9-3-08 Terry Francona, Red Sox manager

Our number to dale and -- Sports Radio double EEI. Every Wednesday at this time we talked with a manager of the Boston Red Sox well actually an hour from now but it's game day today. Joining us on the AT&T hotline is the manager of the Red Sox Terry Francona Terry's also brought to buy a -- insurance. Interest systems and doctor Robert Leonard at 1800 get -- good morning Terry. Or -- It you know we were we were talking earlier today you and I were talking about Dustin Pedroia in the streak he's on I've since learned courtesy of the Elias sports Spiro. Your second baseman has become the first player in Red Sox history to have a five run. A five hit and a five RBI game in the same season.

Yeah you know it seems like there's a lot of those types of statistics that are. Being noticed with Pedroia -- every. Seemed like every night somebody comes -- sub ultimately done in order bolt out through these heroic deplore these don't amazing things. I hope you have heard the last of the sport bureau extra bit of spoke the --

You know it -- speaking of history itself idea right over Dale's shoulder. On the commit your dad talk about his Major League career I guess there's something on -- color Red Sox stories and I see a picture view. With hair which is really freaking me out.

about what your local. Digital. They'll ask. A and by the late you know he's got so much -- at the other in the --

But you'll Tibet partisans point go to bring him up where would probably got about ten or twelve guys up put the weight room. And that that's probably -- to there's Islamabad to forty minutes and get a lot of grief from other people they're two totally --

who don't asked about grief and a second but okay to fail nice little kitchen table bowl cut you got the checker. -- well over thirteen.

What -- projected to get it. People -- the.

no if your question for you. Yeah we haven't had a chance to Tatiana note that the guys that anything to you last week. When you came out of the dugout when when Pedroia got the double. That if he avoided the tag. What would you think -- there and they give you a hard time about that.

You know what I thought I always have to go out I was look at Brady's reaction it looked like he was maps. I got going out terror and then I saw at least it'll probably suited news wasn't good. You know like -- a wide on the open but he. But for a split second out but what is going kept audible right up the score to.

convinced that the.

Ramifications. Lawyer told -- it would have been good. So don't turn it round PDT looked a bit of forty doorknob. And and now I'd obviously not embarrassed like him back Kevin Cash and scream and probably the funniest thing of all Jews. If like got a letter from polygamy this letter is still bothers -- replied as you concede. And it's fine before personally organization bridge would baseball I think it was the only guys to lose it was a really well but. I'm in big big total might just yesterday -- in the government for.

Well it was funny because I just picture Pedroia sand. I you're out there arguing when I get a hit.

Yeah I I I deservedly took relief for that. You know what what they're not they're able to do I mean I don't like to blog argue a lot anyway I'm out there are going to place some are guy's face feels bad feeling.

In -- in and seriously with Pedroia I can't. Remember of -- maybe I'm just not old enough I can't remember. 5657. Cleanup hitter in baseball that just comes to mind was hit. What was your a lot of thought on your part when you when you first put him in the cleanup -- or was it just one of those things we said I got no other choice.

Relationship and a -- you know I don't think that we'll look at him as a cleanup hitter over the course of the rest of season plus a bit beat up. But the way the numbers spell that night. Between here and kotsay wanted them to hit in the middle order because it gave us some -- spelled against burly. And it ended up ordered up pretty well tonight you can make some things were too short stints that may not necessarily work over the course of the year. But I thought did they gave me some balance that it was great up -- old problems as helpless one games.

How much scrambling did you have to do last night when Kevin Youkilis tells him basically just before the national anthem I can't gulp.

There we really scrambled that it probably it'll. What was partisan response to what's come out a lineup that took about thirty seconds. But you -- have a people all three copies prepared for VO sarge going to sign him builders got to regroup from the dugout. -- We wondered if you -- much time as possible strategic deal loose as we watch him downstairs it was his cup becoming more evident -- don't want to work in. -- building Abreu up I walked fast and we we go to the.

You know we we know what was going on before you traded Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers there was a lot of a lot of questions about Manny a lot of distractions. I'd just just. From where I -- it looks like your team is a lot looser. Yet a lot more focused and in in just haven't. I guess I guess they've ever renaissance is not the right word but -- looks refreshed and revitalize you see that too.

Yarder that our group regardless -- goal on a solitary -- like. We weren't handled it very well if you could point to whatever you want to point out of it probably a few things but. We we seem to be golden one direction and we talked about people a month ago bought pay attention to detail. Try to play the game correctly. Typical but don't pretty good job of that we've. We've not always been perfect or playing good baseball and it -- it -- it it's it's been fun to be around. Aggression it's not always perfect what you've got a team gold in one direction as a group but it it's it's it's it's very satisfying built it together.

