Theo Epstein, Red Sox GM

Joining us on the line is the general manager of the Boston Red Sox Theo Epstein may -- height on it. That -- pretty well and I'm kinda curious over the course of you know trade deadline it's always kind of hectic for you anyway but it almost seems like from the middle of July to the middle of August is -- about his hectic for you as it's ever been here. Yes it right up there is. You -- tactic -- at it. Years but it does pretty beat great game. That there. We better. At least one roster every night the -- the body knows team. Playing worst but it normally play at a bad time in team than. Things were happy -- -- a -- all the world but we're really looking for what I hope we the the game and -- -- about the ability. -- -- -- -- And when things start to go wrong all in time in. Yet destabilize and hurry in America you're going no margin for error and you'll be eating it compromise. You -- the instability there. -- you're pretty active in the during the trading period union picked up Victor Martinez you picked up Casey Kotchman. There was a lot of talk about Roy Halladay re ever in on Halladay than you ever think that you were close to making a deal for him. And -- -- as we -- close but we were pretty aggressive and we actually made. A he would offer. A -- that it offers a one on the -- lopped off her. Most aggressive. And that they've warned that line and he. Bad news you know it -- her as by the best offer -- received. The that it wasn't if you look in the -- blown away and in all flat -- Really aggressive -- been worked out that it I think -- an art and make that trade. In the division in the use a about there we we certainly -- all we candidates as we did. The other pictures. No match of the if you might know you are and it's been app I I would ideal world outlook that a bat in the starting pitcher. And you said you got a good team and obviously you do -- and read the playoff mix here but do you think you would have been able to walk down Brookline have. Without smiling if you had. A front three of Halladay Lester. And Josh Beckett. An act of robberies are fine but it. Reasons why rated but now and not in a country like that you know it. They usually think it cures all -- -- when it does it do you you keep them healthy and effective to use content. The only your experience. Has it happened in the past where some of the of the work that you did around the trade deadline even unsuccessful work. May have laid the ground worker or pave the way for possible offseason moves. -- up sometimes sometimes you know it can happen that way directly you read all on you know winners and bird you know get on -- more frequently. Use the information indirectly -- you know what they -- -- We talk that. Too and we engaged seriously what they it doesn't mean now. The most doesn't mean we have much better idea for who they really value her arms as you better it yes sir we are willing to move what they're looking to do it. It is eight and based on the spot in the discussion. What did its best to move money if they take on money now these in the that that information is really helpful in constructing these plans -- Won't. Went into the decision making process yesterday to not appeal Kevin Youkilis a suspension and begins serving it. Last night. The number different factors and it first and foremost there are strong. Indications. Contact then and other sources that there's suspension would not use abuse. -- -- what you're hearing that they most most are non answer helmet you know that. In the first time offenders from. -- horse. Like -- -- And their -- factors that. You know to help. Overall the club that that we. And then mentally our players went on the minute there that I've been off and not that we. Felt like there -- factors together better -- Not trying to take you here at the open the last time we were here for an afternoon game there was a bombshell. David Ortiz finds out from New York Times reported that his name is on the list the list that we talked about a lot from 2003. While we know how David I handled the situation. How do you handle it one of your players the first time when you're active players has been on the list Manny Ramirez is on it but he's not your guy. How do you handle that when you went how did you handle it when you found out that David was on there. But. I think it and he's a player is what. How well you know wired David -- you know really well. No it -- true and and we know his position on steroids against there. Haven't talked about a lot of years ago. Derek the first thing you do it. Go to the wired. You know that you don't know. Get it out of that and only if there are the is a credible story you believe and -- use offers support and now. You know David -- what what what he told me at the beginning in and it would be that look. The support. -- me. Haven't they can there right. -- want one now what packet that the art or any departed unity that -- that was on it and as I do hopefully tomorrow. At about my. -- -- -- -- And when a player does something like it is. It is -- -- in the normal response in normal pressures. Beat a player. -- behind uses some sort of -- legal. -- not to address the question at all when a player tell you didn't do it now want find out. That's what the absence for united is that no one answer but in the use and I think. It is hoping you'd be able -- the next