Joe Buck, Fox Sports

The -- leadoff spot has brought to you by cute noble Mexican grill and made for real. Log -- of the dale and -- page on WEEI dot condor received today special lunchtime offer or text Q -- but. The 645336. Joining us in that leadoff spot. On Major League Baseball and NFL commentator play by play man on fox sports Joe Buck is -- us Joe it's -- Michael and Boston how --

I do regret it ever hit leadoff in my life so bear with.

Well what are you more like I clean -- number 23 guy.

I was kind of like it -- the -- guys nice job.

Cheerleader and let's start out by by talking about something near and dear to your heart your partnership within an organization called. Stand up to cancer and what Major League baseball's gonna do to help that.

Yeah -- MasterCard they're they're they're paired up with MLB yet it's it's exciting for me to talk about it I think everybody's been touched by cancer. It at some point in their life and it was something that took my father seven years ago and and so. -- kind of get the word out it was an easy yes and what they've done with MasterCard is they're donating a thousand dollars for every -- brought it during the policies and and that they gave to create a World Series there's going to be negative here banner and if a player to all but off that banner two billion dollars. -- really groundbreaking research and it's exciting because they're they're kind of bridging gaps and putting researchers and one part the world with researchers at another part of the world that -- we have otherwise probably would have never bat and and really making it different so if anybody wants to know more about that big go to stand. Up. To cancer that's number two cancer dot org and are more about.

Georgia said everybody has been touched by cancer and in some shape perform. When you said it's -- father what did you what did you learn about cancer well when you found out your father had what what were some of the things that that you hadn't realized before.

Well I mean first of all what you -- You get the call and you know my dad was my best friend in you know we were. Really close and when he called -- everywhere I was like capture anybody would receive -- were diagnosed with -- themselves or they found out alone brought had been. I was on vacation in Miami with my wife and he told me over the phone and he says it's going to be -- But you know why I ever want cancer and so that takes your breath away and then. You know just just his personal battle in the hospital percent of ponson does this stuff that we talked about along the way is is stuff -- equipment for the rest of my life and the most the majority otherwise just. Count on live your life because some point going to be Atlanta now like he was and and by then it's too late so go do what you want to do that was news. Great message that -- continues to be.

We are hip deep in the playoffs season in Major League Baseball if box gets. What TBS has had so far it's ninth inning comebacks left and right.

Which makes for exciting baseball -- people -- stood there are obviously upset that with good reason with what happened I was gone didn't expect that at all. For the Red Sox virtual even being in the situation and not getting out of it and it just don't expect them as a sure fans have there. The leader apple bought gonna get it done -- they're gonna come back somehow or whatever and and like Terry Francona said. You know there's there's just such an immediacy to it and it's like it it comes crashing to a halt in in the in the snap -- so. You know it's been -- watching this post season and who knows what's storm force in the ALCS -- the World Series.

And -- you know the cardinals better than anybody. How are people -- Saint Louis dealing with and another stunning loss mean they lost to the Dodgers and going into the post season. -- thought that the cardinals had the advantage. With carpenter and -- right at the top of that rotation. And then you see that the Matt -- game and that is really changed to see how our people analyzed in the series there.

you know like a true. People are Boston and I agree with -- I think most people bought the one too much of those two guys in the top corporate it was a great. Wait -- was but -- didn't hit and they didn't get the last marketed she's literally and they stumbled down the stretch. And they couldn't. Darted back -- and I I think there is something to the Dodgers being challenged by the Rockies at the end of the year at the capitol. Fight to keep that division and had to have a fight too to have the best record in baseball and the cardinals. We're just kind of -- so last month because the cubs were so -- and so because of that. You know they they kind of got walls into sent to security when it came time this -- to switch. They couldn't find it and and so consequently you don't hit you. -- sit and watch everybody else play the rest of the month the and that's what happened but it did --

Most of the time. -- when the Red Sox lose especially in the regular season we hear the the Red Sox win in spite of Terry Francona and they lose because of Terry Francona are wide and how we say. I think this type of the second guessing of managers happens in every city. I do -- do you think you find that's the case with total Russo who's obviously a great manager of people. Jump on La Russa and say you know costing the -- he's -- the cardinal games.

Absolutely and it's it's the easy place to point and I can only say if you're -- a pair I don't know anybody. I don't let the World Series I don't think anybody about come across it and LC Yasser World Series -- entertainment and egos and personalities. And injuries better than Francona did gulf war which was a -- for starters time there. And and I think he's you know I think he's right there at the top three managers in the -- Russa. Statistically is one of the best ever -- he can't escape the same effect but it's just a different world you know where everybody can share opinions and you know stuff catches fire on the Internet and gather all over the Russa for not pushing his team -- about the -- and they're being too uptight. Therefore they don't -- play well it's just it's easy stuff and you know if it's the end of the day appointee wouldn't want to loses sometimes just happens and it really is older they're so cute --

Is it possible -- that the technology which your network TBS has and brings to fans to enhance the telecast. In one way actually works against Major League Baseball will be umpires in this first round of the of the playoffs have had a hard time to begin with. And then TBS sticks that pitch tracks box on the bottom right hand corner and I think it just there's exacerbates what fans think about the umpires.

