8-26-08 Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports

Michael -- on vacation. Michael Felger from WEEI dot com is filling -- and and Comcast sports net and Comcast sports net my apologies to or. Short changes there weren't talked to this individual on a regular basis joining us right now on the eighteenth tee hotline from fox sports is Ken Rosenthal taken I don't. Great thanks. How hot is this Mark Kotsay stuff that you reporting on the foxsports.com website. It's being discussed.

In his status questionable. It also -- The Braves about kotsay -- that the brewers. It would seem to me that the Red Sox want the guys get him but question probably -- Much directors at a.

What's the feeling on Drew is that. It's our feeling that this one's actually legit or is it just more JD being jaded.

All I think it's legit but it is -- and the question is -- to put on the L it's. Hamburg. Or. Is it pretty much calming down to the point there competent actions. That's something it really is payday though. I'm not sure how to -- attic right right now.

Yeah let me be more specific -- the coming out of it with you know out of then -- is like his faking it or anything but they're there are players who play through it. There are players of higher pain threshold there there are guys who can manage that injury and show up every damn plan as as others who can't deny. I think unfortunately Jays in that second category. What what are your thoughts on the.

Well Michael it's a very dangerous thing. If you -- to judge paint rational. Figured hey this guy should be playing in this guy should. I'm not instead by the body I don't know it yet changer in the history of injury history perhaps. Not playing things that others do but. One of the early early thing silent in this business was. Very careful with righty write about and talk about such things because. Very individual situation.

Sarah's. Interestingly enough kotsay missed the entire month of June with a lower back strain. He has played a lot sense he's played forty out of the last 48 games for the Braves was hot early on in August has cooled off here of late. Would he be a guy though. Who would take crisp out of the lineup moving Ellsbury to -- and and you gain offensively. With kotsay in the outfield instead of crest.

Good question and I'm not sure the answer that -- did you notice that when they were considering. One of the things they talked about one plane Giles in right field in true center field on certain days in certain right handers. Which was hurt. If they did indeed acquire cut they have a number of options. That is what most teams want at this time. Year option.

There's -- a question and and you post this in the piece that you wrote that he has a limited no trade clause to eight teams in Major League Baseball but. On the sons of Sam horn website they quote page 96 of -- the new pins book beating the monster. Where kotsay was quoted as saying there's one person I would play for any time of the day and that's mr. Henry. I guess the Red Sox probably on on that group of eight.

Probably not based on and I wish I had better every of page 96 let's look what I had written. But certainly also can't play for contenders. For most players at all is very. Childhood. Special K. We've had gone all the way across the country club will have limited playing time that's why he. Blocked the trade off. I don't know that cut eight he has the trade off base telling me it is written it would.

As we talk waiver deals I think you'd asked most people at the Red Sox would make one and and what position they go for we would all think set up middle relief thing you know we're -- additional players is there anything going on can in terms of literally for the Red Sox.

Michael that thing that drives this you know is. Supply and demand the supply of relievers. In -- process is very -- indictment all the Red Sox very Olympic. Ideally short it looked sure it up and get something that is perhaps what they have but I don't it. -- kind of injuries wouldn't be available there for the did view -- the weight of waiver process worked where at its best record at last toward. You're going for a player -- to be yet at the Harvey first injury early in the red dot skates were at their best record in the league right now so. Imagine and getting a guy in that process unless somebody -- space. With Paul Byrd their questions about why in the Yankees blocked all are so big always possible. But I don't expect.

I -- back that Yankees thing in blocking Paul -- in the second but you know I was among those who have no -- still have no problem with them devoting resources to trade. Waived veteran reliever just given the track record again. All of those moves in recent years he also what happened with Eric Gagne. Court if I'm wrong but is also marte made any sort of difference there. In New York. Seems to me they're the exact same place in the standings they were when they made that deal is he -- A difference maker. And I'd -- I just think more often another solid reliable these middle guys that you're better off him to a young arm Justin Masterson. And hoping he works out and you are bringing in a veteran hoping he works out.

