9-18-08 Holley and Felger Talk Baseball

Speaking of the playoffs. I think some of the questions that we have -- start and starting to be answered. The Red Sox let let's face the Red Sox need some help to win the AL east of course you want to win your division start of the season the policy that's one of our goals short. But at this point this season we know the Red Sox going to the playoffs you know the rays are going to the playoffs. And really are are the Red Sox or the rays in a position where they can say. We are going to win because we want to dictate this matchup this is a great matchup were not necessarily. Wouldn't. When you look at the Red Sox they won the division okay they play the White Sox that makes a lot of people happy that's a good matchup for the Red Sox they played well this year. But I look at the White Sox an icy. A very good pitching staff. A pitching staff Beckett do the same thing that they didn't 2005 which is get extremely hot I don't in the postseason you look at that pitching staff. -- you look at the kids look at John Danks. You look at burly guys who have done it before. I'm Tonya. That they could do some damage in playoffs that.

The Angels don't scare me answer that from day one when I don't welfare want to date versus the Angels were going to get that they wanted to against them they still don't scare me but. If you're telling me. I can have Danks Gavin Floyd and burly versus Lackey Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders to me it's not even holes I want the White Sox. But that doesn't mean. That I play at that I played to win at this this and it get hot this last week. To -- it's far more important like far more point you've got Beckett on regular rest maybe extra rest. But you've got Lester on regular rest extra rest that you rested lol if you have to would you think he complained DS shut him down from now until. Game one of that DS series if there's a same equation which -- and I'm not sure it is but who -- right who backed I what would ever gone out DL Drew. If you can get him bright for the DS you play between now and then. I think you. You do sort of give up the division because nobody -- because my Angels are tougher Paul I think it's more point and everything line.

Well -- president the exact same thing yesterday which is going to surprise when we're on the same page are ready -- that it is ten to one -- how this thing goes but. You have to almost. Conceded the wrong where's the word no with the here but afterward almost have to concede -- You cannot go all out to win the division haven't come down to the last game of the season. Me all our game wanted to you know fell well -- my my rotation is off his line this thing up while I mean when the White Sox in 55 Schilling Curt Schilling right. So you -- that. So I think that's what's going to happen because they're two games behind. The race it's really three games the rays win the tiebreaker. Both teams like I guess you can't say either team really -- an easy schedule. Cleveland. They're not a great team but they can do some damage they can we we saw them last year they're not awful so. I don't see the Red Sox. Collapse I don't see the rays collapsing an -- and a Red Sox surging down the stretch. Like this -- on the play of the Angels in the for.

weak -- people because it is it is a pretty big difference the Angels whether you're scared of them or not like I'm not they're still I think a better team in the lights -- I want to know why you're not scared up. Maybe it's just from what I've seen when -- matchup against the Sox in previous playoffs maybe I just. I'm so used to it the Red Sox routinely playing better than them and looked and most of them they got a lot better haven't met against -- this mean.

What what this time you compare the angle of the 2007 September 7 September 8. World of difference add a couple bats a couple of bats I mean mark he shares it is -- pretty significant bat and I I'm not a huge story hotter than at the plate. But you know he gives you an upgrade. Defensively and he's a pretty good hitter. You know you that two hitters to that lineup that doubles ball anymore you're black his career numbers against it's okay not good -- butter -- but did you see Lackey against the Red Sox got the last time he faced shut him down. If they if they opened here. I'd be with. The Angels at Fenway Park -- little different than the Angels out at the big day.

Well that's another thing and we can ask the people because there is I think a big difference. Between the Angels out in California and potentially have to make two trips out there as opposed to the White Sox and John bleeping banks some sort of -- scare me at all. John Danks at home at Fenway there's a big difference but you know between the two and you an iron agreement. That you don't sacrifice and -- your -- don't rotation or did pitch counts or. Banged up guys playing every day in order to be home against the white that you take your chances out and Anaheim. With Beckett rested Lester rested and Matsuzaka arrested at the then that's the course I think they should go but I it has some pants feel.

Now they've had a pretty charmed division series life. In the last two post seasons art what -- two of the last 32004. That can sweep. In the division series its fine 2005 they get swept okay and in 2007. They get a sweep in the division series and now you're set up. It didn't seem to be helping them in 2004. Got to sweep in the division series -- set up for the Yankees it was the first three games. In 2007. Absolutely helped them. Against the Indians had a sweep they were set up and it took everything they had to beat the Indians I think this year. You're not going to be able it if you play the Angels. Get by him I just don't think going to be able understands that beat because they'll be swept again I mean that team is I'm not.

