10-8-08 Buck Martinez, TBS Baseball Analyst

This guy not only did a great job previewing. The Red Sox Angels series -- He then did a great job working with chip Carey calling the four game series have been working with chip again. ALCS Red Sox and Tampa bay rays and buck Martinez rejoins us here in Boston but -- Michael again how are yet. I'm well are you doing today. Greens that he well have you caught up analogous sleep after some of those late games between -- and Red Sox. Yeah I think that idea hated that series go about the way you expected the first one.

You know it was a little surprising at Angel made so many mistakes. They're outfield play very good yeah I mean there's -- at separate -- Robert turner cavs are a couple of missed plays sister anabolic talent front. On the out area pop up that led the three runs -- and -- a time on base running mistakes and they just don't look overall shaky including the botched squeeze bunt in the ninth inning of game four.

Let's talk about that squeeze play what was your take on the call itself and eventually. The mini mini controversy that ensued when Mike Sosa came around that he dropped the ball before upon --

Well I think that's physical point of it is you mentioned it to make accuracy such -- got to about argue when he sees the ball on the ground. Obviously it pivotal point in the ballgame you have to make sure that you do everything you can't do try to save that nature of that. Jim -- yet spoke to after the game and -- in about that by and you have to think about it he -- tagged the runner tech had tagged the runner with the ball in his book. At that point he has little control. Any hits the ground and then -- pops out -- after the year fact that he had. Total control what your grandpa and I think so -- really understood he came out but from. Protest would return and that got very quickly. You know it's interesting there's a lot of people ask me well you know what's different about and a player to play. Well a player to play is different in that the contact. I initiated by the base runner is what jarred the ball loose from the catcher. Not to ground. Jarrett picked the concept. Jarred the ball for Barrett picks look into Reggie Willits play -- it would have been a different call I think it's different than. You know the catcher getting the ball. They struck bowling him over and enjoy the ball there's only two distinct --

Bucket but if if Reggie Willits balls over -- tech at the plate. And as he hits the ground the ball comes loose would be called safer route.

got a great golf and that's the argument everybody says he would become update more than likely impact having been victimized by many others collisions in their calm myself. Let the same time I think that pick made the call -- made the play can't control board department contact. He definitely had control the ball and at that moment is out.

About the call from the dugout itself mean -- bar had the winning hit the night before. Did you agree we have asking him to execute the blunt -- and not just try to hit the ball to the right side of the infield.

Yeah I think here when you think about it elevated advantage and we have Erica mark at nine sacrifice bonds and nine bunt for base mister -- deceit and so they're pretty good guy up there and let that Delcarmen pros aren't in the just overmatched in. -- you know we talked about it before imply that tocchet uses a -- he doesn't mind using this great I think the only. If -- mental aspect of the matchup was the fact that I bought it ignore upside as a switch hitter and that gives -- a clear view based on about there.

If you're Red Sox fan I don't think you can count on the Tampa bay rays making as many mistakes as you saw the Angels night.

You can bet. They're not going to make any mistakes. They're not quite intimidate by the atmosphere you guys assault first and out of this team has. When -- it and defend away and got hammered in game one of their three game series. And came back against apple. And -- at the moment I have about one and then in the fourteenth inning. We have eight games that you seeing them and their -- reds start to other belt or fourteen innings and not many. And they crumble under the pressure right inning but not that raised the -- and make a mistake this should be a great series.

That correctly from wrong here but we're just listening to the broadcast listening you give your analysis. I got the sense that the -- Really bonded with you and gave you some stuff that they probably. Wouldn't give the rest that was did you feel like you had a connection with -- with Napoli and Jason Ameritech.

