Alex Speier, Red Sox Pregame

Alex obviously the biggest news of the day in a long line of interesting points today surrounding the Red Sox. We begin with David Ortiz the joint press conference he -- with the players association earlier today. It was an unusual press conference yet a necessary one yet I don't feel like -- a whole lot more now than I did going in.

Well I think that we learned a few things one that David Ortiz has said on the record that he never used or bought steroids. Intentionally so he'd you know he basically suggested -- It it was supplements and we've you know I think it a lot of people thought that that might be. His reaction to this news but I doubt but this the first time you heard it. We heard him saying it secondly we also learned some things about the nature of the testing process through via Major League Baseball Players Association. Which made clear that just because -- guy is is mentioned as someone who is on quote -- the list. Does not necessarily mean that if there was scientifically accepted. Test results they've done -- you know passed muster. And and offer any kind definitive proclamation that it I was using steroids. You know so I think that we learned little tidbits most importantly we learned that David Ortiz finally had a chance to address this in public. To say. No I did not use steroids and however going to make their own judgments. About about what they think about about the authenticity of his statements. You know based on who he is I think that there's. You know there's a general willingness to. Meant to there was kind of eagerness to hear these things from Ortiz. In you know I'm sure that especially in Boston. They'll play go along way towards being exactly -- fans were hoping for but mostly it gives Ortiz. At least in the short term a chance to move on and say I've now talked about this I've been waiting for that moment.

And finally Alex on this subject. There was one question that I didn't get answer -- a few maybe got any insight into this or not but. The union was very out of that they're going to respect the court order they're not going to try and find out at least not at this point in time what exactly David Ortiz is test results are. David Ortiz is not going to do that. But why not.

Well I think that you know it kind of opened up a you know the proverbial pandora's box if if they. Identified what one guy had tested positive for. In that they would be in a situation where you know there would be an expectation that that they were find out what anyone else tested positive for. And you know frankly. They would need to they would need to have a court order in order to get that information and that increases the likelihood that information about other people would be -- so. In essence the union feels strongly that. You know that though that the lists should remain confidential. It was you know as for the terms of the agreement to have the testing done in 2003. So that's the route that they preferred ago.

To baseball and obviously another excruciating. Defeat for the Red Sox this time. Fifteen innings Alex Rodriguez the walk off winner Boston never did score a run. And they're turning things over to Clay -- today in desperate need of at least innings. Yeah I mean their bullpen has been I've been pretty well torched over the course of over the course of this road trip you know they they just caught up -- Enrique Gonzales from the minor leagues. Two lots of -- perch at Larry's spot on the roster today Gonzales was with the start for -- protected but he's available. As a long man today they certainly hope they don't get to that point. But the fact of the matter is they had to use every one yesterday and they were able to some of the guys had pretty light work -- workload relatively speaking. You know Jonathan Papelbon I think on the news about sixteen sixty pitches for one of his best outings of the season. And other guys were pretty well managed but. You know they are. There's a real need for bodies back there because they just haven't been getting -- from the starters or in those games when they have namely six innings from -- earlier this week in Tampa in seven yesterday from Beckett. It was a tremendous outing they end up going into extra innings and still -- their bullpen so -- like Takashi Saito. Our doing things they certainly weren't expected to do. In terms of the number of innings they're providing. And it's of their really trying to. Hold the -- and make everything pieced together in the later innings these days how about Lowery he goes on the disabled list is this a case of the wrist is more of a concern than maybe originally thought once they've given that a couple days to come down where is this more simply -- case of they need insurance in the bullpen. And that was the way to go to make the roster. Well I think that there is there is legitimate concern because there is this ongoing discomfort that may be something you know very much expected like nerve irritation something like that but. The thought was Larry's in pain he's not going to be able to swing well right now so. You put them on the disabled list you let the -- let the the issue resolve itself assuming that it is and it should be can be resolved and it's down. Instead about the Doctor Who performed surgery on him doctor Donald Sheridan in Phoenix have him examine it and give -- peace of mind. They'd eat this if there is discomfort in its normal to be expected discomfort in the you don't have to worry about your long term future in the lineup. Long term health if you remain in the lineup. While you deal with this they're hoping that that it turned that they are able to diagnose this is just a normal byproduct surgery in which case he can play with remind in the short term. It does have the benefit of giving them an arm in the bullpen that they do need but it. I think that this was something they're probably going to have to do. Regardless of the bullpen situation and finally Alex quickly how about Jason day we -- Kevin Youkilis out there in the starting lineup in left field what's the update on thing. In what a left field to have to patrol at Yankee Stadium. Bay is feeling a lot better today he went out in he started to push a little bit. In the running that he's doing for the games. Which is a pretty good sign that he feels like he's closer. -- returning to the lineup he's you I think that there's that they haven't completely ruled out him getting back into the lineup tomorrow. But based on what happened in Tampa Bay. I think there's also a sense that it's better to be too cautious. Then to be a little bit too aggressive in getting him back on the field so. I don't think you'll be surprising if it's still a couple more days but they said that he had states that it's no more than a few more days that this this will become. The situation where it needs to land on the disabled list tied Alex thank you will talk you tomorrow night sounds great thanks so much John.