Dave O'Brien, Red Sox Broadcaster

Red Sox play by play announcer Dave O'Brien joins us on the dale and holly leadoff spot brought to you by Q double Mexican grill and made for real. Log onto the dale and -- page on WEEI dot com to receive today's special lunchtime whopper or text -- but QB OB eight. The 645336. Good morning mr. O'Brien let this be your morning wake up call.

Until do you guys have already been out of three hours I'm sitting here might give me and a couple coffee here that --

That visual I just gotta I I I just don't need divisional our company on accept are actually Dave I'm in treatment -- to a lot.

What kind of Jamie you have at the foot seed -- to what but this was superheroes on there too.

011 of the Sox logo on a -- one -- you know what they do my own artwork sort of picture might get on the other 49 -- wobbly.

It before like before -- get into Red Sox Angels which will do in a moment. Tom Caron was on the big show yesterday. And he put the over under at three games before Dennis Tankersley goes over the table and punches David -- in the knows what it will wherever I'm. At bat.

that cut -- about right that's not the vote right -- you talked about you know two guys. Love to do nothing more than to eat on the baseball field and in May be some of that goes on the broadcast Booth through but I I I think it's very independent.

So Dave are are we gonna have a repeat of 2004. And 2007. And 2008. In this division series between the Sox and Angels.

Well let me know you do you have spoken to everybody about this series already and -- I didn't know what everybody thinks secretary rows upon maturity of the day in and out -- pick in the Angels but. The Red Sox are so firmly in the Angels. If you guys know this is true I swear they hear Terry Francona about Mike -- and at the pillow. It is no questions these last three division series losses. Are torturing Scioscia he felt certain he had a superior club and only. And but it is partly due to social may be over managing in the ninth inning of game four. With the -- either morality has doubled then you know lead off the inning and they call the suicide squeeze that spot that they lose that series. Mike can talk all he wants about. They're being different scene you're going back to -- oratory honored as the wanna talk about you know who was on last year's team and what that means for this year. But if you look at it in -- seven in no way they all played the same way it would -- the Red Sox they played extremely tight. Which is not believing angel's place -- the psychology and business is fascinating Bible has look at it this last night. The last two years the last two -- current losses against the Sox. Figgins. Vlad he -- he'd morality Rivera -- Barr Weaver Napoli. All of those guys to the scene -- to the Red Sox are speaking in this series for the third general for the personnel with a a couple of key changes and -- one of them. Has essentially remain the same I don't know how -- the Red Sox.

We are talking about one of those -- classic newspaper things where. You know Sean McCadam doesn't herald today the series match up first base and you got you -- and Morales and where do you give the edge and he's got an even. In the managing match up he's got it even and and we're trying to figure routes objectively as much as we can't why it would be even.

I don't think -- would be in in my estimation mobilized I think Mike's social marvelous manager and he's won a World Series. All Terry Francona has that the critics say look updated eight World Series games in my life that could have won every single one of them. And I also applicable people will that this is the best the first round here so all managers. Have great weapon and made up of all the others series you will not like two clubs of this caliber we've talked in depth. -- one scoring ability I think manager's ability as well. No other series has as many game breakers we really think about it you -- a true well -- victor. And on their side of honor that -- Guerrero and morality and they get. The level of play. When they meet -- off so I know what people are talking about it is very little separation that might come down to manager's decision. Six of the nine regular season meetings were decided by one run. And it if you guys -- great fire great energy. I don't think they like each other very much all of these teams that always adds another element that thing. But in the end it might come down to which manager. It decides to introduce himself into the series a little more than the other guy -- so should it last year and I thought Mike. Probably -- huge mistake in that game four but by introduce yourself and -- was spot that Terry Francona would never do in a million years. I think you have to give people yet.

The day we're talking about managers probably a half hour before you came on. And you know at one guy who said you know Terry Francona is a moron he says he does have a good team he's lucky. From from your from your experience and and just being around Major League Baseball all the teams. What do you think makes a manager good.

Knowing your personnel it knowing his guys in what they're capable of and putting them in that situation to succeed in you know I think that's what the Red Sox have been so successful under -- doesn't ask guys to do things that that they wouldn't normally do. I'm not that. That that. Suicide squeeze when it was something that the Angels wouldn't normally do with the question. You do it in that spot. And I think he don't know who's who eat half and and I think so does by the way La Russa and so does Joe Torre. When you're talking about the great managers I think he goes is among the info best managers in the game today that's the separation from me. The other thing is just to be honest with his players and in being honest with himself in what the organization. It's another thing that Tito's great that he he doesn't try to over sell anybody if he doesn't under sell anybody in Indian -- one on one meetings. He levels were their but he doesn't throw anybody under the spot you're a Michael you know this is as well as anybody better than most. That's one of the things that Francona uses. Two as a weapon I guess you could say to be successful. Our guys will play for a manager like that may be a little bit harder than they'll play for a guy who has earned him publicly.

I'm guessing without asking you this that you're probably fairly confident in what you'll see out of Jon Lester in tonight's start for the Red Sox. I'm also assuming may be in correctly so that your less confident about the next two starting pitchers -- a look at them.

