Dale and Frede Opening Segment

I hope you guys made some money yesterday. And I don't often do this sort of thing but I. Guarantee you win last night and opened it took advantage of -- You know maybe paid for next -- college for the kids there's some you like money like money I I hope you took. I mean let's be honest the only reason I said that -- would -- the holiday last night was because nobody on the planet thought he would lobbied Halladay last night. I'll I'll admit it I called it but for all the wrong --

I did place a bet in as a result of one animal working and it is so great I. Yeah 1102. I don't need I don't need the final three hours on vacation and they don't.

Let's be honest every single one of -- going into this Toronto series thought pretty much the same thing. You got to race go on in the first game you know you'll win the Josh Beckett start that's fine. You got Jon Lester going in the third game that'll be the rubber game of the match cause you're gonna lose the middle game Roy Halladay. You know no disrespect meant to play -- but Roy Halladay is a Cy Young candidate I bought colts isn't. But it just goes to show that you can't figure this gain.

And you could tell pretty early on. Holliday was having trouble he's having trouble -- first pitch strikes he was looking in at the umpire he he he was reaching for a little bit it was it was out of character but. If you look back through the years of the Red Sox taking on how they they're now thirteen and thirteen against Halladay today they've had a pretty good plan against him and now I agree heading into the three game series like okay Romero could be tough holidays definitely going to be tough but. I come out of that game thinking. That's a huge step for for -- buckle to talk about a -- still developing he's now looked CC sabathia and Justin Verlander and Roy Halladay. In the high pitched well enough to win against sabathia well enough to win against Verlander but the Red Sox couldn't do anything and any. Out pitches Roy Halladay and that's it that's a great step forward for guy. Who seems to be giving a lot more competent that's the that's the biggest thing I'd take out of that game.

Well as Alex spear pointed out on WEEI dot com in the five things we learned about I'd buckle last night one of them was that. This is the first time in Buchholz is very short you know very young Major League career fractured career path. Which it in which he's put together three. Very good outings back to back to back.

And what was great last night -- I thought about the game was he had those moments in the fourth in the sixth inning where'd you seen it with buckle -- for. He -- he starts the climb the -- a little bit like all right now is -- gonna get. Over the hump there or is gonna slide back down and we have seen that a lot with him. It may be a little bit more for this year but certainly in a couple of starts this year word. He was gonna slide back the adversity comes up any -- games. Speeds up form and he tries the slowdown in and it all falls apart last night. He pushed back he pushed back in the fourth -- another couple hard hit balls that there were hit right at people and -- fourth inning in the sixth inning he pushed back. He got out the -- got out there with less than a hundred pitches he threw six innings very encouraged by what I've seen over the last three game.

impact if you start get a little crazy here your you know diehard Red Sox fan grasping at any shred of positive do you come up with. And let's be honest we -- and every shrink shred of negativity so. You're starting to see a rotation here where you start to feel a little better about things now. You always like your top two Beckett Lester Aaron Kevin Lester record is barely about 500 I'm fine. With Jon Lester in the number two spot. You very uncomfortable after that and if Buchholz can slot himself been here. The possibility that Tim Wakefield gonna be activated next week he's gonna -- rehab start in Pawtucket tomorrow night. And that will lead assuming everything goes fine you'll be back in the rotation next week. And then think about the second week of September Daisuke Matsuzaka comes up. From from his extended. You know -- spring training -- better rotation that is Beckett Lester. Great at the top Buchholz pitching very well Wakefield -- Matsuzaka and now you start to say. I I can go to battle with that group.

And I think it's an interesting question one month from right now nor the -- five in order you can go Beckett Lester. Then I could I could see Wakefield being thrown in the mix I think this is a very delicate time here for Wakefield you know obviously pitch. The question is -- we heard more those questions about being able to field his position now one big question was answered he can't go out hurt himself. At all and I think that probably gives them a little peace of mind that whatever it is. It's not going to get worse Kenny played through it then I think you look at. A combination of buckle to your four -- your five and -- your swing diary -- you know I I mean I don't want -- out rotation anymore I don't -- unique -- is now in the rotation anymore but you're going to see them here against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park after today yes that's what I understand your point about the rotation settling out here but we still get out of get by this weekend here and maybe another week or two before Daisuke is ready but for Wakefield -- like Wakefield may be one minor league start way. He's gonna pitch for the -- Sox have been BR right after that I really think. You gonna take your lumps or the chances are there particulates Friday and sent it.

