8-26-08 Ballpark Talk and Sox-Yankees

Well I I probably agree with John and Jerry that I won't get misty eyed at the notion of the Red Sox final regular season visit to the Bronx and I I you know like I I enjoy going there LB there tomorrow I like it all that stuff I won't get all. All uptight about it but I will say again as I've said a couple of times this season. Somebody in Major League Baseball had a brain -- How do you not close the regular season with three games in the Bronx Red Sox and Yankees are expected -- baseball -- the right thing -- the sensible thing on knowing. Instead I might play it way to close out SE -- close Yankee Stadium okay. So let's play the victory in the Bronx -- on farewell. -- owe noble plant a citizen them. My -- all good things come to a man you may not miss going their dale. It's nice it's. Objective opinion it is you get a little the first time walked through. You it'll. Yea it is it is one of those places -- Montreal forum. And I went there affluent. Fenway Park from when people go there literally when you walk in if you don't hear this music you don't RPI don't get it. I I'll Lambeau Field and you walk through the gate Althea now. What in my right it would yet. I understand that there are historical athletic venues in this country but I also think sooner or later that golf and it's been quite park has that I guess I I mean I got I -- but don't -- soft board. To understand we are still worse off with a new garden as opposed the old guard we are but with the old guard and what's -- It was great that -- rafts there was no one's your which states that OY all -- it was that called charm. That's not an army army it's real it's it's that there are times when and I've had this discussion with your wife and that would. Where where I'd say there are times when there are things that we -- that are not valuable antiques. There old and worn out and need to be thrown away side stop. I'm conversation I'm talking about right I just throw them away when she's excited. And hope to god she -- from what it does now in the row where does never well and and then -- is that I get. I was on vacation with -- A week off topic about this guy costs. And nieces a what did you and all I was part of the state and -- group -- we got viewed him an advocate. You saved it and I give this ownership credit they have done everything they could do to put perfume on this. To -- Peter.

It's not a golf and to understand. It'll be -- In will be not as committed not as good of an experience when the development. -- while I don't know what -- agree with that name. The only exception Baltimore is absolutely battered old memorial stadium once open it's like -- at least baseball you have a shot. All right he would always better than the old 11 -- ball -- are really -- he's better Pittsburgh's beautiful all those stadiums. That they torn down the seventies multi used stadiums built a beautiful at times -- anonymous like okay. Those were upgrades. But I defy you in basketball or hockey there hasn't been a single one and I know. You know I've been mostly to a hockey once dale won Toronto. -- the bell Sanders a marble. May lead guards in the form you know at the same feeling walking into the new planted in the old and I don't disagree Chicago's the same way even of football I mean. Like -- has a few more bells and whistles quite a few more. Don't tell me -- Bob Barrett in cheaper slash Foxboro slash. I know which was a better football atmosphere not in close off that. It's about all that was that was at -- by real high school state and it rocked when it had to it was -- wouldn't Eric down -- throw me. And they can't air and laid down soon enough to suit me Gillette is. Probably not -- every state except for Seattle without go to Wideman -- Bought. It's the worst home field advantage in the league but I've seen the -- describe. So I mean you're lost all that all right so that club -- happen iced nice mahogany and granite up in their boxes congratulations. One it's weird for me it and and it most of the games a lot of and the thing it's weird to me as we start the second. You have its vast sea of red right middle of the cocktail party where all the -- seat people -- side you know haven't last call. -- Read. In the -- sectional Iran's state and it affects that it's it's not allowed stadium compared to. Other you know good teams and their stadiums are on the -- It's -- worse off -- in a lot of ways if what you really -- notable annual worst part ever I don't I don't know I guess you gotta move on -- you'll lose something when -- leave these old stadiums you do at least at least ideally people complain about polls and August with a line pulls. You know what. In polls are good because that means it's it's a tight. And it's intimate atmosphere gets out it was at its barely to sit behind the pole at Fenway Park episode behind so what do we get well 'cause we're smart enough to avoid Miami had anyone who got a whole seat at the gardeners or even if that waiting article stand up and watch a game and a standing -- well I'm also convince over the network.

