8-11-08 Phil Rogers, Chicago Tribune

Well it has ban him will conclude tonight an incredible baseball weekend. But the folks in the windy city of Chicago the Cubs. Were hosting the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend the White Sox will conclude a four game wraparound series and US cellular field against the Red Sox tonight. Talk about the weekend and all things baseball the national baseball writer for the Chicago Tribune Phil Rodgers filled -- Michael again and Boston how aria.

If Phil I'm wondering what does your competition have to complain about now J Marriott is always talking about this. The Cubs and how cheap they guard he's complaining about Jerry Reinsdorf was sort of complain about now.

Well I you know -- in China so we all need to be a little bit out care for the international incidents that. There's really not a lot certainly a baseball fan in Chicago to to complain about. You know I'm not sure the word I get vocal part teams into the playoffs but. You know -- I don't see the Cubs imploding I think the white facts are going to be a really good race with Minnesota. You know Minnesota's -- exactly the perfect -- that they try to compete -- so. You know there's this very well could be the first year since 196. That we have an October with two Chicago baseball season in the that would be well.

Did does some enterprising reporter from your paper. Have they made the attempt to watch all seven games over the weekend I guess the erratically it was possible.

It was possible I I don't think you could have without well being deemed out caught every pitch it was yeah. -- they of the game there was a tight turn -- on Saturday between like 3 PM start at wrigley. And six and start a US cellular. I've not I actually did both games that day but Carlos Zambrano got his brains BBN which allowed me to leave wrigley after about five innings. And ride the train to the south side it got there before the games started that night. Somebody I'm -- do they have but I don't think it's it's for our paper -- like a I barrier journalists not to do it all seven games but -- I -- seven games here of that. Well I think we'll make this a special week in this you have. The teams that won the last four World Series are all have all of them played in Chicago this week in and that was. That was pretty darn cool the one thing that. Well I mean the trains on Saturday with fans from all fourteen the one thing that I really noticed was felt. There was only 11. Fan base that was what wearing all sorts of year that included World Series patches. That they -- the Chicago Cubs and I just struck me how much pressure the Cubs are going to be under in October when they do get -- the playoffs trying to win. A World Series on the 100 anniversary of when they last won it. I'm not sure I've I've you know -- I watched. You know from my distance the Red Sox struggle you know I think Cleveland get close separate -- waiting for a long time the White Sox who hadn't won -- 88 years report 2005. But I don't think I've ever. Seeing the level of banks to that there will be for cup AMs when these playoff series roll out an October I think it's it's going to be. Truly unusual.

You said earlier that the Cubs are not going to implode did they convince you. When they. Prepared for that big that's a quote that big series against the brewers and just totally wiped out the brewers Mets series was that the point when you said. Okay. That they're in control for the rest of the year.

It would actually even even at that point I wasn't that concerned because it always a bit like the Red Sox they approached the Red Sox took last year when the Yankees made their run out of lately. The year. I. I thought Terry Francona was incredibly wise. To not get caught up to literally won the division or whenever as a wildcard in the release that is what is playoff rotation with about ten games left with the lead was down there about two. Because -- knew it was going to go way and that and I think it the other day it doesn't really matter what the goal and as a division champ or wild card and -- I could very easily beat the Cubs and the brewers end but you know whether the Cubs. Work work finishing second and it envisioning going in and I'd I'd still be up there and they answered their one real. We know there -- one real hole early in July I would they traded for Rich Harden who has been. Just short of fantastic. Enough force starts he's made forums so. You know I think they kind of improved as the season has gone along in the started out very strong. You know we we saw the Mets unexpectedly. You know collapse -- in the last year. Certainly no team -- immune from. Things happen there's you know that I think they have a seven game cushion right now for the wild card the Cubs. And there are seven weeks left in the season and so you know one game a week that's. Hardly an insurmountable cushion but I I think that you know that that was an impressive series when they swept the Cubs but -- have been impressed with the cup over their swept the brewers haven't been impressed with the Cubs. Really since the second half of last season and and there's you know I haven't seen they have the change it.

I'm pretty sure Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen don't know the real age for Jose Contreras so I certainly don't know. Whatever his age is it's hard not to envision a scenario while obviously his season is over after the ruptured Achilles. You wonder if he's going to be able to ever pitch at all after that.

You know I don't really know what you know for athletes across the board. Recovered from a ruptured Achilles I think is as hard to do is any injury and I'm not going to be able to give you a long list of people. Who have come back from that injury I think more often than not. You know. If it's not a career ending injury it's -- injury that reduces the level of proper form with the guys able to give you when he returns and you know -- contreras. You know. That mileage on their body that you know I think he does keep the ball very hard worker so I don't rule out that he could work his way back from a but he would not really been the same pitcher for two years that I think it was. Well without hillside of his career as it was. I'm sure is going to try to get back whatever I'm not sure it's going to be pretty.

