Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports/MLB Network

We -- not a Ken Rosenthal from fox sports foxsports.com. And of course the baseball package John Fox brought to -- Rockies ace hardware stores. The sweet spot for all your home paint and lawn care projects. Rockies your project simplified and by a make insurance. It's not just tighter covered Michael delegates are -- treated Ken Rosenthal to a -- now I can you don't. I know he's been gone so long I add yet introduce himself to everybody can.

You really mean that you really mean that makes me -- it -- like -- I'm.

I'm I'm getting choked up here very much up.

Great can we see what happened with -- John Smoltz he leaves the Red Sox he goes to the National League he's want to know without zero point 82. We seem Brad Penny leave the Sox go to the Giants throw eight shutout innings against the defending world champions. Is it as simple as my partner said is that the -- over there. --

want to call it that gave media or. Last days however you want to do it is a lesser league. Debt -- and they say the top scoring team in the National League last night. He did it is a hitter friendly ballpark that bank park. Now struck -- through native would lead you to believe they're all of all the player might fall on other occasions. And he might have benefited from good luck. But there's no question. When you look at not just -- and it. About it with lead. About it last year -- this year. Performance in his spikes in the National League. Ball at the indicators that. Sure he might have been pitching poor -- now is strike -- the walks were. There's been people are there but there's no doubt that will be is used it.

You know again I'm such a Nolan Ryan fan. Proved for what he did on the field that I want to give him credit for things that maybe doesn't deserve credit for. I see the Rangers two and a half games -- the wildcard pace and I'm -- Nolan Ryan has something to do with this does it and if not who who does so who's responsible for this Texas turn around.

Well Nolan Ryan has set -- that pitching and did more Mike Maddux from. Milwaukee become the pitching coach. And has been a lot said about their conditioning in all things that practicing with the pictures. But really. Tacoma under the angles are probably more credit. You know who made the -- which has been an absolute bonanza. They have over all of their arms and in other ways as well the draft internationally. And you're seeing that the -- their labors. So. We can't rule out then -- all the wheel out under while walking and getting the most of these guys even going. I remember a year ago in April I reported on -- that Boston with a real big and -- remembered vividly on television. -- on they'd have to report. And the party would have trouble. A prop the patient is avert your organization. In this guy has become pretty good man.

The at Tampa Bay Rays dealt pitcher Scott Kazmir to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The racer team still on the in the battle for a playoff spot here. Was this strictly a salary dump on the part of ownership with pork attendance levels what do they just think he's not that good anymore. The quote both.

The race -- that now it is believed that performance won't justify. And then -- have done -- believe that was born in case. If it was that Kazmir has been erratic. Is an injury prone and that they couldn't let him. Yet or you then you would bang for the buck that a small market team like the -- have. You know quarter real Lugo okay they cannot have that happen the payroll is the U ardently dollar in. -- of that nature are just question like that. Over -- Was all right. Who's your wallet and you know it crept to start to grow into that it -- let them do this right now. We have looked like. When David. And we don't go back at -- going to be very good the rest of it or not. -- on the other way and go from there I had the west. When people interpreted as a give up but when your. Tampa Bay Rays. At the make decisions like that. And what they've --

Last night they had they announced 19148. At the trop for the Red Sox game. And it's actually more than they had the night before when it was a lot less than that. They are the defending American League champions who can't sell tickets. Unless the Red Sox or Yankees or in the in the barn can afford to keep that team there.

Great quest to want her belt and ultimately what they need is new park. -- try it it was going to be in downtown Saint Petersburg where little water. Tracked the ball route with excellent quarter resemble -- there help people plan. Not the right time at the right out of it that dot. There are people who believe that they should be attempt. At the Saint Petersburg. It is the bigger cities and what -- replaced. I don't know that they can. In their current situation is all or. But ultimately. I think that the new one would probably a quarter you know that this is -- air gauge of whether baseball. Succeeded and that.

Simple question for you here cannot do that the Red Sox are going to win the wild card.

Yes and I over the general matter this morning. It -- it as. An adult it out of grade ordering is going to catch them. I -- that be true. Or if things happen. And certainly. If that means but it and is the number other starters. What they were -- the rays went right. And a bit. And can -- all the scenarios where they don't win but the best guess is that they do the best it.

Obviously that the Red Sox were making their deals you know Victor Martinez whispered this year picking up Billy Wagner it was for this year. On the flip side the White Sox in appears that they were making that they're making trades. For next year I mean I don't and I I do understand why would pick up and Alex Rios. I don't understand why you would ship Jim Thome to the Dodgers what what's your read on what does the White Sox have done.

It more difficult to comprehend in the rays street. Great credit at. That I got. As for the financial implications hole and out behind. With the White Sox clearly you can play longer trip against that but -- The red button is very good. It would it would help out and -- just thought it. Are you. Stayed up these guys -- ever felt well on the contreras. And go from there. Maybe in -- of the general manager at a more realistic view of the scene and then there's and will they even needed them award. If he is that what the odds are against that. -- would -- baseball respect as well our support. They were in it 7%. And make the lap but I -- at all. You know they're going into the series in Minnesota. Where it is wrapped -- well very -- Yeah at sixteen but with the Tigers. And -- It's that five and half sixteen is that is that there's no question about it. Tigers are easily the most vulnerable of the that it it. It he had been a supporter of Detroit. -- Terry Francona. And not but it in the entire week in you're. Stated it would it Garnett in Minnesota iron. And didn't hit the hole. -- hit it in the inside out of the different. It would look at who settled. On that they are -- this. Understand the important organizations and in my opinion. It will little loophole than -- eight I don't need to change.

