9-10-08 Terry Francona, Red Sox Manager

Every Wednesday at this time we talked with a manager of the Boston Red Sox. Joining us now on the AT&T hotline is Terry Francona Terry is also brought to you Miami key insurance interest systems. Doctor Robert Leonard at 1800 get hair and afternoon Terry. RE FU. This is going to sound like Red Sox second -- and I don't mean it that way but I'm curious about. Strategy last night in the in the ninth inning idea. Bottom of the ninth inning. When you win when Jason Varitek was up there to bunt did you fear that if he was successful. You were just going to take the bat out of David Ortiz is hands.

a little bit we. We've kind of talked over a whole strategy before giving it -- ball back and forth on. Tour if concentrated on two -- run. The -- better right aware -- Do we start out one very attacked. I guess we figured we if we get a runner to second. And they want to pitch around David. Where. Locals wouldn't bat to wait years. Pedroia. In all -- and we we've got some guys that are road swing of the bat. Saying that. Once -- tech didn't get the bunt down. We held step -- we didn't run the old buried at that point because we wanted David to have people full middle of three to help -- Because we felt good about it once they got David out that's what -- Cutler.

You want him a -- and I'm sure. You wanted to do something if he can get the bunt down you wanted to do something to keep them out of a double play it would did you have that in -- to.

I would certainly -- body has been brought in. We know what what happened -- they ended up crashing soul horror. That we felt like without. What they -- brought on we could down double play your -- long because a quarter wrestle hard and is second baseman was educating his position. Com Percival was really pretty quick in that sequence of pitches so running right there was a little bit. Maybe more risky that we wanted to compete you know risk and reward. The second to get -- big bill almost -- what it and couldn't do that out a way if he can move. Is battle would probably get to -- first and second.

In one of those damned if you do damned if you don't scenarios on Sunday. You -- closer who hasn't worked in like six days -- you figuring you gotta get him some work so Papelbon consent and a seven to two game. Then three days later you're thinking man I wish I wasn't -- Jonathan Papelbon for the third day in a row.

All -- we always have -- children before him and -- was adamant. That he really needed to pitch and we we gold -- things a couple of side they've been sufficient knowledge to get the game. Shall we -- blows we pitched pretty. In the ninth to get an out. And that we brought happened to clean up a couple outs. That sometimes you have to do develop in his special interest what you have to do it I don't think. Last night had anything to do would pass up the entire it is sometimes you just don't put on your team -- and that's what --

You know that it was the third time this year that you used Jonathan on three consecutive. Games. But in the previous two times he had only on nine pitches in the second game of the in this series he had to throw eighteen pitches in the second game of the three do you think that had any effect at all.

I guess I'll try to tell you they'll multiple I looked -- him if you don't I think -- pretty pretty. Adamant and structured on how we have. Run things happen real facility typical -- or we don't like he can pitch to his capabilities we we all -- and we've been very. And about that we will continue to be very structured in that would never have been out there will Whittle likely to do his job.

But what I said Tito we along way from 2007 when it comes to Jonathan Papelbon what I mean by that is this. Following 2006. When first he was going to be a starter and then. He went to the bullpen. There was some caution involved you really wanted to make sure you kept him on a program. Have the -- been loosened the bid do you feel like you can use him in more situations and you couldn't 2007.

while I don't know I mean I think perhaps through hard work has rule week. Has done a terrific job and be available but think of structural we have certain places. We've pretty much fall to a -- for two years now. Again we're -- the September that we got into the playoffs last year. And because of of the way we used him during the regular season you have the ability to go to guys a little bit or late in the year. But I think our structures that pretty consistent for the last two years.

Do you think he has been pumping a lot of fastballs lately. Because point out during the broadcast at least drawing a lot of fastballs and not many letters. Have you noticed that as well.

Caught the last I thought he had to he still -- he'll -- type -- result to the first hitter people with real political involvement three fastballs were all going to be chicken or had. And they get to two perot's that we want to throw fastballs to him and he ended up. Give the good guys but they they beat plus played very -- and the time that it I don't questions is this selection -- fall behind deductibles what.

As I was saying to one of the callers earlier and I may have just been about making -- you tell me. Sometimes. You want to throw a certain pitch to a team if it's with a team that struggles with fastballs for example the scouting report could be. Throw fastballs to this team. It so you do it and you might have a completely different strategies say against the Toronto Blue Jays -- Kansas City Royals as.

Oh I think that's accurate noggin perhaps we we when you have somebody that is good is perhaps. I don't think you ever sacrifice your strength. Pitching to their weakness there had been begun to sound a little bit backwards but it didn't. I don't -- perhaps maybe a situation where you Michael walker hitter because his. You probably don't. You got maybe one of the guys -- best Little League we will very often. Run away from something to put up those. We'd rather have pitched to his strengths. Which is a lot of times -- fastball expand the plate we'll split now you don't get out of foul ball also wouldn't that actually sort of Britain's.

