10-7-08 Dave O'Brien, Red Sox Radio Broadcaster

Yes it's self serving because he is a colleague but. I think this is the best radio play by play announcer in Major League Baseball one of the voices of the Boston Red Sox Dave O'Brien joins us on the line hey David. -- like a dog -- to another one was on his way to camp. I can't wait to go to Tampa Florida. And I think you're not go to orange count on not not pay a day we got a ticket for you odd to Anaheim okay so there is -- on and a.

Like please don't even go they have already unpacked and I hated this you know it was the strangest feeling the the world do. To have your luggage someplace and you know sitting in the trucks somewhere. And feeling like you I don't want to go there I don't want they can -- my luggage but I don't want to go to Orange County I was a happy guy in the world that. You know midnight that we weren't going anywhere that we would stay at all other than that I get ready for camp but a couple of -- it was a wonderful --

You know a lot of people after the game called the squeeze play controversial when you saw it happen live what did you think in there what do you think now as you look at the replace.

I thought. But with the Red Sox executed it and you know the the end result is what it's all about. You know nothing about that's what I was thinking that boy you could you could box that a lot of different ways you -- other way -- running up -- could drop the the ball he could have missed it'll look at that could not of the backed up. They get the run and that way. And I am thinking as he had no Willits conflict in. The Red Sox and executed the entire series and the other guys have shot themselves in the fourth in this makes perfect sense to -- But that's -- Mike Scioscia is normal lives and dies all season long. He wanted to manage in the spot in the game where for example you'd never seat Terry Francona getting in the way less than two outs runner at third infield and maybe you've got to have trust in your hitters that you're going to get that run ended when that inning. I was inside that he'll put himself fit into the -- parent and that helped Mike managers you've been very successful with that I understand that -- killed last night.

Sorry Europe that was asking this question earlier and I don't know the answer and I'm hoping new deal. Assuming that it was a a single to right field and a bang bang play at the plate and Reggie Willits runs into Jason Barry attack. The umpire will of course wait to see if Barrett tech held onto the ball. Before recall safer route what's the difference between bat and waiting to see if -- tech held the ball at third base.

Well I am not sure there is that popular didn't beat the line that I Drew last night was on an exchange. Ought to transfer. The umpire will wait city yet the Al has been recorded and if the outfielder dropped it you know horseplay or something. I Q what role will loud that place. I thought he made the right all I don't remember seeing that in in all the years that I -- baseball court where the crowd is caused the fumble. But I I think it. He clearly got the call right because the -- was made the out was recorded well before. -- losing control the ball and and I didn't think that was an issue at the time I didn't think it was that big a deal I think the Angels but it was a big deal.

It's easy for us and Boston to accuse. John Lackey a sour grapes last night he said the better team did not. Win this series you've seen odd angles more than we have all year can you see why he feels that way. I --

I can I can see why he would he would feel that way because they're regular season was so successful. And they want a hundred games. I would argue with John. They're division is weak. And that's why they won a hundred games and -- they're hanging at just on the century number then they're they're all we're doing it. But I think it felt they were the better team coming in make at home field advantage. Read so I went in there and beat him twice I think it would shock that I think that would at last night there shock. But you know he's a pretty either pretty arrogant do and he always has -- as ready to rumble any time until particle yeah. You know Lackey -- I don't -- electrical coincide. And you know there's a fight -- that he wants to be the first guy into the -- that's just his personality. -- I don't like that in in a pitcher on your side. But then when he pops off insist something very Kenny Lofton -- number. I've ever would when out of the Marlins won the World Series and often the same thing -- better team did not win here. I'm looking at their roster I'm looking at models roster -- at the very least been really even if you -- and that certainly was a great they're great sinister great series. I am a white I don't know why he would choose to say that other than he's used the pretty arrogant and that's. That real walk. And in -- just right -- off that they'll think they'll -- something else and a couple of.

Going into this series that that just completed. How did you assess the equality of the two rosters between the Red Sox in the Angels.

of the -- club I really did -- we used -- ability built to win games Dillon in late situations where the long ball. As the Red Sox did J. D. Drew and Jason day with the big home runs. -- but tech got one the other night difficult loss of the forget that that all was well little monster seats Torre -- caught. They they just don't have that kind of a lineup -- I think. If that was a big separating factor between the Sox in the Angels and like Guerrero that was scary as much -- looking a little old company that what he can really intimidated that the.

Well let him and asked your personal question Dave. How old are you. He's older in New York. -- there is big no doubt in my mind he has over the yard.