Rule it out because you know -- Mike I really believe in the Red Sox starting pitching I think back it's back even though they lost that ballgame tonight I agree with that he had that -- nastiness on the mound he was about the people on the Mathieu was -- right. Sell I'd simply like Jon Lester I course like I like Beckett over Lackey. And I like Lester or whether it's Ervin Santana or Saunders I like -- match up as well the way Lester pitching I think. I would not rule out taking two games out in Anaheim that's the lack of respect for their good team. I just think the Red Sox matchup well against -- just. I just leave the Red Sox starters now this is may -- not an issue in the division series because you're gonna go with three. Going to -- actually points companies explain this to me of why four well. From what I've read I think about it today somewhere -- one of the papers the Angels have the option whether to start on -- Wednesday or Thursday correct. If they start on Thursday. Thursday you lose an off day and they are somehow and you do have to go for starters again I need to dig and that figure out exactly how that works that I did read that some.

Got three starters you got got Josh Beckett starting game one game to. -- to go Jon Lester in game theory -- with. -- now it in in game four. You can bring somebody back game five when Beckett gave forty what I -- it it doesn't matter indeed you don't have to go to -- starter. What I don't like on three days into the playoffs we talked about this last they -- brought back. One of those guys and three days in the well they can have brought back Beckett -- that we -- that is the Indians and -- and that was talked about black. We we learn later Beckett wasn't ready to go. The blister was a little bit of an issue he was he felt a little banged up so. It really wasn't an option for the Red Sox. Last year didn't come on say that -- we don't believe I don't think they do it I don't think that they'd bring back Beckett on three days in the -- sisters that is depicted. Well well. What went on what I was going towards this. In in the first round you're thinking about three guys generally maybe a fourth -- In the second round ALCS -- they get about four guys. And there's an audition going on here and now our man Tim Wakefield is going to lose this August. Is it the way the pitching is set up now Wakefield is going to pitch the final game of the season. That's fine don't have Beckett out there you don't have Leicester out -- you don't have Daisuke Tim Wakefield they're going to probably have to coddle him a bit. Because if you have to go to a fourth starter who would you rather have Tim Wakefield Paul Byrd and it's it's gotta go Popper.

I said it two months ago it's at six months ago looked. I don't feel about him like will be logged. On -- in the starting rotation you want him penciled in that rotation don't you. Number five -- I don't know what the numbers of course capsule right numbers absolutely one million dollars a year taken as a number five on my team any day of the week put himself a million times over. Terms of starting a playoff game now and I felt that -- you know three months ago when he was going great. That a lot of factors with that soft throwers in the post season as Curt Schilling told us on the are. Don't fare very well and Wakefield the ultimate soft -- obviously you also look at this postseason track record it's. It's bad -- his career. Post season record is five and six with a six point three. ER a and that includes Pittsburgh yours and he was great so you just went to the Boston -- those numbers would be higher his career in the DS Mike. All in four with a nine point 14 E Horry just he does not help a great postseason track record and you look at Paul Byrd who does or did last year anyway. I guess I could go with an argument that one start kind of skewed everything skew the numbers -- the URE -- nine you know you can't run away from those numbers but I. I think it's. He knows it and and we all know. He's going to be around in the post season he's a great teammate. Guys like good as a law situation yet loud -- I -- that. I'm not out there -- already done before the playoffs and what Tim Wakefield in the bullpen I want them -- If there's say if I look at this I want to backing up Daisuke Matsuzaka Matsuzaka has won those. Stupid starts where it's four runs in the first two when he is on sixty pitches and I what Wakefield all the four run lead yeah yeah I like him. -- But not starting -- as a long man can probably see that as a long man -- you know seventh inning eighth inning. In any kind of bridge role absolutely not and -- would put them in that situation and he deserves a roster spot and he's been valuable in that role in the past yeah. I mean I I think he capsule deserves a roster spot I would just be leery of starting. Would you agree that the division is over. Yes I agree -- the ball well it's over. My only thing that they have been from -- April I've been on the race -- the rays wouldn't finish ahead of the Yankees the rays are in this thing they're not beautiful. I -- the Red Sox to win the division the rays as a wildcard I think that's still could come to fruition collided. More. Importantly jet out at a million a way to inform -- I kept -- September 1 September 1 we'll see what happens. I want to see what these young guys you're under pressure. This is a nice little flash by the -- but it's more not a flash it's not -- about the make up to something that mat and does something. Going on down there that is. That's legit and how -- it. They may not -- Kelton up at the end of the day but they're not going to fade because they quote unquote happened in their Augusta has.

Nothing to do with and you know we we saw what we've seen in the last two weeks it came to Fenway Park. Well they had done well this year they had won a game. Before last week and Fenway they take two out of three in the Fenway pressure cooker quotes not. Then. After getting blown out the first game of the series and we're all thinking okay here it is the same -- raised to give up six home runs Scott Kazmir looked overwhelmed. The like he didn't want to be on the mound. In the comeback win the next two games when you think the Red Sox will at least get two out of three in this series and knows it too impressive series wins four out of six.