By the way that it's never the building. It's the product and a -- I as the building you we have heard we have heard that if the TD BankNorth garden. When it was rock and for a hockey game. We have we have heard it when it was rocking with an NBA finals game it's not like the -- well I I disagree -- yet you're right it's not it's better it's not it's -- it's it's more accommodating it's more fan friendly. It's not Eagles -- rats running around in the locker or not is allowed. I mean if you get everybody standing up and pull -- of course it's going to be out and I think it's a quiet building when everyone's up. But the old guarding unit and everybody up to get atmosphere and when everybody did get up. The -- Literally let all the building that you just get all I got to work in the old when I got to work in the Nolan. You know not good we all bought. Fondly of the old one. Hugs it. Past its prime you know it's like that first car you won't sooner or later. Yea you know you take what's in the glove box and you stick it in the new car India push it on mountain and apply it to hockey couldn't figure that out like baseball has to have some of -- Brett -- yeah. Stadium baseball is better your odds that they've absolutely been better at the football I'm sort of happened happened some of these new places are are are pretty neat. But. You know it's too bad hockey hasn't figured out basketball hasn't figured that out two days of the old time -- baseball's done sell baseball fighting -- it's called it. In one place and again in gap Indianapolis that it is absolutely better that I mean I love the this. Arena in Indianapolis. And by the -- the football field in Indianapolis to battled. Fieldhouse kind of feel the trial I -- point I should say that's gone and Andy now in in Detroit you've got that that old field house kind of field select for right field domed stadiums for the most part -- time. It holed about channel Teddy surrenders retractable -- I can live way I look at. But I like they don't prominent domed stadiums I just banker yeah yeah I was at the Rogers Centre last last week. And the only previous time I'd been there the rule had been close. I was there for Thursday's Toronto a Yankees game and then -- Red Sox to run and the roof was open all night it was great. You're looking at the skyline you're looking at the CN tower he got little breeze you know coming in. Absolutely it was great with the rule fall. Roof closed it was like.

Minnesota went Yankees stadium goes and it's gone after this week. This this -- will lose a little something wrong with Canadians did Celtics sixers did when those two buildings left the ages -- it's not. It's just not as good in a fashion it's good if you want to get in and out quicker and you and -- the anti season or even normalcy -- if you're going to have a seat at Fenway Park is not exactly comfortable. You're -- your -- happens about the I don't know why that would but it does mean -- the only people in your -- you're a better spot with the handling them why you wouldn't want to you know but it's not a St. Louis Dale it's not his real it's not his ankle in the new place is not that sounds -- I mean it's better better mean more comfortable more accommodating. -- Not for sports now I don't it. Nice neat and comfortable like elements of my couch but go to a hockey game -- and -- don't Red Sox Yankees the last thing I'm really concerned about dale is -- comfort.

I am I agree with you that -- I watch on the field is the most important aspect of the experience. It's hoped he'd be comfortable. -- it's okay you know and have your knees up on your chin it's right. But -- Nim rod was in Major League Baseball we decided will play this last Red Sox Yankees series in the Bronx in August. Last week into the season I'd like to explain the logic to -- at some reason I don't elbow out. You know week two New York -- as. The mayors that week on -- kick up with a reason. What is the lasting users now -- acts -- the season. Right. Now he. Goes oh right I -- I I when the schedule came out. -- All things considered playing the Yankees the last three games the regular season from a competitive point -- other planets and from a historical. Love the game. He will be impact point of -- somehow well. In August is doesn't it would open its like as the way it has worked out maybe it is better that it's not because -- games at least a little something dale that the chance that they might not -- the last weekend yet to be five out it's just you know attend an exhibition I don't think anybody in Major League Baseball -- that was -- when they set the schedule like. Because everybody underestimated the doubled out -- absolutely I didn't. I I can't -- about everybody I certainly cue the music I mean not that I expect listened on the dial but those who did in April ice that I predicted. The rays of the head of the Yankees of the beauty of this is. Never nobody senator I throw. It or not or. I have no idea what these I I absolutely did that you're the only person I'm talking about. I don't know anybody else who said in April Tampa now that the Tampa Bay's going to be like for a playoff spot come out.

