9-2-08 Baseball talk on Dale and Holley

There is say yeah a phrase that my partner Michael -- has point and I use that all the time and I -- give you credit for a -- and all the time now it's a SID numbers. And the SID numbers for Dustin Pedroia say that he's about 59510. And a 180 pounds a chance posted yes idea numbers okay. There is not a 56 and a half I'd say five yet 'cause I'm 5758. I think he's a little shorter than on AM. I would say. Buck sixty backs. Might be a buck fifty this time a year the way he play isn't and goes after it but. You know we're talking about a guy who's you know by 6575060. Pounds. Who yes America is it legitimate candidate. To be the MVP in the American League now he won't be the MVP but he's a legitimate candidate.

Well how do you say won't be the MVP. I think the first person mentioned it the first first and I heard mention it was Jerry Remy. Probably a month ago a month and a half ago. And he he made the case if you consider everything if you look at. You know playing every day in versatility. And hitting ability and extra bases in what you mean to your team. He he. Dustin Pedroia is the definition of what you want an MVP.

It's it's really body to that because he's so small right and and he's a second baseman and he's not going to have the numbers it's going to have a lot of power numbers but I guess. And again and paper and he's also not a pretty good he could be a 20/20 behind this year. And lead the American League in hitting and be at 20/20 guys he's up to seventeen stolen bases now. And in -- old joke is you know he's he's not as fast as he thinks he has you know that's sort of thing joking about Pedroia --

He's also said that he's an intelligent base runner and that tells you. And that's reflected in the numbers we've been brought out wants yeah. This year he has seventeen stolen bases traffic in the American League the national -- a different story I think in the National League. You can get away with a an MVP doesn't hit twenty homers and Barry Larkin was an MVP the same year Milan -- 95. And I -- Barry Larkin. That year. 1415 -- I know I didn't have -- when he if we did have over twenty was right there 21 right. But in the American League because it's the league for a sluggers and and DH is. I just think it'd be difficult for for a guy with just twenty home runs. To be the MVP of the league trying to think of the last time that happened. Ichiro each wrote it and that's good one -- James dispatch out that out. And and he had tons of hits.

Well this guy and it just set the Red Sox record for hits by second baseman and -- season. He you know he's going to end up with a over 200 -- this year. -- he's already over a hundred runs decently in the max oh look I think he should be and probably hit cleanup. -- today was he does he says that penises Pedroia says it's about time Ortiz says he's going to retire -- I mean he. For me the highlight of now we're talking about a guy who was fifteen for last when he five okay. Rule number around there temperament okay that make fifteen for his last 25. You know get every clutch it makes every clutch play. My favorite moment of the weekend. Was the slide in the second base that head first slide worry right July over the tang. You know and and and today it. Now the thing. I did I can hear Pedroia nothing at all right I should be I could hear a good Golan after. He has done everything this team could ask. -- Unfortunately. Kevin Youkilis is kinda nailed a little bit. At the time when Pedroia has gone fifteen for his last 25 -- it set for a while but I thought they might split the vote little bit from Red Sox perspective. But I think Kevin is kind of dropping a little bit Pedroia picked -- up a little bit I don't think it will split the Red Sox vote as much as they might have before. I think there's going to be an appeal to some voters. About a second baseman who's going all the stuff and you know like him.

There and he's he's a likable guy. Off the field on the field you watch him play he can't help but. Be excited about the way he plays the game. If your Red Sox fan is one of those guys -- that but let's think of it this way for the bulk of his Red Sox career which is really not that long. But think about the moments that you've seen Dustin Pedroia come up you'd think he was going to do something positive. There's a month. Of his career where you can have all of his last year we did have confidence in other than that. He's been reliable he's been solid he's a guy you want to see up in a big situation. For for different reasons you want to see David Ortiz up and Vick situation but you want to see Pedroia up like the other night. You'd have a you have a feeling he's going to get hit.

Yes absolutely. He might not stick it in the monster seats are going to do some then you'd think about it too. We're talking about a guy who was the American League rookie of the year a year ago. And it's going to follow it up with a better with a with a better when they'd better season. And it MVP caliber season may not be the MVP. They probably -- and probably well and he might be second or third. About from. 56. In 260 pound second baseman. Earlier plays out -- the and it top five and modified version that you're the nearly. Now he's not considered a superstar in honestly. But he should be. I think part of that how he looks he doesn't look like I was Alan Michael this form on the air. In the Yankee clubhouse on Wednesday and I -- as the real -- One -- big man a guy like A-Rod is Cynthia you stand -- god he looks like he could play. You know strong safety in the NFL -- tied in yeah I innings of six and war and Dustin Pedroia a a look at Adam and ego. Like -- doesn't in other words in other words no exaggeration -- it's almost four dollars and -- almost it's. And -- it a big situation. Which guy would you rather back -- you want that the Pedroia and I'm as I watch Paul Byrd worked -- they can somewhere somehow. There's a ball going off and Brian Cashman house. And it's hank Steinbrenner on the other end of alliance an watch and what this board guys don't up in Boston.

And -- not did that Paul Byrd is a great pitcher -- gave up a lot of home runs last night fortunately they were solo home yeah but. To get a guy of that caliber this late in the season it's pretty unusual for a good team really next enough.