Phil Ozzie Guillen said last week I'd rather pitch. To Jason day than Manny Ramirez and I think a lot of people agree within. But it that this story as we know is a little larger than that little more complicated than that. What did you think when the Red Sox finally pulled it off -- traded as we say the left fielder from Washington heights to the doctors. And what do you think it means for the Red Sox going forward.

I think. If I want the Red Sox I would have. Try to find a way to get one more October -- Manny Ramirez because I think. You know the count the October combination of Ramirez and David Ortiz was something that. You know baseball's really hasn't had you know the Yankees were they were running out there World Series they didn't have. Two guys striking -- certainly not the same two guys in the middle of that order. The way Manny and Ortiz are the way you know they took over the post season. In 4 they took over the post season again and -- seven and you know what would they lost in between knowing that the White Sox beat them but you know five. If I seemed overlooked as a walking just about every that they came in the play so. It -- they could have done would have been to make it clear to Manny. Is going to be a free agent after this year where you know -- You can have your free agency which are going to have to play hard in September and October so that they'll be a big market for yet and that's so well that I thought kinda what helped Terry Francona handled it last year -- they. He set out all of September and not almost all that and then but what I told rolled around he was ready to go and you know what I think big big part of of how they were able to win those last seven games and I would you know I think the Red Sox are less of a team without many -- built for the world with some. You know I understand. That you know losing Baylor -- were not been with a left the big hole. But yeah I think we have the -- resources you can worry about so that hole when you get there and you know to have Jason Bay now he'd fill that hole in the future. To -- is not worth the trade off. Going to have October without Manny Ramirez when -- gonna head up I think I think it's going to make a difference in who wins the National League west. And I think it can definitely make a difference in what they're. The Red Sox got a report also how far they advance if they do go there so I wouldn't have done.

Let's say this -- easier said than done though with. With that this notion of having a conversation with Manny Ramirez and talent he's going to be a free agent. Negotiating with -- Manny. As a Red Sox over the past seven years it's not always the easiest thing so be it your right if you can get a Manny Ramirez who's focused than he knows he's going to be a free agent. He's not going to causing distractions -- your better team but. I don't know what they've got pretty bad here over the past past three weeks to a month.

You know I I understand that Michael and -- but. You know they're -- I guess. They've been seven cases like this squad all the way back to when Grady Little was managing the team. That you know at the end of the day you know I hit it -- I think Manny likes to play big baseball games and I don't think he's going to. Loan itself properly opportunity to play good baseball games he understands the difference between. The bigger games of the lesser games and as a manager you want everybody to take the same approach it as a as a teammate you won every teammate to take the same approach. But. That the Red Sox never really get that with many they would you know they they felt ways. You know to -- what. The last manager that really. Challenged Manny that way it was Grady Little and you know yet Terry Francona the guys who worked with him. It was a is that guy that won the two World Series so. You know I think you know the press there was a press -- was a precedent both but continuing that an -- and you know what I understand you get to a point where. This is but I thought they could have made it clear that this is therefore going to try to get one more October out of the situation that I think. Many would have come out and played. You know they could do that too because he's going to need whether it's. I think the Mets are the really the best fit for him but whatever it is whether it and that's the badgers the Yankees. You know for Scott Boras -- to do his work is -- Scott Boras magic he's going to have to have a client. You know that goes on the field and and does things to help the team win so. You know I think -- you know -- many would -- then killed himself if ought to get if you didn't step out when the big games rolled around.

Filling your opinion will on National League team. Lavish a four year deal on Manny Ramirez whose defensive prowess has been indifferent at best. At a younger age and when he's 4041 years old without the option of a DH could be a disaster there.

I could prove it you know I think -- the Mets so the one place. You know if that if things don't work for them this year as they continue to try to go forward -- It's what -- telling how it plays out. Over the next seven weeks in Los Angeles and if you complain. Let you have -- dodger stadium you can certainly play than in any park in the National League outside of maybe San Diego. You know he's not a good defensive fielder but. You know he certainly drives them more than any reps and and I you know I think you know is he got to get older yeah. I've never know you saw what you guys saw firsthand look at JD Drew situation. You know never never -- Scott Boras work and so. Some magic for his clients of and -- the way he was able to change you know and all the Bruce situation. You know we're talking about a different guy different age different athlete you know I watched J. D. Drew last yesterday at Tripoli got. At US cellular field unlike. I don't remember that they're rather like that was you know what he was a -- with St. Louis something -- That was that was something in the season -- is heaven for the Red Sox this year is amazing but he's you know his reputation was. Heavily damaged you know what four. And that popped out in Los Angeles yeah that was able to make the deal right or is quiet and I think the other day. In order to -- American League team I think Scott is going to get many a good deal.

We know we're talking about Manny Ramirez and some of that. Special things you do for him to get him to perform we're used to that Boston I'm wondering does Ken Williams and I guess Jerry Reinsdorf to. Do they have Manny rules for Ozzie Guillen -- seems the -- He says things outside of Chicago we look at it we -- guys survive there but. Do they have. The same to happen for a type of approach with him and say he's going to say what he's going to say it but we know is going to be productive in the end.

