10-15-08 Terry Francona, Red Sox manager

Every Wednesday at this time. We talked with a manager of the Boston Red Sox. Joining us now on the AT&T hotline is Terry Francona Terry is also brought to you by. On the key insurance. Interest systems and doctor Robert Leonard at 1800 get hair good afternoon Terry. -- regards to -- good. It it it's one of those things about knuckle balls and Tim has said this in the past himself. He has always know where it's going when it leaves his hand and as a manager it's kind of hard to work around that as well sometimes.

There you know he he he -- to open the first inning and worked out 3 yeah and given all the circumstances. We got -- right away. Goes on the other corporate second inning. And in the third inning used to out into the inning -- four pitches and he gets ahead 2 to Crawford and that's when you bond. That we -- you know get embarrassed about what it's all these. He'd beat old first and it's just it'll happen and then the next -- ballpark it's five instead of reviews -- huge term game.

and always taught Gil we asked you are you surprised about this are you surprised about that and we're talking about numbers usually. You're not surprised because you have the information but what's the and that you're consecutive losses at home in 2008. You know I lost consecutive games at home six times. Before the race series I'm not going to count the Yankees series in September beach get ready for the playoffs are you surprised that along with the question but are you surprised. That the rays were able to come and hearing consecutive games. And and put up 22 runs.

Alter course when rates I don't think you ever -- about two player game. And the first thing is waddle but we look at -- consecutive games you'll we you don't play one game. And did you never allow expecting too intricate little -- Trying to do today and to do in. Worse but it more on what would try to not score about. Been been trying to win a game that's not a whole lot of -- we never going to be an expectant public got tired Jon Lester pitched well it'll reflect we're gonna win. It'll -- keep it in no time there was some some things always get how to what to rest and we're we were aware that he was aware that you'd really worked through well. It's just one he'd leave balls up you know would like it and it up all gold backed them battled -- goal long way.

I know you also didn't expect to go down. Three to one in the ALCS in 2004. And in 2007 and 2008 but does that experience you draw anything from those previous experiences -- you look at them as separate entities.

Well they are separate but certainly you don't try to draw on anything he can't. Not just pulled my order to do this because -- club policy it is I think our guys are ready to play right now. And I and I love that there some guys coming into today person and fire and it actually was replaced about a minute. Ol' blog -- Britain it'll loosen up. But it's this was what I expected infield bench anything different out but surprised.

Last couple of -- pregame new and I've talked about David Ortiz and you told me about him. Take an optional BP on Sunday and tempering that wall and I watched him do it again MVP yesterday. -- not taken that into the game.

Always -- the game starts it's not as he's used. Batting practice it'll -- it right just understand. Need to try to do its battle struck drive the ball real way. How do you start to complete their cigar out their pitching which kind of took knowledge do that anecdotes. That's kinda obvious they're the running to cover the backdoor cutter away. There's sort of breaking ball to run the transport to keep honest and their -- around a little bit right now and he's not been able to keep up based. Nice and stole. And again people saying in -- at all really two different things numbers hitter guys told me stay back okay well I know that. I try and it is people sometimes it's hard I hit the ball to right field in those specialist about it that triple. He still didn't get back spin but he could hit it couldn't cut them they have about a little open -- and helped fuel but.

He had an at bat prior to the triple. Where they really exaggerated shift more than ever they had Longoria directly behind the bag at second. Crawford was a 120 feet off the line in left field. Are those one of those instances where he almost.

Bill you're talking about it you know up guided. Once once a year so for Rita asked him to bought all the only time. I'm actually cult won't come -- does what he thinks he should down in the regular -- down by a bunch and he feels like -- down your house going to try to do something that. Not terribly comfortable to one. So didn't you know cute she feels like you can get it down that's one thing. It steps we have the same thing with Carlos Pena he's showed one to six or seven times. And he actually got one down. You can make -- a good place sort of run -- second. And -- also took base that you want to change our defense -- It'll would win if if Pena has bunting that means to bolster the ballpark.

let's talk about Josh Beckett for a second before this series started. I had a session with the media and used the word rust. To describe his performance and in the division series not a performance we used to seeing from Josh Beckett. Why do you think he struggled so much. In game two of this series --

Well I think it. More than just game two. I think it's come it's come down a little bit too there's been four interruptions. In his season. And it's time his routine gets in erupted. It just looks like he can't gather that last little more speed too to get the finish also -- pitches. And because C -- field and -- okay. I mean really ultimate people all beat up like all pitchers do at this time meter but there's not not wanting -- that number -- we can execute pitches. There's just not that finished. On sold his pitches. And the ball it is kind of talked about -- rookie of the year it is difficult situation and feel -- and go get it. There and it hasn't happened.

