9-10-08 Dale and Holley Discuss Red Sox and Celts

The minute Jason Bay -- ball did clear the left field wall came over barely make it I'm thinking okay Justin you sit down Jonathan Newcomb and you know your first place three up three down to the water and away we go and and it didn't work out that way. Now we've talked a couple of times in the past about the fact that the Jonathan Papelbon has had a remarkably. Few number of clean innings. You know three up three down thanks for coming Q the water it just. It doesn't seem to work that way for him this year he's been very very good still one of the elite closers in in the American League in in the game. He hasn't -- that. Wow I mean the minute he shows up it's like Mariano Rivera kept coming in for the Yankees. It hasn't been that kind a year for.

I was still been a pretty good year for Papelbon. I think. It's interesting to point out and Michael Berger. Are great producer. I did this are his blog you know our producers have a blog called behind in the class. It's on WPI dot com and they talk about all sorts of things that burger loves that so. This is right in his wheel house big game James that the blog as well he loves wrestling. And -- Sean Casey Sean Casey and big game James go back in -- On wrestling history. In case he is it Casey gets so animated when he sees James around -- you remember this that time that this happened. Now if it's more exciting than old time old bastard baseball they really get into the Michael Berger. As -- you want to talk about pressure. Berger on Monday. Wrote about Papelbon the workload in 2008 and he pointed out. That Papelbon had to go an inning and a third. For his 3680. Of the season. And there are many times. In 2007. Where were Papelbon had to get four more house for -- 2007. Just four time. He had to get four more outs -- get a say that was a drop from fourteen. Prop -- 14 am I really didn't give me an eighteen yeah I mistake I rat run eighteen at 20064. In 2007. In 2008 is -- points out this year we've seen the number in 2008 at -- this year reaching the number jump up to double digits. With the game against the rays that was night and Monday night game. Papelbon is now pitched in twelve games where he has he pitched at least an inning and a third and another piece of the story. Is pitching back. It back to back games.

Well and that you get to Sunday's game where he's pitching in the ninth inning of you know all pretty safe seven to two victory. And and and I understood it I understood you know he hasn't pitched in like six days. You know we gotta get him some work we got a game in there but now you look at it where if he hadn't worked Sunday. In a meaningless seven to win. Even though I understand why they were -- it he wouldn't have been pitching his third day general last.

Well well a couple things to -- one we have to look at. What his work load was like before Sunday. In Texas. So Sunday. Today's -- is what the -- that the tenth. So Sunday was the seventh. And and before Sunday of the yet to a three days -- yet yet it hadn't pitched since the parks. So he had gone six days I understood completes our you have to do it that's one thing and the other thing in this goes back to. A disagreement we had a couple weeks ago. In you said you thought. Guy's pitching complete games. Was a little overrated yet you don't pay attention to it but. A closer in my mind. Should be able to pitch three days -- If you can't history -- we're talking about pitching three days in a row. And that's a big deal then I understand why guys like goose gossage. Before it got at all thing. I understand why -- guys are so bitter. About being compared to today's closers. Goose gossage pitched two innings in 98 and you're you're in a position winning game three games in a row you get a one run -- games in a -- goose gossip just coming and to pitch three games in a row and you know what it might be a total of six innings over those three games so I don't think it's overrated because we have in this conversation. About a guy pitching an inning and a third which is nothing really. And he can't do that three games in a row I think you have to give props to those. A whether they're whether they are starting pitchers who can give the 882 thirds or nine or. Relievers who give you two -- three and.

And to back you up here and and you know they were making a big deal about how it was his third day in a row and I've talked about it. But as Michael Berger points out when he broke down the numbers doesn't -- Last night was the first time in his career in his career when he blew -- working the third day. He he had not had this issue come up prior to this. In fact he had 123456. He had six saves a hole and a win. In the previous times in which he was pitching is third day general. Last but at the first timing and blah.

And just today and has burger pointed out to me when I saw the the win status at all aware and that means. He must've blown the save that he was in position this team came back -- well on the road that was on the grow up at Seattle. You you you might remember this game from July July 23. You know brings him into a tie game the Red Sox win the game and then Papelbon gets the win so he didn't do anything negative there.

