush him. But could it be if we needed a spot he'd be able to --

John Farrell said yesterday that Bartolo Colon got his attention in spring training when he was able to touch ninety when the reports. You guys got said. This guy's throwing in the eighties when it colon gets your attention when did you start should start to think he really can help us this year.

Remember the first time jump played long toss within reason do you go to ball watches Eagles is all coming out of his -- the Eagles -- total line. Good return slowing down beginning to the end at all lot extra ball come out of his hand. On a lying to -- he has Noll or. Strength issues -- up next hurdle watched him. -- a mechanical throttle back a little brick you Wanda you want you so eager to please. Which would you got a veteran guy coming off what he's accomplished he's full on assault and do good. And you know what a nice feeling and again. I'm eligible wait for more aware of our. Okay Walton prosecute him and so far the best he can do is pretty damn good durability.

I know you're happy that that he's in your lineup but I'm wondering if you're an opposing manager. What what a guy like Jacoby Ellsbury would do to you with your managing against him and he's at the top the other team's batting order.

Well we've been through this point play being an old it'll very big just brought Chone Figgins -- Carl Crawford will now war didn't or haven't had -- that give them backed other teams and it's been great -- Olympic that's not a dimensional we've really had. A lot of I also watched it's made it must not running week. We like to run we -- big outs. And however we can score runs were going to try this -- given -- dimension -- the top of the order it was all bases are obvious what he's done to. To rush pitchers in the major mistake I don't know how you quantify that but it's better.

Does a rookie ever have a green light from a manager all the time.

Well again I've read all the time is not a correct way to put it. -- we can't avoid how we do everything -- is not correct. He's he's very very good base stealer. If you're -- we can't take credit for this kids' abilities still bases used. He's good better handle because he's good we won eleven -- good will want to -- it -- like.

You missed the game in Baltimore for very good reason your daughter Leah. Graduated from high school and we asked Cuba I asked about your son Knicks graduation schedule emotional how would you describe your reactions in your daughter or.

You know all -- You released and that's. Now don't you gotta go to wrigley to receive -- good. Gauging me credit for any did you deliberate which he made -- not on her good side lightly you know what.

Well I should be -- good -- not say why -- has she's still secured herself she allowed her younger sister did get the credit for -- and doctor -- has -- I'm I'm what did you put that.

You know what Michael I. I was so proverb that we theoretically has kids. You you do Buren you don't you just want to try to do good try to do the right thing and -- like this happens. But I got got a kick out of old enough watching every other -- reactor they're cute little short term. Sure your problem being. You know you just you want to be respectful you want to try to pick something that they have a passion foreign Duke grew. And and I was proper and she'd also done a lot of -- out of losing games but I want to throw out.

Brad Mills is tired of managing he's.

It'll -- wiped out these good you'll do everything come on over to billboards throughout.

I'd it's time for your Red Sox second -- brought to you by Mohegan Sun world that play. In today's question comes from David in Belcher town Massachusetts and he's talking about Monday's game against Baltimore so not too far back. -- you can probably guess where he's gone with this one why was Hideki Okajima allowed to face to right handed batters Hernandez and Jones in the eighth inning with runners on first and second. It was obvious that he had no control over either of his breaking pitches. A -- he's not going to get Major League hitters out -- 88 mile an hour fastball only which he was also having trouble locating. Their bench must've realized his difficulty with his off speed pitches. Because nearly every pitch to the two -- mention right handed batters was a fastball was Craig Hansen who looked dominant in Sunday's game available in your bullpen.

Yes it was actually actually had -- up and then hands up once the game got tied. -- and I understand the question I just think you have to probably if you put guys a left hander to get sloppy writing about pretty much equally. He was struggling I completely agree that the did you run away from what. I think every time they start just vote shall struggles especially got to come in the game was -- one ERA. Every time somebody gives -- bull run. You can't just run to the bullpen Orioles did continuous revolving door that never closes. But with a guided for a year and a half has been just males for us -- early on this series given up -- inherited runners. In his innings he's been pretty stellar didn't command very well. I I don't qualify agreed to by the loss because that'll -- you do it enough he's he's always had and they people are trust ball. That's not going to change he didn't locate you know and and sometimes too. We got more hit a ground ball -- when were when were respecting the -- a little bit if we're back we got a double play. You know things I think you have to keep some things in perspective lefty jumped -- fast -- and countless lefties do laughable Pete because they don't want to get to split. He had a tough sitting saying that if we can get chilled out. He we doubled to tie game and it's a top bullpen for the rest of the game to win and -- streak it didn't work cover well. The point being we don't want to run away from -- joystick things that if I have to give up. But as a company we're not going to give him rather read or these guys have earned the right to try to get out of some of their own --

Terry the follow up question is why not David's. Is it also safe to say that that you manage differently in a regular season game than you do in the playoffs and -- I was we were looking at this earlier today. Last year you know used Papelbon in a multi inning save situation only twice in the regular season. In the playoffs you -- and get six outs twice.

All I think that took an obvious one of course don't think that we don't think I have to give people out of these orally. But you can't do it day in and day out -- venue institute hopefully it will play out -- mobility. Do we we pretty much screwed up -- we thought we can get to a want to go and how vulnerable we got a chance to win and it worked. You can't build a well -- guys just won't be productive they won't be healthy that's par for the horse thinks rush to do is not go to war bullpen too much because. You do you can take some horrendous mistakes when we talked about before the game because in the seventh inning it's too easy to sell we can Tokyo. We give up what did its human nature to want to go to those guys because -- so good.

I've got some good news for -- you know that's okay always very competitive -- 135 start time on Sunday your game with -- so even if you go along with that -- our for our game at which at 535. It's the time that the media yeah hang around you go home gets a summer league just -- I'm not Jamie. You still have time for the 97 start Celtics versus Lakers go into the game.

A lot I think I'm watching on TV. I think I think Beckett might be given some ball blocks for some guys tumbled it'll let them out they're tonight good to go out one but. Yeah I'll watch every second -- and I won't complain at 1 o'clock in the morning. I don't there's probably some people complain and council tried but his game that I won't be one of the ball all stop on the way home probably get a court ice cream. Two by two goals are all the -- Celtics went.

Terry well I was preaching at the time will talk to next week take care that by the way first ball for being selected David -- from -- town won -- midweek hotel stay. At Mohegan Sun Mohegan Sun world that play. Terry Francona is brought to you by eighteen tee with more bars in more places switch to the wireless network with a best global coverage AT&T. Your world delivered