9-17-08 Terry Francona, Red Sox manager

Every Wednesday at this time. We talked with a manager of the Boston Red Sox Terry Francona joins us on the AT&T hotline. Terry has also brought to you by a -- insurance. Interest systems and doctor Robert Leonard at 1800 get hair -- that our studios in Brighton. I'm at the trop Terry Francona probably four floors below me yet as we speak right now but afternoon Terry. I don't I don't you know doing okay are you doing good. Good thank you. The feeling when you watch these two teams play like I do that if you played these guys fifty times this year it would and 2525.

Pretty evenly matched a lot of lot of close games unfortunately. We've been on the losing end a whole lot of close ones but the -- tremendous game's last play it was. Very well played game. You know any time period of visitor's ballpark and you're the tie game or one run game to put yourself in jeopardy into in case something crazy happens there. It'll probably get a hit last play it was a good example that would get blew -- We got a ball ball -- play division -- called timeout we got a guy could be ankle want to vote compared to reduced penalties and things happen that sometimes. That's also what happens -- wrote.

situation last -- you talked about. Cliff Floyd being hit. By Masterson Masterson had a down 2 when the bases reload -- you were comfortable and I'm assuming you're comfortable with Masterson there because you felt like. He gives you the best chance to get the double play balls are correct.

Well as a few reasons I mean besides factor Navarro little 36 with. -- well couple three strikeouts. These are best ground ball guy. There was a lot of reason to we've been there.

It Tito at that point I know you brought Papelbon into a tie game before. And if you want to tie game in Seattle. What's your you you have up velocity on bringing a reliever into a tie game or is it just one of those case by case situation.

Well there's going to be case by case something. If it -- read the game and talk about Seattle he hadn't pitched in about five days so there doesn't seem to and we had a day off and expect. So you know again tonight he's perhaps their -- all the wasteful. -- we've been used in proper law loyally. Two to bring him this situation right there to me he wouldn't be quite as prudent to. Again did you know do we have a guy that the guided. The guy is that Masterson were facing the last two hitters world for nine with five strikeouts so we have a guy in -- wanted to.

We were talking about Justin Masterson earlier with a caller and we were talking about his. His his makeup and and gone all the way back to Fort Myers I think you guys like his make up. The the situation doesn't bother him very much does it.

No actually love his makeup and again you know he'd he'd misfired on -- well although deployed the negativity ankle will refuse to pitch of the game. But doubled because number he just -- brutal British trying to do get off the point -- you -- little opened longer you whack it pretty good. He actually made liberal good -- to me. -- the guy that really made a terrorist or mid inning was Pena. And he you know he he got the one strike by him the ball -- him on the field -- went to another fastball by him. Worked the count of three to pulled the slider just hit off the plate he really executed. Good pitches because we've seen now. Last two games her to a through split Pena can be -- of one sort of about and he was saying -- still -- right handers but we still wanted. Masters and the pitch. But I thought -- execute -- its rule.

That that one swing of the bat was probably the only mistake Josh Beckett made last night was around.

Very crucial mistake when you started -- the breaking -- I hold -- he started out the breaking ball. Go to bed bath water sometimes just got --

I was just going to ask you that Tito. About. That pitch I was shocked to see anything yet Hart office Josh Beckett left but they're going to have to string together two or three hits to get around. Josh Beckett that he made a mistake. Mike Timlin last week's that he made a good pitch that and it took out -- and use his bat. Well what do you think the best way is ideally to have to pitch --

While I don't know club wanted to go over scouting report to a few guys and again that's extremely pleased to. Just in those days Joe Madden being. Yeah Joe -- listening W yeah I dot com. I don't. I don't.

You lobos looking nothing surprises flows -- just -- solo was used his breaking ball to get back in the hitters count if you Dobie -- one militant. People breaking ball to back him and the way he was brought that's not going to get hit very much that kind of leave feeling you -- previous bowl breaking ball a leadoff beginning. You know he collected just could not to get out there record and sometimes you got to tip your cap to somebody because if you -- that bridge -- he's doing some pretty good hitting.

Do you think in the end and we're just watching from -- we never know this stuff. I think Josh his velocity is down at all since he came back.

No I talked to go up. I've thought that the guy that was dorm. The radar last why we're just doing some gamesmanship. That's what I wonder. A -- schools receiving and hitters again hitters look you know and I don't think terrible it goal on.

How often does that happen we're we're guys this.

I really don't know all the freedom just there it happens at all -- or happened some. It wouldn't surprise with a bit less than.

Trying to mess with the pitcher's mind and.

It's -- in summit is. Budgeting competitors tomorrow tomorrow and prescribes -- shaken their -- and awarded the slope if that helps.

You thought you mentioned a word few minutes ago. Nerves and and you were saying that you know Justin Masterson he's fine he he's not a kid -- overwhelmed by the moment I am wondering. How do you know the difference. Between an athlete who's nervous and that's normal I'm about a bet there are some big game athletes were nervous before big games and okay they still do well. And guys who are overwhelmed by the moment can you see that.