And I'm sure it made sense from a baseball perspective. To acquire Jason Bay into acquire Mark Kotsay you probably had no idea. How these guys were off the field digit.

Not actually had a real good idea. Very. Cottage in the country better -- long time and because -- it was so great teams and actually battled some of those same teams -- he spent about war -- She had too many guys -- I had I had ordered her about conflict in news that he was kind of -- gamers you know in the in the in the game today and well what a great addition he could be if he could handle. Maybe not playing every single day and he decides he want to be right smack and noble pennant race and then all of a sudden we -- have placed -- anyway. Despite a great addition for us.

It is almost never a good thing when a pitcher's name is in the same sentence with doctor James Andrews. It's almost never gut and and yet you guys took the step last week to send Josh down to see doctor Andrews. Do you think this was more for his. Mental ease as much as anything else.

These suicide New York it is also well within the next day he just had a kind of -- it was a cool look on his -- when we're taught until we have we kept pushing a portion. Do we know so well and we finally came to a conclusion so look do you want to go see discussed. And talk -- Mike Ronald it just seemed like the right thing to do it's not the easiest thing to do put it was the right thing he came back. And Andy -- get a great bullpen yesterday and he's thrown the ball conviction. And that's the way it should be -- if I was pigeon. In my career depended on it I would want to be a lot of its golden going to stop it could be wrong now -- you know -- suppressed it feels pointing towards a lot of guys do. It's just a twinge in humility it is -- and that's going to be very reassuring.

While all systems appear goal right now for his return on Friday and will assume that's the case. What kind of restrictions will you put on using him in Texas.

Well we're we're not going to let him. Picking up 200 pitches and NF quite frankly I don't know what if there's a concrete number. We we got to realize he had intentionally -- and want to build it back up once -- I don't want to do just put a number out there because that doesn't help -- compete. And he's pretty adamant about that night I appreciate does he should just some doubt that it now we picked -- you don't want to know which. I agree with took some pitchers have a hard time. Knowing if they gold but you know -- just they just don't compete like they're supposed to -- just just right now we're here did not pitch like direct approach.

Today starting pitcher is sixteen in two for you Daisuke Matsuzaka. It's amazing person wall that that he has those numbers but what have you seen. Then maybe we don't see what is the differences between Daisuke in his approach to this year. In what he was doing last year.

Well certainly more comfortable on his surroundings that I reduced -- obviously -- you're under the spell. In in our culture. -- personal ripping pluses that I used to look at. Kind of feel bad play they'll export to remember to to worry it'll flash ball control -- didn't speak the language -- just futile. It was almost like Italy people were always talked anatomy and there wasn't he wasn't always easy but I do a good job. I'll just -- and there's been times there's been some command issues. -- at all -- sixteen and two and he seems to be getting stronger. As the season progresses which is great news that means she's handling. Our length of season. -- make an adjustment for him for example of blustery it was too strong less well off of overseeing that --

Did did Daisuke have to be convinced last year to be on an American throwing program because it's the opposite. What he was dealing with in Japan.

No not convinced I just think there had to be some give and take because I don't think that we felt like we really wanted him to abandon. Everything that it -- good. We got was picked -- the idea was to try to take. Probably the best bolt world and intertwined them and come up with what works. Here I mean they're there had to be some adjustments because of course schedule. -- likes his -- and give -- about pitching less space in between but the same time I don't think you know sort of want to take away what made it got a good.

Theo said when he acquired Mark Kotsay in the phone conversation with kotsay he said remember to bring your first baseman met with the you'll play in the first base today for the first time in in two years but I get the sense you planned that this could be an option for you when you got.

I think we've we definitely thought so he'll have time -- certain. The one -- I'd want to ascendancy -- veteran -- sort of out there and automatically disorder comparison results my -- I asked about the first visit to ground or would you read blink first pelvic. Q I'm really look answered good. The only -- probably just went out there. But I don't think there's going to be any problems and if there is he could handle skip this tips we'd. I'm a -- field go to great job these accumulate baseball players and our club hospital Sloan placed around discuss or discuss or play in game lawyer's supposed to and he's a big additional --

That's what a follow up on on something you said earlier about kotsay he said if he can handle not playing every day what was that conversation like with him and how long. How long was it when you said art we we want you here which are not going to play every.