I agree and they don't like it trust. You're going to talk to the umpires and and that's the first thing they talk about. I think one of the best ways obviously not. Not for the height of the pitch put would you what gear at the metrodome but he could have that over. Coldplay chiding receive the ball over the plate about that it could look -- not. Always a 100% sure that the pitched practices is you know a 1000% accurate and so. Because about it it's an advancement I don't know what it tells you I don't know really what. At the end of the day of strike -- is just straight to predators behind the plate -- that matter what the graphics says so. You know they don't like it by itself tidbit did you know I guess we feel enhances our broadcast and so that we do.

Now having said that. The umpiring non balls and strikes in the AL BS in the NLD has left a lot to be desired.

Yeah and I you know I think now more than ever. We're -- you know technologically advanced world where you can slow things down frame by frame we see it and the NFL you see it it across the board and these guys are human and will make mistakes and fill 'cause he said you know why I'm not used to being out there and I think. Think there's some validity of you know he's not used to be that close to a ball down -- line. He used -- at -- it keeping your -- to -- it better vantage or perspective of it. Further away and he's blow at any that I blew the call and -- a big called blow because after that you know the Yankees went on -- the that would basically touched.

Won the championship series and nationally you've got the Dodgers and Phillies rematch. The American League obviously the angels and yankees. Would you like coming out of both leagues do I mean the World Series.

it's hard to to make. Some sort of prediction or but he also wants one. And that's how -- get in trouble anyway. They're a bit like January the Red Sox in -- somehow I think every team I really get every game. In Major League Baseball I think the Yankees in their current state are set -- the best to win at all now if they do. You know that they do I don't know the battle was works that way and and on the other side the -- angels spit at the yankees' number and you know they they have a manager -- did. Demands and command a lot of respect in Mike Scioscia. I think it's a really compelling series I would say you would probably lean toward the two teams don't field advantage. NC Nazis out please dial.

Very briefly turning our attention -- football before we let you go. Have you ever seen a bigger gap between the haves and the have nots in the NFL them what we've seen this year.

We're just talk about that earlier today I -- so clear cut and it seems like they're more really bad teams this year than there have been. In awhile and analytic Saint Louis that it was. Awful and you know they're they're now all of separate senate -- the best worst game but. But there's still weightless and then you know there's there's a few teams in the battle and then you've got all these teams that are undefeated like dense -- nobody expected it. You know it's that he's off to a great start Minnesota with far lot of good stories of their a lot of bad teams in the NFL this year.

Houses and -- you guys on Sunday you're entering Aikman. And I was -- does that sound like Aikman went to walk out of the Booth and spent -- that this is knocking at.

Yeah well I I think guys living in Dallas and and being Troy Aikman. You know people go to him for stuff they go to him he's he's kind of has to be. The mouthpiece for Tony Romo because of the situation and I think it. In other want to play away from I think major changes maybe even this week if they -- went back to America by a week. You know who knows what would have happened but they got the -- and so you know that washes away everything but. I I don't know how good they are have been I think clearly the -- to the best team in the NFC east and Phillies -- behind.

As bad as the St. Louis Rams are somebody actually wants to buy them is just the name that is causing the controversy. What what do you make of the Rush -- criticism before he has even put up some money to buy.

Well I I think -- I think it overshadows the other part of the picture which to me is is as a Saint Louis guy what Dave Checketts -- Dublin's saint Louis blues. Is commendable and I think he gets how to get the community back involved with their team and and that's what programs need. Rush Limbaugh almost polarizing figures in this country every people lot of people hate him there's there's not a whole lot in between. It's those that don't like him whenever he steps out likenesses they're gonna be loud and and I get it. You know all the ESPN stuff supported says Daly on the radio. Andy has just as many supporters are I think there's the downside of it is it overshadows jackets. Who I think for Saint Louis and for the NFL. -- that -- franchises that are struggling and that's one of I think he'd be a really good. Community oriented owner who wouldn't produce good picture that -- about ability to get the chance.

If you go to the website stand up to the number two cancer dot org. There's a video Larry Lucchino write on page one which you can get all the information. Joe Buck helping get the word out for standup -- cancer and what they're doing to help raise funds we really appreciate you taking time to join us and good luck in the playoffs all right you guys thank you thanks -- of our -- Joe Buck from fox sports joining us. -- Sports Radio.