Somebody asked Bill Belichick before the game this past weekend -- head coaches get nervous before games. And I I wanted to turn it around some what would -- and and and asked if managers sometimes get frustrated watching Daisuke Matsuzaka pitch.

The you know all of last I was -- he really had a tough time. Why -- his fastball and it was a struggle law might. Up middle of the you don't do that event and I think that's pretty fairly alternately opening at the plate first and second. People look everyone breaking ball for ball four to load the bases he is not going to give it to give up that big hit. Italy competes his Israeli off reduced last I -- but for me he would have a hard time finding his fastball that structure.

Speaking of fastballs a long time ago. Your buddy Buddy Bell. Said the Terry little reporter in Cleveland you just can't throw a fastball by that Coco -- he can't do you attribute that to this. Great run at that he's on that he made these this connecting with every fastball that that pitchers are trying to give.

On. That's part of it sometimes and sometimes your -- got a good breaking ball hitter that guided that slipped -- wrinkle goes give himself could count straight now. What are you earnings fastballs. And actually got pitched less like Percival -- understand the game and I are due to look look local straight he wants a respectful brad. It got a fastball middle in and just abolished rule have been -- And he just got under -- the pop -- and -- until I but I. Not a great little run force that it took welcome. It's definitely huge lift and it didn't take a lift anymore you can give it and he's really open opens.

What does that do for you as a manager when you see of that not -- in other words. You probably have a slot in the lineup where you're comfortable putting him when he's on a normal street if he's hitting 275 to eighty over. Over fifteen games but when you're hitting 50600. Overstretched people like you can put him.

Well we did last night just because can -- that a little bit to -- Carolina just didn't force you can make some changes. Well I'll like get difficult we'll -- in order just because locals are very recent player. And that's where his strength like. So we briefly leading off and we ask him to do something different. It's going to take away from his effectiveness so rather than do that let him hit the bottom in order to let him be a little bit of resort because that wears out success.

Tonight will be your second game for Josh Beckett scents mean he was shut down their for a little while and have the medical exams his first game was dazzling in Texas. Do you think it answered all the questions he might still have had.

I really don't think he had any questions I think that was eliminated what you what you doctor handers. He came back and it was it was obviously was upbeat he was ready to go bowl it was lights out it was nice to see it go on pitch like that that's for sure. -- received I would realize don't sold heavily to be that big game pitcher and mr. block Dirk but a whole team will come. Believe by it was uncalled -- because of that.

You obviously didn't tell us what the restrictions -- which you admitted there were some restrictions in his first game. You know after being shut down -- their no restrictions tonight he's a pitcher in your rotate.

I don't think so I don't think we would go crazy I think. AP Williams was a little generous in order I was. Ready to shutting down before that and our medical stuff about being overly cautious with which subsequent -- beer. You know we're not going to let him go out there and -- or important third but a whole police. The game will dictate moral -- about as opposed to discount.

Based on what we saw. From Josh Beckett in October and I've still kind of silly asking you of anything he does surprises you but were you surprised that he came out so sharp. In that game against tax.

What surprised me a little billed as a building command good breaking ball right away. That's such a touch and feel punished for his helmet sometimes. The more he gets and -- game was taught to do little to pick that's one rule resourceful Briton ball. And he had a breaking ball from the first inning on which is Bill Gates for your surprise but I guess we're glad. I -- fully expect him to be a little strong what -- fastball -- be a little erratic in those older people living but that was Bogota late. Action on his cutter. Which is a real good fastball payment actually Cabrera to Bernal.

As you pointed out a week or so ago sitting your office with the rest of the media people the Red Sox don't pinch hit a lot you don't. How a lot of guys who want to pinch hit for normally anyway. But as you get more and more bullets back in the gun and Sean Casey sit there and J. D. Drew is probably getting close. Is the temptation to do a little more of that -- games.

what bill I don't. No I don't think -- we certainly have a deeper. Bench then and -- as we get guys back it will become a little bit deeper. I think we're probably better off -- things like pinch running depending on who's playing. You know we can't pinch hit it is but I J. D. Drew it'll that the -- it's not very accustomed to pinch hitting. So you get some sometimes you get some name players in situations where they haven't been before that may -- which in the best position to win.

How to figure that out to guys tell you -- you or do you just ask them. How do you feel about pinch hitting.

