06-17-08 Terry Francona, Red Sox Manager

Normally we talk with Terry Francona on Wednesday. It's been very gracious and allowed us to move it up a day. Joining us now on the AT&T hotline is the manager of the Boston Red Sox Terry Francona Terry's also brought to you by a -- insurance interest systems. And doctor Robert Leonard at 1800 get hair good afternoon Terry.

I don't I don't -- broke at love in -- yeah I think well. I had an interest in place Catholic places.

I think that bad is it the height of of the political answer right here interest in place but I'm sure. I know the fans are one thing but you you have quite a bit of friends in the Philadelphia organization don't.

A lot I hope Donald -- if they don't talk about pitching spent four years place. I don't care what you want a world yours yours struggle to -- in this job you don't put them left hours. Wonder looms as opposed to winning we spent a lot of time here and didn't really close a lot of people. And I hope that always been the -- drug problem people -- so -- is agonizing times here political groups. LeBlanc PP Kara but yeah it is good political was pretty special ticket -- always fun. But it -- there's a lot of special relationship but later.

Tito do you have -- are working tonight -- you go back as we get some time lots of felt for game six.

On not a real big emotional watching on -- person. I don't have more to get -- the -- collision of my remarkable like there was in my daughter overload we don't cultural that these -- but. But -- where they couldn't run by the -- you'll do it up but I'm sure people want to be in the written hopefully it'll be very excited moment.

It's funny you know later on we'll do the second -- thing and we had a question this week who then we didn't use this question one -- to used Brian Scalabrine more in game five.

I don't know hold on I'm just trying to figure out what you -- an older level old Ellsbury didn't. I watch it like for him in -- for one minute protest to -- there -- blood pressure of interest at a.

Well let's talk about your team and and last night's game which was kind of a lost game from start to finish I I said earlier. I'm kinda with hank Steinbrenner on this thing and he lost a pitcher for ten weeks because of pitcher having to hit and ultimately run you had a pitcher who had a probably leave the game maybe earlier than you plan to for having me hit. I assume you're not a huge fan of the DA -- National League way of not using the DH.

Yeah I'm really not and and it's not quite -- Hollywood game like what -- but I think we've got pretty competitive with how -- field -- to. And I one pop idol made I don't agree to be disrespectful because I understand. That -- do things it's for the -- and and what we do good things for baseball would you do would you kind of push open -- but. Competitively it is probably not entirely where. The world asking people to do things they're that they have but I have to do -- call -- get a bunt down he's going to blossom wouldn't it be used. Worse than the guys up error that even -- like a Wakefield fifteen years going skirt it was good border when he's probably but I have to bond five times in the last twelve years. It's just not dead beat you do or -- fair. Do you look at the bench I cannot love -- 88 better rules adopted. We're going to get unified because it would vote with the wild card in the way the schedule is. The morgue. Usual level playing field we have a better for everybody.

It's interesting did you you your first franchise the Expos were in the National League. And your first managing job was in the National League did you always feel this way aiming. When you came up as a National League player so to speak did you were you like some of these terrorists thinking that the National League where it was better than an American anyway.

Well I'm not speaking at a manager as far as like trying to win as far as the player goes the national it was always more fun especially if you're bachelor because you always like attempt of the game. -- out of Milwaukee. -- the bench -- and they end up religion and government joke without trouble oriented American market approach it for now the ball over -- is not going to happen. But it nationally do you use your bench. And guys are involved the game told the players a lot more fun while -- pro ball club I'm talking about purely as a part of trying to compete. And win games. We're not entirely play at a level playing -- right now a lot of inconsistencies.

What have they said okay for interleague games and they told you this in 2008 for 2009 -- games. Let go by National League rules even if you're not happy with that it being an American League team would that mean more more -- that you guys are both playing at the same rules.

All the commercials that are keep up to be in America -- came in -- we're pretty good payroll and we've we've planned out an -- American League -- we don't. 100 -- his beloved believed it again incompetent. Not taking away from how you prepare for a season right -- marketability and worked on some things that. We haven't done a long time and it's hard not to and we put Campbell that we will continue to but it's not what we have our people.

Let's talk about your DH for a moment David Ortiz got cast off is his arm and wrist yesterday there's an interest in peace in The Herald today by rob Bradford. Where pat -- all of the Phillies. Said he had a very similar injury he said he almost called you. When there was talk about David having surgery to tell you don't Billick the way you the you did handle it he said was exactly what worked for him.

I talked about last Buffalo but he was a basically just gonna say you know you guys are gonna decline now it's certainly nice figure things like that. But again it is you also and I'm not try to puck by the gave -- the report was really really optimistic yesterday. Also I don't think that any body injury is identical -- every time some happened Q you talked it would draw at the same thing well it'll. It is -- gulls. But it is nice to hear somebody say. They went through something similar and they didn't have a problems now against the medical people all couples what they thought they seemed right on track.

