Jon Tomase

Sports radio -- 50 WE EI -- holly broadcasting live from city of palms park here in beautiful sunny Fort Myers, Florida. Although -- the weather forecast says it's going to be cloud in the next few days and I'm disappointed for these four folks or staying here as Willie. We got home today and joining us up here in our era are lovely broadcast location at the ballpark is well interestingly enough. Kenny gives us double duty here because we talked baseball -- talk about why all he's he's here to give us both perspectives you know I think that's why came down -- replace Drew sort of -- Red -- a and he talk a little football and baseball John Tomas in Boston herald is what it's good -- What's gone on to say that that nick Carter is my hero. And that's -- double duty here. Nick of part over here today did the based on the football. Wasn't very nice upbringing for you -- sudden yesterday we were joking last night nick the -- made the trip to -- covered the game drove back. And then was here for the Curt Schilling simulated outing last -- that's a word here that is that's too much. -- that mean it's really too much you know it's certain things just don't want to do -- at you know you don't want to be known is that guy you know does he ever. That's his job but -- you move weird it's going to take a walk anything like that doesn't like it goes without them. Them look like either. Island -- baseball first because that's why world down here and and your thoughts and impressions of what you've seen since you've been down.

Yeah I I think the one thing that's really jumped out of me having not been around him and so now is watching guys Kate just carry himself. Dated today it would Japanese news media swarming him everyday and all the attention on him. And you you know you can just tell sometimes you look at a guy may have it. He just seems to have it he's real relaxed he's always got a smile -- it doesn't seem like the pressure's getting to him that's been the most eye opening thing for me.

Well one guy who does have it and we we wonder if people continue to have it this year and next year's Curt Schilling had a simulated game last night. Where did you come down on the should you give -- a contract extension or not debate.

I was on the Red Sox on on this one because a they're the Red Sox they have more money than god so if you pay him now. Then -- pay him 13 million dollars now and he goes out and gets Carter has a bad year you're out 13 million that's -- vigorous. If you don't do that and he has a great year what are you going to have to pay him 1516 million even 18 million. That extra five million you can swallow for the for the being content in the knowledge that he's help in coming off the good.

Let me -- the counter arguments not mine actually actually hit my I have -- are actually hit the counter argument is he has a great season. It won't be a one year contract for 15161718 million as you say it might be a two year deal or or possibly three year deal then --

Love and you know what you have Jon Lester who by all accounts is making a great come back from what happened -- last off season. I you have some young options -- pitching if Curt Schilling has to walk away in his 40s as great as he was here bloody sock competitor all that stuff. I you can cut the -- with him and you can move on with a Jon -- in -- and you still have fallen 20 somethings -- Nice today and Beckett and papelbon so I think they've set themselves up implicit clay buckles of other guys come along in the pipeline. They have set themselves up that if Curt Schilling walks away they can handle. We -- having this discussion yesterday about starting rotation here for the Red Sox knowing full well that it's march 14 then we don't know all of this. But just impressions your thoughts on how this rotation shapes up right now yeah I mean that the one question in Terry Francona mention it last night and they've made no secret of it. Is you have a couple of guys in their 40s and last year we solid -- injuries we went from an embarrassment of riches of the pitching staff to scrambling to fine people start after the Bronson Arroyo trade. So I think the big thing is Wakefield and Schilling -- they stay healthy. They probably won't mean invade the odds are not in their favorite each make 35 starts so -- the question is do you have enough in reserve and certainly Leicester is an option Kyle Snyder's an option. Looking beyond those guys I like the front three like the I like exits -- like the other three guys the young guys -- Daisuke he did get knocked around a little bit in his last start but back has been so good overseas for so long. You know MVP of the World Baseball Classic on that kind of stuff. I think he's the real deal Beckett has to be better than it was last year -- and they were there were positives lesser of the 200 innings the win total on that kind of stuff. And then papelbon I still think -- month closing personally so I guess we'll see well what what happens there.

