10-8-08 Lee Jenkins, Sports Illustrated

If -- us Sports Illustrated hits your mailbox today as mine does. And my approach be tomorrow. Island on the boon -- mildly tomorrow but if -- the mailbox today it's that Manny Ramirez on the cover but probably not the story you want to read most. Right off the bat the story want to read was that penned by Lee Jenkins. And the the title of witches and they all. Lived happily ever after and I it is especially about the left field at the Red Sox acquired in the Manny Ramirez deal Jason Bay. Lee Jenkins from Sports Illustrated joins us on the line right now Leo Lee -- Michael -- on how are. Great.

Thanks Kayla I don't think you understand we're in the presence of the celebrity here you know whatever celebrity Lee Jenkins is. Leagues Jacobs had doping -- modestly. Way back win in another life. At the Boston Globe -- this young and gifted sports writer from Vanderbilt right that he walking. I don't know Vanderbilt actually like yeah. Half -- ha ha ha -- As -- original commodore. Just like Lional Richie. Lee Jenkins the believed to give it to be an intern at the globe and I had a great -- New York Times Sports Illustrated.

I told my mentor is curiously might designated mentor.

And how'd that work -- taught me that summer. I wasn't I wasn't very good bad throws Michael Smith's mentor to.

You don't like EI out there wil Cordero summer. Are callable summer like about him is what it.

Absolutely wil Cordero remember that I do. Yeah that was telephone on the -- all -- about. Our house as to how about that lead the Red Sox have come a long way since the wil Cordero and did you get days.

I don't know -- that -- it was even all that I that remember ever be able to roll up -- It never do that out.

how did you how did you come across as Jason -- story where -- signed this or we just intrigued by the the switcheroo. I'm Manny to LA and Jason -- at a Boston.

such -- perspective reporter that when he Q home runs in the first few days. Yeah not Al. MIT -- Obviously it's an obvious story deal that. EI act EP pitchers speak to -- cute personality. There note if at all if you appear out beat paper a couple of net you act. And I hate to wait they're rushing changed the red hot Pete obviously given him what a lot of -- heated up. Believer -- deeper here at. Become a dark clothes and I think -- in the way he acts the way you were. Congress the perfect guy hatteras the war college professionally that that clubhouse that typically --

Yeah I talked debate when he arrived at Fenway that first day. Any set somethin' about you know everybody was so helpful at the airport but he didn't give us the story he gave you about his arrival at Logan Airport.

Yeah explain what healing and did. You heard it added he would allow speaker dead actually day -- like it's pretty tired back expert will be --

Welcome to Red Sox Nation hey yeah I play is all cleared Pittsburg not.

It is for everybody -- everybody get up the plane -- day. -- you're you're factor it cares now welcome to Red Sox Nation every single first -- I speak and then we get the care now the public address now after Logan I get.

Out.

Offers help the they've kind of taken aback by that but most are feeling he didn't take help. -- at a army air that to Kerry's back war.

It's pretty amazing. That that Jason Bay as you point out is from a town of only 8000 people yet. There -- ten current and former NHL players from that small town. What's in the water there did you go visit or did you did talk to enough people to get a sense of why they're able to produce somebody great athletes.

I eagle is -- I actually like one of those counterattack -- great coach and used his ability and we had a lot of those guys actually played baseball at a -- for our one of -- hockey players went the Little League theory but to beat the -- coached cheap day. It will happen it looked cute and trail British on T get older. I will put you out of baseball. So most of then you go all time hockey. Took they would actually driving -- Idaho way American League -- appetites will baseball. I think it ecology -- junior college I don't know laundry and out of that. -- college baseball program to really -- his -- in Major League is unlikely. And it really can't.

There's that there's a telling line where Sean Casey referring to Manny Ramirez and Jason Bay says in your piece they couldn't be more opposite. And it and I get the feeling that the players who remained after Manning left in this clubhouse. Really appreciated. What Jason Bay brought -- to the calmness of the clubhouse -- for lack of a better term.