We're looking -- game five. But for a lot of people game two was still the heart breaker for them what what led to the the decision to bring back get out for the fifth inning in that game.

Well we had. Scored three and took to lead and a -- looking down and then you had fire desires and I thought okay you sent him back out. We get -- getting out of him. Here again we can go back and if he has any good inning we rely on our bullpen. We have some stumbled to order. And it gets him backbone. You're not put study -- And then everything went wrong and we once he got even -- out we have a hobby Lopez up. And we want to get through Longoria and natural road got screwed up. A -- the ball down the line we've got a little aggressive. Try to throw got the plate so instead of have a Longoria its second world we can. You open to round profitable that would make it should we can bring in righty not a real draw via infielder and get a ball by the infield. Everything that could go wrong they're giving did. Despite told you it was an easy decision I'd be blind. I felt like it was the right thing to do for a lot of reasons I'm probably in the minority. When things go wrong. They're always the wrong decision if that's just the way it is -- It just collect a similar totally easy at reliant. But I still believe and hit it just did it worked out the way -- wanted to.

And and since we're out confessions here going into that inning before the inning that's it. I would bring Beckett out. See how he does you Mora five story struck him out. BJ Upton. Upton had decent numbers against the but nothing great he had great Carlos Pena had no numbers against Josh Beckett. I think at the point where disagreed was Longoria hitting what 333 gets a minute and already had some success against them in that game did you look at the same way.

Stop but now were were intervening. And we have again it still fifth inning and we'll Albie Lopez up. Soul with Carl Crawford on deck. Told we've gone that far we're not to bring -- Lopez didn't -- Longoria. It is definitely worked out as bad as it could I don't disagree that once we got that up when you're thinking to actually travel along belong to what I was. Once we got to the one hitters he's got --

John Lester has been such a horse for you all season long. I think his performance in game three surprised me even more than Josh -- performance in game two because as you pointed out Josh has been interrupted a few times. Could you put your finger on -- on Jon Lester performance and what happened.

couple pitches. Three pitches actually the lead to runs a -- that -- rumor that he's an awful. -- of fastball is trying to get in under the him so often. That indeed missed any hit it. You're better on almost picked up on the way home you know reduce crushed it. And it -- become harder to. Longoria of double play to somebody just to actually looked like the same pitched the -- Japan. They were played Oakland of behavior to us reply it'll it'll play. From other than that he was actually pretty good I don't think it is his stuff was the power sitting in the up the power to receiver. That we. It kind of come to see almost every game which is quite surprising. Still didn't think it's that bad that we had a bullpen up early but he hung in there enough work. We could bring birdie haven't finished the game out and not -- our bullpen can imagine if we'd gone through 45 guys that game. And then had a fiasco last slide rule but it --

I know that you when your coaching staff and you and Brad Mills in particular look at this stuff so far in advance you make your plans. Did Joe Madden announcement today switching to Kazmir was a lefty instead of the righty shields change how you were going to approach tomorrow night.

Actually heard rumblings last night to this was going to happen soul. Perhaps we had some little portable war colonel notable for awarded. It could happen I don't altered necessarily change is our lineup. Are people there are a lot of good -- order we go in. Were kind of looking at that now on me contribute look at the rest the better.

With the lineup construction you had. -- for game four. We really comfortable with that you know you get some guys they often now he's -- the left hander. Coming in with Kazmir instead of shields does that change things Ellsbury comes to mind.

I don't know yet that's that's good question that's where we're out of kind of -- are awake throughout. We we've been kind of -- Lowell boarding and -- Woolsey I -- decisions but have to make them yet -- we'd have a dole Portland radio show but against about.

I don't know it's -- I don't wanna I don't want to Seattle warmer it'll. Hurt your feelings at 1230 PTI has not daughter deadline for regular lineup with a.

That's something that's hard I. Hit -- thought it was that mess that I mean -- your your roster is constructed and with Michael out. I heavy left handed -- winners there's actually not a whole lot of changing you can do is there.

That's that's kind of my point we're going to be a little bit more left candidate we want to be sold try to construct a lineup. Soul. We can maximize what we have. Committed to remodel we don't have. I meant sit up or would make him with the bullpen. Very Camby midfield they don't make it any easier on their bullpen and asked beat.

