10-1-08 Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated

Well we know what the MVP ballot would look like if Tom for -- had a vote. Because on SI dot com yesterday he laid out his entire ballot from one to ten we talked about yesterday. And Tom joins us on the line right now Tom -- Michael how Mariette.

Good guys played out. -- I've checked Garnett and some great credit for all the outlet ballot and actually a lot of people think Ryan Howard but you know the war broke it down and started out think it might be our. Martin couldn't all of them. Also the better guy for six months.

How about that. How how do you take grief for having Albert lesson and then number one position think about that that's crazy.

Unfortunately a lot of people don't just look at home runs and RBIs you know. You know we do have a lot more information available to us and -- also -- always that a guy who said you know I will lean toward people weren't well. For contending teams certainly. I yell loud applause is changing in the playoffs and know that. -- it was great half games out and eighteen games ago a lot of credit -- that was the Royals -- you know play immediately and for all these you know they Award contender. We're 95% defeat only because of Albert -- yet clearly to me. He is way out front right. And I understand how are great here and it great to Hamburg but for six months but it all met mark.

How how do we get to that point we were talk with Ken Rosenthal. Yesterday and it has long been his contention that if you're. Not playoff contention you're not an MVP in his eyes how we get that point where we look at it that way I'm I always think if you if you're having a great season. Why not if you happen to be on a fourth place team -- third -- fingers don't have a great season.

August Taylor I think Michael that I figure -- look context where -- put -- numbers you know. And you're hitting a guy at second base your team needs -- in -- playoff race. Get back guy and that's totally different -- that -- not second base and you're point five games out. I eat free -- a little bit more so you know let somebody talk the players they always tell you that could be about anyway. Oh really help is getting into the World Series winning a World Series it is the championships that really has wide -- wider there. So that's the case that the reading your blank. Then all the way that a factor. But that's BL the ball well I would not I would never rule out someone -- little like -- fast rule that would -- is because it came in didn't. Well certainly it is an extra credit if you're playing a game that late meaningful in the.

Well just just a real quick follow up does that mean anything arise that Justin Morneau. In Joe -- are no longer eligible for the MVP.

I think you're eligible clearly they get down -- 163. Game that is under 62 -- they've everyone up to the plate where it was meeting last at bat now. I -- with a dry up because they've got let anybody on contending team not just playoff game. In hit and run total bases and I'm not base hit eighty more total bases and Joe Mauer. And -- probably was. In my -- coming down the stretch but for me he didn't get done and you know I'm -- finished up last night and the that we can -- attitude that it's ever. With only two home run. So we're bigger September I think -- might have won the Award but that may. I like like which way it goes after -- as a -- in my column I can't remember anybody who laid out more balls at second base. About Pedroia a bit dark -- inside out because these are not ought to grab that anybody else. Well a lot of effort.

How did you pick and choose between Pedroia and Youkilis.

Pat looked up it really was because I thought for most that maybe halfway received that it was -- course -- certainly. Appreciate is versatility that he thought both quarters. I -- what all went down to pick up at third base -- really no drop off the -- that that to me that cute but. I -- you don't want slight factor I would lean toward the guy who plays the middle of the deal. You know shortstop second base that may play at a premium position -- that picture on the and it IQ difference at all and I am I understand what air every minute through that what you look for differences may that was a lot of that Detroit it was get. -- done with that kind of production while playing in the middle field.

I've found it interesting that on your ten man National League ballot. You had both CC sabathia and Manny Ramirez listed. So you don't have a problem with them being there while in -- case just since the trading deadline in sabathia -- case a little bit longer than that.

Yeah and I will tell you that but it's extraordinary and it -- the credit to the impact that they've made on their team because they're not in the -- or what they're there. I -- by the fact that they could be the MVP can be number one on the ballot.

Probably many a million -- he made it was 53 games with the game and I went Bibby is playing that the -- game.

So let's I think -- it'd be accounted for basically it normally I would do that but I think.

Impact they had was so outstanding that -- to -- out or somewhere on the ballot but certainly not at the top.

Richt not that -- in the pennant Rick Reilly's column. When you're hot look at it with an ESP NS some -- some Rick Reilly -- will you're. MVP be playing in the American League Championship Series next week.

Yeah that the great question and I am I to me I know the Red Sox and match. Act up well against Nadal in the post season that it almost like the roles have been reversed a little bit on the wording in. Or last year -- Wake you banged up. Give the Red Sox could run last year now. Yesterday it felt like all the help report you're getting wrecked -- very good and the got a bank of Boston. Let me I'll have to expect it get on the mound. -- lately seeing him hit in October before I would say the Red Sox and that's here he's still. But what they're going to tell you right now about you know like. -- ignited C east still too much requested me to say that they're going to be game that was the best in the league respect mark. You know that is the anti big part of it sort of -- taking this series that the extra optic. Actually help the Red Sox -- opportunities epic battle I've apple lot available for more than three out more often than they otherwise would it. And that extra work out the Red Sox favor thought he'd bat and and it but he handled but may come out Beckett you know take some data that game you know the only one start pact between games here.

Tom why do you think they took that extra day it was pretty. Baffling to me.

