Terry Francona, Red Sox Manager

Broadcasting -- the new ballots world headquarters building. And joining us on the AT&T hotline is the manager of the Boston Red Sox. Terry Francona brought to you by Rockies ace hardware stores. The sweet spot brought your home paint and lawn care projects. Rockies your project simplified. Why don't make insurance it's not just tiger covered Michael dale excited treated and by Bigelow OT Terry Francona is green -- of choice -- afternoon Terry Dario.

Good morning guys sooner have a cup -- You have green -- even in Kansas City confided everywhere you don't know about a club that I don't let the.

I'll tell you this this is I don't -- jinx this phone calls from a knock on wood here. There it is. But this is probably the clearest connection we've ever had with doing Kansas City what's the story.

Guatemala land -- actually that's why I was commute myself opponent. -- but they want your vote Greece's -- news land line Scott Pioli so expect an office that I got a good ball.

So -- Scott Pioli office right now.

A crack at a yeah I think you get -- able to come back here and -- we've watched it go. Not.

Economy and are you. About I do know this year pretty big football fan what's it like being good at football practice in and watching these guys.

You know what I had to kick Jason will walk out of here. Good to do that took to make room for. What it's actually pretty well we -- was grace's most a lot of bodied it was here walk around in. Don't that this for the big -- preventable -- it is -- an hour or we kind of relax before over the ball pork and -- it's pretty cool and so different. The culture and everything so it's really pretty.

At your job last night you've got to see a master at work is Zack Greinke looked pretty darn impressive.

In ordinary. He he knows he was coming and he probably has Guzman or -- he Peru from fastball from 91 denied so. With movement with location with intent. Maybe the best slaughter baseball. Good changeup. It was -- scored five runs in the first that's the last guy you want a five run right now.

Not I was surprised this is gonna sound like. You know one of these moral victory things that'll mean it that way I was surprised in the end -- Paul Byrd was able to give you six and two thirds innings. By the way the game started is that it was that one of the silver linings of the game that you actually got some innings out of again.

mean -- looked and I don't and we didn't win and we've been outdoors that we didn't and that's not good. But we didn't rule -- we -- plus -- the first thing and John Farrell are looking and so what the world wouldn't do. And when you look up two hours later he's still -- We got married Delcarmen and and -- but he really needed. Coffee supplies. Up Bolton -- back to back I don't really helped him that we didn't use anybody -- which is terrific so and again that doesn't guarantee program when it. But it means that none of our guys are open and who would about a post -- and that's really good.

I wanna go back to the night before the rainy night in Kansas City and it was a miserable night. Yet -- let Tim Wakefield get through the five -- and it was kind of a gutsy performance on his part. How much of your decision to allow him to keep going was based on open you can get the guy a winning Kansas City.

Well -- you know what -- that I -- think we we obviously believe in what guys they go. Being loyal things like that but never at. It's a mistake oval ball game. There's more than goes into a committed to it's raining. Don't we go to. Michael Bolden there are long guys and it rings which you was that we lose him then -- committed to a pitch and everybody are open. So we knew the try to -- wake up from five. And edit any had a lot of walks and it was a kind of a sloppy game to begin with. But until Jacobs it is throughout all were -- had two runs to -- for Clark thought it was war leaving him out there and again it's anybody's gonna sit out there and it's through a game like that's what agree W walked that tight rope before.

I was surprised and and you were there and could see it better than I could on TV I honestly thought once the fifth inning was over with they're gonna bring the tarps out.

You know what -- I don't think they can do that I mean I don't think they can just wait for the game to. Who -- count and then run the team's off the field I think the umpires have a chance to protect some people about one was some integrity issues. I don't want we've lost the game which none of those were happy about our -- point -- the game on public all of those good result was anybody he'd actually. Talked -- times during the game. Just to check on our guys but it was what but we just flopping Campbell about it when did -- cut out -- how went down.

You don't do you do you spend a lot of time thinking about. The division. I know folks here do an and that's why. That that first game in Kansas City rubs people the wrong way all the Yankees often the Red Sox of their won that game. Maybe four back in the loss column you've allowed yourself to think about that as part of your preparation for.

No I don't help put our preparation I mean I don't know regards standings but it'll. All we need to do so at all permanent because that's -- we believe that we needed played good baseball believe when you went. It's gonna take us wherever takes us. You know Yankees -- but -- my own temporal all the what about it but shall we just need to prepare ourselves if we do that. It's gonna pick a slower ball and and the numbers that they of the Euro will be what they are at a local player who were supposed to go play and hopefully will be good not be.

Do you allow yourself. At this point given where you are and where the other team's -- starts thinking about things like playoff rosters and things like that.

