Holley and Speier Opening Segment

let me ask you got the question after question.

might actually in the studio or -- still in my car I stopped my car because I don't think I've ever. Said a word into these microphones. At ten old to. Ever. It's amazing. But I -- pretty good. And as you heard the man saying I do have the smartest man in the building right next to me. In my right I'm great out bearded and references. Great song. You're Simpson's man. Not what's going on Alex men. I mean it panic in a panic. I mean there's -- pixel com. Yeah I it would no one else is calm -- yeah it's it's the item. Its value it did you bring enough for the collapse of the offered over the airwaves might not know Alex we were talking before. We get so much stuff to get into here. The Red Sox lose again. Last night the -- They're two and thirteen last fifteen games at the drop them in this it to be a place you go there it was a vacation. In season vacation go to Tampa. It was just a matter of how many games it was going to be if it's a four game series are regatta suite. Or we're gonna win three out of four because Scott Kazmir happens beyond. You are concerned about anything they represent about one except that one guy behind home plate screaming the whole game about Al born and you know what. And if you want him back creative it was just that there were so many empty seats. That he stood out and have great material. So.

That that that was -- in the past you look at the bullpen if they happen to get some good starting pitching. Go to their bullpen to open it was a joke -- have great managing and that includes the loop the now was there because loop de Mello was mailing it it. He had a nice little stamp on an envelope. And he was just chilling collecting checks -- got -- the only time it seemed excited was when the New York beat writers were coming to town and -- check out whether reminiscent job. The yankees' -- they'll talk about the 78. The comeback in 78 for the Yankees. And loop and -- is great catch of Fenway Park that's not talk about it really wanna talk about oh yeah. -- get this young team to win so we have the issue of this young team the team we always used to run over. That team has risen up at least with the Red Sox come to town. That team is very competitive against threats. Out for competitive. Dominant against the -- There are really good team let's not -- lose sight of that it was looted -- did what they did last but it last year on the league and they are really good team this year. I think so I mean if you look at if you look at the if you believe in runs scored runs allowed that sort of thing in that determining how good -- team probably the wins and losses. Well you know and and everybody typically runs scored runs allowed determines wins well what let's.

Typically -- what's happening right now I mean there are there in third place. I understand have a lot of respect for them and grudging respect because it's a -- long time to get that whole Devil Rays thing out of it. So I didn't really get on the -- and -- and I really believe in Tampa until September of 2000. So yeah it took me awhile to really see everybody else. But what that says and a lot of respect -- now that said there in third place in the American -- That shouldn't be dominating the Red Sox the way you should. Direct action be dominating the Yankees -- the Red Sox have. Red Sox haven't dominated the Yankees really -- no I understand that you haven't lost the game to them. Look at that runs scored runs allowed in this series. If it's not if those game it's pretty even if the Red Sox have gone out there against the Yankees that you got not belong in the same field without get out of here. But at times when they play Tampa it seems like -- smash.

Other of this series wasn't one of those times so you can make the opposite case that there are penalized nip and -- games that the -- happened to come out on top of I think it you know weird things happen over the course of the baseball season there -- a year you know what. Four or five years ago when out when the Baltimore Orioles you know stuck it to the Red Sox in a season when they were when they ended up. Finishing the season with historic futility of last month the two of the year so sometimes these matchup these weird matchup things just --

Let me ask him beyond the match ups are you feeling about the Red Sox today. I know I said just yesterday Michael Berger is the most nervous -- industry he thinks the lost thirteen. Excuse me the thirteen inning loss to Tampa the other night he feels like that's beginning of the bat stretched. How do you feel about it you feel like well -- lose these two games and they want to new York and straighten out what do you see.

Well I think they -- burgers points pretty well taken because starting out a road it's stretch of you know pretty relentless stretch of the schedule. Both in terms of the quality of competition and in terms of the absence of rest in the calendar. With thirteen inning game to -- the bullpen is not a really good way to start that's not a good put to start off on but it. You know our guys -- at this. I think that their questions about the team and whether knotted it can be a playoff team I think they've done. You know Theo Epstein points at the the ups and -- a couple weeks ago was well taken. They they looked at it at the All-Star break is essentially the Red Sox yankees and rays being in a dead heat that there wasn't anything. Aside from a few wins and losses here and there because separate these three teams so I think it. You know we've really have to appreciate how good this division is in fact it here -- the -- third place team while they're probably one of the best third placed.

