9-24-08 Terry Francona, Red Sox manager

Every Wednesday at this time. We talked with a manager of the Boston Red Sox and joining us on the AT&T hotline. Is Terry Francona Terry has brought to buy a -- insurance. Interest systems doctor Robert Leonard. At 1800 getting -- good afternoon Terry. First and foremost congratulations. Thank you. Idea I saw you on the on the field after the game talking a little bit with the Catherine Tappan and -- he said. Say they are all a little different but just feeling is still good in all three cases -- four cases now.

Stated that there are different things of the past or are always different in the majority of the little different. But the reward should never be less any significant or feel any you know again because we've. Been fortunate enough to be there before. It's no less enjoyable or should should be -- we're watching the guys. Celebrate I I I was really glad that they seem to feel that way this can never get old. And and it just did did -- older guys looked younger. You see the young kids how they react to for the first time it's a ruling deep feeling.

You don't how would you best describe. The psychology of being one game away from clinching and being one game away for a couple of days I know for fans. There's some anxiety and doubt creeps in because you -- on the Yankees are still in this thing and what happens if they get swept by the Indians in the Yankees have a chance what's it like for you in the game.

Well that's all part of being a patient. Which I don't understand. I don't we try to. Take care of it'll be accountable all the things we talked about earlier -- or else and certainly the quicker you do that. The more you can they be set up but we can and and -- And rest some people do some things that maybe you wouldn't normally do and and your shirt certainly you're not. Completely comfortable doing that until you have fully clinched a playoff spot I don't care how many games are left. Do we you have to respect defected to you do what you have and a.

Terry is I was watching your guys on the field last night I was thinking about. The journey that this season is -- and you go all the way back well obviously Fort Myers but I was thinking more about Japan. This Tokyo feel like it was a two weeks ago or two years ago.

Thank you the first time we -- in Toronto. -- while what are crazy way to get to Toronto and in the last time we just can't control over third time there aren't. We've been through so much and eroded its battle long journey. And hopefully we'll be talking for -- a long time to go this year. Because it'll hopefully what is ahead of us is just to be giving. But at least we get to be a part of that not that's very exciting we will take that lightly just it's an honor. But we also -- in order to be one of eight teams -- continues to play and hopefully we can be a team that belong.

As far as Japan goes I can understand why Major League Baseball wanted to you guys to go and I can understand why a lot of players and coaches probably probably did want to go but look back at that trip what if anything did it do for you as a team.

Well I think it was very good bridge would baseball. As far as just -- team ability huge test because attest to this physically mentally. He did a lot of -- not in favor of it and again that's that's our responsibility to give that opinion. Because all we care about is winning. Also understand it was good for baseball shall we we should try to -- durable the middle -- complaints. But not always forced -- competition or did not help us and we understood that going into.

You talked earlier about being able to rest some guys do some things that. You wouldn't normally do what's the lineup going to look like tonight.

We actually aren't there yet we we need to talk some cars. We do need to. To be aware that. What we've been pushed it was a peoples and then we will get paid at night off tonight or at least you don't want to tonight -- you're talking start. What did -- Carter's bad and there are and then pulls plug and play a few games as we -- actually need to talk to David today. -- But can we don't have a lot of middle infielder sort of mix and match and try to give one -- day every day approached the way out.

I was going to ask yeah specifically about bay and this is not about who's not here but who is here. When Jason Bay arrived in your clubhouse he brought a certain professionalism. A certain calmness that I think really was almost needed by your team at that time is is that fair to say.

perjure I think it was a great addition. I think it's you know again we've we've talked about it and talked about it and -- we felt the need to organization to -- change. I applaud feel for recognize not just recognizing but. It's slowly from readers stand behind him clearly need to make a change -- guys making a change not a big deal it's span to have the guts to do that. Made us a better ballclub. And I think there were a lot of people probably question -- or maybe hope but it didn't work. Horrible blow apart phrases I think it's proved that we are better ballclub and a product feel from the dust to do it.

The point I guess I I keep going back to is. You know we know how good a player left here. I'm not sure Red Sox fans realized right off the bat how good a player was common.

Well again go to one single really didn't have to happen is Jason Bay didn't have to to gold. Pound for pound Miami that doesn't happen very often talk about a halt Vrabel but I think our goal was to be a better team. And I think we've accomplished.

You talked about every playoff journey being different for you only have one year here. Where you didn't make the playoffs and and think about the last two years though. Last year it it until the end okay. May June July last year you were just kind of cruising. For a long time than there were it got a little bumpy at the end. This year did it feel like compared to last year did -- feel like you know you go a mile mile and a half and it says road closed the tours will close beat up. They'll like that.