And you don't want him we try to look ahead as much. You know just to be prepared. Without. Without giving taken anything for granted things like that so I think there's a -- some LaMont preparations needed because you don't just make it misses Wednesday's vocal and you know. Titles seven guys that are don't want them about without Allen's home for spots at the same time we don't take anything for granted and we just didn't try to play the game.

And looking at that down the road and trying to be as prepared as he can. How much has the Nick Green situation from a monkey wrench and all us.

Why did it's it's battle different it is you know. Greedy we're not push for where we expand look at right now the hole which -- in New York we don't hope he's able -- player not he's backed them awful. Scott walked Giles or won't try to get as much information on that we camp. So in the near future in order Chris -- back and complain all over the place we have yet Lowrie. The problem we have -- it's our print and it left and it right now smoltz what we're trying to slow that down enough where we can get a read on just the last week of the season. Because we're gonna have a decision making -- maybe a couple.

The last time we talked -- Dice-K. I come off of a good start. You know he's got another good start what do you think of Daisuke here late in the season.

I thought his last start I told him some good sliders like -- and some the world trade. You know what I think that the big difference right now or seeing what types is that when he the more he pitches I think the better he's going to be earlier this season. Or he pitched it seemed like it was going the other way. So so that's why I guess we sort guard -- more didn't all the empty.

Are you seeing a difference in in almost. Psychological. Make up more than physical make up the physical changes are obvious. But he looks like it got to me who sees the signal goes into his motion it's like get it throw what he just looks different mentally to me.

I think that goes hand in hand I think will be -- but physically intimate support -- to I don't discreet fell one bit he is there's a lot of changes that take employees. And I think mentally I think he does shall go to -- open I think that's because of hard work he's put it.

I heard you talked before about guys growing into their power and -- wondering if that applies to Jacoby Ellsbury who. Had a stretch there that was you know three or four home runs over. Over five or six games do you think he has not necessarily become a power hitter but has found. That the right opportunities to drive the baseball.

I think Michael what happens is he's going to be a guy that it's almost streaks. And -- but you can ask me about it. He has the ability when he's not swelling in good. Took maybe could be built some balls still -- about a -- ball to left field but what it feels that stroke. -- becomes kind of in boxes who will pull ball for almost -- a couple of strongly approve all ballpark I don't know where that's gonna take them I think we let -- let that. Kind have happened naturally and not force the issue complex upheld in the walker. In the swing last just just. Played your abilities and -- available -- takes some coach McConnell like what really been 300 he -- bases in the ball ballpark kind of turned into an impact player.

I was gonna ask you about that yeah I know you guys would -- walk more. But with that said it seems like he's become much more selective at the plate he's getting on base is on base percentage has gone up lately what do you what do you attribute that you.

I think more he's more comfortable hit late in the count was not worried about making contact early if he gets down -- 1222. He knows he still has an ability get hit -- swing at strikes all kind of comes and and and I think the biggest thing is -- looking at a good player. That's gaining valuable experience. Averaging start -- out for.

I know you well enough to know that there are times in year in your pregame media sessions when you're trying to get a message out there folks. And I thought your comments yesterday about Manny Delcarmen was one of those times when you were trying to get a message out there about him. From what I. You said I guess that the I -- what to set wise he's not gonna pitch better unless he pitches. And you're not gonna step away from him because he's an important part of what you think your bullpen can be going 40.

Okay good of music cinematic -- I don't think I ever have the most important. Not to not all not -- player Nelson to to the fans that you're not step away from the sky. All all while all -- on the message I'd I'd make it makes sense of this was an important guy and don't we get down to the playoffs and we Bardot told many you know they. Shortstop would cause you know we're better team what many pitchers good. When he doesn't. You know what he's struggled on we've had to go to different ways that we can go all the ways the world better team when he it is good -- Again it was somebody making the decision which is made. I I need to find out what he can do and and if you run away from guide you'll find out shoot some privatizing editors know. It is better to -- out -- not to null and that's that's of pine belt so we have to strike sometimes currencies.

And you think this is is also a case when you just -- you know they show us something. Is that a case of knowing. The athlete that you deal with some guys you Seychelles Resop and and they they get worse and some guys respond to.

Well -- you try a lot of things and again -- are responsible to know each guy and John Farrell spent a lot of time these guys everyday. But we've been around -- for a few years now -- we just want to tell him how we felt. And be drawn within just again because I think we feel like we're gonna get more out of the way.

Knowing what you said earlier about you know planning for the future but still not taking anything for granted. Do you think your team has to actually physically clinch a playoff spot before you start thinking about getting guys some rest and back in pitchers up and that's sort of thank.