Alex Alex I have no I have no doubt that they are very talented team but if you look at it if you look at. Every element -- starting -- General managing. Managing. Rotation. Bull man. Lineup. All of these things Red Sox rays yankees. You think of the Denny I don't.

I think they have their strength to mean I think that the rays rotation is it is potentially the strongest in the division. I think that guy you looking guys try to get rid of Kazmir. They wanted to get him they want to get him out of there they're looking you know there are looking at the possibilities they could make a blockbuster to bring back someone else I don't think there was any discussion. About just dumping him for the I'm not -- but okay. You know they were I mean this was this was -- stake in the holiday sweepstakes rate this was. -- getting rid of Kazmir was the way in which they would get rid of the salary in order bring back. You know the bonafide number one so they were looking basically to do the same sort of thing. If the Red Sox looking to look.

You say bring back the number one race. The positive day. They need to bring back the number one race. Well are you saying they don't have one right now about because that would say that Garza is that he you know has shown early in his career that he can be a big game pitchers someone who. Really likes to perform on the lights who's stuff is seven and eight. Sometimes funny thing.

our god god don't get. I sort. Is barely over has spent the whole year -- They're urging those -- very close ace on the Red Sox Jon Lester it's clearly okay what's his record. Thirteen in for what it has numbers everything matches up -- with with Josh Beckett. And I understand that sometimes as a pitcher you can't help with your opposite sides but usually. -- about pitchers. About diamonds in the era with about guys who are line. Mediocre. You below average team. And and we say 0797. And while. It you know offered them -- and this can happen it happened that -- If you're on the raids on the Yankees and the Red Sox -- broad support and that of the race. In Red Sox are neck in neck in terms of runs scored this year the American only. -- well over 500. So it's an -- on one of these teams. That. Guy records. Of oftentimes but there's just keep things that happen in terms of run support you know. I don't I don't I I love Matt Garza that's it many times these are -- them. I'm not sure. I wanna -- it's almost like AJ Burnett disease and always oh my god you guys stop this incredible. It's all the -- he does. Really. Show holds. The record it clearly doesn't -- in the record against the reds or the -- ability. The durability for cars or on our part -- AJ Burnett again you know he always had if he could at least help the entirety if it can only do that. -- turn around in the guys you know 3334 years old and he never became great talent that everybody project in -- of course -- saying it. I don't I don't know I don't know all of these teams. Are really closely matched. As we think war. If somebody underperform. Like the --

the -- I mean the Red Sox are clearly under performing since the All-Star break to think absolutely. I think there's and general understanding they haven't been on entered sustained role at any point since the second half the season began. I'm Andy -- a lot of guys in the lineup been. -- streaky area in which it lends itself to very consistent results typically poor results up until answers in Baltimore but -- placed it back for a couple of days. For for the Red Sox lineup but on that -- you know we're seeing that there offenses. You know it's it's kind of a lot of guys were up a lot of guys are down and the result is that. Is that it doesn't have the kind of -- was called over the weekend you know the lineup that doesn't allowed opposing pitcher debris you know -- right coming in coming in coming. And obviously they hoped for that with the acquisition of Victor Martinez which was clearly an upgrade -- and he looks really good in the middle of the worst home.

Run last night -- had a five hit game of Baltimore. My question for guys like I had a couple questions -- told you this. I in the hallway a sad Alex got some questions reality and I don't want you to answer right now is that what I'd be surprised by what you have to say. But here's a bonus question and ask -- no -- that you brought a Victor Martinez came to mind. -- Victor Martinez should be playing every day at.