I -- ethnic and other basketball related question here. And this is just in terms of clinching of the Celtics -- 33 games to one in this series now 32 obviously got one win their their champions. For you in -- clinching situations. St. Louis in 4 in Colorado and -- seven was there any type of anxiety anything different. And that. And that clinching situation -- you know you you you've you're up three zip the ball situations are you doing anything different you have the same state of mind.

When Jamey Carroll therefore odd ball out there aren't a lot of -- United -- in -- all. I mean certainly they're going to be anxiety I mean the games being -- wants to -- we've played our hearts felt for so long. We get an appointment -- I think that. Play in the game gonna rescue rescues you a little -- from all the things on the periphery but one -- double play and act like Baltimore sports journalists like. It was Celtic have a chance to. What -- home. About wanting we've really never done and not you can you know not do you want to -- come home. But I think one of the fun of at least we've ever done was last year. When we went to division and -- in the club option -- the field after all the will be New York. -- whose fans they watch it on the to compete view the stadium nobody department and it spilled out onto the field and we got to celebrate. And thousand all the most special moment about belt with a wrote about early honest. At least elliptical accomplished but it was just pure fun it was a players in the failed an organizational Albright together. And you don't necessarily get that included on the road because you're on the road.

A -- know that that Jonathan Papelbon was giving his tribute to 1980s basketball at those short shorts.

Yeah it looked at my 1980 gym teacher she. --

It -- how concerned are you about Curt Schilling in and a little slow down here in his rehab.

When IQ we I think we get concerned about everybody. Talked enough we try not to get too far ahead of ourselves up get too far behind more probably at a point now or -- we've -- maybe taken a deep breath just total value later or maybe it is just to -- what we need to. I'll always do it correctly we talk about timetables and and that the timetables are going off of how guys feel about what we do all these things happen. We live up to that end of the bargain we just want to try to do it right -- And he will continue to do that next couple days a little long term part of course occult -- Coca -- to -- going to figured out.

Ryan Howard got a triple last night -- from where you're sitting. Do you think that is a play that Jacoby Els very can make normally.

You don't want the ball if you go back and look I had a great view that the Balkan hot. I don't know how it -- If it didn't you -- you -- a panel Apollo swiped the ball was was cutting away from -- Yeah he can make up quite a great life redevelopment glove but -- it if you go back it looked good didn't stay true level to win. But it was cut away from him but. It would have been a great play but it certainly one that you've been able late because he's a --

Without getting into specifics of how you run and when you run because I know your. You're unwilling to do that and I understand is it's safe to say that after 33 stolen bases on. June 17 that the rules for Jacoby Ellsbury might be different today than they were April 17.

You know little bit but to be -- not a lot this kid has had ark trust. All from from Dunleavy uniformed they wanted to has deserved that -- do we talk about situation sure if we don't we're world outdoor job. I guess maybe we still different. And they keep people off our people assume we still different you know put -- is -- base stealer are one think about had been brought in. But we're trying to still based the best place for guys to steal bases if you can't tell more practical want it just doesn't work as well. -- they have a feel. Going to get desperate situation or they have a field they go on girl pitched there will be much more committed to going to get better to open because that will be they'll be more successful steal bases.

Is it easier to steal third than second.

On certain hitters. Some guys and we certainly keep track of them and maybe a couple gets slower we document all that stuff there are guys that that's the case not always so.

As far as stolen bases and shorter guys do differently some guys that you just as you descent. Have a feel for it and they know when to go and other guys really. Our students in this studying moves on the step. What do you think Ellsbury fits him.

I think both. I think he's got unbelievable first quick -- first step quickness got an explosion he's very fast which is stating the obvious. But he also is pretty hungry to learn. Things apparently tipped Louis also it talked of all time smarter he gets more -- gold belated. Better for him because they're certainly don't watch film and I don't know besides pigeon out all whole heck of a lot they can do to -- about even sometimes up the brickyard doesn't stop him but it's really Ben. A part of our game this year it's -- and we've talked about we play the Eagles -- temple Bayer Minnesota. The chip to guard against not teams are have to do to get stopped and it's it's it's been workable but.

Our Red Sox fans finally seeing that JD Drew that Theo fought this team was acquiring.

Yeah they've had a great run force -- right -- went down he stepped in his really swung the bats to put in rhythm -- order. And it yet but -- the watches it always split it. With enthusiasm -- right -- again maybe part of that's just inevitable success. And let the personality -- or maybe you'll go to before going to want to get blown up it's hard to tell how guy's hand sometimes guys -- Frustrations different will try to read into wouldn't. Compound because bullet GM but he's he's certainly looks like he's enjoyed himself and cornerback --

You ready for people to the second guess you'd. Tell you he screwed up at.