No I don't all the reality volatile but particularly -- do with the but it just again just didn't somebody at some unfamiliar territory sometimes. Sometimes you collect -- right thing to do other times again you'll you'll take it guys it's -- Three or four at bats under his belt that is in the ballgame I think there's a lot and that. And again there -- until we stupid chip but I also picked -- not there for 23 hours. And he's in the flow of the game it means a lot.

Offensively. Your -- on a pretty good role here of late ball some individuals but collectively. Is this a result of and I think the term you used in the past with us is how thick your batting order is in other words how deep you go with -- guys who can put ball -- play.

I think there's a lot and that. Alas I was a good example -- goes to his stuff was there is little it. We we and there were times when he really a couple of players specialist changeup. In a couple -- third fourth inning and -- what was pretty quickly but other than that we did make war and we got him out of there. And that sum -- up because he didn't have the ability to have a lot of these feelings we've battled nobody is pissed off as an instrument. That we didn't do a lot. But because of again we have one through nine where they can't take a breather there's there's times we get pitched out of -- prematurely and they beat scorer possible.

I was gonna say the race. And I was thinking about the Jays. Wrong -- the Jays have been pretty hot lately and and they played well against you guys this year although. You won the last series against them. What makes them what makes him so tough overall and what makes them tough for you yeah.

I think we were surprised Pavano -- on a bunt -- it would extra double part of I think everybody in baseball surprised where they weren't standings considering the pitching staff. Starters relievers that they have their -- from top to bottom was as good as you're going to find me. Every night -- betrays a burden that growth Holliday oral and you Jesse -- She's got a shot -- and actually sent now. Bold letters as a loaded to -- with -- left right -- on different variations. Very very got a good -- great pitcher.

Since you've become the manager of the Red Sox you've never managed to game at Fenway Park -- empty seat. The Red Sox broke the record of the Cleveland Indians earlier this week. I've heard and no less an authority than David Ortiz and even Curt Schilling talked about now. The crowd here can have a physical effect on guys they might be dragon their but not feeling great may step out on that top step of the dugout. And the crowd actually in the invigorate them have you seen that would your -- much.

Yeah actually have come. And I was over break big hole before it got hero of it'll about ideal baseball look different sport of football. Not trying to little -- things like that. We we have part for the boastful pilgrims Bristol. Some of that has to do with the Corky just ballpark solar system to a combatants are currently being there's not a game that we played doesn't feel important and and I can't say that and aunt -- to. Replace and they games have -- British Open after regular got a tired and you go out there in the stadiums -- beat atmosphere electric and I hope that doesn't change -- committed to Claussen.

A guy like Jason Bay it's kind of feel like night and day for him.

I think he's very excited always got to -- into. I think you look forward to -- themselves right smack him a little -- like this and these joint ever been vote.

instead of you said before about Fenway fans. They are there so on top of view that if your team here visiting team. Got a four run lead. Maybe an eighth inning and somebody hit. The crowd actually makes you doubt yourself because now they're back alive and into.

Michael that's the real good word -- anytime we can create doubt. That is huge. And you'd see that happen in this ballpark development on the other side and it happens you don't want to admit it but it happened and the stadium starting chicken. I hope not literally sometimes I put my speech but it's it's it's an unbelievable atmosphere and we use the partridge.

I was at I was saying earlier at the stat that just blows me away. Since the streak started your winning percentage at home is 65. He went 65% of your games off the chart.

Well -- but I guess that's that's kind of coming back to a point we've put Beijing as a we've we've been very good at all. Thirst there's multiple reasons and -- of -- there's.

Time now for Red Sox second -- brought to you by Mohegan Sun a world to play today's question comes from John Dodi. In teams -- He's asking a question similar to how I began but he comes out of from a different perspective. He he says Terry considering Papelbon had worked on Sunday in Texas. And then again for four outs on Monday did you consider giving him the night off last night and staying with -- Okajima in the night.

Don't try to connect goes back now we kind of started just. Into the -- going to stay away from -- We will mapped that out before the game -- will talked perhaps because one -- available we try to. Navigate. Our bullpen knowing that once we get him. We're basically done you know he goes out there and he wins or loses looked so -- kind of -- the ball in different it is not a available. Will have different people might be going a little bit longer. Or facing somebody yelled so don't try and don't get because you don't you'll have available now again tonight he he won't it's like that that was created grow. We have a day off tomorrow sort of worked up pretty well we told him before the game last night. He would pitched last night or tonight not bold and -- he knew where he was.

Terry we always appreciate the time we'll talk to next week. A decade ago that as Red Sox manager Terry Francona by the way for being selected. John Dodi has won 100 dollar dinner -- to Tuscany. In two tickets to see -- show and cabaret theater Mohegan Sun world apply. Terry Francona -- brought to buy AT&T with more bars in more places switched to the wireless network with a best global coverage AT&T your world delivered.