You know the money is no big object -- any -- not the Yankees not to the Red Sox -- object for the Tampa bay rays or anybody else that got them much money. You know what she gave up not that big you know he'll. You know and and you know for -- a Yankee team that presumably. The first of August when Paul Byrd likely one on waivers the Yankees still thought they were in this thing. I mean what were they thinking we got enough pitching you know when we're okay with with pop bottle Rasner and posts and and down. Upon -- being the the bottom three of our rotation I -- they.

Well I'm not even I'm not thinking about the Yankees right now winning two out of three in New York in -- close to be in a -- for the Red Sox. That was enough for them. I don't think the Yankees are going to make some miraculous comeback I really do want to give props to the race. In the kept saying September September let's see what happens we get to September 1 well will be on September 1. The rays are still holding down the American League he's. And I and I wonder at what it just never lose -- at what point do you start to say for the Red Sox. Okay he oh where where realistically looking at the wild card it's got a month left in the season. And you're looking at a five game --

I don't know I'm not willing to because that because look I don't get me wrong Tampa bay is real -- and that -- great baseball. You know they are absolutely the team to beat. But we've talked all along about September schedules for both teams they're basically flip -- where the Red Sox play almost all of their games at home. The the rays play most of their games on the road. I still want to see I don't want to give up that the the division.

To Jamaica a baseball basketball comparison where Watson the Celtics during the regular season. We kept saying they have passed. Every test there's -- and so and -- right -- at -- at Texas triangle. Gently wiped that out. Rockets have a nice little winning streak going on that winning streak is over winning a game on the road and which were okay they they've taken care of that out got a great home record. They've played well after the All-Star break things the right on the same thing they have to pretend like they're great team home just like the reds are there's your team and all. They have. Matched up but the Red Sox they've dealt with the Red -- they have matched up with the Angels on a team that we thought was the best team in baseball while they handled the Angels. I just don't see a Willie Randolph on New York Mets 2007. -- collapse coming for the race.

The one the one team that that the more -- of the less impressed I am -- Chicago. And I know Chicago and Minnesota are dead even right now for the central division. You know and and the team that doesn't win the division is fighting with the Red Sox for the wildcard right now. Tampa bay took care of Chicago for easily a week or so ago. And I watched them this weekend I'm again can manage just there's not that much there to scare me to death.

We're the only and I -- and I went about oh. I love them with a one point where where.

Ozzie pitched to poppy and walked Pedroia -- economy jockey. We got beat by chuck -- yeah. He doesn't now hold much back I just I wasn't as impressed with that team -- I thought I might be hadn't seen them you know sense. -- Chicago games when the Sox played out there -- Miami I'm impressed with them -- although.

He has built a machine -- god thank you very much. Even -- the Red Sox who have dealt with them. They're pitching pretty impressive. And they and they do have some guys in the lineup that you have to fear so. -- if that team gets hot in the post season they can be dangerous. Yeah I I I do have a lot of respect for.

What I like is the Red Sox have put this little streak together. They've won four straight series basically taking two out of three from four straight opponents won the first game of the series like five straight series. And -- cavalry coming over the hill. You know Michael comin' back to eighty -- comin' back Josh Beckett comin' back Bartolo Colon just pitched the other in this game yet. He's going to be the perfect guy when it got that double header on the thirteenth I think it is. You know you start and and I tell you what. Michael Bolton this weekend. Didn't do anything because they're there'd be all right for him up you think about the young pitchers they've brought down the pike the only disappointment would be buckles. And I still think I've seen enough to think this guy's going to be the real -- on the road but to think of Lester and Papelbon. And you know Buchholz and Bolden and they just keep bring in these young guys in -- and they all look like -- Masterson. They'll look like they belong here.

This year. Think about all the players who have contributed. From from their farm system. The only guy as you said the -- the only disappointment. The -- Cute Bailey. Yeah. Could Jeb Lowrie about -- nine hits in the major leagues this year in three of them are home runs. So this is it's pretty it's pretty unusual that bring up so many guys have somebody injuries in the season person all. And then to have the replacements produce. Like replacement for replacements for the Red Sox have produced this year.

This team is going to be it did I've I've -- in the policies be they are going to be in the post season and I forget who wrote over the weekend it was in The Herald with a globe. Talking about the you know the order that you ranked teams and they had. In Tampa bay in Los Angeles at a Boston I am I -- which is without him there and and the one line beside Boston wise do you think anybody's looking forward to playing this team and October. I don't like anybody wants necessarily to play the Red Sox in October 1 of all the pretty battle tested at that time a year. Second ball as I said they start to get guys back into the lineup. And you know they've done okay even without these guys in the line they're. They're a very good team that I think is going to be even better.

I can't wait to see the American League Championship Series game one in front of us 17500. Screaming fans. At Tropicana Field. Red Sox Braves. You think they can actually get 30000. To a game plan how what a joke Lamotte. Listen there's so I Braves I understand when your team loses a hundred games why you don't go to the game. When you get the best team in baseball. And you have 18015000. Go into the game. He'd had a team taken. -- take it way go somewhere where they really what baseball and appreciate baseball they happened in that Tampa.