Terry Francona, Red Sox Manager

Big day for the Boston Red Sox yesterday they introduced Mike Cameron and John Lackey is the newest members of the team. The guy who will manage those guys joins us on the eighteenth -- hotline AT&T a better three G experience. Terry Francona. It's -- sponsored by M proud new England's Major League oil spill clean -- pros have been proud dot com -- I don't. -- doing great to go. -- yeah I I did I mention a Mike Cameron when we talked him yesterday. Sean Casey said Mike Cameron's the best teammate he's ever had if you get an endorsement from the mayor like that you must be element guy.

Well Kate at the met anybody you don't want at a good point. But but I tend to agree -- LaMont camp he's not he's a good Q&A I I know you probably you know her to just go back a long way this guy. And it's gonna come full circle what he has you know he -- I the state tonight -- he turned into it and nice -- don't believe you could either good demon that's for sure.

You know two dollars thought you were at a reasonable. Level headed guy. And then we hear yesterday that you intimidate by fear. You still aching I general telling them they're going to be working at 7-Eleven that they don't have the baseball was gone all of that.

Yeah I don't I don't remember that to work toward a bought my -- oil but hitting part I think it was a data were taken in field. And we didn't even complete -- because we we -- again and it looked great he girl that according. We we adequate ticket -- bigger ball wiping out today that statement about.

And Mike Cameron comes here as you said it's a 37 year old man not a kid anymore. What made you feel that a 37 year old guy could play every day for you at this stage of his career.

Well it kept himself in great shape -- if you -- look at him I mean that's not up. That's not a problem. I ever again you only -- we didn't sign him until forty want. You know and and we -- protection you know we up for re he's banged up -- today. You know we we have a good it's a pretty good right now sometime that's almost as important is dire it is it's how they -- the end. And we will we'll talk ought what are ball want to approve or defense. You know we're we're trying to finally get better. And rather than just blocked street every bat that's available -- and play it saw all. Not think we set Bowden talked a lot about pitching and defense and trying to be better the other team and I think we all feel pretty good about that right now.

You don't have you major decision -- who's gonna be your center fielder in 2010.

Now I actually just an -- tomorrow moment ago. What I need to do an account to explain this real quick yesterday that it is now with steel. -- the credibility too great for. With the moral all I might deal on this also won't talk to do Jacoby. And Cameron will be more about this. And -- figured out -- guy killer apps like the but really to talk to everybody involved forward through this.

And I know you're not gonna give us the the what you're thinking specifically but. Are you comfortable with either one of those guys playing left field or right field of accounts that.

Well what we don't you play right field. -- we don't get a bigger -- talk about what percentage. And yeah they both can do they both can do both now. Would like to put ourselves in the won't -- they give the best position and I'd like to take a little bit on the think about it and also talked everybody involved. What either way we're going to be okay to people -- sensible.

You've told us -- the past that as far as you're concerned you'd never have enough good pitching you mentioned yesterday at the press conference Hugh told Theo let's go get good pitching. Did you thinking your wildest dreams that you we're going to be able to land the best free agent pitcher on the market this off season.

I really did. You know it's funny to I kind of ballooned to -- whatever time -- in the in the meetings and that one time yet smear their -- no answer. You know every time we asked about somebody out squabble the pitcher against this just. You know it's the way I think we couldn't. Not only be good in the short term but sustained in the long term it'll what we found out in note six what does many things that what wrong. When we lost our pitching we know -- and out they'll call horrible feeling like get me. You know when regularly are suitable for what. Think you would not -- more I guess all it spilled out what it and we made a good staff a lot better. And I'm glad for that.

Well how active where you -- the for lack of a better word recruiting. Of both of these guys.

No not really I think he'll get new -- through with Mike. Cameron and but I think sometimes they don't agree waited don't know what they need to get done he does the quietly. And he gets it done when too many people -- all. Some things have a tendency of you don't get. Now out there and he eat what we need to do not he is built and other I respect a lot.

However you put those guys in your outfield you've got to feel I would guess. It Ellsbury Cameron Andrew give you as good a defensive outfielders this league pass.

we're excited about that. We will we do we bank are gonna begin a war tried to figure out how we get better can we be more consistent you know it's easy to exit all we get six guys that are gonna it political parlance. Well liked catching the ball. You know how did -- work supposed to do and really good pitching I think we -- our best way to get better this year there don't we just. Didn't could not job consistently enough -- defense.

