Dale and Holley Opening Segment

While I would in the yesterday saying that it was a crucial important game for the Red Sox. So I'm not now in the aftermath of -- five nothing loss gonna pretend that it wasn't crucial and important because I thought it was going in. I think it is coming out. The chances of the Red Sox winning this series the -- pretty dramatically for me after last night's performance so you don't think the Red -- are gonna win the series now say that I said. Chances of them winning of gone down a lot firm that is on the offense obviously and of course it's on the -- made up their -- what they they. They lost game one of this year of a five game series so obviously the chances went down well and and and an end their -- lost. They got shut out by a guy who they have had great playoff success against in the past his confidence levels got to be out well.

What's it all right I'm I want to slow down on that first on on the great success against Lackey in the past if you look at Lackey. Versus the Red Sox he has not been bad. Lately he's had some pretty bad performances at Fenway Park but -- had some great performances have been way too. It -- when Josh Beckett basement 2007 he was not bad. But Beckett was great. In in 2008 when when Lester faced him he was not bad. But Lester was very good and last night it was a turnaround Lester was not bad last night wasn't it Jon Lester you expect.

The C four hits three runs -- innings technically equality day sorry wasn't bad but. But John Lackey was great last night I was I was watching the nests and post game show with with -- and rights and Tom Caron and and and and -- said it -- as you know he's up there thrown 919293. And you're thinking to yourself but you're watching you know they should be. Not in the sky around you know he doesn't have stuff that the -- all well and whether or not hit him. But his movement was great he was he was using both sides of the plate very well. He doesn't he doesn't have anything that's overpowering but what he has was pretty good --

It's only as good he's a good pitcher as the said yesterday and we had any Miller wrote and and and took exception with this this and he's a classic number two when he is a when he's a free agent. He's gonna make a lot of money he'll be in your your numbers used number two starter and a very effective number two starter. Compared him to. Mike Mussina Mike Mussina light but I'll say this is the best they've gotten my opinion. And I know what I know what -- done this year and -- would Joe Saunders has done here analyst Scott Kazmir has done in the past against the Red Sox. But I think he is their best guy and I believe the Red Sox have taken angel's best shot it that the best shot and they went down. Can -- come back and in this thing. -- to Fenway Park 11.

I know there was a lot of talk yesterday. Based on false scoops. That you know Varitek was gonna catch tonight and and you know wide as Beckett have to have that crotch to hold on to.

That was set by the village idiot that was at the village idiot threw that out there I mean you -- to count. You know ready to fight today -- the -- of fight you wanna fight what does weaken fight with you that was stupid comment. There's no way in hell. That Jason Varitek was gonna catch game to level. What do people think this was all about the last 23 weeks of the regular why did they go out of their way to make sure the Victor Martinez yeah but each of the starters at least twice it's the playoffs it's the playoffs is anybody's still on the they've got to placate Jason Varitek program have been paying attention. This is victor Martinez's team when it comes to the playoffs when -- the when it comes to the catching position in the playoffs is victor Martinez's team this.

This team was shot out last night you could not justify. A day after having four hits brain and a guy who who it under 200 in the second half Susan as you're starting catcher that would be stupid so.

Stricter Martinez is gonna -- to -- that yeah -- it it doesn't make sense that didn't make -- yesterday in makes less sense today. And and media sources tours actually in Anaheim a reporting in fact that. Victor Martinez will catch tonight now you -- enough guys who weren't kidding. -- you know vent your rap on the top five guys in the lineup top four guys in the lineup went like one -- teen. You know David Ortiz had a three strikeout night. Mike lol well I see I can't get started on that beacons. Because it's just gonna lead me to places that you get mad when I go there go ahead don't go there -- that they don't like that is the good that is the worst umpiring crew. In the history of Major League Baseball and if they actually think that they can justify. In what is supposed to be a meritocracy. If they can justify. Stick in that bunch a pump these out on the field for a playoff game. That I have no hope for Major League Baseball or Mike port -- is a great guy that's a joke. Well yeah -- care and that's fine magic. Yeah they were they were bad last night had no -- some effect on the game had no effect on. The score now it didn't have any effect on the scoring it's certainly up Jon Lester pitch count -- Ridiculously -- that he was so mad about. What he perceived to be called third strike and should've at a called third rate -- your -- great camera work reduce slightly the commissioner -- and I cussing. It did the whole idea on war -- you know she talks without movement or T. You know Estonia and he was cuts and without moving his without moving his -- with a three let's see this is where -- goal with a okay. That inept both open at first base is your home plate umpire CB -- He is your home plate umpire tonight with a volatile Josh Beckett on the mound. And the Red Sox already thinking this guy his head is screwed up a game they're not blaming him for the loss I'm not saying that they're not saying that. He was inept. And he's going to be the guy calling balls and strikes them.

Well you can't make that you can use as an excuse he can't go into the game saying. Oh we got CB -- and we got no chance he's a -- you know is about umpire and you try to figure out. -- like what like with at any other umpire good or bad. You try to figure out where they're gonna go and you hope there's some consistency. If if if he consistently calls balls strikes and you can figure out why he's doing it will you -- with that. It if he's calling you think.

Iran is throwing left right right some last no. And an -- if your -- picture. And by the way both sides I'm not trying to say that he favored one side -- the other. If you're either John Lackey or or last night in you know with with Jon Lester could to figure out what his strike zone.

