Ken Rosenthal, Fox Sports/MLB Network

Broadcasting live from the developed world headquarters. Joined now by our baseball insider Ken Rosenthal fox sports foxsports.com the baseball package on fox. -- brought you by Rockies ace hardware stores the sweet spot -- your home paint and lawn care projects Rockies. Your project simplified ever by a make it insurance I've heard this before it's not just -- covered Michael. Dale -- and big game James. Burger it's how you're treated thank you very much nobody's ever done -- read more heartfelt than that hello again. -- don't know -- the room where her what. We we -- we were talking to to Tito last hour and and talking about the development of Clay Buchholz and at. Maybe a legitimate number three starter for this team with the way he continues to pitch.

Brittany at this point with the -- years. Several starts. In the past eight legitimate number three in fact he's better than a lot of number three. What do you -- for longer than as being given the opportunity will you can buy. This kid has always been someone who just went into the put it all together. Has never questioned. So what is seen now is the maturation of a pitcher. In the Red Sox at this time and they've ever. Is particularly comforting.

Well what do you think the Red Sox could've. Reasonably expected to get if they decide to trickling buckles can.

He was the centerpiece. Any of the big game package is they were talking now or could it. If they want to write about it -- included. If they wanted the lead with vocal group include. So certainly had -- boot -- they could've gotten one of those pitchers perhaps long about a player that would have been you know. Going on there side. But at same time you -- Warriors -- about all opposed the year after the time out they currently. He may never be one of those. -- out well pitched but that control is very valuable and -- proved to be nothing more. Quality number three of the next five years it's pretty yet.

And you said he could've been he would have been a part of those deals -- for Cliff Lee and for Roy Halladay do you think. General managers around baseball. See him as -- a number three when he grows up forty you. Do you believe that some of these GMs say he's going to be a number one.

I thought I -- question. In opinion around the game is divided. There are keen to see him as no better rate. There are other team that beat him as potentially war. And obviously when you're talking about the difference you know 123. We all know that. One is a guy like. Inning. If the great performance. Who a couple of and that really is in my mind more of a guy out of ratings. And if he wins the so get what you ultimately is that I'm will be decided by art form in the coming years. But it's encouraging to -- our respective. They've seen that performance on -- now -- that was before they needed desperately right now.

If the Red Sox get into the playoffs and I still think that they will be in the playoffs and be the wild card team. I'm curious how you stack up the back of their bullpen when at the end of any game Terry Francona has the option. All of bringing out Billy Wagner Daniel Bard followed up by Jonathan Papelbon does anybody in baseball. Have a back of the bullpen like that.

The Dodgers is that which Cheryl the box and but they don't have that there'd be that. Talk about the -- really not -- of other relievers they're Ramirez Okajima and have been good lately perhaps but. The depth is really out. Philly bullpen if Romero it's healthy and Myers is in it and -- straight out. If there has that capability. On this trying to think of any others in my mind that would stand out the pain when he probably not probably the Red Sox depth is special by.

If they -- I don't I don't believe the Red Sox are going to bring back Billy Wagner. In any role next year but do you think -- with the way that he's been pitching although we can't. I go out there every day coming off Tommy John do you think. A team will sign Billy Wagner. To a pretty a pretty big contract -- the closer next year.

Believe that you continue to Michael the end of the season. Right. Idea and we've got a pretty big contract and Francisco Rodriguez I. One or two years at eight -- ten million per.

I think that the key to that the back -- that bullpen for me. Is the power arms I mean some guys and and you mentioned the Dodgers who have power arms back there as well but. I mean you have three swing and miss guys at the back of that bullpen and it's obvious at this point that Terry Francona. Is gaining more and more confidence in Daniel Bard and he's using him more and more in those situations.

The question bill and the one -- and I should mention it overlooked by everyone including myself. But -- relate very well actually it's separate attack. At felt Brian Wilson. You guys not being very often. And all that often either side statistically they rank very highly and they deserve mentions well spot. Which -- making is good. You look at the power back there you look at the variety of different kinds of pictures that they have. It's pretty unique and it's huge edge going to the post season. Especially because Papelbon has -- I had a note yesterday that I wrote. And about. -- what I believe. The only that they -- being wiped out again in the that it ever. Obviously the start of the is there a concern about control and command that are. Right now he's our role and that bodes well do. But they'll have a nap in the big question. -- That it had to get.

Well and and look at it and we've been saying that and we talked to Terry about that. I I'm very confident Lester and I'm becoming more confident and Buchholz. And I'm starting to see that that Josh Beckett is is starting to have that same kind of turnaround that he showed us in May when he overcame -- dreadful month of April.

Like and respect it's just want -- So far that has looked better but you have to go on his track record after the human -- that it. So anyway. I just think ultimately. They're going to be in good. With those race. It's getting there and it's all of that that -- have to worry about right now.

Again I think. One of the more amazing things I've seen this year and if it recently became official. The Pittsburgh Pirates have just clinched their seventeenth consecutive losing season which is got to be mind numbing. For Pirates fans that still exist. Do you think there's any way that this franchise is getting better about no we're not seeing it obviously with wins and losses but. Has Neal Huntington done anything to turn that franchise around.