Matches when it matters not just that but I mean the whole baseball world is expecting them to fold the whole baseball world is expecting okay. These series against Boston is when the Red Sox finally take over water seeks its level. Everyone is putting out on them. They get to that spot where they're tied game to back your Boston last week Papelbon found a mile -- down by Iran. And they win the game in the -- don't go away same situation present itself this -- game one there's statistical tie for first. Beckett on the mound with a one run lead and I was subsequent -- Democrat Robert. And they don't go away they win that ballgame so they routinely come up big in these big situations. And it you've got to tip your cap to that you've got to you know acknowledged the legitimacy of that team when they do that consistently time and time out. But here's -- we talked about just off the air before we start up you said to me. They've proven at the rays of the best team in the Al east. --

Like well obviously in regular -- but the about it I I cigarettes to okay the Red Sox regular in the play. I think it'll well in and that maggot in the playoffs and the race finally might cave and the play up pressure. Playing in front of 17000. -- as possible and that and that national stadium. It is it's disrespectful to -- the Red Sox are better teams in the race so short. The -- one of the season series against the Red -- One by one run games at home. The Red Sox. They've won four out of the last six games against the Red Sox answered every challenge from the reds haven't -- now. --

Well here's why I give the Red Sox yet if they play in the playoffs and I still think are better at different. Okay I have to give everything I still think the Sox are better team and -- July. Who has the rays -- jackass right. His pants you know he's he's soiled himself right up and -- of the -- answers that play at first stop running just tell the kid was lost I was freaked out. The Sox ace packet in the night -- and snarling at a -- thing Josh Beckett. Huge difference there the Red Sox have a stopper and ace that you can reliant one at brought their private temple to Scott Kazmir. And as a little skittish -- part about it about something. How about how about garden at cigars I think is a legit arms honest I think the mediocre arm that has gotten good result but Jackson. I think that Jackson is not pitching in the post season I think as a starter. I think that obviously as the --

That then I got the kid price who's going to be in the mix too. Somehow maybe out of you talk about Wakefield is a long got up price. As a long guy. It's interesting we don't know what he's going to do on the big stage but he is really he is he's been sleeping through the minor leagues and in straight days I mean he dominated -- dominate the minor.

The rays are going anywhere for years. If if you looked -- got they start the year with four pitching prospects in the top twenty baseball America's top 104 pitcher is -- global been up this -- that -- David Price is the guy who's not in. At the door so there. Going anywhere they have been -- long long time but. I I talked to dale about this couple weeks ago and I was on him and he believes in the stat alcoholic feel about a lot of people whereby it would what steps is runs scored the run differential got. I the the run differential the Red Sox on the season that's you know points four point against and yet it's. Red Sox plus 158. The rays plus 86. The Red Sox nearly double the -- in terms of run differential there are some people who will tell you that is the most telling stat all ball. At what they will tell you is that that the rays record. There's a lot of afloat nature there well.

Oh sure I mean I said yesterday Mike that I can see this team being the 2005. Houston Astros. The race and Astros got the World Series in 2005 in the got swept. One of the big reasons we got swept this -- score. So I can see this team doing some good things in the post season went in the pennant I wouldn't be surprised. To see any team maybe the White Sox by surprise me a bit. If if they want ale pennant but if the rays when it in the Red Sox when it does when it not a surprise. But I can see the rays -- winning it and then getting to the World Series and mussina bubble burst and yet so I'll give I'll give that stat so loud.

But as I say kind of this is I I it's not like the reports -- but. I still think -- are better team and I think that there's something about what the rays have done this -- while their help that they belong in the tournament. They're going to be there for years to come there's a little bit of an element to what they've done this year that is. I ran a lot you know -- sort things they've won games they're there record of one run games and twelve games over 500 -- one run games in the Red Sox are like. Five games under there's a difference right.

I mean it's. They've lost eighteen of their last when he won. One run games -- didn't look behind the glass. Law which you can CNW yeah I'd dot com you can also OC. Michael Felger report card. A W yeah I'd like a mail back and what would get the -- as it is posted now and yes a pretty. After reading in the mailbag right now assortment that. And they hear the -- phillips' office charts he's -- But. We're going to talk a little more baseball with convert -- 11 o'clock we talk about the raised in the Red Sox and Angels though he's. I do not interesting -- him manage that you're not that excited about the poverty keeping well there. I just got its gas is going to -- it's fascinating because on paper. You want to be at home for the White Sox as opposed in LA and Anaheim for the Angels and that's just a no brainer about how far you go oh. To make that happen I think that's what.