Clubhouse Insider

It's the Red Sox and Blue Jays from Fenway this is the Herb Chambers -- ever -- pregame show when it's time for the clubhouse insider WEEI dot com's rob Bradford. Back home after a long road trip than with seven games remaining in the regular season there is no shortage shortage of story lines here at Fenway beginning with a man who was supposed to be in the mound tonight. Josh Beckett has been scratched with -- what they're calling mild.

that -- we show up today we basically think the biggest thing we have to worry about is where the gonna celebrate potentially that if the Rangers lose tonight Red Sox went. By as we got here we understood that Josh Beckett wasn't gonna make you stars because of soreness. The upper left part of his back which was encouraging in the sense that it's not the right part of his backwards throw from. And it's something that he's been dealing with for awhile Terry Francona said in. He probably won't make this turn through the rotation could potentially pitch Saturday said he could pitch if needed today. So by you're getting this close to the playoffs anything like this are going to be very very cautious with. The fact -- then also that he's been dealing with this for awhile now it doesn't really say okay this is alarmist I think this is like isn't bleak. Last time. It's just something they they wanna make sure that they nip and a -- in the bottle little bit and he's Josh Beckett had reference. Something like this basically when I talked on Baltimore saying. I have aches and pains that's why this extra days so important in this turned out to be what that was well you know. He does say okay he could pitch in the playoffs we watched him pitch in the playoffs last year and it doesn't necessarily mean he can pitch like. They need Josh Beckett -- so does the fact that he could take the -- might not necessarily be enough but did you just. Alluded to this is something that has been with him at least to some degree for a little while. He's been an inconsistent pitcher for a little while yeah I think today he was bumped and bruised more than people knew him like he said when he talked about to happen next day how important was how he was banged up he -- specific but clearly this was that when he's coming back on the plane ride back from New York. He couldn't get comfortable. That's -- couple -- so -- you know what this real back it's not worth going through this but still he's the he had been dealing with this he had been pitching -- last couple starts and pitching fairly decently. But if you have this luxury where you can go in the playoffs and resting guys we've talked about this many times you gotta use it and this is a perfect example. Jon Lester threw today by all accounts the reports on his bullpen session Mark -- he's gonna make his next scheduled start. Which after Josh Beckett or equal with Josh Beckett has to be the two biggest story lines as the postseason approaches it's really. That's really faster -- as we're going into the playoffs here. That's how important these over the next two weeks these guys are going to be in terms of monitoring their physical status Lester but he talked to him today he says it all systems ago he had a good bullpen session nothing the ordinary. He was a little weary like what was gonna happen in terms of when he got out there when you start throwing. But he felt like everything went very very well plans on making his next start so that there's one doubt I guess the next month to find out is what just back that's been happening them. And we're also waiting to see now how Mike Lowell feels after a couple of days off the shot in his hip earlier today. And again this must be a case of timing timing was perfect for him to do this take some time off. And then ramp back up gas I was escort for the pitchers before now I get the -- get -- the hitters didn't. It was Michael all it's one of these things where he had been feeling not great not anywhere near as bad as he was back in June. When he had that this investments in this shot before. So he approached Terry Francona about last Thursday -- you know might not be a bad idea get the shot out the way. Coaching kind of go into the playoff field a lot better feel like he did after get the shot before. So they did have a shot today it was mostly through invests with to boot duplicating -- of the used before in some -- And so he'll probably take the next three games off and they get right back at -- he has no reservations about playing in the playoffs yes these very optimistic about how he's gonna feel. Coming off -- how he felt before when it's similar shot he also had some fluid taken out which was the case last time. Not as much as last time but -- that with a huge part of in getting back to where he felt good last time so I think it was an encouraging thing not alarming thing but encouraging thing from Michael standpoint. Because he saw the effect of what happened before. And -- pretty optimistic going reports like the every 3000 -- will it is exactly that's exactly the last of the injury updates but Nick Green we're still trying to figure out who's going to be the backup middle infielder come postseason time if you were counting out Nick Green don't do so at least not a -- yeah I mean if you make three feels like he. According to Terry Francona feels like he can come back and played couple days he's still feel the effects of the the jetlag or that this problem whatever it is. And after doing little -- the running today to exercise -- I think that what they get out of he's improving that he feeling better. And you just have to be cautious because you say you know nick Reid won't feel that you played a couple days but decree also wants to be on the playoff roster mean this is a guy who made it through the entire year here when -- was Emeka spring training. And should get a huge amount of credit report so you want to make sure that he's in the right physical frame of mind. In terms of getting ready for the playoffs and is going to be a viable wild guy. Once you get there -- not a guy who's gonna breakdown and that's what again another thing that they have to check in on this week.

Our rob thanks as always we'll talk is based on. If you missed any part of that conversation you can spot and online at WER dot com just click on audio on demand. The WEEI dot com SP a lot of nonsense coverage interview was brought to you by -- alive when you want low cost life insurance with no hassle and no nonsense you wanna be alive and no nonsense like insurance company. Right now it's time for the Red Sox trivia questions sponsored by KGB. Who recorded the final out of the 2004 World Series. Of the answer later in the show but if you like the answering immediately text that question or any other to KGB KGB which is 5425421. Your wireless phone. And the KGB -- have the answer for you -- seconds KGB's they answer to you. All the way we've got our trip around the major leagues up next Jon Lester on the inside pitch this is the Herb Chambers -- over submarine pre game show. On the WEEI Red Sox radio network.