Capture over Jason Garrett. No because he -- down look at his numbers as a first baseman versus its attention to the everyday catcher it's not necessarily. Get the bulk of playing time catcher. As opposed to very. I think that I think there were probably pretty close to seeing something akin to like at times here you know three starts for Varitek two for opera Martinez. Maybe three for Martinez two for bear attacked right over the course of over the course of five game stretch and that's that's a bit speculative. But fact of the matter is you you talked about Jon Lester you talk about Josh Beckett those guys love working with with Jason Varitek. And it would be. You know probably not in the Red -- best interests. To disrupt that pairing given how strongly they feel about there about what Varitek is meant to them vote. In their Red -- careers. I in terms of the other guys you know Terry Francona talked about it yesterday on the air with you guys. About how John Smoltz you know isn't the guy who's been here forever so the idea of pairing him with Victor Martinez -- that makes a lot -- and that's why -- going to be starting today. Same as you know perhaps true Brad Penny even though he and even though he and Jason Varitek have had a bit more of a chance to lie to work together -- it. They're they're different elements that go in here I mean. You know the idea of having Victor Martinez in against against left -- you know the match up whether or not the opposing starters right handed versus left handed because -- switch hitter. Does that make you more sensible for Victor Martinez to subbing for Jason Varitek -- David Ortiz or Michael. These are all things that are going to -- right on day.

Now I did ask you this question all away. And I'll ask -- here.

What a changed up the form of what the hell's going on David Ortiz in your opinion I think. As -- said yesterday -- When he said you're not gonna have an answer. In the next ten minutes. -- was a fair point OK I'm just found out. Half hour before the game forty minutes before the game. He's not gonna give you answers in his post game press. Got it on government. Week ago. That was a week ago you can tell me we don't have any answers in a week what do you think the story here.

And I guess that die in -- he wants to get the information about what exactly -- he tested positive for California before he talks about. You you -- and that. I've I've yet sure I don't you don't think that you know you think that he's just postponing indefinitely -- Alex he's going four corners I guess I guess maybe maybe. I'm taking. The word. Wants. To literally. Okay because if you want to find out. If you want to find out what it that the four probably not because we want to finally tested positive -- He's -- five -- that he was -- five years ago. You're on the list so it -- everywhere wait. Do we know that he was -- five years ago -- a list that says that you tested positive for any performance enhancing substances to the best of my knowledge the description of the list of of any disclosures that happen and I could be wrong about this. Was simply did you know he was informed by did not -- the people who were on. The so called list were told that they were on any list that the government had. Okay weren't told what four.

Now Alex. And I really believe this. Written Michael Berger but it -- through the smartest man the buildings because you locked out of the smartest -- in the -- it's not a not I'll watch is absolutely true. The government says yeah. Because you hello mr. spear is the government cup I don't. -- name is on the list. Will talk to you later. He's got. A let me go to JP licks and good non monolith the government has. You go to junior on a list that means you've got an investigation do or ask some questions aren't you.

I mean devil's advocate you know we give -- we presume that a guy is innocent until proven guilty. You know and that he would see -- that he believes himself to be innocent of any wrongdoing and if he's told that he's on the list that the government is that a government seized. Then why would he not -- anything.

The commitment you. Haven't taken out of the ordinary citizen round an object to the baseball player around. Either you're on the list because somebody the government what's your autograph. Either you're on the list because somebody in the government wants free Red Sox yankees tickets.

Or your on the list because you did something -- it's hard to figure out what what you just going to be cool picture on the list now about your isn't.

You can -- all that you did the government seized records they just work you know comprehensive what if you know you assume that every Major League Baseball -- about having been. I'm having been part of these government records that were seized -- them. If you think you understand. You would assume that every baseball player is giving everybody a Major League Baseball is on a list that the government had I mean essentially that is the case right I mean no government seized all of the testers seized all the test results. And a 104 names came up especially you don't know specifically what the list in Oakland -- the bases it if you if you talk typically.

Talked to if you talk to if you talk to Kevin Millar if you talk to Bill Miller if you talk to. Johnny Damon you talk to. Pedro Martinez to talk to your teammates you say is your name on this list. And they say no they got some investigation.