Well you know my job is to bring something to regret yet that nobody knows. And I take a lot of pride in doing. A lot of people not just the catcher's -- when you think about the focal point of football and at all between nick the pitcher catcher and batter. Being if you were to Duke game and and analyze those aspects of the game you'd have a pretty good breakdown of the -- you know are fortunate -- managed to get medical grateful -- And now we have a -- of -- better relationship that that happens certainly. Maybe it paid very honest forthright guy and -- in the good questions you get good answers. And now I kind of relationship was so in his coaching staff along they they'll trust me knowing that they're not going to embarrass anybody and -- the -- any secrets before. It is an extra -- but we are I think when you in the post season. -- is going to have a lot to do with the outcome because there aren't at the controller -- emotions and how they worked the game plan. And I think if you look at the catching in need. To didn't championship series getting pretty proud that there are all of these games.

Yeah over the course of -- seventeen seasons in the big leagues. You had an opportunity to catch some terrific pitchers. And you know of fans we always look at it we say. How to -- how do you really rate as a catcher -- you know he's doing a great job we always say this guy works well the pitching staff. But really able to see. Some things and very tech Anna Napoli but specifically -- attacked. That may be that we're not tempted to do that some of the nuances of what really jumped out -- you in that category.

You know what's this for long. Time Communist days maybe the best we've seen in the last. A couple of decades it gave calling pitches and handling is Britain stepped. And that's I majored catcher's helmet struck the pitchers have been yeah. And I know people that have watched a lot of -- games -- protect those amount. We saw that in game three wood Beckett but you have to think about the importance of every at bat. In the first inning Chone Figgins was on base in game three about 22 pitches. And ever several situations where Barrett pick one up to the mound. Well designed over went over the pitch and then went back to the plate and never gave a sign because he didn't want to give figgins any hope more information to relate to the batter. But it was so these that -- it brings to the game. Gary tuck in my mind the bullpen coach cigarette -- is the best catching instructor in baseball. And he has -- prepared every single day not only physically people -- Balt and throw would receive but. But mentally he helps and refresh his memory has sparked other board -- team.

Were you surprised at the trust that Terry Francona put. In Justin Masterson is the bridge guy getting to Papelbon.

And I I was a little bit surprised until I talk to Terry about it and -- it I didn't put him in that situation. -- it. So adjust and earned that right to pitch in those situations because you got. Big outs and that he built that confidence during the course of the seats in the outs became bigger and the situations became more important. So now in the postseason Justin that even blink when he's given an opportunity because he stepped forward and down the stretch. I think one thing that everybody knows about the east is when you play in the American League east you're facing tough teams every game. And I think that as part a lot of the younger players to -- pennant race post peace and kind of atmosphere. In order to hire facing tough pitching bought a New York you know the rivalry there. You know Tampa bay -- it is it is the class of the league this year. And they even Baltimore -- a good hitting team so I think all of these pitchers are are -- through the experience is a game in the American League east.

We were saying before you came on that Tampa. Has passed every test presented to them this season people thought they would fold early in the year they didn't fold in September they didn't. Fold when they faced the Red Sox six games over two weeks they didn't. So what do you expect from the rays in the series do you see them winning the series you give them the advantage.

Well I certainly think they have the advantage because they have four on -- They get the best home record in baseball they let the play on that turf they love the atmosphere it down and they're very good because they -- athletes on the field. When they got Jason Bartlett to short defensive shortstop that really turned their fortunes around. And that you know the guys are based on Warriors probably going to -- go look in the very near future. The second base he or more his I'm a heck of a job making the transition from third. To second and commerce bank is their gold glove caliber first baseman you can really feel. I think you're CU who has been in Pena made some spectacular plays in this series. If you who has yet to play first -- you know obviously he's going to lead yeah he leaned on heavily on the plate for a little while. But that you're going to kick in the interest in this series I think the advantage in Tampa bay as is -- an advantage first. And if they can get their starters to pitch into the seventh against the -- it should be aware of that where championships years.

Jason Bay has as you guys pointed out made himself very popular for the folks in this town and a very short period of time. Did you get enough chance to see bay in the National League got on what you see Pittsburgh to note that this was the kind of player he could be when he got here.