It's because ever and operates the youth and inexperience factor it is all experts have never been there before and I've been talking with us a lot the last couple weeks. I just doesn't bear itself out recent Major League history again in recent track record a lot of young team a lot of young players. Have gone deep in the playoffs have won championships at it I think -- you is is vastly overrated -- it to this degree I think that teens. -- integrated young players in -- successful the Red Sox did it would Jacoby Ellsbury last year. Jon Lester was a young you know young player on a team won a championship but young teams as a group that I disagree with well. Colorado was pretty young last year. Detroit when they went couple years ago was pretty darn young for a Lander et cetera young pitching staff Chicago when they won -- dale. Jenks was I think 23. Got a couple of young guys on the team while some key guys now some key guys not some French role players guys who were far more important all due respect. To their teams and Jacoby Ellsbury was last year. We can run these numbers again that there's been a lot of times the Florida team that won an 3 between Beckett and Burnett I think was under 25 and Miguel Cabrera played a key role that team he was just when -- something yeah but a lot of teams recently advocates. Open to do with the testing era the Angels you know brought in K rod as a young player that he's got a regular season he was not a key guy he is not a guy he was an important part of their team. He was not the closer like he has now look at it I mean literally look. Go back through the last 56 champions of the last 56 World Series matchups and -- three or four guys on either team -- quote -- never been there before when. St. Louis wanted to Adam Wainwright the young pitcher went from starter to closer used twentysomething never been there before. Close them out all the way through the World Series correct yes I'm. So it -- here. Does that on their heated and it went right yeah so I mean that there's a lot examples of young players recently saw that that's evil and overrated with the -- all the never been there before all they're too young older couple years away now it. Recent history actually is that a team gets there may be even before you think they should that's why I always had the rays on another by the way I'm not convinced that still going to be there. They're just stolen now really I think there's still in effect I don't know I mean. I I've seen their September schedules since April like you'd he would. They've already started that hard part of the schedule and they take two -- from Anaheim and two and three. Two of three on the -- I'm looking more at the roads get on the white -- they are they are eight they -- wagon and -- And there are good team on the road. But there'll wagon -- just took two or three in Chicago and got screwed by -- a bad call on the base past real watching yesterday dale. They could've easily swept that series in El -- Pierzynski. But he's or Nobel candidate Lotta people you know to a lot of things at the race all you know if they suffer injuries there rotted because variety like the Red Sox Yankees while they suffered their injuries and they're still and it all. They can't win on the road All-Star to win on the road all they can't faces tough competition on the stretch well they start to face and they. You know repeated it to meet the biggest question -- answered for me. And I can't -- how impressed by.

You lose a guy like Longoria for awhile you don't miss a beat you lose a guy like Crawford for -- you don't miss a beat your closer Troy Percival goes out. I don't think he's the world's greatest closer but he your clothes -- he's pretty good he goes out you don't miss a beat those of the things that have jumped out at me is how. You know they slide guys in you know they slide Akbar inning when you know there's a difference there's some -- bar.

And yet there's a little fulke a little looking at what they're doing in other words. They should be and it based on their talent but should they be four and a half games ahead do you buy into this run differential I think that the most important statistic in -- okay we'll hear the run differentials then. In the American League and I thought. And I said this two weeks ago when it was on the Angels and white and I said wait a minute I don't often police sold. On the Angels. Of the five probable playoff teams the American League the Angels have the worst run differential dale at plus 58 gets as the best all the Red Sox are far and away the best run differential plus one point why I still think. They're going to be you know the team to beat come October at Chicago's -- once seventeenth was not far away Boston and the White Sox are pretty tight but after that there's a pretty big drop off campus at -- 76 self. The on that run differential at some people swear by the Red Sox are what 45. Run something like that. Ahead of the the -- sell. When you look at that. You say they should pretty close -- even I think in this division and four and a half. And I think that the rays have gotten more late game magic they've had more. Fortuitous things happened themselves. While the race should be and it should they be based on what lot you'll think is most important that should be for an -- I had I don't know maybe will water seek its level and that even out. While adding that the baby --

