09-05-08 Dale and Michael talk Sox and NFL

Question of the day it's simple what was more boring last night. The start of the NFL season and the Redskins -- the Giants -- John McCain's acceptance -- not even a good question very I'm John -- they were ball awful but yeah I agree McCain. Yeah I was it was not a throw lament just.

You know here's -- every all the political commentators had their sports analogies even people who don't follow sports. You know they thought they bring out some some edgy sports analogy and they -- mixing metaphors but the woman the other -- yet. Serra -- had a home run now -- going to training in a way -- that it gotta you gotta -- that I able and I it would be spring training with and it's a little late for spring training. You know so that worked either. But I'll say this. There apparently hit a home run so they had their cleanup hitter. On Wednesday night and on Thursday night at number nine hitter yeah I had to he's got cleanup credentials with with number non verbal skills he.

Probably was going to have an issue anyway because following her act was going to be tough when she was getting rave reviews from anybody who didn't have the after their name. And you know of their -- like third and she's the pit bull with lipstick and all that stuff. So he was going to suffer anyway but Mayo brings something bring some energy -- give me something. It was. It was not exactly a problem and I literally. Zealously. I I just think there came a point I try and I made a mistake I I went laid down a bed to watch and that's just stupid could you know you got a good chance of you know not not --

He took the momentum away. It was a it was he he was a momentum changes -- very complex proposal and what parity there's no one man had momentum. Changer.

Yeah Matt Wise and I got in the football game -- a whole lot better for me no way Jason Campbell played great last I -- my boy Jason can't off the charts. Tom Coughlin got over a hundred yards when it -- from quarterback. It's about one what 133135. Something like yeah. -- yeah. It just it it was and I'm Matt Ryan give me I don't think your advice I skip all the pregame stuff. NC Michael Strahan now hold on the trophy -- I didn't see that banner I skipped all of it. Sportsman and this morning in the nation everything but but I skipped all of that I jumped in probably 34 minutes into the football game. I don't want to the Giants marched down field but on well. I watch you know Peyton Manning you know quarterback sneak hitters -- in the end zone or you. Miami and -- watch him the man this utley at these guys feel that great at the end of the rest of the night. Thank you we're not going to score anymore we've got.

Yeah it was it was a very boring game but that the Giants look decent against -- who knows what it means as as it -- decent against a I -- decent team that's the best way I can describe. Washington. -- an expectancy of expect to see them in the playoffs this year but he'll probably goes. What seven and I made me.

Yeah somewhere in time in eight -- might be pushing it but yeah. -- don't don't base that on one -- well first day I current event and after all they do you have your wonderful quarterback they're playing the Super Bowl champs on the road c'mon. Audio cranked up I watched I mean you know we had -- that they -- to -- I had it on an art in my office -- though.

Understand when they've picked these games okay. We've seen it in the past when the Patriots long ago when the Patriots used to -- Super Bowls way back in the in the good old days. You'd see the Patriots open against the Steelers. You would see the Patriots open against the Colts on a Thursday night exciting. Good teams. Why why do you. The reds games. For the Giants open again well as college football try to get a winnable game will wouldn't -- I mean if if if if you're the guy pick in the games okay I wouldn't -- they're not not in -- in the Patriots this year so you can't play the Super Bowl rematch which accountable. Yeah -- she -- him because that is now a well because they did it last year I think they opened with a league with Giants Cowboys master but you go Giants Eagles. You can go. Giants Packers if you want -- to rematch of NFC championship game. You can go. Yeah it could go to Giants. If they Giants Jets I don't know that work. But then again wanna. Go Giants Giants that would that would give people and they play the Jets.

There as a great idea now good plan on your American. I'm trying to think if they don't play green basically can't -- that it would have to be. And and you know. I I know Eagles. Divisional opponents -- better today. That was very board game not much. We didn't have baseball to distract us because the Red Sox had the night off they were in. Arlington Texas last night where they begin a three game weekend series against the Rangers tonight Josh Beckett makes his return of amount. He flipped on its -- wrong last night. You know the planet he's going to pitch tonight probably about five innings out there.

anything is 35 innings they -- limit him to about seventy pitches 75 pitches. And his first game since August 17. He might be a little rusty. I -- what if it might be three inning game form right before innings.

