Tom Verducci, SI.com

Yeah yeah. Yeah we're fine we're -- at the obligatory stuff that we've been slinging back and forth here in Boston for 101112 days now. And it seems to me the finally and at last the players union -- some of their dues money. By creating after separate guy's name on the list him out. An area of gray area of doubt would -- supplement card. For David Ortiz and Mike justice to number -- Any other name that leaked out in drips and drabs in the coming weeks and months. We'll say the very same thing well it could have been some supplement I took -- the positive barrels for the supplements is is that about right in your estimation --

I think you're exactly right I mean this is the road map that you know the next -- out that bass player knows what to do. It is in the -- of them but there's no need for anybody to fall historically that Alex Rodriguez that. You know we approach stocks -- get set up basically that you he has come out antenna but not out here are a whole pet thing. The product that the -- of the players up -- You're great coming out saying what you did. And actually want the complete -- other directions. It feels liberated need that much freer personnel and he's probably did -- and a recap of how he came out explain this copy use how much he used it no regret but as part of you know. I think it Netscape couldn't get him that he very look like you're happy about it happened that they not suggest.

He also enjoy the fact that Ortiz is sharing the spotlight -- them at the moment Texas takes a little heat off him and I think. It -- if I'm wrong Tom but I think players. They're more cynical and we are they know what was went on in the league over those years and guys like A-Rod and Clemens and and bonds and Sosa and Canseco. Have to be laughing at David Ortiz is careless use of -- supplements and vitamin defense.

Yeah I'm not even sure what that means at -- then being careless. Used to over the counter supplement.

99 by has so which which can -- while legal and was not bad at that point. Can cause a positive in that test.

Well we don't really know that so it may ultimately. Is he came out that that was the case say it would be more believable I think it just felt like this polite rapidly claim that the union -- Let that I think David in no way. -- the way he's conducted himself like bank is it gives him. LL lot of truck in the back with a lot of people on not just Red Sox fan I think around baseball so it is certain that. I would have felt much better -- the day he was confronted. -- definitely a list I don't know what that no as a result like guarantee you I'd ever used steroids. Why did it take ten days. Just say that -- a reputation your career. On the line at that point. And you don't say never used steroids until ten days later we have a union -- sitting next -- you have a problem with that it -- back true. Why did you -- they want first met.

if Iran had brought a lawyer the union lawyer with -- when he -- Gammons -- Clemens brought the union lawyer with them when he set now Mike Wallace. We we have been left that would have been marking and ridicule them to no end in. -- David gets away with it because David is is Big -- but what do you note Tom about the -- Is the leaker gonna strike again and if so it win any day now we gonna get. One name every week for the next two years -- that the -- full.

You know I picked it up point that look at the dramatic expected view. It was Michael winery here that you know there's a possibility that there is paying 200 people. We know about this let and you know Michael I don't think it was it was just not add up out of the inning on of that but you know. It felt like the number of people who know what that means let the much bigger. Then -- first spot. And -- the case I think it's only a matter or calm about it probably take some provocation and no work. People continue to protest that you know nobody is there right back and everybody's cling to this one static used that and it hit supplement. That because they kinda. You know what call it a lawyer really is these categories are of course there are expected to doubt that great in the world I don't know that because that's -- happening coming to -- that -- that you would think that nobody ever -- Barrett. Everybody's got that the -- the -- supplement but not explain the way he'd hired to celebrate testing procedure did I get possibility obviously but take it. It supplement -- like. But an -- that we all know what happened that night and make it really route network people -- and that nobody that they could spell expect that.

does -- stand to reason that the list has a name associated with a substance and at the answer to that it yes. And the -- here's David Ortiz playing the substance card could not about say by the way here's a little more information it was a hardcore steroid. Not company bought a GNC or some thumping in the Dominican over the counter.

While that is a great question I'm not sure that that let that the government has had those substances on it. Obviously. The original test result if you -- Combined that the coating that do different labs you would be able to figure that out I'm not sort of government let pat these substances are at war. They'd get. But the -- together and here are the names of the once they can't that's positive samples but that is the great questions of fact if someone knows about it. Such -- not just. Name that would really change again.

I think that timeline is looking at the big picture going forward where all the same voters and people who try to put all this and some kind of perspective look back at this -- and called it just that the steroid era everybody was doing it that's the way it was that we moved on they've done a good job cleaning up until now we are more. Less reluctant to put somebody in the -- thing.

I think great question like do you think that will probably happen over time is that human nature you know. Part positions and the -- in overtime as we get older and further removed from the event. I hope that not the case in your document they and all main voter. Or credit but he agrees Derek. The you -- mean. We're not taking away records were not taking away money or not -- championships these people are all represented at Cooperstown by. The the the triumphs and record but instead memorabilia. At -- you're not bad example. I think what you're doing it in not giving them at the highest honor that there isn't particularly baseball bat -- somehow people you know. Brought up entry into the hall -- at the -- evident some you deny that something that they are. -- that case -- paper is represented at all. Barry Bonds is represented and all all -- the story of Major League Baseball something in terms of aren't player. It's completely Gephardt and I'll link these guys deserve to be honored at -- absolute highest level I can't. -- their behavior. By reverence that they then as -- compensate careers but not all they --

How about sitting there Tom and listening to their speeches as rice and Rickey Henderson gave this speech is a couldn't help but think. This would never work with the -- your merits of which Sammy Sosa they can't stand up there and talk about there. You know their love for the game in the integrity and look over at Hank Aaron and Willie Mays and and and and show the same deference that did that rice and Mickey hands now may be Rickey Henderson and gets caught eventually but. I can't imagine a guy whose career was built on. -- the help of performance enhancing drugs drug standing up before that crowd before those hall of famers. And given a speech that wouldn't be an absolute joke.