Sell it it I think it was just one of those things unfortunately. And like I was his cranked up as anybody else last night. The minute baseball cleared the wall and I loved the closeup of -- weary saying it. You know you -- read his lips and give up the men declare the -- on Lincoln Mueller back in first place as yet the gonzo and they're not. You got an opportunity tonight -- to win the rubber game of them of the series take two out of three again they've been real big on taking two out of three. You know they take two out of three from most teams here lately if Josh Beckett can beat and -- Stein tonight. You've taken two out of three from Tampa your back to within a half game of first place in and you better and better get yourself ready because -- hot Toronto blue.

Yeah okay the hot Blue Jays come to town. And the Blue Jays play the Red Sox very well. And the rays go to New York and the Yankees have a winning record at New Yorker in -- by that was in Tampa while they play the Yankees right right and the Yankees play. The rays very well too so if you can get it together against Toronto and I know a lot of people don't have confidence in the Red Sox against Toronto because they really have owned this team. But if you can play decent based -- the Blue Jays and recently won a series against them you can win a series against the Jays. You'll go to Tampa and to be in first place because I don't think the rays are going to win the series from the Yankees. --

What happens it not to let it it was gut wrenching last night I was as upset as anybody else he didn't feel like devastation to me. You know it just it didn't feel like oh my god. You know can't believe they lost that it was bad I let none of -- liked it but.

And I play Optiem rates that when the Red Sox. Recently set the Major League record for. Consecutive sellout.

I -- was Adam Kilgore of the globe had the stat. That still blows my mind. Since that streak began they -- New York Imus and I work at New York at New York beginning Friday. Since the streak began. What the Red Sox winning percentage at home is that this streak started to -- all I sought the other night it's ridiculous six. 8651. That I -- it was not. I it was ridiculous numbers you can win 65%. Of your games at home. No wonder they've been in the playoffs. Every year with the exception of 2006. Winning percentage like that at home you gotta be in the playoffs every.

And one very quick thing because I know we're up against the clock we want to get the calls have you guys. I'm assuming that Yahoo! Sports is correct and he agreed to put -- pretty good reporter. I'm assuming he's right and good -- All the and the Celtics have put out press release confirming at so congratulations to doc I'm thrilled that. He got a very nice contract extension a lucrative contract extension Alexis passed and we like doc and I liked his contract he's not he's earned it he deserves that. Good for him good for the self --

It is that it's a good contract for -- mean for a guy who. We were all questioning I know I was questioning questioning him big time. Not necessarily last year not much to question and 66 win season with two and championship but the year before. When they had some injuries and now the team what terrible that it looked like they were all that well coached. Obviously we were wrong Danny Ainge and the Celtics ownership were right. To have the faith they had in Doc Rivers but this is something I was thinking about during the Olympics. When you have some distance from the championship -- go back I don't know if you ever do that just think about. Random plays during the championship run the Celtics and that was pretty cool Ortiz the highlight. You stop and watch the highlight. Even though you've seen it 25 times. Well I was watching the Olympics. And this is probably. It was a quarterfinal game. Quarterfinals semifinals when. I -- LeBron James doing his thing and it looks that. LeBron James -- better than he did now a few months ago that I saw Kobe Bryant. And he looks better. -- The Celtics. Had to get by LeBron James in the playoffs. They had to get by Kobe Bryant in the playoffs.

And and and it seems simple when you're caught up pennant like yeah they they play Cleveland and LeBron James -- they'll beat them. -- beat the Lakers and Kobe he's not Michael Jordan or get by Kobe.

When you're so caught up -- you don't really. Take a step back and and put it in perspective. But looking at it now. While it a -- Okay.

It's great that is never going to get it'll ever get old.

But days went by with what our respective KG and Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. On their way to a championship. They had to get by two of the top two players in the NBA and I believe. Kobe Bryant LeBron James are the top two players in the late.

I would late and I apologize we had a lot of stuff to get out of the way here. I promise we come back after the break we get right to the calls would you Terry Francona little over an hour from now will Carroll at 110 here on Sports Radio WB yeah. It's.