Well I don't think too much at this level I don't think he'd get a -- level if you're gonna get overwhelmed by the moment. I do think there's some guys that seem to thrive on the moment. Fortunately I think we have a lot of those guys are I think playing in our atmosphere. Hopes that he'll -- so called big games we play a lot of brigade. Golf sudden. You know -- you know of the national -- is watching I don't think our guys get overwhelmed because they're used to be attention they're used to every game screaming so big. So again it's important -- plus side it's fun to be nervous. But it was did it it get away did you hope reasonable level you're polite.

Every ballpark has its nuances. I still can't figure out why they left the latter on the left field wall at Fenway when they don't -- balls out of the -- anymore. But this one's even more weird than that I mean -- can beat cat walks and seek cat walks. I'm guessing a baseball traditionalist like yourself doesn't like that part very much.

I hated the I -- a I'm still look for Jason baseball. They believe big body would be you know you're you're in a little lately game of this consequence. I'm really good teams fight it out. Jason Bay -- goal of one. We totally against the dugout rail trying to figure out worst don't want and never comes down. -- a lot -- that's terrible.

Yet I guess that you -- and -- earlier you know match and don't 1993 Joe Carter win the World Series with a walk off homer. Imagine that if if it's in Tampa you went with a walk off catwalk shot.

And bell wouldn't yet I wouldn't be good. I don't wouldn't be good for us but we -- traditional style real hard to swallow.

Their average between Seattle I am still not getting used to live I'm not quite used to baseball inside Seattle glad they weren't on the kingdome. Rogers Centre is weird to me Minnesota's weird to me but this might be the strangest of them all.

Well I government administer older stuff for me this place actually. Besides those two out walks likened already displaced. Minnesota's toppled from -- over the speakers -- But -- will play baseball an office building you leave the club Boston guard about six flights of stairs and is due to -- an awful feel too.

Terry there are times when people talked in the past about the Red Sox were built for this are built for that. At a team that you feel is is a pretty comfortable team on -- rug like this thing here.

I think were built for winning. I think. I think field on a great job. Of putting together a team and it's it's a lot harder and it seems a dream you know everybody it's easy board -- to -- go to federal property. We have our team has people all over the years and I think anybody again now myself sort of we're always on the role as much as we want to. But I think we're built to play in any capacity what are soft turf -- go to Bible which in the states. We touched the ball we're quicker we run the bases slow -- bald eagle from the outfield. We don't his breakthrough homers as we did but I think we're built to compete under any circumstances.

I think there was a really strange story coming out of the midwest earlier this week. -- was fired. With at that point thirteen games to go in the season and your body or your former third base coach -- takes over one what did you think when you heard the news. About -- be fired and how do you think claims going to.

You know we're download those couple -- go or what initially it was a there's -- to undergo and then some built Ricky Moore and Enrique and he was kind of collapse and Eagles turn -- beyond. And I thought it was -- You don't want I'm but I I would love to know what really happened or -- we don't full story -- for dale. But it's certainly seems to -- some strange circumstances but. I don't our players they're not not to make fun of somebody else could Barbara Pedroia was run around screaming that Milton wants suitors away from the original. Me. I haven't haven't regard guys gotta you gotta pick out of a factor you don't -- to be not -- and ability goes to.

How do you think well flame will do with the manager.

Builder built it great baseball person and the nothing here and I got to understand -- the other try to jumpstart dipped well. I attended a lot going on there but dale had a very unique way of communicating with measure what players are I'd love -- I mean to our players loved him. I know that he's had a few guys ago little over aggressive at third for about oh about a two weeks' span there -- the failed went bananas. Bill was an unbelievably. Good coach and he'll be a great manager.

You know what -- it it's it's funny he thought he got criticized being at third base coach. As a manager and as you know it it goes up. Five folder temple.

much German I know being at third -- go to Boston you actually might get a little more flocked to what managers do. In the rest of the baseball world that built people didn't get the note dale. Because. You don't -- third base coach they just feel -- even to somebody or hold them. These are great baseball person and his way of communicating. The players respected -- are partial to.

lecture your line about. -- Rocco Baldelli threw out about six guys in a week to Rocco Baldelli who got deals Wayman all the crap with the fans all by himself.

I sure did they just keep sure didn't have you almost felt quite a week but. Yeah you know what you've got to be around bill every day and you saw what he brought to be infielders were brought propagate because little -- about it but they've ever been around by our -- respect for the.

Let's go back -- speaking of throwing. While Navarro as it was the big hit of the game last night I actually thought his throw in the eighth inning that that cut down Jacoby Ellsbury was an even bigger play in the game.

Yeah I'll agree pearl. Jacoby did a good job he. And it didn't go first move because because the guy has the ability to hang he waited just long enough. You do a great job got -- as good jumpers he could and -- came out of the chute and threw a strike and a New Orleans will be out.

