8-12-08 Red Sox Talk and Big Game James Returns!

Member yesterday today -- about Jon Lester the best pitcher on the Red Sox are from east and and eat all the way back land. And and I asked a simple question at the playoffs started tomorrow. All your pitchers were available who would you hand the ball. You'd hand it to the guy who pitched last JP -- Josh Beckett now -- a guy who it will painted.

Make those he's nugget -- to make of that I think you be using language like that -- giving the ball to start up a playoff series. I yeah he was great last night and it looked like exactly exactly what they needed last nine. Give J. D. Drew. A lot of credit to. He played well -- the put him in position to win the game in the first place. They.

This player was goal and I mean I thought I mean this the Red Sox team for all the raw offensive prowess have been nearly no hit way too many times. You they got a pretty good pitching staff. Chicago -- got two really good pitchers and their young guys. They're young pitchers are good -- Danks is great for awhile at least reporting at all not at all. And at one point -- think it would be sent that it lost the perfect game because one Jacoby Ellsbury on the backside. And the way he was dealing you're thinking man -- in -- this guy. And then you know agents they just hang in there -- chip away they do the things they do you Kalus gets the broken bat single -- Saturn. You know through with you just heard on the cut from Dave O'Brien got that big yet the one into the gap in left center that was the key of the hole right.

And you look at the Red Sox after this series for awhile first -- that is wrote for the go for a three on the road trip. What is probably what you would expect a mean I guess if you're really nitpicking use today. I was looking for five and two because he -- yet three games in Kansas City. And you think he's just sweep the Royals over the Royals have been playing better it actually in play yeah really -- Iowa right before the Red Sox. Met up with the series with Chicago a playoff team more playoff caliber team you take two out of three in Kansas City. And it went from Josh Beckett. -- Josh Beckett tight victory to not just winning the game but the the type of performance you want to see. From Beckett and if you look at the bigger picture. You -- Tampa. Started a little banged up here Carl Crawford goes out a huge hit yesterday. With Evan Longoria going on the disabled list. And and the Yankees are sliding so yeah the Yankees go on the other way that's going to be -- up and you're still kind of hang around Tampa and got six games left but the race.

I mean if you are in the after the Tampa bay rays. You know you think that you've got death and every team goes through stuff which it's an insane man those are two big hits in 48 hour span. And I think they'd have the depth where you know they'll move Penske over to third that move -- I've -- over the -- like that but but Evan Longoria is you know. A lot rookie of the year. And it's happening great season. They played they think he's only going to be out two to three weeks and yet they also and I -- this up this morning they also said this is a -- break. Any of him properly healed from -- break. So I mean maybe tough as -- but that just doesn't sound right and I.

And I'm wondering. If Tampa their thinking about it. Thinking about what they could have done before the deadline and they were trying to it will when they thought the Red Sox deal was going to break down. They were trying to get Jason Bay and Steve Phillips was convinced that Jason Bay was going to Tampa. But I'm sure there are other things are trying to do too well we we know one album Brian Giles right there interest in Brian Giles. But they might regret. Not making a move a significant move for bat. Because that's exactly what they need right now with two of their best players and implement -- that -- used to say where the top four hitters. On the Tampa race the guy named Carl Crawford. And Longoria among.

It's it's a big blow for them and I I still think that there in the driver's seat right now. But I'll be curious to see how they responded this. When we were talking with Phil Rogers yesterday yep he was talking about you know going into the all star break with a losing streak Red Sox had closed the gap. And they responded by coming out of the all star break with a with a real nice run they responded very positively LB curious to see. How they responded that.

Man I'm -- this this overall I'm I'm on I'm starting a new campaign. Root for the underdog. Yesterday just hit me at an epiphany during the show that the Red Sox are under. The Red Sox -- your new underdogs for about Tampa utley are at the moment Joe and I know everybody everybody hate not a nationally. For trading Manny -- mears and at the same team with many meters refused and left fielder from Washington right. So now I'm rooting for the Red Sox. Hard every reform are I mean this is I uniforms artists on come to. A minute I'm changing my schedule I'm saying I'm not like that's all I want to think about them obsessing over the Red Sox now. No other sports teams in Boston exist. I want to hear about the Patriots the Bruins the Celtics Danny who got cool cat and little point where the the football season actually starts. In which gave Garcia are right now the play in real games watchman. -- who. Penny who it would it ready go Arizona State. I want to those errors daddy -- forget Washington.

Washington State somewhere and about it but I but have to argue that I loved. The way this season. Is progressing for the Red Sox in -- strange to say I given that they really haven't had a nice little eleven or twelve game stretch. Of -- at the twenty game stretch where you say not that it. Those back they look like the defending champ yeah they look like the best team in baseball they've been hanging around. It's been frightened they've been plugging. But they haven't been steamrolled them people. And I did that well like the pace they have right now. They going to get into October as -- my underdog of course in -- the going to be in a post season they didn't October. If they win this thing I'm telling you this is this will be sent to special championship the -- are --

Julio Lugo has played in 82 games he has 261. At bats this year. Last night with -- direct hits through a big hit very very now here's one that will probably baffle you'll. Julio Lugo is on base percentage is better than -- out.

Was not baffling because. As we said last week that Tony man's came up with this bat of the status of the year so far. That Julio Lugo who's on base percentage and it remembered for burger may be remembered the -- praised. He may have phrased it this way Julio Lugo is on base percentage is better than every shortstop in the American only.

