Rob Bradford, Red Sox Pregame

Rob let's start with last night and we watch the Red Sox beat up on the Orioles it's almost a ridiculous record when you think about it fifteen and two. Against the -- this season. I think those are pretty bad of the Boston store and exactly what they're supposed to do which is take care business against these lesser likes.

Yet -- with a combination of things that it's obviously not very good Orioles team but also. It's becoming a pretty good Red Sox team the fact that you won ten -- twelve games. 1520s. They know that says something about how their role and hear how things are coming together. Now the challenge is obviously to hold things going this way in the last couple weeks of the season -- in the playoffs. But you why you are going to be able to do is going to be able rest guys not gonna have to over -- guys knock it. And that won't probably lead to any kind of downturn as they as they had to homestretch here but certainly the Red Sox are playing very very well. There's some room for improvement always is but the fact is that they have to feel pretty good about.

So while that was going to be my question because we talked about it a little bit you've heard players say it at different times that. This team had yet to really hit on all cylinders or reach their peak performance so to speak. There's not a whole lot of room for improvement right now this has gotta be about as close as this team could be just looking -- on all cylinders.

Yeah how low it -- so -- times John false starts and ends with the starting pitching and -- to keep them going on the right track. It just like we talked -- Buchholz the previous night Jon Lester did have his best stuff but was able to that. Get through it and perform well -- that speaks volumes of how far he's -- in the type of pitcher -- is that you have. Billy Wagner before the game tell me that basically Jon -- the best stuff of any player than he's ever played -- that's Randy Johnson Johan Santana but other guys. And fight you know but you -- have good stuff but you still gonna have those bumps in the road Italian response from you responded very very well. Last night after after giving up front three the first four innings. So I think that overall yes they are playing well but that cut it starts and then -- starting pitching you have to keep them healthy doing the right direction.

If you had to -- identify one guy that really is struggling no it would have to be Jason Varitek and -- Terry Francona was asked the question yesterday. What about catching Victor Martinez with Josh Beckett on the mound you wrote about it a little bit. And the more and more the Varitek struggles I imagine the pressure would increase on Terry Francona to do just that.

Well I don't think there's any question about our offensive line up this was. -- that the two parties catching Michael third base camp needs at first David Ortiz DH thing. That it's just how much do you value that the combination of Jason Varitek game. And Josh Beckett having him to a potential playoff. Matchup to me is this the big question and when I was asked affair that Terry Francona last night or yesterday. You know he basically said you know we're gonna have to think about there I don't have an answer for you right now would certainly isn't saying okay you know what I expected and authorities Varitek. No question about it going forward in in just affected his said before that yes you know there is a relationship there with Jason Varitek. There is a comfort level is no question about it. But the pitch just take some responsibility in terms of who how he performs on zone no matter who the catchers.

It won't be too much longer before we start talking about how does the post season playoff roster start taking shape. And as the Red Sox figure out okay what do they wanna do carry two catchers three catchers etc. One guy that looked like he would be on the roster now looks definitely in jeopardy which would be Nick Green and it's also due to injury right.

Yeah I was talking to him before the game today and he still doesn't know what's going on was what you classify as it that way he's he's really kind of baffled by -- They thought it might it be fatigued but even he he -- an opposite the park these last few games since he's tries to. Take BP you're getting guys thanks to Nancy you really can't hold it more than seven seconds in. And so he's gonna go to Boston market -- though it's really kind of a baffling baffling thing you do it makes you look back at that at bat that he the other night. And as he says that no really how he got through that at bat. There was no possible way of his worth of getting ahead is just the matter is standing up straight enough to get the walk which he did in. And by its little disconcerting for him because he really doesn't know what's going on him and I think that that's what we try to find out. Tomorrow we spent a lot of time talking about Daisuke Matsuzaka heading into his returning he was impressive on that return now he's probably looking at what. Three more starts between now and the end of the regular season to figure out exactly how he fits into this rotation. You -- every -- you if you talk about the state of this team I think a big part of the stated this team is Daisuke Matsuzaka. In terms of how -- been on full -- next few weeks because. As optimistic as everyone was last aren't they should have been with very very good start Bubba expectations. If he came out today and did not perform while the panic would -- in this event -- conversations about. Dice-K what's he gonna bring you down the stretch for start up all over again but I think every once saw enough -- him last start to say you know why it. Physically he's good. Mentally he seems to be a good place and he can actually present some value to this team in the playoffs going forward. But a lot of people didn't think that Kate was the case even before his last start -- rob -- is always -- you from Kansas City. Okay --