Well we're not -- notice yet. Had done something only done quite -- anything positive. Well Michael your estimated it -- that we will know the outcome. Up until many years down a lot once great that he has made that would open up c'mon. Jason -- It was not good. Somebody's got to deal with in the required multiple players already looked better in the 81 in particular. They got in the trade. Number three starter probably at least in our own nor. So again when you're talking about young players coming back in multiple. Really don't know. If it's going to work out or not. -- these guys want -- like the idea what they've done yet again like the idea and that did not like it is because. Me it can't be caught in the middle of the one low revenues. Either half the that it works for all of you when -- the -- with what they've done. War -- just somehow then once and awhile and try to win that way. Oh well revenues and can't do that. So yeah -- this year is get as many young players are well -- that not all of them will it. And ultimately what you want to do. Is it up with these guys -- want to content. In the NL central they might be able to -- off yeah elite. You can't debate it would of one year. Could -- have been better this year but it's that much more difficult because of the Red -- yet.

Do you think they're the worst franchise in baseball. They're record and the numbers include belt so I mean -- it there's -- go -- think about that it is it is it. There in technical quote one that. There you have any competition.

I would say they're competition at the World Cup the Pistons and I wouldn't city Royals competition with the resources that they happen pact they've squandered them. But the Pirates has done really is.

It's and it really is from the six. They have it shouldn't be possible I mean they haven't -- walking right out to not be our. I think about think about how many elections presidential elections we've been through a -- since the title winning season -- winning seasons it's incredible.

I don't know that I've ever seen final league player drop so far so fast as Bradley chance. It it I mean there's gotta be something physically wrong he just can't be this bad --

There's not -- that would -- everybody that putt it's that physically is by its spot is -- The problem is that you want -- And you make pitches well -- election. And there isn't in it the plate mentally right now. It's really a problem -- because. Obviously -- closer recently -- going into the post season and at this point they don't even though he can be the closer. All the in the middle of an inning last night and that might be the start of the transition. Who is someone else. Captain has not done well in the role in the that you can't do it. That Myers is coming back -- had a chance. But. Coming off the hip injury in. I don't know that I would trust in people I trust -- could be really interesting to see how these final play out though it is that does become an issue.

I mean imagine your closer has blown ten a 38 save opportunities. His his record on the season is -- seven in his ERA is above seven that's your closer.

And -- the numbers are staggering. You've been. The Baker's been blown -- and he would add another one perhaps by Atlanta but it yank them in time for Matt and pick it up.

I don't know what the answer. It's silly but what the answer here but clearly they're going to have to figure out -- kind of solution because they have a chance. Go right back the World Series and maybe even win it that it is straightened out.

You know can maybe it's in my my fascination with reality TV but I and he drama need. I need to know about the story lines that are a little crazy and I'm wondering when this season is over. Very soon. What managers are going to be fired and and is there a guy or or there. Guys who just know when this thing is down there out of business.

I don't know that no Michael but there are going to be changes. And sport is. The group is probably going to be the first. You get an extension in April. Yeah one out in the fire. The tension but. When he retired news earlier Adam with a guy it's pretty good I'm not going to. And you would be the number one -- That he changed. Nationals have an interest in Ritalin. I would expect that if it if you return. For Bobby Valentine's name their mother's name is well -- held the Diamondbacks third base coach. It even Bob Melvin. On the battle back -- a manager who has the connection you'd like -- GM used to work in Arizona. Those are few that could come open the club -- a question because. What it is that the short ownership is going to do but I would expect. That now would be back. I'm really not the biggest one biggest question -- worse. And yet not -- they've done but there's certainly pop -- that Dave Duncan might leave and if that happened it would be shocked if you lose the lead. It best yesterday out of Chicago organization well what about. Right here. Green on them that the cup final group now he's been that productive what. Very intrigued -- don't know what will happen but the country saw how about Eric Wedge. I quit I forgot ballot he is certainly under scrutiny. I would not be shocked -- you've been nicknamed although I do know he's been pretty. How open about it that the GM mark of our -- is very -- about it. He did not believe it -- as well. And ultimately ownership might just that we have is something. Yet the change here without the right.

That happened at all. I don't think it would ever happen. But I wonder if if Joe Torre is at least tempted to bench Manny Ramirez.

It won't happen and I don't -- didn't have it in the -- you're describing. The punishment. May be -- and that it clears it -- But he has been better of late. And I imagine. That what they wanted them to keep going it is with a back in the back to worry what. If that doesn't happen and the Dodgers are clearly not the same offensively in.

They have not -- that -- struggle like this is returned. We always appreciate time thank you we'll talk to next week. Figured I -- take extensive Ken Rosenthal brought by Rockies ace hardware stores the sweet spot for all year home paint and lawn care projects Rockies. Your project simplified and by a -- insurance it's not just tiger covered in Ohio street and it's -- treat it.