Now do we have that already had to labor going to.

Racecar that we called the Red Sox manager screws up that's that we well that actually -- isn't so much that but hey. It's time for Red Sox second -- brought to you by Mohegan Sun world like today set question comes from Mickey Easterbrook. In Wakefield -- first interleague play very topical. What adjustments to the game plan and roster he forced to make when playing a stretch of games in a National League park in interleague play.

We haven't made any roster moves this time we certainly talked about before compliment what -- And I think we could almost overdo it you know everywhere we haven't. You know everybody wants to build a little -- the double switch -- all -- biggest ever recovered. We pretty much got everything covered comedy and record in the middle infield with -- first you can go to third. Mark we can go the outfield actually go to court to we don't have a triple out of the world -- oral -- hope. -- pretty much covered were broke out of personal even what we get banged up we have ways to move guys around. And we just have to play good baseball solution not whole lot we really need to do.

And as far as managing in the National League you mean you've done both nationally in American League. Do you sense a significant difference.

It's different. It's really different so quick just used to spinal made them better in America without for. Fighter with the red plugging you're used to the spinal all of a sudden you come over I don't into the oh well what games or just tired. And it's because here it's different. It all your your your major you have -- having to be called upon to do things differently than you're accustomed to what kind of throws up a little bit -- Again you're used an energy and I used to not a arteries pierce is different. And you don't want to screw up you'll want to somehow happened you know -- or shall. In Connecticut I guess different about a.

Well is the biggest difference and you can tell me I'm just guessed that it would be let's say you're -- yard at 32 game or you're trailing fortitude. And you got your pitcher coming up and got a guy on in the fifth or sixth inning. It's not thinking about why leave this guy can do I would like go for the big inning here is that the biggest difference.

No I don't think him and it certainly won't be able to come -- come -- they -- Bartolo cannot afford which is too early and were always trying not to look. Ruled our bullpen. Last one -- table from me was were down two. And we really just eliminate nine coming up and we've just gotten all our. Lugo made -- very hitters all the pitchers go lead off the we brought to double -- and 41 inning and then we're review -- effort to. Because our pitcher we wanted to would have had a pinch hitter and we couldn't get it won't do really -- doubles -- put Korea and but the problem residue that is -- you don't know -- pictures that you're part pitchers couldn't afford that inning if he gets up. Okay now do you you're gonna have to totally could come now and you don't most critical one twos threes -- Just the kind of gamble bit and it and possibly walk up two guys. -- made that little confusing but. It's just not -- don't and it it sometimes it makes you burn more pitching I guess at what point.

Terry what was your reaction when you get up this morning and found that the Mets have announced the firing of Willie Randolph the 3:15 this morning.

kind of badly I didn't know my daughter where current group around in. I did about a ballpark in improving to do visible when job so called it called me and it kind of just it kind of stunned because I. I get up and followed it. But that would -- it never happened I definitely didn't think the potentials -- in. Really kind of stunned -- then. He'll have just about everybody goes through. And it has been very public because -- New York and that the public park always a tougher park. It is not a home -- didn't part of it is called room. The public firing of how many people it Florida went through -- Philadelphia. It's not easy and I don't wish on anybody and the bad -- He the only -- it would general manager. It's not Olympic club right but -- obligation to have the best guy to begin at whatever position we all understand that but it so public divisional it. It got a little bit.

Do you think there's anything odd about putting him on the plane. Out to Anaheim and then after that gave firing him and his -- unusual.

Well again I'm not I wasn't there and I know everybody's a particular job and have their opinions. -- applauded good guy a denominator of their reason oodles. I think everybody answers to everybody and penalty -- media ever get all the answers. And but it doesn't mean they won't have all the speculation but again that. More often than not people probably trying to do the right thing even proposal is a bit about what.

He -- quickly before we let you go I'd be remiss if I didn't ask about. The reports on dice -- outing last night.

they did okay that was good news he'd -- kind of company and later were -- because you're right around her but he did real well now. I think I'll just look at how much Portuguese actually Ortiz showed up today and they'll -- it looked different the -- after pitches but everything was well -- won't be able a couple of late. But -- two strikes new quality pitches and I think from what I was because it was a real go.

Andy you expected he'll need another tune up performance.

I don't know I don't -- weeks which certainly reserve the right poppy field. And yard field but because of the day after voted Tuesday it would not into the as far as.

Well always appreciate the time have a good time -- don't think that is that Terry Francona brought -- by eighteen team with more bars in more places switched to the wireless network with a best global coverage. AT&T your world delivered by the way. For having his questions selected Mickey Easterbrook has won 100 dollar dinner voucher to Pompeii and Caesar and two tickets to the cabaret at Mohegan Sun. Mohegan Sun a world play