Did you know I I know with Tim Wakefield the knuckleballer. -- you've said many times as a manager you just have to sit there on your hands because a knuckleballer we'll we'll do all sorts of things you don't know what's coming. Did you have any clue last night that he was that he didn't have it. Or was it just a typical Wakefield performance where you think. That might not have been a great inning but the next one he could turn.

On the first inning completely undressed -- and there are. First hit of the game. And then he could be want any left to -- that -- got crushed so okay we're up three Perillo all right away we have Masterson up. But he did -- out of it and electricity goes out -- before pretending. He's on his way to have a about a seven pitch inning. Soul but because of the situation. Starting had masters -- not been told of the vote where we are in the securities we. We got Masterson and -- I don't doubt last lightweight -- righted himself. I thought as bold move but I just thought it was up. He normally dictated that out of these days -- long enough but just because of the way we are losers we felt the need to go get him.

This is definitely playing that if if if if game but. If Paul Byrd hadn't pitched in game three was -- the logical person to. I come get Wakefield if you had a situation where Wakefield can do what he did last night there's two and two thirds.

I don't -- to be honest with you about. It took some of that depends on or -- on the lineup. And how old. It all it is starting pitchers give up. Bunch of runs and you -- like okay that might -- birdie if we need Alps. And it's second and third in the game maybe hinging on it -- idea up but at the game is going to get pushed out of control. Then we may try to go to somebody like a Masterson or bill Harmon and see if we can keep the game close and then and then have to do to win related but it brings a -- like.

I know how you concentrate on one game at a time -- you also have to plan beyond that. Let's assume Daisuke does his job tomorrow night and you get to go to Tampa for the weekend. Would you consider the possibility of pitching Lester on regular rest in game six and giving back in an extra day.

We need to stay consistent top on everybody's rest. Again if you know it's war and a winner loser and hopefully -- swim. Guys we have and -- were very aware of where they experienced physically. Lester back to everybody and we we monitor them so closely and and will continue to do that put the ball well bluster now I don't -- that's thirty --

And Beckett Beckett has gone out of his way he said pretty forcefully and emphatically. I'm not hurt I'm not hurt I'm not hurt is. In valued -- He -- you wonder is he is protesting too much. Or if their frustration with the reports. Media reports from people like us weren't used to seeing him pitch like this so we say he's --

Well Michael I think if you put yourself and issues if you get asked 97 times. If you say you know 97 times. You do when -- point 22. I mean if he gets out school board -- not a -- and he doesn't roll of injured accusing him mostly it too much he's been asked. Too much meaning he's just been honest decent on not hurt I think I explained very honestly how I assess his pitching. Italy it is that time the year is suspended erupted it's not perfect he's not he's not hurt.

You know I a way -- I'm sure he's tired of didn't ask but. In -- way he could say it's a compliment to Josh Beckett that people are saying is hurt because they can't imagine. You know Josh Beckett. Pitch in the way that they have so much respect for the way he it comes to the table.

Yeah I do too hard to two prominent and we sent him -- adept -- turning the hot topic -- I've fought. It would and so good I thought he would pick it up but not I thought he would get about. And it would be very meaningful for him. To our ballclub and it was a left and keep our our bullpen in order. It didn't work and believe me when did you think I slept that night you know political way but you do what you think is right -- to the questions and you try to move on.

Well you know what if that's the case -- made that changes things for people of who we believe Josh Beckett he said it out forty times -- matter of matter. On paper then. I think that changes things for for for the average Red Sox fans -- before they were saying okay Daisuke pitched well in game one. You don't know what -- gonna get from Josh Beckett in game six as we think he's -- what he's not hurt. You like you liked the chance of putting Daisuke Beckett and Leicester out here.

Well what do you like it or not that's what you get. I mean the coach and we don't have people have a thirty man staff urged fellow squad. Did you that I eluded to the fact that you know you might not expect a point 96 right now that might not be and there are. For for numerous reasons. But that doesn't he can win. And that doesn't mean we don't have a lot of confidence in his ability to compete. That stuff is not going to go away mrs. this is Josh Beckett all those things we've been talking by political -- those things still ring true we have a lot of confidence can.

Final question from me I know again how much of a team meeting kinda guy. It will use anything your club before the game tomorrow.

We don't do these guys can choose or lose supporting. Tom Pedroia came -- ready to fight a war. Now there's just seemed ready like that many. Primitive it's it's giving cult outlaw added I guess so actually we're going to play about an hour.

always appreciate the time best of luck today. -- scenarios and as a Sox manager Terry I doubt that was fast or let it get him ready couldn't get shot a bus quick enough but he. Terry Francona brought you buy AT&T with more bars in more places switched to the wireless network with a best global coverage -- the world delivered.