Dennis Eckersley, NESN Analyst

Both of us who are religiously watch red Sox baseball each and every night or listen on the radio no but it's been -- A trying year on the television side the health issues of Jerry Remy has -- kind of forced -- and and it. A host of different people sitting beside -- Marcelo. I'm like some might not like some mothers one of the guys have like a lot is our next guest joining us on the in the -- leadoff spot is Dennis hackers Lee Hak I don't. Yeah item I'm doing all right thanks it's been a strange year for you to hasn't.

Absolutely. And it is -- sort of my world been sort of upside down about the past. Month but it -- take it out been a great experience.

What do you think the most challenging part of your job is acting as an analyst.

If study but didn't not easy it really had that -- one thing that after the game mean you've already seen everything it needed pick about it. That would account that is so quickly. You know your brain goes to bat and indeed but I do not quite sure you want to say that it's already out. And that's the that's been counting but. I don't know I'd like the excitement up at united and it's like you're always on bad enough that the game. Exciting all the time but when it comes via its you know -- elect. I get as excited as I've ever been.

you like you have to filled to yourself and sometimes we -- when I do an analysis. So to speak but sometimes and radio get so comfortable. If you get a microphone isn't -- an act of I guess -- I thought it was a Larry I hope you didn't get a stern rebuke about it was hilarious when you. We -- read Kevin Youkilis -- lips and said what everybody's gonna say.

You know I did think it he got mad I think with the other night when he got hurt at play at first they started ranting around again -- not -- I am not going there but some -- your right it's about who you're I'm not sitting in my living room. And boy Phil or whatever -- that yeah but I do -- and learn what to do.

I I think everybody brings strengths to it to what they're doing and when your on with the help I want to hear you talked about pitchers in pitching. And let's start with with Dice-K because I -- by -- you the other night I couldn't agree more you -- the 89 guys that to open up an inning. I mean you've got to throw the ball can he not throw strikes or -- not throw strikes.

Well first of all why you sort of break involved you know right who's set to -- break and Altria -- that night that are you got a lead here -- just walk the eight that are. It's I don't understand that but then again. You know they'll play at that as far as he -- play it and a bases are loaded yet you know they'll do whatever it takes. Until -- have to do something and he is like miraculous what he's done it think about last year and the and the bases loaded situation. VP incredibly hard hit if you watch YRD hit because he doesn't come via. And it -- I think for everybody that watches. And it maddening for Francona. And he -- them you know you talked tackler and those those press conferences you know he he -- his hair out to. Though I don't know if he is hard to do game people again I'm getting tired of having that they would I have to say in answer people get tired of watching it like that but he does you know successful.

do you think he's afraid of Major League hitters.

I think that's how I think that part of it I really do and I've said I could think you've got up that. We -- it's what we can Japan probably or maybe it's that audit and that's the way he goes about it. And then at the -- that he has the respect for these you know American. Baseball players more than he did in Japan and make it backwards anyway for the most part they just do and they don't talent guy.

What do you think it comes under this act -- might be as simple as. Daisuke realizing doesn't have a 95 miles per hour fastball and he's got to dance and ducked in and paint because that's only can get it done.

Yeah maybe that we thought when he came here remember all talked about 678 it is not body 95 mile an hour there's type when he does get up -- pretty good. But he got more than anything you realize that little cutter. And a slider and he tried to its all over the strike though with a fastball and tried to trick Q. Was it that -- and -- it's hard to watch but the talent that god is a good -- you don't do what he's done. When he gave -- stricken people.

in the Hall of Fame I think primarily for your closing work although you were terrific starting pitcher early on in your career when you're watching Jonathan apple one. Do you think that he's he's too cute try to do stuff or is he just haven't trouble figuring out what he's trying to thrown.

Well I just recently on some -- alt here and equities at some room to play with you know -- one game and yet they have treatment lead. You more predictable but for the most part it's that -- apple if they don't swing at them that it's high of the big difference for him this year. It's -- his control well organized and normally. But and they got that hit the thing they don't really make solid contact -- I don't I -- worried about him at all what I think he might be the best in the business. But he is not as sharp what the previous couple years but this fastball pretty much always there he -- he's so. Deliberate the way he goes about it sometime. He's got a lot got to talk about in between it is you know.

What it is legend are worried about him let's talk about a guy that were all worried about that David Ortiz what's your take on. On his season so far what's wrong with them.

I don't know that you feel that there's no doubt about it the only drawback collapses -- recently by the talk about that.

He was saying today out.

Everybody start talking about glasses if I'm -- I was like thirteen year old I was swinging at everything and I need glasses and -- I would if I could get.

You know what I'm glad that they've made Daimler to.

Yeah -- and not get the band in arrived in saint and figure out pitching on Japanese shall. That it is timing -- if I'm right. I don't know anything about it but I know that I've I've went through a lot of bad spells. And you know you start such an enemy camp is keep them in the same old thing. And I'm curious element and -- of the -- talking to all reporters and -- that hasn't happened quiet but I don't blame him. So you know -- think about it that -- the -- so well without him so let's just hope we get together and -- make it easier for the office when.

To ever have a time during your career as a picture. Where things just won't work and you couldn't figure it out.

Absolutely I'm looking for anything I mean I used to listen to other broadcasters. He -- it. I'm not kidding that we think you know what do you think is better in the bad way and -- the -- again it is look at for one thing to hang your hat off. But. If that's what's so difficult about this game cut every player goes through -- you just hope it's not an extended period.