Well it and in fact if you think about it you know you had for Toronto in the off day on Monday in its doom and gloom and whoa is us and you lost. Back to back games you've given up the wild card lead. You know this team won't even make the playoffs they knew what a couple of games in Toronto one that was unexpected just in terms of how you won it one it was unexpected period. Now you've got Jon Lester pitching for the series sweeping your feeling real good about that possibility. But that's pretty good chance you're gonna lose at least two of the three this weekend. Beckett can -- beat by act team that -- pretty darn good. You lose two out of three over the weekend argue suddenly next Monday right back down on the sank in the same spot the White Sox come to town and it's all I I don't know we can win.

Yeah you know I. I haven't sensed that I mean certainly you're gonna look at the American League east and say oh we've known this is last Indians yankees. If you wanna think in those terms -- I think Texas after coming back after their heartbreaking loss for the Red Sox on Friday got a couple wins but now there kind of flailing around a little bit here and it's kind of that August -- bought what happened -- it's just the late perhaps but you can still look at it and say will. Here the Sox there from the wildcard. You -- made an argument maybe a month ago that. If things. Hadn't changed so drastically with the depth in pitching rotation maybe you would slide blaster. Two tomorrow night instead of Toronto but you just need wins the no matter how falls out you need wins in the wild card so. I don't think even if they drop to a -- now they've done a very good team at Fenway Park and we were surprised yesterday so you could have that same. And one of the most encouraging things to as the the -- the bats of Kumble to life against from Merrill and Halladay to pretty good pitcher won it once great pitcher. -- rookie of the year candidate last two games sixteen runs and 22 hits for the it's all right so and the ball has -- god I -- Ortiz had just -- the -- on the -- talked about -- he said he has never seen the ball jump at that Rogers -- of the -- as the last -- so if I look at it in say while our worst case scenario you'd you'd drop to a 33 thirds of the Yankees I think everybody has -- the fact that the Yankees have gone on this epic run here. Hands now they're settling in wild card the Red Sox are and that's why it doesn't matter how you get in as long as you get it I think about a week ago was all right is this team point two did you feel a little bit better now. After seeing what -- to the in the last three starts that right you've got a -- there he can rely on you know you don't have to. Keep Paul Byrd. Here on the emergency speed how else could you that is in case I don't -- metals and it is now. And analysts either of them mean but does that tell you dale how desperate things were looked from the inside out aren't we gotta get Paul -- out from mowing his lawn. Where he had retired to Kentucky we gotta get about here and deceiving you do anything just days that's how bad.

It's funny if you think about this and and we were kind of going over -- little -- over the last couple of days if you go back to the trading deadline acquisition. A Victor Martinez and -- Loney brought this point up on Monday Martinez was supposed to be in an addition. To your batting power he hasn't been an edition yes. He's had to replace Jason Bay when he was her talk about batting -- I understand he's he's replaced eighty -- when he's been hurt he's replaced avenue closed when he's been suspended. He's replaced Dustin Pedroia who is very. Properly being at home with his wife back after the birth of his strong -- back today hopefully back today. I don't think in and and we have a back over the and fill this this up for you my friend the back over the at the game reports since Martinez arrived. I don't believe you've had your complete lineup and I'm not talking about pitching rotation. If you haven't had that I don't think you've had your complete lineup wants.

Now by complete -- you're saying Ellsbury leads up Pedroia bats sect in. Odd Victor Martinez learned when the trade first happened I think there was a day in there when Martinez caught. It would talk about the best line where -- attack right -- best offensive lineup would bear tech would sit. Martinez would catch you get first -- third correct and I is that you are I'm I'm also talking but they Atlanta Ellsbury and Sadr -- right. I don't know that that's happened yet now and and you know tonight could be. The first opportunity when this right -- when the trade happened Josh Redick what was wanted outfielders I mean you could you could be right now again. This could be a because you're gonna Pedroia back yes I that we think we we don't you you'll you'll have lol playing third base -- tonight -- region.

now this might be the very first time since the July 31 rate that line. Where you have what Theo invasion to be your best line now the question for me is going to be. Whether or not Ameritech catches the -- and and it's more physical question day lineup question. He was reportedly a little bit better yesterday in -- while marginal the.

Yeah I improved what was the term I think I may be paraphrasing their for Francona to me that means you know he's gonna wake up today -- there. There there has to via a huge appointment I lords has had its say it sounded like. It was that it just letting everybody know you know what he could mean another day but. On then you'd have the issue that everybody made a big deal out of and general how big a big deal it is of wild and better Texan architects Lester you know Jon Lester or Jason --

and technical back over the no I don't I know it's been I already want Varitek to catch back at last and I said this before back it. Had his his outing the other night I don't wanna mess with that and to -- your best option. For success out of -- really have to win. Almost all her starts when you think about your trot out there the other three days at least for the moment. So I already wanted. Varitek to catch those two guys I'm not sure it's an option tonight. My guess is he's gonna need another night off is available. Up for tomorrow night once again so so my guess is this might be the first time now we're just look and looking through it here very quickly.

