Clubhouse Insider - Rob Bradford

It's the Red Sox -- rays from Tropicana Field this is the Herb Chambers for pregame show and this is the clubhouse insider with WB yeah -- dot com rob Bradford. Rob this is a Make or Break series not so much for the Red Sox -- very much so for the rays if they want to stay in the wild card race. They need to start making them proud -- the need to start really in this three game set.

There's no question I mean a -- the rays you have to say we've got a position as well we could move in the sense that they've really over the Red Sox in Tropicana Field in. And they've they've gone all out they get the ray Hawks -- ball Hawks what everyone a column. Showed Matta has dyed his -- yeah they've done a lot of different things. But the most important thing is that they have to keep doing what they do -- the Red Sox if they want to stay in this race that you said John. This is the chance for the Red Sox to really bury them and it's all in early September I understand by you're talking about if you come out to three in this series. -- only do you get some distance in the standings put you also have gotten past that. That problem in terms of playing at Tropicana Field so this is a huge huge series.

And ray Hawks and dyed hair aside than any silenced on the -- which is a mild surprise a guy who has been down the minors for a couple of months now when he was up the majors earlier this year. He wasn't pitching well that's an unusual got to see the mound to start to two -- series.

You have all you know you're on Kazmir obviously anymore and in -- has pitched some decent games against the Red Sox in the past doom them some problems. But yeah I if you're looking half who has the better lineup in terms starting pitching goes the series the Red Sox couldn't really ask for a better. Rotation in terms of the luster the Beckett bar Colts. And yeah I use of the radar thrown your pitchers out there but to start off a series of such importance. You don't want a guy who's been in the mile leagues for so long but. This is the flip side that I guess is that the way Kazmir is pitching although he's been pitching better. He's not the Kazmir -- would you really want him and I think that the bottom line is that they're going to have to score runs off some good rents are --

Intentional or unintentional the Red Sox lined up their pitchers as best as they possibly could for the series Lester tonight. Beckett tomorrow buckles on Thursday let's start with Lester because Lester has been so consistent for them for such a long period of time now. You might look at his overall number NC ten wins and an ERA in the mid threes that really doesn't tell the whole story.

Not at all have you look at -- we talk a lot about -- expected staple that's set them back that really said Jon Lester back well informed his overall numbers. And he can set a record for the most strikeouts by left him Red Sox pitcher today which I think says a lot two outs -- great story on our site. Today just about how Lester fields in terms of he's evolved as a strikeout pitcher in. And how he helps though -- the fact that maybe there aren't a whole lot of K cards out their Prague may be because he doesn't McCain's name. But a lot of because also I still think that people view him as the strikeout pitcher may be Josh Beckett but really years. And we couldn't go back to the game in Philadelphia where the strike ten out of twelve guys in and does the fact he's on the verge of setting this record. Usually evolved into only dominant pitcher in terms of wins and losses but a dominant pitcher in terms.

Swings and misses I mean there are a lot of reasons why get swings at the when you CA left hander that throws 959697. Touches 98. That's typed the stuff that produces since.

Yeah absolutely in the biggest thing in live references many a time. Is that he's been able to pitch to his arm side better team can control that side of the plate that's meant a world different because if you're only working on one side of the plate. They're gonna hate you no matter how good your stuff is so his ability. To do that has just meant the world the difference and really he. After Josh -- his latest victims last restart you look at Jon Lester as the guy there's no other guy the reds liked -- rather have on the mound.

September 1 which means their rosters can expand up to forty in fact in the Red Sox have brought several players -- Including what would be determined I guess as a niche type player and Joey Gathright who I imagine his role is going to be simply to pinch run.

Yeah he Terry Francona talked to him and said the one position that he hasn't played a whole lot of right field and it would make sense if you have a Spiro fielder. Date you probably could play right field in this lineup because JD Drew health going forward. You also Brian Anderson here to fill that gap I think the pinch running -- probably going to be the main focus for him. Certainly a lot of people note Joey Gathright because of the incident with. Julian Tavarez in spring training couple years ago but also because the -- YouTube clip of him jumping over cars which he says he started. Back at a junior high school -- terrified fastening the mere fact that he did it and it work boots says something but -- I think that. You know if the next guy but is a good guy to have because you'll you don't want to get a situation like it did with clay buckles in front four is.

And what about Daisuke Matsuzaka we also all the line was also that he got knocked around against double a hitters at the first inning. I was the organization view him in terms of him being on track who we were originally talking about maybe what the ninth of September.

Yeah I think that they're still going on that same schedule he is he going to throw a side session up and wolf today and then pitched Pawtucket on Friday. -- Franco's talking about how he was trying some different things in that last start in the first inning didn't work out one back the old way had a good second inning. But you're one of the reasons that they want him to pitch at that level was because if he didn't make mistakes. They were going to take advantage of word the golf closely that might not in the case so. If you if you can get rid of that one inning which of the terrible terrible living up in Manchester then -- Vick still on the same track.

rob thanks is always -- soon thanks John and remember you can catch that conversation along with all of our pre game features -- WEI got up just click on audio on demand. Right outside of the Red Sox trivia questions sponsored by KGB. Was the last Red Sox pitcher to hit a home run. Of the answer later in the show but if you like the answer immediately text that question or any other two KGB KGB which is 5425421. Your wireless phone. In the KGB team all of the answer for you -- seconds KGB they answer to view. On the way we -- to -- the major leagues up next Carlos Pena on the inside pitch this is the Herb Chambers were pre game show on the WEEI Red Sox radio network.