You have -- these -- about fifty in Oakland on Larry and he you to mediate an artery but a look at what I love to sharing is a terrific player -- that -- behind first base the opposite like that. That is they -- gold glove defensive player but you know he really didn't hurt the Red Sox at all that series a lot of singles. And and the heart of their lineup had a comment singles that. You know nobody -- really scared eat too much. So when you're when you're comparing the lineups you know you're civil obviously David Ortiz -- that Jason Bay's home run hitter speakers -- and their. Michael when when healthy can burn you with a homer up and Youkilis obviously. An -- beat the different Milan had to me was one of them was a lot scarier than the other. And I'd Lackey knows that he does understand and he just happened to because I think that all of.

Well Dave I'm sure you brushed off your catwalk glossary. For Tampa but when you look at these teams. You know they've been pretty dominant at home against each other how do you see this series playing -- I'm playing out of you are you planning for seven gamer.

Absolutely. How could not agreement and that's the the feeling we got every time the Red Sox in the raids. Played this season was that this was something new. There's been some good rivalry games in the past between these stupid because the rays are so that it didn't mean anything. Now I feel like every time they play it which is a chance to be classic. Unfolding in front of -- and and now that it's for everything it for the World Series. Even more so I I think the series will go seven it's going to be determined on on starting pitching I think more than anything else most of those games is. Who was they'll be about who was strong enough -- deep in the games. I think the break here is going to do spectacle lot of good and that's the biggest thing. It's gonna get Lester. An extra rest as well I'll be fascinated to see -- he does set things up. Who else is going to be in the starting rotation put. You know I'd -- I think -- come down the starting pitching is the fat which is what it did all season -- and that those are very it looked Tampa bay excelled in both of those spots. It's big recently beat Chicago so easily it's big reason there. That the guy at second base is awfully good they got their bases awfully good Pena we noses -- as it is to get defensively. Surely go around about it the Red Sox need to who better than Youkilis at first base and who's better -- Pedroia at second base. You know at -- at third base so obviously they've got Longoria he's the difference maker put. He's so much fun to watch I think the series is. I you don't want that I think could happen here we could see some -- real -- well blood toilet Welling up at like because that other. And I think that's one thing I'm looking forward to is you know local rivalry really percolate when accuser attempts and -- like these games the -- work.

So does get ready to say. These teams just don't like matchup. At all it -- You know. -- you talked about at Terry's going to set things up here and I'm fascinated to see what happens there as well this would have seemed like such a stupid thing to say. A month or two months ago or whatever but if it does come down to a game seven between these two teams who you think Terry wants the ball in the hands a bomb out on the mound.

You know Betemit at all depends on the junior is the Josh Beckett throwing 9798. -- that guy that you and I saw during the season and last year. Far and I mean he gets the ball because he's Josh Beckett and -- in the post season. But a -- so in 93 -- the guy we saw the other night. It's all throughout the month of September. Who's not dominating with that fastball all that it's going to beat Jon Lester if it it works out that he has enough rest that he can go. The Jon Lester we saw last night it was big time job I mean he. And he wanted the ball for the eighth inning he wanted the ball well that night that he wanted to go back out there and finished that. That thing out it worked out great in the end. But we you know I love the idea of Jon Lester being kicked off that he can't go up -- pitch the eighth inning. In a game like last night you. That shows that he has has much in aces everything because there's there's one eye on that staff who would be ripped if he couldn't pick yet he. Last night -- Beckett. And -- and in this kid as couples --

I hate to ask you about the other series because we're so focused on the Red Sox and rays but. The Phillies and Dodgers are going to play and that has story lines for people in Boston obviously for the Dodgers and Nomar and Manny. But for the Phillies Terry Francona getting vindication. From those being people of Philadelphia what do you think -- gonna win that series.

And you don't -- anybody might I don't think he looks -- at that way at all and that was a different Philly team a different organization. I don't think he looks at -- there's vindication and the things but you know because he's a baseball lifer in because you know. He did not have as much success they're obviously is is that with the Red Sox about bylaw. He's probably looking at it -- in the back of his mind regardless is awfully sweet to return on the are here also speak if it winds up being the -- I am picking the Phillies and that series -- like Philadelphia a lot like the way they're playing at the end. They can beat you a lot of different ways offensively. I think that especially utley gets going look out select club they're going to score a lot of runs. I like the dodger pitching and I loved the story line you're talking about that the Boston and the things -- Philadelphia's six games in that series and we -- Cole Hamels a couple of times this season get shut the reds are down for periods against a potent lineup back in the days and you know when Manny was there as well and everybody was healthy. Against this lineup he might have some struggles of his Red Sox -- a few more things maybe but. I -- you know if you get to that point but I like I like Philadelphia it in this series I think the Phillies are probably in many people's -- the underdog is so much focus on me any. And it shouldn't be that -- that softly to baseball.

In no matter who comes out of the American League whether it's Tampa bay or Boston. Would you not favor them against whoever comes out of a nationally.