Well I think you're right -- I think that. You know Lester did it last year you know we we -- forget about it keep it gave one last year insult -- good to replicate beat them -- He's a left hander he can manage their running game a little bit easier than -- and a little bit more than that cliff Buchholz. Others fascinated and you've got to see which version of Beckett. Shows up or we can receive a power pitcher who might you know rack up some early strike outs and and through innings in just overmatched the Angels. Or the guy that we have seen over the last six or seven weeks. With them not below that and Clay Buchholz. What all the home run that he's allowed in the last couple of outings which were shocked me and in you know look at his numbers before that he Hartley gave up all run. I'm really gonna be interested to -- which like -- shows up for per game number three. The other thing the other factor is and he doesn't talk about it the stolen bases in exactly what that means. We almost Sox give up a lot of steal the Tampa Bay's Rangers Angels and Yankees. But but how many runs does that produce in the end. The Angels what's -- fifteen. Against the Red Sox during the regular season series they won the -- spot before. But they never spoke first base wants that and frankly if if Ortiz doesn't goal for seven. And stranded twelve base runners and that one run loss back in May in twelve innings and and on the Red Sox win these series so. You wonder can really means that much having decadent -- apt to throw all the more frequently. But being -- probably a lot of bases against the Sox in only two. And they beat Boston eight out of nine during the regular season but in the division series I check it yesterday that stole only two bases in four games. And they lost the season series. And in the -- seventh the Sox LB Angels 20192. Batting average in the division series. So the five stolen bases really didn't mean that auction. I it is a real debate and baseball and and really this is -- on on some time after the repeat and recent days that the stolen base really merit that much is it really worth -- Is -- worth more for example that we think we're less than we. And the in the end it's all about how well Lester and Beckett prevent it figgins and Abreu and honor -- are reaching first base.

Dave I'm curious. To see what will happen in the other series that they the Yankee in the in the America -- got to say. I think the Yankees are gonna have their way with the twins but. I got a little us soft spot for the twins. Because it honors small market team in the way they won one game playoff the other night what do you think of that series and you think the Yankees -- just. Are too talented to be --

Yet it easier to sweep that series I have very little doubt we saw yesterday the Yankees sort of just. You know it all behind it and in this sort of like a snake in the grass that is sort of laying there and all of a sudden. They they rise up and rip your head often without offensively. What does that now they're all for eighty give the Yankees for the season including last night division series defeat. I just don't think they can be competitive against new York and I have a -- gave -- he's in the fact the twins Tigers game. Pat at Detroit for ESP it and then and you're looking at that lineup without more know what you're thinking. How on earth are they do they're really relying on to a three guys were ultra hot. -- the popular one of those guys obviously Joe -- that just -- want forever Colorado proved that last year or two years ago. When it fizzled in the World Series and I try to compare the twins the -- nine that the Colorado. 07 eventually it's gonna come to an end and the Yankees -- hammered.

Think I saw the stat yesterday that the twins roster. Has nine guys who -- PS pluses below league average. -- you can't win what do.

talent wise I mean it is it the tremendously well managed in the there's a perfect example talking about. Rod Gardner. Buried in Minnesota. But I think he lobs that he can play the mad scientist role with the lineup and a lot of that line of people on because the economics of the game and market site that. You know what you're talking about Nick Punto and Denard -- lot of guys that did anybody could -- Who are playing regularly in Carolina and they really only had two true stars on it's amazing you've got it was a shock.

Can Miguel Cabrera salvage and resurrect his career in Detroit.

What a great question. You know and I wonder what kind of feedback you getting from fans let you know 6 o'clock in the morning. The morning that one -- an excuse me one of the great. Series of the season was huge series of the season. One of the most important times of his career. And he is loaded beyond all get out. And and arguing and fighting with -- wife apparently in police and ball and Dave Dombrowski that -- come down to the police stations and and take his star player. I don't know -- in and to be honest with -- that might be it trade waiting to happen because. You know opening day next year or whatever the Tigers open I don't know they opened at all more on -- whenever they want at Comerica Park again. You know he's gonna get absolutely crushed he's gonna take a full brunt of the blame for their collapsed. 7 game lead at the end of the first week of September. You just don't lose that and you know three games with Ford played in your star player is absolutely drunk out of his mind. I don't know -- recovery is a great talent does real well put. What you did a tremendous mistake that may well cost them.

Even with all that baggage Dave do you think the Red Sox will be interest and and a guy like that.

I think anybody would be I think anybody would period gathered there's. There's some evidence that he's had some issues in the past but you know with with counseling -- with with proper care and I'm sure they're gonna try to do that. And salvage his career in Detroit. Oh boy what -- get he would be used uses spectacular injuries and Albert Pujols type of hitter. That he's -- changer not just -- your user game changer and and I normal little bit in Florida and I I thought he was a great -- you know he was only twenty years old. -- Maybe hasn't matured maybe that's his problem. You know the Tigers have have tried to save the career Dontrelle Willis and I don't know that's gonna happen. You know it's situations like that may be at its best to move on but I do know this about Dave Dombrowski and having worked with paper about ten years in Florida. You can do everything he can't hold onto that he would and it and it it just becomes you know too much pressure and against an attempt to much if you will deal. I have no doubt about that that if the fans will let them up but this I don't hope -- well.

Dave the last time we had you on we were criticized. Partially. By an. About Vince Scully they character Vin Scully a first time we had you lot and then they wanted some more so you gotta give me some van -- every time we -- yeah I guess about the gives them give us some Vin Scully but he got.

Just -- heard the other today and somebody re plated very briefly. And it it was kind of crackling through the transistor radio but it was it was just finishing up. You know a pitch that and -- fact that -- and I still localize the the best line I think he ever at. -- One out away from a -- they gave at Dodgers stadium. Not -- 37 in this City of Angels. -- Dodgers stadium must -- though. Loneliness place in the world.

I think about it now. I listen that his goaltending now and a but let's go to Britain's Kelly fighting out that -- tested positive part that -- got.

World -- streaky -- that total fool. The world is filled with full -- immediate I.

you in -- have a great time men and and will see what you guys come back here next week thanks as always for taken a few minutes.

I don't Mike thanks so much so like you guys have.

Okay okay if they -- at is that Dave O'Brien Red Sox play by play voice. And world famous Vin Scully imitator.