That's great point and the Gagne thing. Is not just. Warnings I'm future red dot of the total points I've ever and you're right about -- Has not done well at all to yank -- run. As far as being difference maker -- not at all Nady has been a good job but marte has not. Act that they would hope. So. Any. Weaver is again between acquired Eddie Guardado yesterday we acquired the -- Even a good eighth inning last night and they're hoping that he continues to -- that but. You're absolutely right beavers are the most problematic all species in this sport.

What's your guess on Kenny Rogers and whether or not he'll have a different addressed by the weekend.

I get -- and the reason I think that dale is.

It's because he stinks.

Yeah well exactly and to justify. -- Kenny Rogers. You gotta think well he's better at. Look at -- like and -- and the starting pitcher right now on May just went on the DL. It dedicated double A John. Now in their competent that he can it be capable little bit in that kind of situation. The White Sox starter. I don't see any of these teams think Kenny Rogers is better.

What do Yankees not -- Paul Byrd.

I don't know and that's really the question there. Is no. Good explanation. This part come and the money that outrageous. Money should never stop the Yankees anyway. Technically it is Paul Byrd considered with irritation -- Ottawa on -- Rat. So that's the question that. It still out there and what really has not been entered and -- up yet to given secrecy surrounding waiver process.

Where are the Yankees this year are they at a different place this year that it. -- I mean empty your guys like sabathia or Teixeira just O'Donnell aren't -- but it wasn't -- they -- epic. Trade deadline and what the Yankees do is -- middle reliever and an extra outfielder. Where were they this year what's going on there.

That -- significant trade I would. That was just trade was what did you do in the big superstar down any thing that -- they've been very protective of the young players as of the -- that the other -- Change it really. Is that the playoff which like it well. Whether that offset the change at all where do they have more aggressive approach whether simply create free agency. There are a lot of -- they go. I would say that tank it and I would say that they got aggressive. He just have been unwilling. To our young players will fall and it goes back at trade which now being question a lot of people. Why did they -- Look at the news AAA -- Cabrera triple those two centerpiece of that deal. And hate it make out that the -- is -- top of the rotation starter -- Get back in Tokyo but right now --

Can maybe I should know this and and I I it has just slipped by me but I I've been curious about this. -- the Yankees building Yankee Stadium or is the city of New York in the State of New York building.

The Yankees are all night and most -- I don't know the exact breakdown but the reason he. Would pay for their own would be deducted from what they have.

And the reason I ask that because you were talking about you know they've made some rather strange it seems to us financial decisions. Look there's no mortgage on the building their sitting in right now and hasn't been for along time. They're about to take on a big mortgage. Everybody is assuming that they're going to have this unlimited pot of money to -- players out out. Not sure that it's going to be significantly more because they got to pay a lot more than they've ever had to --

That's true but. That's going to be ripping out at all ballpark. And historically the L about the right they're going to charge a yet. If you had -- member of the Red Sox front office. Difficult spot actually the spot I surely they would know it's just the -- So I don't see dad is being read the reason is that -- get. Wanted to take his organization different direction. In the direction with the Red Sox are right now with yours -- system spitting out players you know players who make I able -- And for the Yankees they're probably. Before you're spot on the Red Sox are right. And they're still trying to be sort of difficult place to be in action that a column about -- about an hour on the web site in our. It's about some of the things were talking about. Frankly I think a little bit of a difficult seem to be -- general match. Because it's hard to do. What do trying to you bring a young guy when you're trying to compete. And while we all consider there resource in the AZ last. It can also be occurs because suspend the money. And it you'd give up some of these contract that you later regret.

I think there and a very interesting spot you look at in. Alex spiral at the Sonny yeah I dot com seventy milling coming off the books. This year between Jason Giambi and that it Bobby Abreu you Mike Mussina pudge Rodriguez you've got sabathia sitting out there he got Teixeira sitting out there you've got all that new revenue coming in. From the stadium no matter what the debt service as we all agree it's going to be more off the bottom line for the Yankees. Yet. I think Cashman agrees with the L and I -- both of them that the real way you build here and -- out contender is system players not free agents. So what do they do I I think that is instinct and I want to ask you about a team it's a totally different spot. That's -- Minnesota Twins and I'm fascinated. By this team and and and we talked about this on Comcast sports at last night you'll look at what they've got the rotation to look at what they've gotten a lot of -- how the hell. Do they do it but beyond that. You know -- after the big that that the big picture question for me. What is the Minnesota Twins way. It's a common denominator between players they draft and pitchers -- draft or young players they trade for certain skills that. That when you all put together the sum is greater than the parts.