Yet -- that Jason Bay for awhile. As a lot of that in Toronto and we always keep an eye on the Canadian players and he comes from outlasted trailed BC. And that any -- baseball -- a long time. He went down -- Oregon played an argument talent and that you know did some great things in college and then. Went to got a chance assigned. Bounced around from organization organization but if you look at the people he was traded for you you an idea about the talent level we have. It was just a matter time before it landed on -- first in Pittsburgh and that certainly had jumping in the middle of a pennant race I get ready understands that. There's kind of a new meaning to the word based state in Boston.

And I even focused on the Red Sox in in Red Sox and Angels now. Red Sox and race what do you think about the those series in the National -- you think the Dodgers. Have enough to beat the Phillies.

Yeah accurate if I think they have great pitching that nobody looking at because they're very focused on Manning. Thank Manny and check the job and that certainly -- people and bought and now I'm but he can be. And that they they have a tendency I think to overlook the impact the Dodgers pitching is starting pitching Pettitte dodges going to be pretty. Low. -- and who -- our three front -- pitchers and even and that they hear from the ballpark in Philadelphia. And -- was perfectly suited to neutralize BP -- of the Phillies. I expect it to be a very good series both teams swept the other even their stinnett ballpark so. You know it's just like they're raised in the Red Sox during the season nobody could win. In the epic games ballpark so I think it's going to be a good series are expected any of the -- fourteen -- could come out -- series and I think we're going to seek a great championship series because I like an acceptable or teams.

John Nike's comments notwithstanding. Are these the four best teams left in baseball.

I committed to say that before the series. One. Yeah I don't -- you know guys it's frustrating -- that you know there what mattered and you get here to have their bad. I think what what we overlook -- mentioned it from time -- time on the broadcast is. Boston played in the east is September. And just played at west since September inflatable out there offensive numbers well they were pushed as hard as the Red Sox and course Jerry -- to. When a division teams play against the Yankees in that owns the challenger played against the Blue Jays who have the best pitching staff in baseball and you're playing against Tampa back. They're September it was much more challenging than that of the dangers I think being just felt the impact. They were little rusty there was little shaky -- played that differently than they've played most of the summer.

Really the best manager is remaining. Of these fourteen.

That's a tough question I mean all the managers that attributes that make their team's special Joe Torre of course had a resonated so. You know very impressive with what he has done. But it is saying god you know the team didn't really come together until Andy came over there and Joe had a chance to what's on the kids in the middle of the plate each against. Rural and -- Blake Dewitt played very well defensively and now they have. For a call back at shortstop but. It's hard to characterize managers as they'd match up because every manager I'd be as things organized team Charlie Manuel. -- argue along with. Brett Myers and -- confrontation that removed him from the game Charlie Manuel bench Jimmy Rollins for not -- not once but twice. And that you know everybody has a different equality the plate and their team. John -- has done a marvelous job keeping this team. The impression that it's just like -- march 15 and now playing in October. Don't do anything differently in networks will present at a course Terry Francona I don't think there's anybody. It's ever been better suited to manage this team and Terry Francona suited to manage the Red Sox. He is absolutely a genius in how he manages almost personalities and you know -- I think Paul Ortiz certainly deserved to be where they are.

Given what you've done for a living your whole life have you ever thought about it. What would -- be like if I was managing in Boston what I had to deal with all the stuff he has to deal with.

Yeah I mean it's obviously challenging me just days the year. The concentrated media and that's mop up every single day again that they get to be edgy crowd and SO such an intense atmosphere -- There Kerry is well suited to handle that he's been tough situations before and Philadelphia. And I just think it's half. Full mentality is working very well he always believes that there's something good is going to come out of every situation and you know that these are calming influence but he's not that much different than Joe Torre in that regard. And I think -- you know they have like -- said Gary says is as well suited to manage that particular ballclub as any manager in baseball.

But we really appreciate taken the time to join us it was fun watching yet. In the first series will all be watching again here in Boston.

Well dictate some minutes and -- to do -- the game and and bring it to the fans of Boston because they're really good fans and that we have a good time and it'll be a good series as well.

Thank Bud Black dot -- take care. That is a buck Martinez from TBS.