Well I don't think we ever felt like last year like recruitment. You know I mean I I know we go -- a good start but I don't think -- feeling ever gators like that we grind it out every day in. Then when things seem to maybe get a little carried PM I don't -- it really -- as bad for us because we kind of take the same view every day. This year there's been a lot of things knuckle right to. But every time as you're kind of alluding to every time -- consultants start to go wrong. Being you know when -- we lost David GDP -- ten years. Now -- he's going to play his first game at night in right field in the in about 35 days -- How that works will be interesting but even though we haven't had -- for months he carried us for a while there's been a lot of things go right also.

Mister Francona. -- the question. What I said what's the lineup would look like and I didn't -- if you're going to -- in the state funeral. -- got to play and I.

Yeah you know what I. Want to ruin America's. -- the -- just build -- just walked out what you guys were. And we are still kind of sort of things out that is one thing it's gonna happen we still have some guys we want to check on to David. We didn't get to last night so against not a subject you to play right field. He may not even play a full game in right field we're going to try and the agenda when we don't want to -- returning to blow the ideas to -- this about a given stronger not sitting back.

Well let me let me slip in -- Red Sox second -- brought to you by Mohegan -- world that play because. Today's question from Larry sales and -- is specifically about J. D. Drew. He writes with J. D. Drew missing significant time and with the minor league season over win. Will J. D. Drew be able to get enough live game rehab at bats are you concerned about inserting him back into the lineup without those three have at bats.

What were actually put him in the lineup tonight and you know you never know having a perfect world guys without their timing but it felt good. We're order Bob Mike you pull out -- about now at home before Favre RBIs in his first game. Just never know. We believe in preparation. But sometimes you're not able to do that sold as best we can't and got to work with bags underneath. Try to simulate what they camp and -- it was pretty embarrassing to him.

I understood I understand based on reports from here at the park that. When javy went -- and took live batting practice last night he looked like he'd never been away.

Jerry was put on a clinic and it was great to see now is done that a few times and then he stiffened up afterwards this the first probably gone out felt good. And then state good so were were hopeful that maybe just this last epidural -- did the -- him -- it will play.

You mentioned bags earlier and I want to be careful here because I always liked the player. Deserve the bulk of the credit you have to go out there and do it but. There are coaches who can help you get to where you want to go and we were all talking about Jacoby Els of -- Early in the season everyone all the analysts that -- you inside fastball eat him up inside he can't deal with it in now. That if it seems like he has corrected that little flaw that people saw. He deserves credit for but do you do you agree that his batting coach has a lot to do with the --

I think Magnus did does a great job here. And a lot of that is going to go unnoticed and probably as it should for coaches. And -- get here early people straight down the cage. The hitters they all -- When a pitcher comes in the game they're prepared to eat they can go right -- and he he knows right now what to -- told. Good title schematic much -- that it -- complicated -- the way it's supposed to be does a great job. -- from people went first adversary could teach our I mean. I don't bowl where these people public statement is a very good hitting instructor he's very prepared and he has power hitters very proper.

And I I don't want to jinx -- very but. Does it look like he has made some adjustments here in the -- in the last month he looks a lot different.

Starting Big East peace seems to have gotten a little more direct. A little bit shorter. He's -- to be you'd allude to the fastball and he's also hit the fastball all. He's did not topic but it offers a lot of some balls in the gap. It's -- reasonable confidence it's also making pitchers make different pitches. I think one leads to another. All of sudden he's turned the ball more dangerous hitter it's just it's it's kind of an Evans pulled it happens in this league. And you kind of wonder where it's gonna go sometimes you don't. Hitter comes up available to have a free pass for a while because people don't have a book on him mentally -- book and then -- bitter debate they're just.

I think in in by -- you've almost answered this next question but I don't want to put words in your mouth salt just ask it straight out. Is is setting your team up for the playoffs you're pitching rotation resting players. More important. Than trying to pursue the American League east division crown which is still theoretically available.

I mean we really do placing importance on that but a lot of that is out of our audience. I mean we could win out and that doesn't mean to work can -- Tampa base so we do need to be realistic. I don't know I don't think we'd ever want. That that's important it's important goal but again I think we have to be somewhat realistic. And also understanding that what our final goal is and that's. To get farther than the first round of the playoffs and we've all witnessed when we've gone into the playoffs albeit a 100%. Chicago shooting right out of the playoffs so we need to be aware of that and -- are -- the best chance to move forward.

I know you're so eager to give me the game plan for the playoffs on and ask you about that a little bit. In 2004 you play the Angels in the division series and two and in 2007 to play the Angels in the division series. How much carry over. In terms of preparation did you do in other words did you take did you guys say well we went over this -- 4. They got some of the same guys we -- up we can tweak this -- seven in the preparations really not going to change that much.