You don't what did you think let let's go back a couple days the first game of the series Scott Kazmir obviously didn't have and you could see that early. What he got a warning a -- that both teams got a warning in the second inning what was the explanation do you -- and what did you think of that.

While they can't just -- one -- mourning. That's just one when they get a warning he goes out to both teams. I was shocked I actually think Joe Madden was shocked that I shouldn't speak for him Yugoslav Serb -- he was coming out right behind me. And he looked a little dismayed also understood you -- Percival I betcha they'll the last thing on both teams marbles and -- nobody. In a series of this magnitude. And then after that the umpire puts himself -- a tough position because of somebody gets nicked. All the sudden it got can't change of the way the game's played now the last thing we wanted to turn of the last thing they want to do we get two pretty good pitchers go one. You don't want somebody get hit this don't reveal all what NAFTA notable part of third having.

Well did you think there was some type of directive. That the umpire was trying to uphold word he just didn't have a feel for that particular game.

I don't know what directive he did tell me that he was aware of what it happened before. And you've got didn't have to look try to get this was as the pictures -- people wouldn't have been able but I've I've total silly book again. You know what it's sometimes you gotta remember the players are we all want to get charged up but the umpires they -- golden. -- excitable sometimes to deflect splurge.

See the reason I thought there might have been some directive was because. Two guys got here after the warnings and the umpires and bony body out it was almost as if they were saying. Look we we know we had to give a warning here because we were told that or not going to be silly about it.

No are -- took a while -- anybody get hit later. I mean. Longoria got hit and sure after 31 minute you know old dating we get. Mike you lol go one up the middle but I don't think we thought -- if we don't. Again sometimes guys get hit I mean you're talking about two pretty good teams playing right now if you let guys leaned out over the plate and extend their arms are going to get beat two B got pigeon.

And going back to the game -- based on last night's game and what we saw last week what I'm surprised to see it via a low scoring one run game. I thought we might get that on Monday because Kazmir was pitching -- surprised at all that he was just so often was out of the game about the fourth and.

Well he came out early and obviously couldn't establish strikes all of us felt we do a real good job of laying off balls and then David takes one really good swing on the board and and we just didn't stay put Mike you'll fall -- about changeup pitted out. Their techniques are good slowing them and we took advantage of him not give into the flow of the game or not allowing him. Look at all the game and -- really spread it out two great way to play it would would digital if you had a formula. If you could bottle of you do it every night.

Time now for Red Sox second guessed rock you by Mohegan Sun a world that play today's question comes from Steven. Let twin I'm sure I'm screwed up that pronunciation sorry Stephen Stephen looked win in east Hampton mass. Stevens' question has to do with the fourteen inning game against the rays at Fenway a week ago. Stephen writes why did you put in Coco Crisp as a pinch runner for Jason Barrett tech. Instead of using him as a pinch hitter especially since Coco Crisp has been having a hot bat as of late.

We always try to do is we have Coke on the bench that night and rather than consider protect. We knew we were gonna ensure that we could do -- likes. And those the first guy and there was a number guys once we got to a point the game. -- being one album that we would run for I think Lowry was in all the one. Again when he circled back we department -- just recalled names off the top of my head but. We have lol we have Ameritech we have -- Any number of those guys that get drawn. Local going to run of form doubt way to ensure -- If you pinch hit you again you lose your catcher. And you don't want to ensure that that guy's gonna get on base hole want to do is again he's going to run for somebody either it's on to Stewart certainly could use likes.

The one of the pitchers in that fourteen inning gave him one of Manning was Mike Timlin who broke the record this week. Of Kent to -- base for relief appearances by a right handed pitcher what does that record mean to you and and and do you think. It obviously meant a lot to Mike as well.

Any good it'd mean he's been good for a long time and I mean. -- to Colby. In the baseball world people Roy and how much he threw convert to want to do that down that's that's a lot of awesome record now might had might have. You know double downed this year and that's going to. Happened but what he's done over the course of his years it's speaks volumes and I'm glad that I got to witness should be good again I've been around him five years not a pitch a lot of games.

How to do against and to called me.

Not too good matter of fact I got a world meet new -- that. You read about it ability to break it. I don't think he appreciated it up much but you know he was -- right handers but he didn't think I could not lift that. Save my life and it was it was a ground -- to second -- to happen.

And have them and I remember I might happen -- use this -- any drop down a bit.

Yet even from yeah you'd like Chad Bradford yeah. Yeah Lucille Ball flight I do I knew going up there and he goes I -- going to get it.

Tough to keep that backside in this and it.

I just started again I could take any pitch he -- would ground out the second you. Neighbors -- I could I could hit -- the second war -- global.

Terry we always appreciate time -- talk to again next week -- are things there him at his the Red Sox manager Terry Francona by the way. For being selected Stephen -- twin. Has won a midweek hotel stay at Mohegan Sun Mohegan Sun a world that play. 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.