I -- is it crazy. And I never batting average is 268. But his on base percentage is 355. Lowry is batting average is 281. He is on base percentage is 344. Where there's a huge gap between them now. Is -- Where Julio Lugo is the classic you know singles duty here you know his slugging percentage is 330 and -- for 21. Production is obviously that this that we were pointing out here. We these two RBI in and course J. D. Drew -- on down played so we only ended up with two RBIs on the play. But he's got 24 now in 39 games and by the way almost all of them since the all star break. I I mean he's had this stretch here once Lugo went down that's for almost all of lotteries RBIs have command. He's pretty good defensively. I think he's better than Lugo defensively he doesn't run as well as Lugo. I'm not sure that's he -- how how well is this Lugo around -- pretty quick and me. But we're we're does that where's -- I -- I don't think it's big deal and just try to point out. You know that the differences between -- got to show up somewhere. And I have an out pouring from our from first on a double I don't know all made -- big event doesn't show up. In the stats I'm not going to give him props on right. But the bottom line here is. And we talked about this I just don't see how Lugo. Goes back into the spot when if and when he helped the I don't even know how realistic businesses here Terry says he's had a schedule. You know Terry says he's continuing to do the things yes that he's accurate Boston working out with Scott -- I mean you know he he works real hard. I just don't see how it goes back into the spot when he's helping you have to deal I don't see how.

It goes back into the spot if jet Lowry. Struggles at times if jet -- just goes down to that too weighty one becomes. At 255 or or 265. Then you mix and match. You have a platoon at shortstop just like you did at the beginning of the season. In center field. Between Coco Crisp and Jacoby Ellsbury.

I do I do understand that that I wouldn't do it -- much more patient with that sort of thing and we as fans you know we -- like the snapshot right -- In a -- Larry's get it done. You -- we -- him back out there that's sort of thing where where -- Tito's a little more patient about that a little more analytical about that. I just don't see you make that move back assuming that.

Lowrie stayed in and maintains -- yeah it's going to be tough to make the move back but if he doesn't then it's pretty easy and short Terry Francona is more loyal. Then the average -- okay that that's not it it's not like he has this. He has this loyalty gene. And somehow that allows an increasingly when everybody else's watch in the games and the guys drive me crazy that he does it because that's what have to do you have to. You have to have some type of consistency. As the manager otherwise known as club and you have to. Going to have to stick with guys in this struggling or you will lose the clubhouse even from guys want struggling they'll look at it and say that's not right. The way you retreated there eating get a chance to work situation out -- you played hurt -- the guy wanted to play her. And then when your performance suffered he uses against you but the kid in there so you gotta be really delicate with these situations I've.

What's the line Terry always uses with us you know if if you give up on a guy then they need you don't get the benefit when the guy turns things around it and you know. It's the way you you expect him to hit and things like that self. I understand the way he operates I think clubhouse aspect of it is part of what you're saying and that does make sense. He didn't hear -- word I just said.

I did I heard everything not that we're talking and all our jacket as multitask. Well yeah yeah there's something you're interrupted and you say between us through. I think we would be remiss if we didn't mention.

That we have a member a boat and come back today.

The prodigal son. I'm not afraid to little bit hot pass the -- the prodigal son has.

Everybody has -- This game James back.

Vacation you know why he wasn't post. He was supposed to be -- bash known as he you know it two weeks -- vacation Expos -- on this week as he was last week yet. But he hurt -- McCain was in the building the other day. It could happen in this business paper and things should be. Sent me back. So James tell me.

trip to Chicago what was it like did you go to.

All of that is awful that where it manually real heat on with -- Kirk off.

RS UV.

I thought Tony I didn't ideas thoughts -- old Cubs and Cardinals. Cardinals come home -- go outside.

Not yeah well yeah.

The Cubs -- on Saturday. They actually play this. A barbershop quartet. That atmosphere.

See him --

This morning.

And like I like at Fenway at the end of the win and you know it's like it's like Papelbon. Three outs water. Now bring the stand -- killed dirty water in -- way we it sounds cool it's not. If -- actually play and that stuff. In Chicago it either US cellular wrigley all my god.

Well I I wouldn't you think. If people came from he came from LA. -- from. Seattle. Go to Fenway Park. And you hear them playing sweet Caroline. I think that's -- is. Neal I don't I don't end of the game okay Isiah on day Els at the end -- again who weird dirty while I which which makes sense that that's we're used to it. If you're from LA and music played this at the end of the game. I don't that we Arnold knows. It is better and -- Apple would be better than either of dogs.

You know I thought they would if they can't talk yourself where outlet outlet. If they if they take the -- Chicago part of beginning in the Coca. -- You read. It right there. -- well that's our -- fit. -- over it. -- now and I'm not I'll submit.

It went Dick Kenny Chesney and asked him to right it's on to play for the Cubs at -- that's awful. Some other in the musical interludes and he did you have any fun than that I saw great pictures James Michelle -- pictures on his computer. Which US cellular went to wrigley. Saw gains in both places.

And he's a good man because Jane gets back James brought back gifts for everybody. On staff that is of vary on and intercom like and -- guy like gesture. And I just wonder maybe I mean and I know what the great city the great city the vibe. Of those kind midwesterners midwesterners got into you because. A lot of people wouldn't do it was very nice there's -- other cool thing. It's simple kills the you want to go -- and said. Well. It's. Listen I have. I think tonight and agony and doing okay. And pulling him go see it. I don't want to tell you anything I don't want to give away most people aren't. Unbelievable. -- that shards Heath Ledger. Was so good in the movie it was so good everybody else. Some pretty. Pretty competent actors. In this movie he was still good he made him look above average when they want about average they would a while but that's -- I knew what I have heard rave reviews this -- He deserved it it would. Third career Lindsay. Don't tonight and Susan and got to go check it out. So James that is nice vacation Chicago wheat loot he's back world this week I mean we've got everybody all hands on deck. Everybody.