What the preparation won't change it'll bring expensive. Eating out -- it should be but they're very different team and in guys change also -- with the addition of Teixeira and hunter that are there they're different. They tackle or wall in their lineup and you know some of the -- if that's what we have scouting meetings because you want to find out who's hot. Where you can exploit people where they're going to try to exploit you third a lot of the -- over that'll it'll be an expensively.

If that was going to say 47. They've pretty much have similar personnel but 78. They're almost like a completely different team and.

Yeah it's likely that they wore the same personnel you still need to find out why people were doing things what their strengths are what their weaknesses are. And things very not only from year to year should book series to series and we had no luck against them this year so again. It'll be an expensive beating him and we look forward to because. We we I've never come out of those -- not feeling good.

And in whatever order you choose to pitch them I think we kind of know who the top three pitchers are in your rotation. Going into the playoffs how do you feel about how. Beckett Lester and Dice-K or throwing the ball right now.

I think we feel bottom -- anybody coming. Genital dazzle voters it's towards the end of September there's a lot of work to her on every pitcher in the limited. I think our guys are going to be situated. Where we can lean on animal but that's the whole idea. You know we're going to have to make some decisions the rest this we boarded -- next week on how to best use our personnel and we'll start doing that next couple days and -- Odom who feel Owens. And our pitchers in John Farrell will try to put together of the game -- we think gives us the best typical for work.

I remember last year and you guys clinched it was very exciting the Yankees lose to the Orioles and a great game and everybody's on the field all the sudden you said. I got a set of the pitching now in the in the celebration ended when did you have that moment last night we set -- I'm not celebrate anymore I don't worry about what we're doing going forward.

Beat all the wanting it and I know it talked about can be -- like collision but didn't want to -- to be scripted. You know the -- program bushel they gonna celebrate I don't know I don't care what -- want to do I'll really feel. I was kind of enjoying against sit back watch them do their thing. But because -- that time of the year what's in front of those. We really have a lot of thinking to do still some you know so. Really wasn't that. Crazy but -- John and I spent the majority of debate -- but the pitching anyway. We -- back in your little -- after that just making sure we are talking more about the pitch and we got her earlier that it pocket more about the pitching. Because so much hinges on the health of your pitching staff and the productions. Sold. Again -- nothing really -- that we played a game or all the watched so well prison break and go up what Starbucks and back at the ballpark not much changes.

Prison break any reasons number -- I I I was thinking about this we talked Ken Rosenthal yesterday he has a vote this year for American League MVP. He said as as this last week of the season winds down his vote hinges between Pedroia. And morneau. I'm not asking you talk about morneau -- your -- guy can you put in perspective what kind of year Dustin Pedroia has had for your team this year.

Well he's got an MVP type here I think Kevin Youkilis has to. It again you know when you're talking most of would be the MVP. In you don't give you brought aboard old. -- not exploiting anybody I mean of the fact that we're talking about these guys has an MVP. I want to compliment to the way they play. -- it's somebody's not going to win and to put a dent in it against some real the fact we have two guys may hurt our guys chances I don't know I don't know how that works. Fully but just the fact that were talking about these guys as an MVP candidate means they've had some cutting your.

I heard Remy this morning on the station talking about guys playing the game the right way he talked about lol he talked about today. You seem to have a whole bunch of those guys.

I agree that and that's why this last Rondo. Has been so enjoyable. Because we have guys that really care about -- rights and Illinois go right. But it's fun to see guys grind it out care so much in. Yes the good group or or we're thrilled to this group as a coaching staff this he looks US sport or -- pleased.

Well congratulations again on the playoff -- real quickly before we -- ago I you've talked about this elsewhere but not with us. Your thoughts on the retirement of Johnny pesky number.

You know what I thought that was pretty cool. I didn't you know I just found out really probably what everybody else did. It was kind of a busy day I think it's pretty cool it'll mean a lot and Johnny and Johnny's going to have a day here a couple days and I'm sure there are a lot of stories in. Distorted brought her over and over time will come alike but it'll be really special to him and I thought it was really news organization to do.

And and just of people understand. Johnny pesky is a pretty -- guide to television archive the stuff -- got a -- gives you lots of suggestions of about how to manage this team doesn't.

Never short on opinions. Lower court but not these these views you know particularly when you've been around long as he has your a lot of your opinion.

I think I think Pedroia set awhile ago. He he wanted to see pesky play because according to pesky never made an out.

he called mobile older we get the the better we did where none of us or exclude from medical.

Terry congratulations we appreciate. You take that are you know Terry Francona by Roy first all for being selected for our Red Sox second guessed. Larry sales want to midweek stay at Mohegan Sun Mohegan Sun world that play. Terry Francona brought to buy AT&T. With more bars in more places switched to the wireless network with the best global coverage AT&T. Your world delivered.