That's great question. I don't know that it has to do -- of players they draft. And developed at much had the -- teach. System that they put in place. I would of Baltimore. Years ago the Orioles were very proud of the Oriole way keep out -- it was only after the structure. There's no formal twins' wait at least as far as I know but. It's very clear. Favorite player of -- league knows how to play. How -- like Indy. -- the beat these guys year after year the other thing in this worth noting. The pitchers know how to pitch he threw strikes in the calm and Major League maturity. About their performance. That a lot of other team. So there's clearly. Clearly something to with the view and I think we talked about the let Comcast. You're you're body. Numerical and now they -- that I keep these terribly shaken their heads and wonder. Well there's something to obviously it would have been.

What's happening with the Dodgers. Not a victory really really bad and -- left about a hundred guys on day.

And Larry -- at third base coach at some really critical think they last night. Not only did they it which is the problem that they at all a year before many and a half. But they played very hit -- please look at too. -- to plate on Sunday night on national television is in it. In which victory stretched a single double on. And in last night. Worked scored second on ground all of -- he was running. Jeff Kent everything in -- the first and that kind of aggressive plays something that you want to see this year. Dodgers look like they were out of in fact I was watching the game last -- on ESPN or -- very critical. Think that they look -- look like they were ready to go. They might not have enough to get there.

Is Manny. Just slowing down or did he just have a tough weekend -- what's going on.

He's had a top we hit it really hit the same way at earlier. No human being -- It's going to be really think the Alley form over the month. Assuming that they stain because that's where it was victory in. That was the kind of play that will try to create -- off the time he played a good left field but with these things.

With lack of aggressiveness that would drive in. And he's played for money now so it's going to be really actually to see -- Goes about it Alex forms but I don't think he's all order and I just think things coming back so.

Gave the Sox applying for the wildcard can.

yes Michael but.

There's a lot of these thirty plus game. And Tampa bay as well they play you wonder -- peaking you wonder in September things will be different. -- depth at every single at actors in Angel let -- like 1. And now they have Toronto. But. I just refused to think the Red Sox this sport to division --

I am and as high as I look at the end of the season here and it's things roll towards the end inevitably I think about you know where to guys stand. From the national perspective. -- Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia get any play at all nationally. In MVP voting and I don't think they're the MVP of the league but they should at least be talked about right.

You -- certainly and Pedroia as well they -- top ten guy. You with maybe topped by. And in the MVP race right now immediate post quite as he has in the most productive player for contender. But we've got a month ago. If -- it continues to go nuts for the rate as -- started yet he might be in the discussion. -- these other guys in the discussion as well certainly Josh now. As. It Internet discussion all in all but there is no. What you with Pedroia meant to the -- Yeah -- in some ways even more because remember they were without which he's -- It traded. Out of without bowl so he's been consistent -- and yeah I think they'll -- no question.

What does Daisuke finish --

For me not talked to answer it quickly it out. AB's third but. Want to -- kinda tough just don't want to -- it's like a glove that you know you're absolutely right you don't watch. And you look at every notable walks pretty darn good but. Does -- I did anymore it's terrible get some -- I personally think it. Relievers -- more in VP candidate then they are cy young. Guys but even. In both regards. I don't indians' major force.

Have you ever final question for me have you ever heard any explanation. From anybody in Major League Baseball. Why they're playing this series at Yankee Stadium now and not the final weekend of the year when the same two teams are playing at Fenway.

I've not a good explanation for the in the Yankees closing out in the Orioles. Up state. Sorry doesn't mean quite the same to me no it doesn't and there's not the same history there I don't know why -- They're very good question and one I should probably yes.

Can we always appreciate double tucked -- next week. They got there Ken Rosenthal brought to you by eighteenth tee. With more bars in more places switched to the wireless network with the best global coverage AT&T. -- world delivered a me think what the yanks.