I I didn't act associate that might get that they don't have quite -- opposite sides Eric Weaver out there as the fifth starter. That the very comfortable -- operate like that can't the doctors. Back that they can have their bullpen. And ready to go basically every -- and obviously you know every situation shield every situation. -- yet most managers are going to take that series with the update because they wanted to know that it will -- a Red Bull -- I think if you try to figure out. As sort of -- the other team. I think you'd defensive strategy I think in the short period I don't think that the right way to -- I think you got any manager. They'll pick their roster that ball and fully rested on the way to do that take that backdrop that.

Do you think can Scioscia had known about Beckett. Before he made the choice it would have been different.

I don't thank god that's right it accurately if you start managing the other team at. That's when you're going to get yourself in trouble you know you have to -- way you know -- personality that up. I think it was Dunn's 99 point 9% based on his own person now and I am not the Red Sox situation.

You Aram moonlighting a little bit today you're working as the sideline reporter for TBS on the Chicago Los Angeles series. As you pointed out Manny spent a remarkable story the Dodgers are in the playoffs Derek Lowe is as hot a pitcher is there as there is in the game. But can they beat the Chicago Cubs and his five game series.

They can't say he has a couple of and that player I mean obviously the Cubs the favorite but at the home field advantage. You'd run scored differential over the course the -- in terms of match -- I think the dodgers' present a problem because the Dodgers are just loaded with right -- power pitching. And the Cubs are right hand dominant line. The Dodgers now are different team obviously it but the Cubs are back in May anticipated -- Casey -- they're all -- I got the Dodgers regard this theory that Nomar Garciaparra and Jeff -- a lot here on the bench and Greg back in the all. You know make -- that -- the late game in terms of acting up but -- spot for period players. Well I think it's certain match -- game one -- huge. Because you mentioned Derrick wiley is going to anybody right now predict. And that is Ryan Dempster is first career post season start I know he's been great on the here it comes in big popular -- But it's also don't forget -- pressure on this testing. I mean starting got a -- might not be the best thing for them if they get behind early game one. Because the pressure gets ratcheted up everybody's waiting to pop quirk of the game but you know they they don't let it let it get there. And I think that they get behind early in this series there's a lot more pressure on the the current --

Even though Joe Torre and his Yankees teams brought the Red Sox a lot of pain. When he was in New York I became a huge Joe Torre fan just watching him and and to see how he handled his team. Have you heard any rumblings about the post Torre era in New York and talk about the from the New York players that. They compare Torre to Girardi NC a huge difference.

Well I mean there is different that behind natural that weren't mentally going to be in the -- to be compared to just let. You know Joe Torre is based on guy who is extremely organized guy is exactly what Brian Cashman and how Steinbrenner wanted and it could have got to Don Mattingly like I was a little more like Torre -- old school baseball guy. We gonna do it personality -- Girardi is they're really the organizational EPL guy. And I think that -- cultural change and it out territory had a lot more rules and all -- was and the fact that. You know players could kept it in the clubhouse that -- other than veteran grumbling about that -- to people. With contraband -- locker. -- to have it did Barrett at bat or repeat that had to be all week -- You know those were smaller things that better a little out of -- it at a bank but Joe -- style I think. -- like eight when you have different style gonna go through a transition and I saw that last year the Cubs and not that the Cubs. A good career for a lot to get used the loop the ballot and hasn't. And that certainly played a lot better -- stretching in the post season but it by the that's seamless transition and I think the main thing is going to happen. With the Yankees and it was better next year -- Girardi. But it did take some transition here.

Do you do you think the whole week pizza thing has anything to do -- would mean that that seems a little extreme and and irrelevant to me.

Well I'm sure what have better agree with you. Yell at ballpark how you start your players as well on the that the topic Procter and able people are going to rebel. You explain to them that hey we got a nutritionist here there's reasons or going to provide you'd better food here is -- you know eight let us now. Yeah I'd lie you educate -- people at their readers for doing it the site is the fact that I'm -- stickler for details. You know I'd get back being at the cell and being able to get it communicate with players. But I'll tell you what what they build that. Thought that this sort of thing is that players will look forward to complain about. Little things.

One final nitpick before we let you go concerning your online ballot on SI dot com and it's an -- Because I agree with you that if Joe madness not the unanimous choice for manager of the year there should be -- at a congressional investigation. I don't high you don't have Terry Francona in the top three.

It was tough match. And an eagle like -- leave about garden --

That's -- Mike Scioscia so I would've -- out.

Yeah I have a lack -- big time on that because I I went back and forth -- and those but I think such has gotten at a point now he's. They're like Phil Jackson though we get taken for granted that people that you know light quite that bad division and it -- I understand at a loss -- pat division. I don't like the way he manages the game. And it may indicate that the wait -- met until Matt manages is directly descendant of the way by ocean and it. Obviously with -- such out LA. I just thought it was thought that that draw little bit of attention to the post I do think he would take -- grad but let them. You want but Francona and I have no problem that I that I went back -- two really close but I couldn't stick it out either one of begat.

We always -- you stop and talk about all the time Tom Purdue chief from Sports Illustrated. And SI dot com have fun at Chicago to. Yeah. Tom thank you take care that is that Tom Purdue -- from Sports Illustrated.