I can't -- got to take advantage of you just got you have to you can't go into a game they can about the umpires you just can't do it -- they they screwed up. You know 234 times last night that into the catcher's interference that you. Well -- and and that's you know T and -- ball they're too by the way all let's go to break carry it all up all day but when when you saw the replay it was a sort of see it.

but I've got -- and there was no argument there because evidently when and from what I read this morning when Scioscia came out to argue it. The catcher said yeah I got my bluff yet so you know the argument was over. I mean why the hell it takes Joe west that amount of time the call. It's a pretty simple call your --

Under temperatures executed what you mean Matta I think he should give -- talk radio's great. But but the reason the reason I kind of shy away from umpiring talk -- because. It goes down a path where it doesn't need ago. The story last night. There a couple of stories last night one. John Lackey was great that's number one story two of the Red Sox. Gave you the feeling that they couldn't score run if they played eighteen and not let it nowadays are not close to did do -- anything in pretty. Let me get an explanation from. -- from Jon Lester on this just in terms of his approach. Two to Bobby Abreu now Bobby Abreu is a CIA they decided to pitch around I don't I don't get that and about I'd say they felt they could get -- But but they weren't gonna a lot of break I wonder if it's that it's a question I have and I wonder if somebody asked Jon Lester that last night he walked him three times. Bobby Abreu is a good player and he was a bargain. For the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to give him for one year five million dollars. He's not a guy. If I -- Jon Lester visibility. Is again trying to pitch around. If you Wacom you lose -- once okay. But to walk him three times it seemed like he was being very careful when Bobby Abreu. And I had to understand why.

Yeah I. I'm sorry how does a guy who scares me more than Bobby Abreu actually it seemed to me that they went into it with -- area with a game plan. That we're not gonna -- Abreu beat us now first ball he's very patient he's got a good command of the strike zone. If you could figure out strikes on -- last night. But he just wasn't gonna give in -- were trying to get -- chased up in it it was almost like Daisuke. Pitching against the Braves -- I'm not gonna from a strike because I don't wanna hurt me.

So when you say right so you say you know Jon Lester you know six innings four walks. Yes but it didn't feel like that way at the rest of the lineup after IKEA a grass. Of what he was trying to do up elegant handle and everybody. That we came to Bobby Abreu he just took a different approach. A -- agree with that that was the case now it's just one of those things you're not getting the ball over trying to make pitches. And the pitches and the balls are going where you wanted to go okay you understand that's that's pitching that's ports. But it seemed a lot more exaggerated and that seemed like they were. They were afraid of him. And I would never be afraid of Bobby Abreu he respectively which are not afraid of that makes it may --

I and I agree with I look I I think the Braves have terrific offensive player. And and it does seem that and I and I haven't looked up yet this morning would raise career numbers are against Lester. Need to look to me like the game plan wise. He's not gonna -- I can get under I know they fielding yet let your Guerrero I know they think past. As it turned out now. I think that it because they were so careful with the break you. Almost in frustration. Lester leaves the ball up in the strike zone to the next hitter Torii Hunter that ends up on the rock pile. You know it if I could sense his frustration I can't get him at chase at every count is three and two and I'm losing nominees walk and and then you know maybe out of frustration maybe out of lack of concentration. He leaves a pitch up to it to hotter that he just hammers.

And it it was big that that Torii Hunter did that editorial matter is that guy he is. I mean you get the sense that he's their cheerleader he's the guy who who has taken it upon whose shoulders to -- on his shoulders to. Get rid of some of the negative energy than negative karma that the angels have when it comes to the Red Sox he's been very outspoken about it. He's the guy who turns the camera at that point. Like it was going to be an upset if the Red Sox got two or three run to let the game was over. Right there and it just felt it felt like that kind of game I didn't see. I just couldn't envision any any scenario which the Red Sox. Put together a couple runs in one inning and then a run here to force extra innings -- thought. It was not -- night and give all the credit to John Lackey but. I think they do is gonna win the series no I don't -- from the start that it was going to be the Red Sox -- four. And and whether it's four games or five games. They they will win this year.

I do wanna go back to one comment about the umpiring how I thought it could've made a difference in the game that I camp. You go to the sixth inning runners on first and second Youkilis at the plate. And and Lackey looks like he's losing a little bit okay little while he walked Kevin Youkilis. And Joe west saved John Lackey. By another one of those calls that their little pitch track thing show was clearly outside he walked him. West saved him Youkilis made an out now I don't know what would have happened especially considering the fact that he had an awful -- struck out three times. But it David Ortiz comes up in that situation now the bases are loaded Lackey is already kind of steeped I'm sensing he start to lose that little bit. I wonder if the game changes and and it Joe west strike zone that Lewis and Clark couldn't.

Abbott yeah you're right you're right -- changed Evelyn -- not a not a great night for the umpires. I wondered but it wouldn't it if it would have made a difference and went to December just happens to shoot here from the heavens this is unbelievable. Like other I don't know that this studio it's not a minute if I'd be in my Dionte. I saw you talking and this object. -- And it wasn't spit and -- were -- and sometimes but.

Well I don't know what it was sounds incredible we'll take -- very quick break ninety seconds only welcome back here and set the rest of the scene for you. Obviously it's a patriots Friday were at Gillette Stadium. If I can pretty much guarantee one of our patriots Friday guys won't be here. I don't think we'll talk to Fred Taylor and I don't think so -- upset -- we do but Dan Koppen and Logan -- will be with us will talk to them later on we'll take very quick break up the rest of it for you here on Sports Radio WE yeah.