Clubhouse Insider

It's the Red Sox -- Royals from Kansas City this is the Herb Chambers Lexus pregame show and it's time for the clubhouse insider with WEEI dot -- Alex beer. Alex last night had to be one of the more difficult losses to watch at least for Red Sox -- bullpen implosion usually are. But frustrating to see it leads of six nothing -- eight to slip away.

Yet the only game that -- this when reminded me of this here was the one where the Red Sox blew that. You know nine run lead or whatever it was against the Orioles early in the year certainly you know when you have. Two different six run lead especially. Given how successful over all the bullpen has been this year. I think that the team's record with something like 67 in nine when leaving after five innings you certainly expect to see the Red Sox. Take this very substantial advantage and put away a Royals team that you know is kind of at the bottom of the AL central. But that wasn't the case last night. In part because Tim Wakefield who was terrific in the early going. Despite his command difficulties suddenly got tagged and then after that the bullpen really was a bit of a -- And Manny Delcarmen.

Which this isn't really an isolated -- incident so to speak for Delcarmen he's been struggling as of late. And with less than two weeks to go in the regular season the Red Sox -- have a lot of -- trying get them straightened out.

Yeah they really value what he can bring when he is at the top of his game because he's so good it -- at retiring left handers in addition to right handers. Because he can give them length from the bullpen. And can give them two innings or so on a night when now when their starters -- be short like you spare them. From having along reliever at several points this year but it's not been a good two months for Manny Delcarmen dating back to roughly. July 28 I think his ERA is eight point 84 and he's giving up a run in more than half of his outings at least one run. Last night it was four runs you're seeing some command difficulties he threw only twelve -- 25 pitches for strikes yesterday so this is of real concern in. You have to start wondering you know is there -- question. About whether or not to apartment is going to be on the playoff roster or could end up being leapfrogged by someone else who was who's been more reliable -- the stretch.

You mentioned Tim Wakefield outing last night we're not sure exactly when his next outing will be and it's for subjecting him holding up physically. But I guess the plan is to maybe trying -- another spot start or soda -- work the rotation to their favor heading into the post season.

I think they would say I think that all things being equal they would certainly like to continue working Wakefield in not only because of the you know there there's a great deal of loyalty and it's it's hard to deny a guy who's working so hard to get on the mound. But also because there is benefit to having six starters at a time when they have a stretch of twenty games and when he days the Red Sox don't have any off days down the stretch -- so. The value of having a guy like Wakefield we can slot in on occasion and give and a fifth they have rest of the integrity of the rotation. Is significant in. Not only that but the guy is you know their hopeful that the guy can perform pretty well yesterday again he held the Royals a -- three innings before things fell apart pretty quickly.

The Red Sox will get their first look at Zack Greinke this season tonight the guy who was in my opinion hands down. The Cy Young award winner in the American League. But when you look at his win totals that's certainly something that a lot of people do look at that is not indicative of how well he has pitched which is.

Yeah his win totals ridiculously low for how good he's pitched because he has eight no decisions which he has something like a one point 95 ERA. This guy has been robbed if if -- if anyone doesn't vote for him for the Cy Young he's been robbed by the lack of offensive support. From his teammates in by the oversight. Of of the national baseball media he's been spectacular. He's as dominant as any pitcher in the majors and his story is such a compelling when someone who is adult head on with social anxiety disorder. Which is an affliction that you know millions of Americans face. And he dealt with in the most public of settings in part because of but because of his relationship. With up with current Sox front office member Allard Baird and former Royals Royals general manager. You know the two of them you know along with fellow former Royals manager Buddy Bell decided in 2006 you know -- but have you step away from the game. But how do you seek treatment let's have you get your life in order and then we can worry about -- as a baseball player but only then. And what he's done in coming back from that low point when he walked away from the game in 06 until now it is really startling in deserves even more attention than just. His utter dominance over the course of this year on the mound.

And his utter dominance though deserves an awful lot of attention as well. If you start looking at his numbers for this season. And how they stack up compared to other pitchers in the American League over the last forty years the only two guys that really bettered him. Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez.

It's something else you know the two point 14 ERA in this era. He's you know just leaps and bounds ahead of where everyone else is his strikeout to walk ratio is kind of joked at this point. He's he's really special and when you talk about. Talk with people about what he can bring. The ability to add and subtract his fastball which can be anywhere from 91 to 97 miles an hour a deadly slider. A great curve ball but again he changes speeds on and locates to both sides of the plate. In a changeup that he taught himself in spring training just because he wanted to make himself even more dominant against opposing hitters. It's it's a special package and he's a really really good pitcher who's just coming into his prime at 25.

Alex thanks as always we'll talk disown. Thanks so much on. If you missed any part of that conversation or would just like to hear it again you can't WEEI dot cup just like on audio on demand but WEEI dot com no nonsense coverage interview was brought to you by SP -- When you want low cost like insurance with no hassle no nonsense you want us realize that no nonsense like insurance company. I -- for the Red Sox trivia questions sponsored by KGB. What was Terry Francona -- career batting average. All of the answer later in the show but if you like the answer immediately text that question or any other to KGB KGB which is 542542. When your wireless phone. The KGB team will have the answer for you would seconds KGB to answer TU. On the way we've got a trip around the major leagues up next Alex Ochoa audience not pitch this is the Herb Chambers Lexus pregame show. On the WEEI Red Sox radio network.