Manager's Show

Welcome to our network studios and welcome to the Herb Chambers BMW pre game show my name is John Rich. The Red Sox and Angels are about to become the final two teams to begin their division series with game one in Anaheim tonight. Boston has eliminated the Angels in each of their or post season meetings 19862000. Or 2007. And again in 2008 tonight. -- Jon Lester on the mound opposite John Lackey. Now let's get the latest from the manager Terry Francona has brought do you -- big OT Terry Francona is green team choice here's Dave O'Brien.

Okay John thank you very much and you know here it is game one against the Angels in the Sox have been here since Monday night as it felt like you've been here about a month. Whoa better couple days and I'm glad we did go you know them move the flight I was long. We had a day to get -- Alexander's. Workout picked up the pace will be at yesterday's workout. And not knowing you know I just think we we use good thing we did the right thing by coming. Is it difficult and incidental to manage those couple of days where virtually nothing is going -- but as you say you picked up the temple the work out. He had knowledge and and some people compared to the All-Star break is really not. Because we have the ability to have an optional workout Monday before we traveled and into mandatory -- the last couple days so even though we had played a game we've had -- three days ago. The familiarity of this series obviously third year in a row it's the Red Sox and Angels. Is it worked Huard manage would you rather play somebody else if for no other reason that that would be a little more interest think where is this just great baseball and you don't care -- I think it's pretty good baseball. If the only reason by somebody else who's not good that we respect how good they are. How good they can be. And we're gonna have to be at our best to beat them we know it. Got off to a great start here last year. It was Jon Lester who tossed a -- for we need beat them four to one obviously you would expect the same or hope for the same guy I again. Good pitching as a way of making you look like good team whether Lester back and weren't able them we know. And of course clay buckles in game -- the -- about some of the roster moves that were necessary. And begin with Rocco Baldelli that's a loss for the ballclub to not have rocket right -- and we gave we gave it every chance possible we we waited actually rentals morning. I guess we'll see you there miraculous recovery. Probably knowing what was gonna happen. Because that right now about wanted to give the chance but it just wasn't. Obviously with their lefties and in the left hander in the -- Lleyton games that -- made a big difference in though who fills that hole for well now we have. We have Anderson and gathright balls on the roster. We -- be going to pinch run do some things like that try to use the legs but you're right broncos' presence is that right in -- bat will will be missed. I just saw Paul Byrd riding the exercise -- kid in the clubhouse. Paul was one that was like his kind of on the fence whether or not you'd use -- we're not taken for the rusty decided to yet it was Manny Delcarmen. When the car accident didn't help -- progression in knocked him back a few days there was a lot of unknowns so we decidedly marked the first series and -- birdie on. Gives some morning -- Dice-K so we -- problem. -- we losing one games bad enough but it should never -- next game. -- how about some housekeeping stuff and Mikey lol in particular. How did he come back from the shot in the hip in your estimation -- well. It is like night and day from last year there's a row last year talk and reminder before god I think and houses got Hindus. Now is on the hustling and I think he feels good -- themselves. You went all three in this series and really struggled through at physically it was it was unfair fact -- doctors testament to him because he should about there. Looking at how these games unfold obviously have been able steal bases against the Red Sox they've had a -- fifteen out of seventeen. But is that sort of thing a little bit overrated in baseball as far as what the stolen base gets you when the end well again they -- every team not just us if -- again it depends sometimes more -- others in. If their own base and they're still -- it's almost brought -- are going right for us. Their time will probably elect not to. Defended as much as maybe people would like because of the home run is more important missile base but again it's something they do if you're. Will you be throwing over more frequently changing things in. And trying to maintain their running game control their running game or will we essentially not see any difference while noggin and we don't want we're not gonna you know tell them what we're doing. But with Lester on the money has a good move he handles running game very well and they're gonna have to pick some first moved to go on him because of his move. Well they're obviously an outstanding ball club a very good road team have been a terrific home team. They go first to third maybe better than anybody on base is. That everybody has a handful of the Angels that's the biggest thing I think more missile bases are terrible legal first there you -- keep to go play in order if the ball has any year under from the office they take that extra base. Those things we've really made our guys where is that your number one concern going into the series. While there's a lot of concerns mean again when the balls -- veteran imports posted but there's a reason they want some of the games because -- good ball the ball park. And we were on the bases that -- pits they do laughing as well. They were great games I thought during the regular season and and I -- you watch games differently than the rest of us but from a fan standpoint. This is probably the best division series of the Ford on Tuesday and again I hope I hope -- you know you don't know they have a lot of good players there's a reason -- they've won. As many games they have I think -- like we have a lot of good players so. Hopefully you'll see a lot of Chris baseball and from our side -- 11 better. And -- expecting close hard fought games I guess six out of a nine during the regular season were decided by one run now wouldn't surprise again you never know what happened but it would this. Tito thanks good luck tonight in game one of the division series thanks David as Terry Francona let's toss it back to John --

Thank you David. Terry Francona is brought to you by Bigelow team Terry Francona is green -- of choice. And by -- TNT throughout the 2009 playoffs make sure you check out WEEI dot com on your mobile device for up to the minute news and stats powered. By ET NT. Switched the nation's fastest Prejean at work AT&T. Your world -- also be sure to check -- you can do that it Sox -- dot com. Still the -- catch up to date in both National League game twos will highlight Boston's trip for the playoffs that's on the inside pitch coming up next. WEI dot com rob Bradford -- Alex spear on the clubhouse insider. This is the Herb Chambers BMW pregame show. On the WER Red Sox radio network.