I don't think that people like -- yeah needed to be prepared. This -- guided in his career has been a grinder employees you know every day with. Back curtain like certain that's -- prides himself on. And ultimately colder and also let you know we may have you know javy to a back. Albert Coco. Kind of just want to make sure that you know that he could handle. Doing that and Duchscherer we -- now all. Figured out it'll get them to make sure this works for everybody. But having him on our ball club should not just a leadership -- that's better but the way he approached the game. Do look at the guys it was for a week it was already having an impact on people.

It you wouldn't be human if you didn't at least glance at the scoreboard from time to time. Can you get over the psychological hump of rooting for the Yankees against Tampa bay.

I don't know what happened before I really don't I I guess it wouldn't hurt toward leaving game of the tie. You don't want I my idol I can't allow -- people say they don't look at the scoreboard. I love look at the scoreboard. Just long look at credible away. You know -- a lot more fun coveted your baseball fan to begin with. Our jobs reliant on it I mean every time. Somebody loses its nearest it helps us I guess I just can't get over the Sacramento and overlook our long look at.

How many times you look during the game.

I don't put him between innings you know again -- football -- television timeouts. There's so much time in between innings. And you know you yours at their way to the game starts and it you'd get bit nervous energy -- to way to kind of middle occupied upon.

One other quick question about a guy who may be getting ready to have to work four year I saw Bartolo Colon in the clubhouse. What's the plan for him here.

The plan is for -- pitched Saturday in a minor league playoff game now that going to be determine just on. You know we'd like you to get a higher at the highest level as possible. Personal assurances that posters will be going to -- triple or double play and then step toward it leaves open the possibility. That he could start one of those games that don't have a thirteen.

Time now for Red Sox second -- by Mohegan Sun world to play. Today's question comes from -- at what indomitable and it has to do with young pitchers interestingly enough. Is -- your philosophy with young pitchers being brought up for their first Major League start in this case Michael Bolton to hold them to an even tighter pitch limit. I'm thinking this is -- boat and did not go back out for the sixth inning. On top of that how important was it. That Daisuke went eight remarkably strong innings saving the bullpen for a night when you probably knew in advance your picture wasn't going to go as deep as you might like.

Yeah Michael I think 389 pitches and over the course of the last five or six mileage starts he had been between policy 85 and I think he popped out of a few more than that maybe 931 games public but -- He would really bad around that same marked almost every starter. Just think if you -- you get a guy that's first visual explored. Can you run amount they're trying to do greeting get a couple of extra outs. It just doesn't make sense you know you always keep it on young guys anyway. You're afraid they're going to try to do too much in Philadelphia held all the biggest problems we had. Is -- pretty young pitchers they're trying to do too much study or ready for an end up injuring themselves. So we really keep an eye on what they've done at the minor league level and try not to just because at the racially global ask him to do more clues about where -- realistic. Our -- and he's got a lot. In -- Fortitude but it you know everybody talked about this kid. His maturity is mound presence you know what they're right now he pistols and Jacobs and he's a young kids. Still leave the pitch. That's not knock on him restored order of oldest prize for the visually it was unbelievably quick. But he's he he can throw 93 with a downhill plane and he throws all right out of this year you know it's it's a little too little deceiving. I don't know -- teacher played a role like that. What he's strong. He can leverage the ball down -- computers don't seem to see your role also you don't have an interest in future.

You know you just mentioned it didn't he he show you a lot when he got out of that jam that firsthand because you think when a guy gets called up. We've seen as so many times. Goes to the lineup the first time the second time around gets into a jam any doesn't get.

Exactly the Yugoslavian at the next days after we'd sit back -- ask you what you tell me now that you know and but I just feel. Antimissile brutally honest to terrorist question -- terrified. Deals that first hitter he'll I had no chance UW Milwaukee or hitting and we were laughing. And it just -- pressuring. To your kid cuddled up to the fact you scared to death in any figured it out and buckled down got about.

Speaking of scared to death haven't signed up for fantasy football -- scared I mean you finished third in third place Leicester what are you afraid of fourth place fifth place --

Try to get my priorities or. -- terrific football team owner Michael and I just actually. I'd apologize for the team because like successfully or so but it they're played actually apologize.

same team in the market partly explain your first baseman. He may may have tweaked his back but he is ready for the fantasy draft Kevin Youkilis just talking about the draft he's ready to go he's in the league this year so -- gotta you -- beat him.

She's she's Toledo. There we go get.

Terry -- and we appreciate time that best of luck today -- talk -- you next week. All right here by the way for being selected mile -- is 1100 dollar dinner voucher to Tuscany. And two tickets to see -- show at the cabaret theater Mohegan Sun. A world that play Terry Francona brought you buy AT&T. With more bars in more places switch to the wireless network with a best global coverage AT&T. You or world delivered.