Sox September schedule becomes much more advantageous to them Tampa's September schedule becomes much more just said they advantageous to them. That's where I think we'll see this thing even up a little bit but look I may be wrong Tampa -- just rolled through this thing. They're going to get Longoria back pretty quickly here personals going to be back fairly soon. -- and they haven't even really -- that much but they may just on -- Rolen and walk away with this thing but I don't think they well there's something intangible to about. It's you know it's a year sort of thing think they're just yet -- existing it is they are real thing and and the way the rays are trending. You just get the feel like things are going to fall for them finally this year and that's just nothing but -- tangible number on but it feels that way for now I will say this from the Red Sox perspective. They've got to have some things you know come around their way a little bit which aren't there now and I'm talking specifically about some health issues. Beckett got to be back and I'm not saying he's got to be the cy young winner. But he's got to be healthy and it'll take the ball every fifth day block -- beat Josh Beckett for for me to feel the way I do about the Michaels got a comeback. You know without suffering any adverse effects from an oblique strain which is kind of a touchy injury for these guys that have healed anyway. J. D. Drew has got to come back for -- while because the thing that the key about -- playing for me he has. Chris isn't -- right I'd much rather prefer to have J. D. Drew in the in the lineup and I do crest. I don't want Ellsbury out I want to -- him back over to center field where I think he's better off anyway. I want Drew in right field and I want -- does that guy off the bench the pinch runner of the bat the defensive replacement well you don't really need one on this team anymore if you got bay Ellsbury. Andrew you don't need a defensive replacement like he used to with Manny. To me that's the key is cute crisp out of a lineup get Drew winnable lineup and I guess if that'll happen.

If your ranking what they need you've got to say. Back at one and an eighth inning thing to any if we -- flip on those two are I think. Wanted to and then there's a pretty big drop off to the lot of issues which I think -- still important you know -- not the only thing is we've gone over. Quite a bit but it is the most it's the most important thing not the only thing is the difference there so getting those two things straightened out. I think the most important thing in the and you get to the plan openings and it is but it's out. It's a carry over effect with the JD Jews and the Michaels and it's. You know you'll lose Manny that's okay you get away at that is -- pretty darn good in the deepen up throughout the roster coming those pieces and take out into the you do start to your.

Your regular lineup now has Alix -- in there and Coco Crisp in. I want to replace those with Mike Lowell and J. D. Drew which I think is a dramatic upgrade offensively dramatic and and I think that changes things a lot now. Lol will join the team has joined the team in New York. He's eligible to come off the deal Thursday. Neither paper seems to think that's realistic more likely beginning of next week. I'm all right with that I mean if that's how I'll get get -- their first of September and I'm -- okay about it. -- I have no idea north and I don't think they're going to know until he shows up the ball park and mean can you be optimistic about -- and out right now to. Tough it out well play through pain and all that and I and again I have no idea what's involved here and I. I'm always hesitant. To say when a guy can and can't play throw as I'm not in his body you're not in his body I don't know what's going on mark but but but we discussed yesterday dale I mean what is exactly what. What is -- deserve they according to the paper stuff that I. He couldn't walk upright when he left the clubhouse in Toronto on Sunday. Now those are the erratically objective reporters telling me that is now you know well. Is there isn't it are they not objective I'm wondering what -- what your cynicism is here.

I'm so I J. D. -- his ability of why the way they write it if they didn't see. These ot but I mean all my arms broken -- in Paris. -- raised it. There's ways to carry yourself oh the eighth of that -- at me like it's -- some guys just walked -- the -- out of their pain and -- and as others or. He's always you know I think JD as I mean you've said that you told the story the other day in Toronto he came back in. Voluntarily. That when he got back hospital which article on and tell the reporters that got started Dez yeah Ernie -- right. Let's let's not put too -- he'd gold round and tell reporters. They went flocking to him -- through the door there are other guys dale who are hurt have aches and pains in the -- were absolutely no doubt about that Latin and Michael is probably an example of that so I mean it's like -- for the acts I J. D. Drew and you're very -- you know -- like me throwing things out there. The facts are J. D. Drew is that he's in his 45 games the last two years and he has yet to be disabled but -- just fine in incredible. If you actually hurt. And injured and disabled you all right that's one thing you miss those games. And -- 45 and counting with out actually having been determined. To be seriously injured by your team to you know that that's that's an abnormally large number on the field that way I don't know how you feel about it you made -- clear. Between all of that that that numbers aberrant. Look at that he's an aggressive than guys legitimate question as a nice long breaks here and -- one of these breaks that's going to look at that yeah that's too long.