There any of those out. Broadcasters tell you something that you could use.

out kind of you know it depends on who lives who I was talking to about government not that into a pitcher. Knows something about it. But if that's -- epithet -- the too many people you're well.

What what was their what was the worst stretch that you went through.

Well there's a couple expected and and every time you go to best -- if you go to bat that 123 you know -- you'll be all right but you're 3031 to -- done. You know it might be done that's the thing that's frightening if you start believing that. And make it all that much more tough you know and I -- I went to some expelled the of giving it up because I was I continued to to go after people I was really aggressive. And I can ever back off and so I could be my head against the -- for a long period of time elect. Finally to -- the bullpen and I figured it out.

I'm I'm gonna start this next part by saying I'm one of those people who don't believe. That words said by a broadcaster have any effect with what goes on on the field. Are he said I want your pitching perspective I want it to talking about Beckett and what it's. What it feels like when you're try to throw a no hitter I want to -- is saying all that stuff. Can you believe their people who actually think you have an effect on what happens down.

That -- that a big dive up the obvious player I think I'm superstitious is that that -- I mean terribly. Down to what I don't wear underneath my -- you know every day. So I I get that program. You know you're removed from that when you go into the -- And I don't know what went down at a date -- I don't even know when I started to talk don't know I think I remember when it got spotted in the sixth inning. It made me think wait a minute how wired but -- they got got a note note though. If I had to do it all over again I guess I'll wait a little longer I I don't know -- I didn't realize you can't talk don't know what you talk known ever.

You have to talk about it -- it your job you have had a talk.

I got I was more excited than I said it I was more excited than Beckett. I mean I am -- in Debian boot and -- now and I mean it was upsetting and the guy got the first set. And what that grant so I was so disappointed because I've got here we go it it it company that is going to be great. And I think Beckett could throw a no hitter every time he got up there.

There's no doubt to me act that Beckett hit layered on purpose -- him like that bonds and the fifth. What what does one have the unwritten rules of baseball that. That annoys -- that got do you as a pitcher what's what something that a guy did you just said you know I'm I'm not really into that.

Well first ball in the that there unwritten rule like at about wanting to get the earth stood up and no matter. And so when it that the question is out what we -- the -- is not doing or wherever that thing to cut off. You know you're no Ryan you know better -- the -- button on all right because you know you're gonna get when you're here. You know maybe not today but some other -- You know what irritated me about hitter is when they call time out. But I was the most anxious to turn against you panic and if they -- so they get their job. But -- art bunting you know you're gonna be lucky to have -- apparently like that anyway over the fifth sixth seventh inning. And -- I -- note that. It is they know that they're taken yet they don't that they might get -- these days you know if they drop out but I think a big. --

back catcher back yard and found a book.

Yet I mean he's got to be tricky little we -- here.

CI did think that Beckett threw it Laird the other night. I continued to not believe that he was trying to buzz Bobby Abreu when he got suspended earlier in the year.

I don't know about but it Bobby -- is that that -- that was quick. It happens so quickly up if you think that way I think he did let aired it out came close. But as far as the -- situation. I get -- that what I think I there's that I thought he told them. -- two to Pitt got ten nothing lead wind that's a great time to do it indeed in argued Stewart added -- And I expect Blair knows there knows he did it yeah I was looking for and declare out that he never did but he knows.

that was the point I was making earlier about the brave thing I know back it's thrown at guys just like what you saw in Detroit he does that the right way I've never seen him throw -- guys cents.

Now O'Dell and I think when you know I don't really -- after -- book -- ethnic tribes so the ball upstairs. And end and in the ball runs a little bit but you gotta be careful when you go out there like yet. I -- Beckett is not like he's got ahead honor mean he's got great control. But you know not too many guys but the ball there but you know that's -- they've got to get out the white you think about it. It up nobody can move by the way but it dangerous.

So so act what's the next step for you and your in your new life here is an analyst what are you what are you trying to work on I guess it's like pitching Donna we're going to different pitched. What what are you trying to work and -- an analyst.

Well I thought try to bring something about what what would happen again into whatever happened to me if some some -- inside outlook when I I when I play. Now like back when I played the cannot spend. Up and that there -- story here there that it. -- up to do with quality game he now and it it's party if it takes a long long time it's I -- You know get your partner dot have been great. And and you'd need a partner -- so helpful and got into a long time he's been very helpful.

Final question from me -- again you go back to what you -- just yesterday is Tim Tim Wakefield because he throws a knuckleball. Under appreciated and under rated around here.

It's not under appreciated around here everybody -- I -- knows about in Wakefield began about setting because of that economic. But he's a but he is under appreciated somewhere else -- We know what he's done. But I guess he got they got about that game quickly every you know you can go along those smoothly and we can get away from him so that. And that's why upper back on it really management I think it it's obvious that Korea get about it you know -- home run earlier right inning before. Anything can happen quickly but is not under appreciated here at the.

It's fun watching him work the games with the ally other than I know you've gotta be careful about which words you use from time to time but don't be afraid to keep bringing it as we enjoy listening to.

drive I -- have a lot of passion for the game I can't can't get too excited because. You know I don't want to do that again.

Manhattan and expects that as well as appreciate dot. You take care. That is Dennis Tankersley joining us on the eighteenth the hotline AT&T your world delivered. Yes of the dale and -- leadoff spot receive a gift certificate that Fleming's prime steakhouse and wine bar lemmings -- a complimentary Mercedes-Benz take you from dinner to the game and back. Call 6172920808. To reserve yours today.