Well maybe answered my next question perhaps you did you've been down here for a few days. Have you found a closer for this team you know the Red Sox them now and -- today it's going to be Brandon -- like sad like to be Brendan -- as the man has gets. That's why I'm on the part of -- at all you need he's got other stuff to admit there are several males in this press -- that other. Part of the academy that you were reference does that mean that we're all qualified to be closer you know.

Because there's some stuff to back it up as well you know that I mean they're big guy he's coming off not the best here -- certainly and he was pitching a lot of mop up which he didn't like in Anaheim but he still has decorate slider which is what he's made his bread and butter on he admits that the fastball isn't quite what it was before but I look at him out of the guys if timlin is not healthy and right now I don't see how anyone could guarantee that he will be healthy. Looking at the other options Donnelly is the one -- to me. He's flawed they're off -- but that's the -- Meehan makes the most sense.

I was surprised listening to Terry last night we were talking about this on the ballpark today I think it's I looked at the breakdown of his pitching staff. I had left Kyle Snyder out of the mix yeah most of us that and it was obvious listening to Terry last night he doesn't have Kyle Snyder out of the mix in fact I think he's firmly in the yet and you know what when the spring started I don't think he was particularly in the mix and the fact that they had him starting now they say they wanted to stretch amount that's probably true but. He was in their plans as a reliever and a reliever -- so when he opens the spring in the starting rotation. To me that says okay they're showcasing him for other teams because they assume monotony of the keep them. The fact that he has pitched so well and that they are now putting him into relief role says. They're thinking you know what we have something here this guys in the -- as you said. As an underrated competition going on to maybe is not a competition here there are no competitions here now rank on has made that clear they're they're just get to know you kind of things back up catchers spot between Doug Mirabelli and it. George guitars. Is he in the mix me up evidence does he -- shot no I don't think so I'm going to take the Red Sox that there wurtman Wednesday. They want him to get a full season at -- catching everyday now next year I think you have a question but right now -- belies that pretty well this spring. He is your designated Wakefield catcher which can't be overlooked because we saw what happened last year when he wasn't around. I think the -- needs at least start the year aaa and you know if Mirabella gets off to the kind of start. That mirrors how he finished last season -- think guitarist absolutely be in the mix but until then now what's the status and of this guy I mean. Do do they value him highly as the highly regarded prospect -- yeah yeah absolutely he he's their best catching prospect. He's their closest catching prospects in the majors and you have a team where Jason -- tech was hurt last year he turns 35 in April Mirabella is already there basics. That's where into their position if ever there was one so you absolutely have to have confidence in the a guy who's closest to the majors he may have to play this year and they want that to be summit unit trust the man I think they do trust him. Did Manny make the trip to -- Eaton just because he likes road trips her because he's behind in the spring training at bats a year I don't I don't put too much stock in anatomy Manny his main weird long road trips in the past in -- I mean he's the only regular on this trip what's going on I think. You know they have a schedule certain guys have to make every trip. I don't think there's anything to read and to mourn Matt and he's actually struck out twice yesterday but he's he's at the ball fairly well -- all things considered. With you know coming to spring training late folks back home wondering if he's going to be able to fit that thing under his helmet yet that's unreal that's like Michael -- never had anything maps that don't sleep on -- now I have got a my peak years the clock years I have some stuff now. I'd I I just than how he's going to fit that -- I mean I was watching it the other night against the Yankees trying to get a helmet to sit on top of that thing yeah I know and when he walks in the clubhouse it's almost like predator something you know he's got them.