Well as -- all sure they wouldn't even mention it -- net. These -- didn't know what's so wrong that the majority of players who used steroids but obviously there's hundreds of them have never met. Even to this day even retire even what we know exactly what happened in the players were you. And it was part of -- culture. There's only been about seventeen players who have -- the Turkey. I've talked about hundreds upon hundreds of lighter but I'm -- all they ever would get up there but he got me out I'll tell you what happened. Now because they realize what they -- was wrong and that's why they still the debate. Won't come out you know -- an -- chaps me is what people now say. Well everybody was doing and there -- they should all on the all bank walked out not everybody was on it. And the guy he chose not to do what was -- to a bit -- bad I think that's an insult the player to play it. -- It an insult says the decision that these people -- that -- made better by the fact that more people better you know rock song.

Don't turn your attention what's happening with the Boston Red Sox in journal were kicking around this morning I wonder if Theo Epstein cash for clunkers program is how we've dubbed -- that would be. Five million dollar for small to look Steve we get an engine started you know well whatever for penny a Paul Byrd Wade Miller before that portola Cologne for a million million and half last year. At some point when none of it sticks to the wall to rethink that cash for clunkers program as a way of doing business in front office.

I don't base I don't think you have to work around the edges find bargains and let's say it is. I don't the Red Sox -- ever got out on the free agent market and got a player in the Arctic. Also want and I think that always going to be the case I think today the Red Sox are different in -- to share in the lineup. I can tell me the Red Sox had a chance to get on the bottom line is he's another guy went to the Yankees. On the Yankees cannot be -- for people with simple at bat the bat in the case you've got to work around the edges and find bargains Redick and we thought -- how appropriate plan having go back to what was written -- in February march from the Red -- happy so called bargain chip return policy.

It's and now. I think the biggest difference between me it seems though that he older players on the Yankees have vastly outplayed the older players in the Red Sox. You know we talk about Damon Jeter. Era that era I've met Billy doesn't -- of the game is feeling a lot younger. They come through for the Yankees but he is that part of that at the effect of the -- help drop but you look at the red dot. It -- sort it all better -- they'll come close to produce big. The way that the older players coming in -- that would be enough credit these and to me. The fall apart and when you get Ortiz. Drew and Varitek more than 900 at bat from the left side and -- to 31. With no damage. That's totally -- didn't let their people now that he can't win outlook outlook and it power.

Are you ready to declare the Yankees to division champs in and say the Red Sox are playing for the wild cut Tom.

I officially yet. A minute say that we've always seen things. Change the you know. Is that the New York Mets helped lead work out -- stretch the last couple years then go back a couple Montreal but the Phillies and the Red Sox beat why in the World Series. And bank of change a lot the last few weeks but. I think he yeah he made it to get it came right now. -- that currently at the big lead that late the year perspective it seemed to lose that they get dynamic at all I think -- manager's nightmare because they have all those switch hitter in the lineup that left hander Eric galore and look look let these -- looked at -- anyway is very cup match up against spam late in the game. Well I. You know the way sabathia -- net. You know are giving them -- and -- in use in the all that. I think it hit dollar I don't think sick and because I mean maybe they that it that the victory here something that we don't -- paper right now. But wait he's cute he's applying you know I think the red stuck like awhile art.

Thomas might seem like a strange broad question coming on the heels of 31 scoreless innings by the Red Sox offense but it would it be. Outrageous to say the fate the health and wellbeing of the Boston Red Sox as it applies to their playoff chances. Will be determined on the ability of two with a falling four guys who joined Beckett and Lester as -- starters a B Buchholz Wakefield. Daisuke and I guess that is -- experiment begins or continues tonight here here in Boston but they need to gets something out of two of those four guys too to add to what Beckett Lester doing down -- down the stretch.

Yeah act that would definitely agree with that I mean -- look at the Red Sox now as a our demands are that the people but I thought there're going to be and they still have enough to win don't get me wrong. But the other Jack and and that -- I don't think we're gonna get much better up at the clinic in a jar would they are that they don't have enough but they have enough that viewed as you mentioned. They can stabilize the back and applications and that possibility is there any kind of -- that we give that up buckled to the ball really well Yankee Stadium and deserve better you know that may be a step forward. Because nobody in the inexperienced no doubt what you -- stuff at least but he brought to mount. Apple knows about back in Wakefield I mean he would hope you get. -- contribution never I don't know if you get them. You know making every you know every fifth day they're giving you all start I mean that you think they'll contribute something before all that done but. I think it -- like they call it ethnic group building is at least two of those guys do. I thought they'd be great obviously because you're -- at the top and by at least stabilized that patient.

Anybody. Who like Alex Rios will be -- Either claimed on waivers or we'll get traded. Yeah during this waiver wire period how many big names.

That's hard to fail because I can't equality ever like Alex Rios I don't people they can't -- or Randy Myers but. Those are really stop where people were -- and that they take it looked at 28 year old player we should be entering his prime change. The bit shocked a lot of people want baseball so I would doubt he would see anybody like that. Movie and I'm sure the Red Sox will continue to work in wire isn't. You know obviously if anybody popped up on that wired get through especially at shortstop. I like it be all over -- I'll make. Marcos girl is gonna get through at least not of the Red Sox but obviously he would be a guy that I think would be the perfect fit for -- and at this point got to get -- played well defensively this year a bit surprised that he got through but. You know that would be the one -- that outlook for.

He is SIA and SI dot com coverage she Tom always appreciate talkin' baseball idiot don't hang up the patrol -- was a -- we'll talk to down the -- my friend.

Always a pleasure guys thanks for having.

Roberts he would Dennis and Callahan will be back in less than four minutes.