Well he and he went out of his way as Terry told us to tell Terry don't tell me. What you have -- mind just come get me when you want to come get me. I don't want to be out there thinking okay I got eighteen more pitches and then they're going to come get me -- in all K I got one more inning in and I got to leave. He just wants -- and pitch not think about it not not sit and read about it and when they decide he's done just come get him off the mound that'll --

Probably it's smart way to approach it from his point probably very cautious with Josh Beckett you don't know. You don't know what you're going to see performance wise that they're just concerned about his health which is which is smart. Here we are in September the Red Sox have like bill lock up some playoff spot whether it's the division with a wild card. You don't want to put it here. Your number one starter when it comes -- the playoffs he has and -- starting pitcher number one starter in jeopardy before the playoffs even start you know give yourself a chance.

Could be really competitive. -- Citizens but I do Josh could be a big night for the Red Sox just in terms of you know some reinforcements arrive at calvary -- what I expected to play tonight and returned it to third base. That -- jet Lowry back to shortstop and and moves Alex Cora probable lineup. I don't know -- Kevin Youkilis. You know given the fact that he had a kind of a back issue an -- and a three and a half hour plane ride yesterday. But it -- not able to play and have affairs who drafted. From the obvious football -- he probably -- kept him up all night had a lot of us played yesterday. So if he's not able to go to night Sean Casey is coming off the DL. He could go back and play first base not the Mark Kotsay didn't handle it fine the other day I just think all things being equal they'd be more comfortable with Casey being back over there. You know and as opposed you know asking kotsay to do it again but maybe they'll elect to go that way in which you're gonna have. He -- Beckett back wall back Casey back a possibility that you -- back is well and J. D. Drew probably sometime next week maybe in the.

Next week who have no excuses down the stretch they'll last. Maybe two to three weeks of the season have everybody. Of the healthy team and we'll see where they go from there but I I happen to think I mean I think it's. It's a given that they're going to they're going to be in the playoffs I agree it's just a matter of where they're going to be and I felt it in your raise one last night.

Saw that my race you're yeah yeah I I I think I have very little faith that the Yankees could sweep them. Down army would have been nice but I I didn't expect that the fact they took two out of three considering what I think of the Yankees right now as a plus and you know your three the Sox have six games left with the double over -- months -- with the rays three next week three the week after that. Monday Tuesday Wednesday series Fenway next week at. Saint Petersburg we ever.

And the good thing is it because they made up a couple of games. On the rays and they've been playing good baseball themselves -- the Red Sox. You don't have to go went to these games thinking we need to sweep this team -- it because that's unrealistic when you when you start thinking that way. It usually doesn't happen and you you might get swept. When you start thinking about stupidity. You win four out of six.

You have four out of six against the rays.

You're right that right here right here. I I I think that the Red Sox are poised to make a real September I love the way they're playing right now. I think they love the way they're playing not just. The Baltimore series because that's terrible baseball team they've won what 45 series and -- And you know. They've beaten the White Sox in a series you know they've beaten the Yankees in theory that two days the Jays in a series Orioles they're there I think they're poised to make a real run here and it's. Reinforcements arrive it gives -- more options I think it's -- and the line up dramatically. You know if if you can if you can get. Lol replacing Corey in the batting order that the big step up. And it UPU Kalus well replacing kotsay or whoever it is who's -- playing first base I think that's a step I'll.

I let a step up -- the best start as dramatic as though lol over over core coming chorus on an everyday player. Kotsay is an everyday player he gives you different things and Kevin Youkilis does Kevin Youkilis a better player. But if you had to if he had to go of Mark Kotsay for a month. You really wouldn't be disappointed he can play with -- sure yet if I am not rushing going to give up power numbers that that that Kevin Youkilis is going to give you.

But not quite -- player reading about getting Youkilis back tonight but -- injuries help yeah culture is ready for giving great defense and and he can hit. And you getting more and more talk. Not here but across the country about Pedroia. And and how he's doing I'm hearing you know national pundits not talking about -- the candidacy of Dustin Pedroia. Now most people agree with I think it was The Herald article today about about his candidacy thing. He -- that it 600 in September no one can do that but he's got to keep it up. Yeah he's got to try to keep this roll going through the month of September to pull this thing all -- Because everybody looks at the power numbers so dramatically if you've got to overcome. The media Carlos Quinton Josh Hamilton bias for home runs and RBIs. Plus you got Marcum that I don't.