I think you're right it -- the week described AA -- It will he runs hard -- He plays hurt. He does it -- talk about these -- Billy should be taken for granted that you get it stands that it it. -- fairway at talking about -- without talked about and at Q why are beat between a lot you know -- It's -- you out guy I think that there's still a lot of respect for -- Ramirez. It even tackle about what he accomplished everything it could happen especially. With it RG -- Jason -- never been to be able. Eat out -- it kind of -- lineup that that it appear as what certainly but I do you speak. There are some parts that are out. I appreciate having a guy comes in and he goes about it being -- not electric personality I NEE. -- that he probably doesn't need -- this.

You know only I think it's interesting -- you please -- you paint this picture of the Red Sox clubhouse. Following the Manny trade it was not Salvatore a celebratory place. Out of some nervousness. From upper management. Did you get the sense that even though they were tired of some a man he's antiques. They were nervous. About what was going to happen going for.

I GR Beck was one of those things where -- brat wow I really just deeply religious. You know and it is much body -- he knew it was the right move acting in a very -- they they were getting back. It would every piece. That's pretty kinda get -- it I think they are cutting needed a omit it looked like one of those trade earlier. You know pocket -- can't eat it while we you know got over on -- he. I think it was more out. They were sort YouTube moment -- act he would but what agent did and I'm sure he could beat Duke really realized holy what they were getting. Bait on TV it's what happened last year. They were I. He beat the 88 that was my goal yet that out your or at it got it anywhere. He picked belt like each earlier turnaround because that -- down at the course career but he couldn't have been totally sure and that the other guy also at. And you problems like Lee Ramirez is it gipper did. He played through it -- prop Matt. And about all.

Yeah you you bring a point in your piece that the Red Sox thought they was headed for Tampa bay. They thought that the rays were going to make a deal forum and and you know you kind of naturally fall into the the question that I'm wondering about. If they hadn't made the deal and they had ended up with the rays with these two teams be playing here Friday night.

Yeah -- actors at the great question that he could out. And he got me don't often gain in tee up by in which case -- one might argue boat people I would argue OT the stronger. I'd probably go to them what would be your act but. Arctic cat picking -- really -- used to a.

As much it eight in eight done right it probably drop all -- it can it.

There is the quality prospect they've really put -- that -- them do that.

But it robot that opportunity and a couple week in it now that --

Watch out you about to get hit but I.

Yeah I got I got to let --

I'll what do you are -- look at that -- being are you being -- opportunity to your date or.

Oh yeah I'm a PA announcer just diet and an out there on the spot back.

Jenkins. We -- George her story in Sports Illustrated. You've got to get a hook up here LEX. Into the series playing out.

You ought to be really hot here at -- in the a lot of close games that he eat he expert many different and out over the years. These really are sort of alike in their boat built out -- eat and I think he'll Lotta old -- little like the --

Angel irritation that.

Two different -- idol of re make any speak. -- you quickly.

Eddie eagle it down I think it can stick to regain eerie.

You not like actually like the rays win the -- I spent that same energy or act out create. But I think it picked the differential at the wood the closer it -- yet -- spot kick.

Exploit that early.

I don't know they were the rays may not meet a young that they are neat typical Denver reached out wanted to buy it it -- a lot that read -- I clearly.

Final question from me let's let's play the game for a moment here and and let's say you're wrong about the him ALCS and the Red Sox and playing the Dodgers. Yeah in the World Series I think the entire earth would be signed a black hole at Fenway Park and we all cease to exist that happen.

your outlook --

At the entire world would get sucked into a black hole at Fenway Park we all ceased to exist as we're not capable of handling all the story lines.

I -- I would -- would be you can really create the is it does happen and I speak a lot a lot of people to what you expect --

You can only be happening.

About it doctors are one of -- she turned out it looked a little like a lot keep last year what they're just so hot at the right on IP they're built a last. Probably more than Iraqis were on your Gator Baird getting a lot of -- out here an outlet a lot of headlines for -- read and.

But with making match he.

Quick ET edge but he's been a lot of good young players -- accumulated. Cap. Loney each year Marten the alt key to becoming an -- eat -- eat -- He's been the catalyst that those guys -- really Eddie -- kind of what. Dodgers. As deputy contender that you will Erie college the next couple well.

appreciates taken the time the Giants it's great piece in this week's Sports Illustrated. We'll look forward to talkin' to you again and giving us all the -- on Michael's early career.

Takes a lot they'll start for the noise here.

Nobody LA take care man. And is Lee Jenkins from Sports Illustrated we recommend appease both the -- earlier today.