Not a you know -- it has not happened yet I. Yeah I'm you know I just I IC Kotchman there you see a lot of -- lot of Kotchman. How all Delhi is in there at one point. August August ninth -- is Anderson green -- very Pedroia victor you close Bailey rude little old bear yeah you're right -- I mean I I think it -- it if if they've run out the lineup that you would expect tonight if Varitek can't play. With Martinez catching you at first -- a third drew in right. I'm Domenica that the.

It is the first time they played sixteen games cents. Victor Martinez arrived in this will be the first time in the sixteen games. Where they will have. At least that's close to you know they're complete lineup is as -- it hasn't happened yet. Yeah and and you know Maloney brought up this point he was exactly right this is then he's -- a replacement. So far not an addition. You know and and the last couple nights your team it's a ball real life.

But I I look at and I I thought you were going this with victor this way Victor Martinez. Look at what kind of -- in he's -- always been -- that's the thing everybody in trouble if he hadn't. It's -- that they made this it depends on how you how you interpret the way you phrase it if you look at it and say. Oh you know -- he's filling in a couple of rules are -- they've been trying to piece it together until everybody's healthy but if you look at you know what he's been able to do he's raised his batting average. You know seven points since coming over here -- this fourth home run as a member of the Red Sox last night and I mean he's been great had two hits again last night two for four and I mean men. That's looking like a great acquisition and you know I'm we'll see how Francona plays it with his lineup and what when Varitek on -- percent -- sounds like certainly not a 100%.

The up patriots are back in action tonight it is their second pre season game their first home pre season game as they host the Cincinnati Bengals. Up both papers seemed to be of the opinion that you're gonna see less Brady then you saw last week. And I wouldn't be surprised that he doesn't throw the ball as much as he did a week ago that seem to be really the focus. A lot of folks seem to think that the focus at least for awhile tonight's going to be on the running game trying to see what you've got there with the coordination between the backs in the offensive line. Fred Taylor didn't play last week it all I would expect he might play tonight Laurence Maroney didn't play last week and hasn't practiced sense stop me if you heard the war. Laurence Maroney hasn't been able to practice this week so he's got.

I'm not gonna kinda -- all but you can't make the same mistakes -- I don't want.

You're gonna cut him. I think there's the very real possibility of Michael Berger credit for this corporate news. I think there's the very real possibility Benjamin Watson doesn't make this team. Well I mean it that has been another one -- the of the areas of focus here's a bit tight end position and since Watson hasn't been able to participate you'd wonder -- things passing him by it -- everybody you know kind of leaving him behind a little bit and I'll be another area. And and again I mean that the story last week was -- he is he's taken the field let's see what happens that it really did hit the past week and I think even. You don't reference that after the game. Bob but I would think that certainly you'd see more from the backups this week against Cincinnati and yeah -- the running game it's that whole runner by committee and it was just.

Find they're gonna do that and it worked well last year -- and and -- that's why they've got the stable of running backs that they have. That's why they have the -- that the positioning. There's an old cliche in the National Football League it's been around for you know. Probably since the inception of the league and and it's it'll blind that players use he can't make the club in the top. If if you or hurt your in the trainers room. If you're not able to participate you can't show what you can view and Belichick even referenced this yesterday. With Ben Watson when he said he hasn't been able to be out there to show us. And and you got guys who shall not who. By the way too bad Chris Baker two touchdown catches a week -- Alex met the acquired from Tampa Bay you get Dave Thomas there I am I mean they've got five legitimate NFL tight ends. Battling for really three spots. I'm not sure when the musical chairs when when the music stops that there's going to be a chair open for -- want.

And but again we have no idea the extent of his injury we have no idea how long it's gonna take for him to get on the field how close he is but they certainly know internally how far away years and if he's too far they obviously -- the years -- that. There's no time for having a sympathetic moment thinking about someone who's made contributions in the past.

We are ninety seconds away from asking a very painful question for patriots fans will get to that will get to your calls. Patrick Sullivan former general manager of the patriots will join us at -- His dad Billy Sullivan the original owner of the team is being inducted posthumously into the patriots Hall of Fame in ceremonies later on today. We'll talk to Patrick will talk to you and just couple minutes it's Elena holly Eric freed in for Michael Sports Radio W the.