Line ever you're big you're -- anything and I go way back big man also known as Manny apologist -- I'm as big man upon us he can do no wrong in my power has -- name is it safe house the how's -- been so far -- in this camp I mean inning. He ripples any kind of controversy anything going -- enough and you know I mean he's it's basically he's picking up right or left off last year which is he just sort of glides through as a smile on a space -- away of people -- on an island just continues on his whale's life. I can't duplicated but in the 80s to make that weird noise. Don't look I don't make -- I don't make it has been it'll get playback it's like way. Okay -- well in terms that's a credit and that's -- yeah it yet to some weird but of course you know -- will -- would use it whenever we talk about Johnson --

Opportune times as much as we can. You know save it for private function well they waited beats good show rampant about we tucked -- Julio Lugo yesterday and we watched him here yesterday. For 40 minutes after but he left the field without their first taking extra bunting practice then taking extra ground balls -- It shortstop Terry told us on Monday about his work ethic and how parties try and down here. I don't know that fans can fault the effort of this -- they may not like exactly what they see in the field but he sure -- you know on the big -- guy like that's and I know a lot of people didn't and you can certainly argue that. They overpaid for him and that his mass production doesn't justify what we've done I mean basically if you look at his career at this point. He's almost exactly what Edgar injury was at a similar point in history. And -- Red Sox -- the AG well exactly but I like you know -- first half he had in Tampa last year may be important too much stock in that but he was basically offs -- you know hitting for power obviously he's gotten the wheels steal 4050 bases went to the Dodgers and for whatever reason they are moving him around at positions didn't work out. But this is a guy like he's going to bring an element to the top of their lineup that is missing on time and Coco was supposed to have -- last year but he hurt his hand and you know never never got on I think Lugo is more dynamic player and I think Red Sox as -- like -- David Ortiz loved -- close the difference in the game. Accounts for some. -- you ready for the dramatic right turn here let's talk about football football off and I patriots have been in my helmet -- again given it to mind right now the patriots have been very active in free -- are you surprised that they have been so -- it would not specifically signing a deal is Thomas. None of us predicted would be -- well I wouldn't say none of us I mean we off spot and -- about you know Miami actually because that's the one name we all about I -- not even it's not just me. Everyone looked at you look at 270 pounds made his bones and special teams this guy was a special teams all pro before he really ever started game. -- plays on the line players off the line we've made a lot about elegantly corner and safety if that doesn't scream patriots and the player. I don't know what does and the other thing is. You know I actually took the crafts at their word when they said we will spend the cap this year and the only reason we didn't last year was because we had money put aside for Ty -- he stiffness at the last minute we had money set aside for GM branch trauma of that turned out so I believe them when they said they're going to spend their money in if you looked at this market objectively. They were going to have to spend to get guys I mean that the days of finding these might very able Rodney Harrison kind of bargains again that's for an two million dollars those days -- on in a market where the salary cap has exploded by more than 30%. So I'm not surprised at all. We disagreed with you but we did not doctor sources when you wrote the patriots had an interest in Randy moss we had a hard time picturing that they did. How sincere do you think their efforts were. And looking at the way they've gone after wide receivers it was obviously in a position of interest yet you know that -- them Randy -- story got a little bit. Twisted just slightly twisted -- the desk -- our to have. No way I have no problem and that's the Arabian herald as the little bit and on out that's exactly what -- ago four -- The appoint a bit more was I looked at -- months and said there is no way on God's green earth that -- votes that would go anywhere near this guy. And I was told by very reliable sources that that was not the case though bill has always loved Randy -- game. Thinks that a lot of the outfield stuff is overblown -- cities actually comfortable felt that he could be comfortable. So in that sense I was saying they would not shy away from Randy must I don't know how strong interest ever really was because clearly they had doctors dollar in this sites in the very beginning Kelley Washington Wes Welker so he clearly wasn't ahead of any of those guys dynamic like 45 wide receivers John you know our respect to work and everything -- very good writer. That source question that source that reliable source I got a question. Really I doubt very seriously Bill Belichick would never bring rating was something it's -- I agree with that he's not he's not injury. He knows how talented he is that. I would almost put you but he and a -- doubles but. I would probably feels out of body you Alexander's we believe a guy who wrote the book on -- a guy who has the talk to people about though about it. I'm Wellington. You know -- I'll defer to you -- on -- probably better -- willing to -- When he when you get home yet that job to -- of the Boston herald joining us here at city of palms park sports radio W media