I was almost as baffled by the dodgers' acquisition of Tomei as I was. With the White Sox dispatching of -- hasn't played defense in like three years. I can't picture that they're going to stick him at first base they don't need a DH until the first game of the World Series -- again.

able use -- yet direct first in the World Series. They got him because he is a -- Written by their parents. Who were -- it would accept and he -- in the caught and about a million dollar the -- that's the part of the money. I don't really -- the he's not going on paper they LU. With nick ready when they spoke about waited in the no trade clause but that was not going to happen. Yes collided with a you don't put it there I'm not comparable merit there along I'm ready agreed. Well we're talking is the -- About it he would bat on his back from like. Doesn't seem like much of upgraded anyway but that the way they went.

You know can't I know you live in Baltimore and in this is. Probably an outrageous question considering the franchise just moved there. Few seasons ago. But do you think. The Baltimore Washington area has the ability to support two baseball teams -- a look at the nationals and just. I just don't see the northern numbers and TV numbers are up and and maybe there's a slight increase in their attendance. But you think that area can support two teams.

They're not going to -- to. What. It is situations that is going on right now there is the ability to what it is -- It is a very gate. Area but we've used it really you know conflict at all Washington has its -- over all of my -- suburb. Involve all worked through some fans in the Washington area. They certainly when they're going well also throughout. But the Pennsylvania Delaware. The big population. Problem is Michael football and and if folk is going to continue to say they're open they're Pedroia and better than drive. That really. And it is the issue here. In Tampa Bay got -- there's a real question about whether that area support based off because of what has happened. -- you know all these different issues that they they. There's no question that the war -- they've got a book war when adequately. And if the national slot. It is our running kinda around it was what. But under the current perspective. It is in the -- you very much dependent because it is even there it.

at two part Carlos Pena question has any player in the history of the game regular player ever finished with more home runs than singles and a season. And has any player in the history of the game. Let the league in home runs in the same year in which they finished dead last in batting average among qualifying hitters -- is right now.

Yeah I don't know the answer either question the second one on depth has never happened. But it post Pena. According to the typical guy is what you call a true outcome -- Well the thought strikeout walk walk home run of the throughout out of -- batted -- but have -- It is unique player and it's great is he what you started his career. Haven't bought. Adam in New York they're out of the Detroit guys about the route from city to city. -- without -- and great story of perseverance -- really a guy that was -- and kept on the back and one of my favorite that reason.

I I was going to ask your question that's always kept you know that is totally forgot equipment at. I had I had this great core question pre -- and that's -- you can think about the rest or Michael I didn't it was. It was such -- reverend Arnold ever out of bed this is this is this question is going to change your tired all the pressure back on new and very Beriault the no we're talking about this yesterday with Jacoby Ellsbury -- he was coming off. A pretty good game in Tampa -- he hit well he made a fantastic get a couple fantastic catches in center field in I was going back to some of the defensive ratings and according to the ratings and this was in late July Alex beer yeah -- dot com wrote about this. That. According to these stats Jacoby Ellsbury was that below average. Center fielder who didn't get to balls. As much as they have for the guys half of the center fielders in the league -- what you think about. Defensive ratings and if you really think they are true reflection of -- ability.

Michael it actually is great quest. And it from running debate in the game today. There are more bad defensive stat that ever before. And Wimbledon are. Quite good are these quite good compared to what we Patten. And yet. Like it -- Inspector at. -- one Mark Teixeira is another. Did invent these centers that are behind can go out. Involvement. Now if you'd want it to guys way. What is terrible at second base that it can't give out. I don't know would that appeal the ranked ahead of Melbourne but in all my diet and sure that we would think of -- out of Pamela. Well explain it I'm not sure. The guys that -- that they are apply and the reality is what they're presenting. In an objective way. Yet sometimes you just -- inspector and over some of these things. So. -- the more objective. Situation and often is that the short. And certainly a lot of strides have been met but have their own system -- they really guidance teams at now. But although it was perfect probably not.

Final question before we let you go what do you think about the possibility of Curt Schilling running for. Ted Kennedy senate seat.

But you guys would never. Do you think that. -- Had a great baseball career. Doesn't make up like it better and what's that like Kuerten many ways. It is -- reach. And while it is important in his own way. That's like saying any of us over the Senate. Just because within the system that threw a baseball player that -- qualified well does that I don't Jim Bunning did it that a successful down the but unbowed -- so that wouldn't it categorically. And it started yet batted in the lead is but. In all our lives they have been dormant. I would suggest that I could do certain things and number fish curriculum since suggested he could do certain things it.

We always appreciate time. Our -- next week. That is Ken Rosenthal from fox sports foxsports.com. Brought -- you by Rockies ace hardware stores the sweet spot fraud your home paint and lawn care projects. Rockies your projects simplified ever -- insurance it's not just tiger covered Michael. It's how you're treated.