Well -- how hot on a whole -- We've always. Tried to buy pitcher extra base when they needed regardless of the situation we're in the we've tried to never. European to. Maybe the so called I'll work. Pressure of of a pennant race week we know -- our guys need rest we communicate with them and and we we try to do what's right. Again. Whoever were one game up for two games out because -- the reason we're don't want it is for the right reasons and I think what happens is. You have to sometimes -- urged to not do something. Maybe because you blocked a couple of game in general and appeared to want that at all so we end up not the -- that we try to make our decisions. Before the game with a small -- and so we don't make bad mistakes.

Tito I meant to ask you this last week of follow up when we were talking about Dustin Pedroia and you received some. Some great things about him. -- what are you take -- this -- out of it in in terms of on the field whether I don't know what what category would be. How -- how has he improved his game in and in it pick any category if if you see it.

Well there Gilmore. What you could pick a number of things -- again I guess I think what we talked about last week was. Just the more he plays his leadership skills. You know what you put peace in the position of the game where it's. Became the line injured at the very best that -- I think back. Comparative to Jeter the other day and that I guess we feel it would Jeter comes up but it points while we don't want him there collision goal. He's not backing off and he's gonna try to pull the game in the Yankees favor that's how would still property.

It's time now for Mohegan sun's lunch with Tito today's question comes from Jason nutter. -- Rochester, New Hampshire who asked thank.

Take my question. Crash on the -- Steve Buckley of the baseball assure us that the MVP inside in the world leaders must come from playoff team I disagree. Should be the best player of the year in each category but he.

that's -- that's an argument that could go want forever part of what makes talking about baseball almost on -- special. It would be MVP I think there should be towards the MVP and the player of the year. Player of the year I think is. Player of the year Italy can be you know hundred Dawson what the last place Cubs or public that border talking about a most valuable player I do think there's some merit. Two teams that success. And again I don't know hope. Where the argument lambs it's it's an unbelievable argument. And again that's what Parnell breaks -- also special. You -- Sean and -- back and forth they're both very passionate about how they feel. And I am not sure who's right and again that only the voter pool or nobody did it's it's a great argument.

About Cy Young do you feel same way about that.

I can I get mixed up. Middle reliever no -- no I don't actually -- is there's nothing in the Cy Young the talks about most valuable it's talking about the best pitcher. Again I think terrorists from. Some things that can skew the numbers a little bit where you play you you know both of those competition or play against but that's okay you're talking about a Greinke it's. -- bases food he's supposed to face and whoever he's patient he's beaten. And I don't probable -- he's gotten he's given up one weren't so should he be penalized for not not my book.

I was gonna ask you about him you know even though the team is. They -- there a long way from 500 and some other guys whether it's Felix Hernandez Verlander. Josh Beckett other guys are income aren't competitive situations still. Do you think those guys should get the event if if you if all things are equal should guys who were on better teams pitchers get the advantage over guys like ranking.

No one -- hope Michael would want our guys let's say yeah. Don't do those were were biased. You know this -- You know again and Amman Jordan vote ignored or wannabe but this guy if there's about a pitcher out there right now it's you'd be hard pressed to find. Because there's applause by and it's not just -- he's a little hiccup -- familiar but other that the sky news is the losers.

Did you have any any -- fortunately for you guys it's September and you're facing him for the first time. Well since you hadn't faced them did you have any thought that you don't maybe. Maybe he'll have problems matching up with the matching up against us and that we might have some success against has got.

We always feel that way. Mean piece of the second all the game for bubble all always still going to name her find a way to win them that's. But again as you -- progress in that game and that wonderful -- chance -- like just what happened while I was pretty special but no we never. Reflect up -- like our curtain between Willis what.

Joint Chiefs practice tell pioli was that I. Owe our thanks that. They are you are -- I'll man effects can throw them Nelson -- good call big game James maybe next time opera being selected for Ireland with Tito program Jason veterans want an overnight stay at Mohegan Sun. In has now entered to win the end of the season grand prize lunch at Fenway. With Terry in the dale and -- shield is that the -- page on WEEI dot com to submit your question your question for Terry. On with -- brought to you by Mohegan Sun a world that play. Terry Francona its proxy rockies' ace hardware stores the sweet spot all your home -- lawn care projects Rockies. Projects amplified. Miami insurance it's not just collier covered Michael target treated especially when you're in Kansas City hanging out with the Chiefs and and by big OT Terry Francona screen team of choice you're sitting in Scott Pioli office it's got released on -- pretty Scott Pioli -- listed. That's pretty cool and I know the appeal was there we -- we would've tried to lead Francona. He does some question where he could knock the crap about the appeal or the Chiefs -- that tennis any good at all -- I mean there -- in the world easy it is the -- wouldn't draft one of those guys because fantasy football team with yet.