I don't think so I don't think -- to keep it up but they. Quinton. Is hurt. And if you look at Clinton's up power numbers short they're good -- his home run numbers good. It is our guys it's not like Carlos Quentin is giving you way. I think he's got 36 homers now 3637 soreness. Like he's giving you 36 and 144. Hundred -- Okay. That's nice. But that's -- point 5% more than -- yeah but but but but he's supposed to know I'm I'm not I'm not -- but I'm I -- see if Dustin Pedroia he's competing against Alex Rodriguez from 2005 or David Ortiz in 2005 for that matter Manny Ramirez from 2005. Then he's got some problems -- Manny didn't even win the MVP that that year he had 45 homers and any drove in 13140. Something ridiculous right. This year. You don't have a guy who is just. Who you look at music that's incredible I can't believe the number of the carefully with the guys that -- the nice player. And Josh Hamilton is -- I think Dustin Pedroia can make a case that he brings more to the table the ballclub.

Look I you don't have to sell me I'm I'm just pointing out what I think the national voters as mark the voters it is hard before I I I will never ever lose money. Betting on the stupidity of -- On make money everytime the -- that on the stupidity of voters because I think they get locked into certain things in their head. They they look and it and look I hate to say this but they look at home runs and RBIs almighty god let. You know Carlos Clinton's got 36 home runs and 100 RBIs Josh Hamilton's cup 31 home runs 121 runs batted it yet they get locked into those things and even Justin Morneau. With probably another viable candidate you know 21 home runs a 109 runs that again. -- not going to be okay do that shortly he's going to end up if it if he keeps you know a semblance of what he's doing he's going to have 85 to ninety runs batted. And that's going to be hard for them overlook he's got to keep that up in that regard. And the average it's got he's got a better average than than than those guys they down -- average July. They you know they they've they've really do downplay averages compared to you know the so called production numbers quote on well.

Why would morneau being in the conversation they're they're obviously looking at something else that he's got two when he went home runs which is not -- a great number. Now Dustin Pedroia -- in the in the year when he won homers but he also hitting 313. You know only is he he's got other things don't -- Exactly help my point today they are looking at other like you practiced only on but Roy I'm just I'm not ought not I don't bias out there. Against second baseman first football and you know five foot six in second baseman -- but your -- what I'm saying I'm saying because morneau was in the conversation that proves. That theory that the voters are looking at something else other than. Forty home runs and a 150 aria.

While the other thing it will that will in my opinion hurt his can't help his candidacy a lot. That they when the east. If he helped bring the Red Sox from behind to win the east his candidacy gets more more prominent just by default. You know the twins hold law -- hold on here in and knock off the White Sox morneau is gonna look better. Carlos Quentin holds on the --

I hate that argument though I mean that's what happened. I keep going back to 5 because that's the year -- really feel that David Ortiz should want it. A-Rod did. And in the Yankees and Red Sox were so close going back and forth -- year they came down to the final weekend of the season. And baked pie but the but the Yankees were division chance that there -- there with a division -- everywhere in the United States except for Fenway Park remember. Boston was listed first yeah on the scoreboard over the Yankees but. I was silly was almost like. We'll give it to eight rotted they have the Yankees -- the division will give it to David Ortiz if the Red Sox went division I -- this. Even of the Red Sox don't win that division. Dustin Pedroia. Is a great candidate. Because of all of the things that have happened with this team this year they don't have to win that does the division to be impressive. It's impressive if they even make the playoffs considering what they've had to deal with starting with a trip to your. Trip to Japan. And the trade of Manny and Josh Beckett on the disabled list. Lots of questions lots of injuries lots of strange things all year with the Red Sox and he's been he's been steady for a.

I agree with you on everything and if I had a vote and I don't I'd probably vote for Pedroia right now but I just think that he's going to have to overcome some things. It take to get this thing done and I hope he does as you know we watch him every single day. You know and we were talking about this the other day if you if you -- Red Sox Nation today. It's -- who's the most popular player on the team Pedroia will probably win this thing right. We've got about two guys are sick but I don't Ortiz is very pot and Papelbon. Papelbon has very popular I think if you poll the the nation today I think Pedroia beat them both now. I mean fans just love this guy. Not just because the numbers they love his attitude you know -- little like any small Indies -- the -- can do that that's me. Yeah well don't we wish we could do that -- but it's easier to identify -- him absolutely a guy who's 64 in 230 pounds but Ortiz.