I would very much I imagine you guys with 200. I hate to say it because we've we've kind of made the statement all season long that the National League looks like -- junior varsity. To a large degree maybe you wouldn't it said that if the Cubs had gotten him because they were they were complete club I thought I'm not absolute beast on. That they were three and out and them umps on the Dodgers that it took them as well coming out of the worst division. But having said that I think that he the American League is at the details -- ball and actually began. Maybe we won't see what the Sox did against Colorado last year which was clearly -- be against the varsity situation. But I think beat the American League whoever it is I mean you've. The Red Sox are of far more athletic team than -- ever been a debate is most athletic team in baseball. And I don't think the National League as an opponent who can match I didn't close.

I've heard from sources. I'm -- asking my sources are can't tell you that okay. But I have heard from sources that you do a very good vin Scully versus nations so we get some of that.

Well I mean it is typical in during the course of a dodger broadcast -- farmer John products. On the payroll -- want -- So might sound something like like this Dodger Stadium beautiful -- night. You know -- 50000. And and they're just strike. Pick out two Walden two strikes. It'll fans whenever he allotted dodger dog remember it's farmer John. Easternmost inflate it Leicester and most in doubt view. -- back it's too until.

That's ridiculous that third guy in the fifth at.

A lot of body goes waxing play and and I love I love when he gets to those is like. And with that with the temperature at 68 degrees or higher he's hitting 356. All of a temperature drops below. -- 68 degrees Fahrenheit in regular -- just goes into these do the best.

So if you do it you have that if you have that doubt you must have studied him he must've been what your guys when you were. Decides to have to be a broadcaster.

You know I think that's true of everybody -- think that's true of dale Lidstrom and anybody who does play by play especially baseball that that and is one of those guys you certainly lend an ear two in. And and you're in you have to pay attention to compete the best of the best but I was -- east -- I grew up in and in New Hampshire and in Massachusetts and what the school at Syracuse so. Yeah I only heard of -- bits and pieces until I started doing baseball and they got a chance to meet him which I consider. Just an absolute thrill because he is he is he better guy than he is a broadcaster. Which. Which is I think is also very true of my partner dale will back up honest OC is one of those guys who's just great human being who happens to -- two record broadcasters well. And it's it's the best makes peaking yet especially if you have to spent a lot of time round so what he.

It exactly tell me about it four hours today but I. Don't -- I -- yeah. That's that's. Which which are right -- right Vince gully at a talk about that dale all the time where amazed. 1965. The no hitter. It wasn't that got the -- in LA coliseum. At Dodger Stadium. The DL that he was able to bring that no hitter off the top of --

Did -- earlier in the Los Angeles Times every year reprints the transcript of fans call. Sandy's perfect game. And so you you know you you can hear him as you're reading -- they do it on the anniversary of of them though aren't exactly 65. And and then there's been going. And it's 9 lead in this city of Angels and -- called facts on the mound at Dodgers stadium running and pillaged jet black hair is moments still waved from history. And it just it to riches rolled like poetry offers on. And you realize that's all extemporaneous that is all add live at. And it reads like literature that's -- And they continued to be awfully awfully but he is the pleasure look.

What's the other line the pitcher's mound at Dodgers stadium must be so low only as plays.

Yes I had no lonely is place oh world than it ought to it -- I remember being in the men's room with and it's raining at Dodgers stadium and and it never rains at Dodgers stadium site. I look at Pittman and where where you think in your mind I we are having this conversation. And it's who do you think we're we're going to get the game and then he goes. He's the only guy in the majors who called -- the which makes me very self conscious but let's look at it. Davey I I've said this all my life now. Into every light a little rain must and should -- And then picking up where we're expanding durable less.

You all in the third round match at. The baker remembered -- the now where you -- this next round.

I am I'm going to be would you guys I'm going to get the American League Championship Series for a Major League Baseball international we're -- in Prague. And then why aren't Hungary they love us the depth there. And we're out we're our our feed goes every place outside of the United States fox opposite the PP in the US we get Canada and everyplace else. So it's it's like it'll achieve them in -- kind of carpet up force and that's the part of the world we -- that we will have the ALCS. That which I'm thrilled about.

Dave the next time we talked -- and we do an interview like this you have to do the whole interviewing character every -- I would ask you about the Red Sox you know. Yet to be Vince Scully.

Idea I promise I will I also do a couple of guys I do Milo Hamilton. Of the Houston Astros which is pretty obscure to this part of the country but you'll just have to trust me it's dead on I mean makes it a little Milo as well be ready for that.

Okay it got anybody else that we should be wherever it means is that the repertoire he got some other stuff you hold night.

I got a I got a couple I -- Harry Carey I get I got a few everyone -- but I guess I got a few others in the -- at some some Major League Baseball announcers past and present that you might be surprised -- A couple of basketball announcers --

Okay on the way out Kerry. I Harry Carey Cubs lose this series if they're swept by the Dodgers what Harry said.

Our attitude.

I hated I -- that right.

I. I'll see at Tampa sorry -- good. Thanks David that Dave O'Brien.