day. We are hoping -- you know and there is not taking more than a week. And days that they. That was you know mandated -- that not all things that are well. -- -- know this is -- Little League you're dealing with grown -- but it is a billion dollar industry or more. Do you feel as a general manager. Do you feel comfortable asking players before their name is even mention. Do you have you taken performance enhancing drugs you believe it or is that not the protocol. For a general manager and -- place. I think it I think it is there's reasons -- that buyers. -- only obligation. To. Let it and think that if there's no there's no reason back. It would not be appropriate to go wired wired wired wired. Vietnam now and and again it was obligated that are around on the everything it knows years. We know that no. -- public wrong there. I was curious when the move was made and then after you made subsequent moves it kind of made a little more sense to me. Hindsight being 20/20. If you -- more confident about being able to acquire Victor Martinez with the Adam LaRoche deal not a and it's important to -- as it was. Well the low road still let -- let it -- And those packets are getting. First base unlike -- created in the year Kotchman. Is controlled for two more years beyond here is also -- center on. Oh. And we had an idea at the time -- vehicle Roche deal that LaRoche deterrent Kotchman. In new there's an interest in the Braves now part of it but yet attic which -- -- Certainly that was -- transplant if it weren't able to address the and we knew that it. You would know whether -- yet Victor Martinez on our two before the deadline. And we didn't want it and up and he ended in the road we got someone who ended up being our bat we're finally that -- and I can. In the way we would let them are. Well new music is in the -- we it and not getting that only better about that line. We -- -- amid the cops and two more years old and younger the better well. -- -- talked in the past about looking at the back of guys baseball cards and and that's probably the the player that that you know this guy he has. It's easy to say that when you're going through a stretch of 31 consecutive scoreless innings is it hard to keep with it. Well I think. You know I think the argument that you were able the most rational and leave the most irrational thing and it is the ultimate the you -- no matter who we are now you've been exploit that really matters or did you again. You turn on other game is now 75 or pain you went out acting out there is that the pop bubbles or forget that. You know it up all over the ground ball hit a flop audio run. Off shore but I think that I'd like to think -- -- of the organization there may be. Off the -- yet they that -- possible. Baseball a weird thing in the end the game is best understood. Or hundreds if -- -- -- the course of years really. If that's been enjoyed over and dated spending and very one ending. Average -- -- Like it are strained your votes in there. -- ability to understand your team in the game. You lost six games in a row between Tampa and New York. How one loss in thirteen innings to Tampa one loss of fifteen innings to New York. I'm sure there are many moments and it has been speaking of those 28 innings in those two game there are many moments we disagreed with Tito. There are moments I disagree with -- goes I'm sure you did at some point. How did -- handle. Disagreements or what what do you do when you say yard T know. Dammit why do you do this I mean how does how does that dynamic play itself out. Well there in the interview process. Energy. And job at -- I asked -- what that the you know. What that they -- You -- -- well. And one at that I want that -- -- where. Were it not to open on an accurate and what actors do that -- Portrait you can only -- act you're on the net. Art. And and he completely agree meet in the -- that. It gives it sort 24 -- -- or I don't like -- but not that found out now is -- the talk. Indeed now in there and on top of the city. In it right after the game is too much. -- -- -- Radeon. You know usually the next -- talked about the thing in you know as you know he has always -- nation why he did. When he and I end up agreement and that and one disagree. It's -- want to hear it used again and on time you're out there -- -- they can -- doctorate in the year out you know what actually. You know. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- You know I would agree with and but I do know that even in that donors there'll always well but now. -- In the there was a lot of preparation. That it's. So you found out that 24 hours was probably best what happened he scored -- -- course. -- -- -- -- -- -- Click right through it. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- The -- of reasonable expectation for Red Sox fans concerning Daisuke Matsuzaka for the rest of this year. You know I don't know Arctic Arctic Napoli naked news they've gotten so -- in in they had in the mean -- in the amber and that. Year. All we know of ours that. You and aren't that in it that -- -- here every offseason but the that he would in the best shape he's been in the red. These off. He gave -- off the awesome weight. Or isn't much better condition in mind ever been -- Worked in art and without restriction in the -- arm action back. -- -- -- On line. 200 eat it all and well in. Fish all of alt on deposits so far an -- you know. Some of the adversity went through and from the comment publicly apologize. And possibly can Arctic. In the better I'm. Going forward certain -- -- In news or so I don't know what it means but I do know that they -- in the pros. In the end game here. In the game on and on. Buehrle. Amber I would rule out at all in them back to help. It does there come a point fairly soon where you almost would rather have him. Here doing this stuff so that you can see him and Tito concede him and John Farrell can see him. At some point yes speak. The environment in Fort Myers really conducive to use machine yet -- -- poured in there it. It's down network and he's been able to make an awful lot of gains now there I think we like. We like where did not want to hear -- making. Rapid tolerated progress now. Well certainly benefit from the. I'm sure there was some emotion involved when he gave his interview to the Japanese newspaper but when you. Thought about his comments was there any truth than anything he said was there. -- did he have a point that caused you guys to. Reevaluate and analyze. How he was gonna be used. Now there there's not being the only thing new about that that they went public that we we try to -- and the players -- any issues that. That limitation there back. Or opportunity in bad though at something we've been it would it wherever there's moderate you know we've been talking about the or we actually I'm. In the negotiation. You know there there are two different approaches. The approach. Trading in the approach. Throwing in help in -- and that he used -- and actually unique and in the he payment a and ended the approach. We adopted -- Or -- this. That game is out the an effective and there you -- point. For which those two approaches. Represented or -- We've gone through. Period -- compromise on -- period. Mind our program it very the you ought to do and I don't wanna get too much -- -- all this that it represented. If he would issue that we that get through and work work through it and noted. Ordered the move forward progress. On the at and -- and we struggled. It has been it was dealt with by. Closed doors and I think he actually edit or continue to be by -- or old and all the reporters got out. And but I think it was I think if it will complement they did let him back here quickly have a very open discussion about what happened in. Any lingering issue that and been all -- BV is meeting. On. And make it news Dick Arctic and in and out there and all. On the right way. The I think we've talked about this before and in a previous winners interview last year or the year before and it's that if I've been critical view and in one area specifically has been the the handling of the shortstop position through free agency whether it's renteria or. Julio Lugo -- do you look back at that and say. Are we looked at certain things. When it comes to free agency maybe we see something we perceive something at the strength and in retrospect. Something we perceived as a strengthen our and our valuation. Actually wasn't a strength at all mean -- you go back and actually look at. -- who evaluated -- that that -- -- That prop. And so. Our nation -- better and better yet that prop. It. Are they ought to. Respect shortstop for lightly there's. There. And it day. Are there short short stop that we at. On the field -- -- excuse in the World Series. For sale yet in in. That baseball -- it is that that certainly get it there it looked out yet. That the one that this update -- I mean we respect the news. -- -- It didn't work out our news or where in the first game -- physically. There's there's probably yet. And that the land deal and then moved on and yet you you if you learn from Matt. -- Change their helmets and what you look forward. That often not something -- that always all rot. In the act. And it would Lugo I think the biggest flaw with. Whether or. -- the that's going at -- and we're pretty realistic about what. Lugo as -- The biggest mistake we made a that we try to avoid. -- boy we let ourselves in the position where we didn't have any option. -- at this open. There there's -- sort stop. We market that a year ago we were -- leopard. Is weird and that at. Take -- that. We you know not there and that probably should have in acceptable. That that that the -- way would be active. You know we try -- in the ban. But it five years in advance it and now it's impossible to cover all your positions in your -- that. India would injuries and it was expected performed. At every position covered deductible. And don't usually -- it right. And let -- let ourselves in the this needed. And in -- now. We always appreciate the opportunity to talks -- baseball -- you thank you for taking the time. And we don't yet. One more question for you we always get a quick question we always get this with Leo you feel had been with the organization. Would he have made the Josh Beckett turned. -- I think it you know I actually. Never answer that online. -- -- cornet now that they that that that they can work out. Really well for both means you know obviously -- is that it requires game. Right bright future. Josh Beckett there. Yeah. It that won't work out certain laughable. Headline Theo Epstein says absolutely I would have been. Banks fail to an air pollution that is Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein joining us.