Yeah pat -- sort of knew that when he hired and he knew how he would be. He's not a very well you know for over twenty years of the point which he hired in the management team. And you know I think. One thing and if that happens it's kind of like. There's -- that you get desensitized. To the whole lot of these things and frankly as a reporter. Who covers the one -- I don't -- real big flawed they are which is that I tuned them out so much that. You know you so much what he says is just nonsense that you stopped listening and so. The other that's now by eighty throws in in the middle of the nonsense that gets a lot of attention elsewhere. I cannot discount discarded that from the start as nonsense and you know -- you pick and choose when to pay attention to him and you know I think that's Al. Jerry Reinsdorf you know and and ultimately he's judged the way. Anybody else's judged by the White Sox. Not you know head down. Josh and not all that bad back to the pitcher and AJ present he not been. Pesky enough so. Hard headed there whatever he was about to run the first set to the other White Sox for the way that going down to develop into the Angels in the championship series no I have. You know at the White Sox lost that one. And Ozzie didn't have -- World Series title under you know under his belt then you know he would he would be looked at differently but he's still. You know the guys the only manager in Chicago won the World Series since 1917. So that that by ratio a little bit of you know well.

I'm assuming that by now your sold on the Tampa bay rays if that's true. When did it happen.

I am so -- and now. For me when that happened was after the all star break when they lost seven in a row going into the all star break. They really reminded me of somebody in any pursuit life who has success didn't really expect it. And I do look around and -- wherever I have knees start back and helped obediently at. You know I compared it to somebody that that -- had. Well but too much to drink -- one out -- just this building and walked around the building once in the end up. Had no problem and then got what made the mistake a look at bell and all of a sudden you know he could get back in that when Belfast and -- I thought they kind of got a little bit verdict go after they read that lead out of five games as quick as they did in early July and then gave it back just as quick. But the -- they came back from the all star break. You know is really I think what sold me that you know these guys. You know it is a solid team and you know they they have I'm not Troy they had just enough guys like Troy Percival I think in the club well. That you know keep the keep Carl Crawford who haven't been through before and and the -- younger guys -- Crawford and they keep them headed in the right direction. I think big you know they got. Very very very solid team the other if you look at -- the sweeps of teams they've had this year at Tropicana Field whether they basically. At swept every good team in baseball league including the Cubs a couple of -- very in interleague series with just let their lunch in the you know the Angels have been swept they're the Yankees the Red Sox. You know Tampa bay is for real but I I didn't really trusted until they came back after the all star break in and started doing that again.

Neither I said I was going to give them until September 1 before us that before I. That went all man with them but. Five contradicted myself and today is the the eleventh and I'm convinced they're real about the Yankees beat the Yankees be in the playoffs so. --

You know if you -- the all star break. Or even it even after that as recently as that weekend when they won the first two at Fenway. I thought. Yes same old Yankees they've turned back around -- you look at him today. It is a great question I've I've still decided. For some reason I must say they they find a way to get there which is is going to mean. It's going to come down to a against the Red Sox bloodbath -- in the in the September but as. You know I in your wild -- not going to come from the central. It's not going to come from the west and if Tampa there aren't safe Tampa -- solid than I'd you know I think it's going to be a red -- he bloodbath for. The last spot the Red Sox have the talent to win. But the team like being lose two out of three. US cellular. Is nothing like that seemed -- that I you know expected when the season started I got no reason for why Taylor Buchholz stinks. But he does. You know I got I got no reason you know also a wide very. You know our play in the way they aren't in the you know the Wakefield injury comes at a bad -- just seemed like. When the White Sox beat them in 2005. There was such a hangover for the Red Sox in 2004 that was that was so weird to be in that city it was almost like. Red Sox Nation was still. Celebrating 2004 and -- totally lost its. We paranoid wicked wicked paranoia that. It seemed to be totally garment and I think there's a little bit of that this year it on it when the Red Sox. -- of the people on the Red Sox just this week and let over the weekend at Chicago people were saying it's just -- talk to repeat. And you know I think that that trip to Japan and although they have a lot of reasons or. Why. They're not going to be able to win this year so you know I think the Red Sox are kind of -- badly.

They were 2 Clay Buchholz called that you consider that I don't think anything like -- I don't call me tailor it to.

That -- and the futures game to a three years ago and and so what I said it just right that it again that you walk into an -- one Buchholz and I leaky heart.

So I can see got that your plan favorites you go with Taylor over clay.

Got their first let's be honest start clothes clothes the better pitcher but Taylor got to the big leagues first and I guess a lot of -- like I can only put one Buchholz and by Emily thanks.

Phil we really appreciate taken few minutes talks in baseball with a has always thank you. Can tell there. That is -- Phil Rogers national baseball reporter for a Chicago Tribune.