You know Tito did you notice almost got in trouble we were talking over Fenway Park. And I asked you about John Lackey and he said are we lot of talk about a and I thought we were allowed you were allowed to talk about who actually two days early.

You do know do you know yeah. On nice lunch time conversation but -- That I would not thousands warm yesterday that you believe that you like George and I thought it. Sure it's gotta be it's cold outside all know.

About this at the time that talk about another picture and we haven't spoken to you since you acquired Marco scooter row it to play shortstop for your team. Tell me what you think he brings to your line up and you're infield position.

You know what bill that looked quietly a really good sign for us and you saw what happened last year we had so much fluctuation. At shortstop for a lot of reasons at all we got on the -- settle things down -- night that -- it's gonna -- be consistent catch -- all and he had some really strong on -- skills. It would good -- broader issue you don't really good ball or shall from day one. We're gonna have a -- that we can run out there every day you know what to -- the top fuel our little bottom of the order going to be number -- he'd get a good addition I think the fans are gonna come -- respect and enjoyed it's got really quickly.

The people who remember Alex Gonzales defensively from his first stint with the Red Sox would have been dazzled he was he was dazzling was the best I ever saw. His second stint he wasn't quite the same he's had a knee injury in between is -- certainly wasn't the same. How do you feel scooter -- compares defensively to the Alex Gonzales who was here last year.

That's going to be an interesting. You know -- your compares well laid out the -- that that -- a couple of right there regard the like due convoluted to I think I agree with your assessment you know there were times when this guy makes plays it just make stretcher -- now it lost a little -- arrange but he still it'd. He's he's so good defense. Marco if you look at so would be to metrics. Actually breached a wild dog he has some -- now are part. But I think the the point is that it's pretty good defensively he may not be its last -- on the I don't know anybody that is what is going to be a very good defense shortstop.

I believe if I'm not mistaken you were. A bench coach and Oakland when school girl was there.

We all know what that give people will be their.

you missed them okay can you but can you compare. Oh who scooter -- used to be sued to who he's been the last couple years because. The first part of his career he's -- and all over the place by a little. Playing little third some short some second. What do you what what what has he done in the last couple years to make himself a full time player.

Michael I think that's better question for you know. You know he became a Bible Cleveland he was a good -- Utility player and -- somebody finally gave which at the plight maybe order -- necessity maybe some peace talks on what you we've all seen what he's done an everyday player. He's taken his skills. That become better. Some guys are playing every day and a -- key to vote for for whatever reason -- physical mental you'd gotten better they've done a little bit of an older age. But again we got it for two years. And I were all excited he's going to be a good part part team.

As -- pointed out yesterday sometimes deals have. Logistical technicalities that takes some time to go through and and I understand that but as you're sitting here with -- yellow pad and pen and figuring out your infield. Have you figured out who's going to be playing first and third for you this year.

Well I think -- get out of respect. Is that a girl kind of alluding to my -- ball out of respect EM all week on a needle does play itself out. I'm sure it's. My name comes up a lot the last couple winners and -- It's probably not the most comfortable conversation. You know one wondered another's trouble resolve itself and a lot want to talk about one way or the other but I gotta respect Mike you'd partner for relief that world right now.

Let me ask you this about Kevin it is an indication of what a team person he has -- he'll play first he'll play third. Oh he'll go to left field for you for if if you ask him to even though he's probably not comparable comparable with -- and you're not either. It if he had his druthers would he be a first baseman or third baseman do you think.

I think you'd be actually had a choice to be a third baseman I think -- himself as a third base we've got to referred him so Happy Gilmore few times now wait a tremendous first -- But I think dispersed and true Obama's third base. And it sparked -- don't you know I think work organ I I think the worst desperately gonna try to steal it from that.

you know we had a chance you I talk to RJ. A couple weeks ago that you really gonna have to pump this -- spirits up because he's very low key in -- is an eight days that there's there's not a enthusiasm there what are you gonna do.

Yeah he's you when you walked in the room right in Brighton upper sure that surely not quieter. Equality it's it's really cool or enemy worked a long time for this and when we got a chance to call that -- you want a lot of things not done a long time. What are his duties and entail for. Well -- first. I think we're actually gonna turn out built over the hump maybe not from day one we'll see how it goes tomorrow all. Being in the bench coach I want him to be around me more on or around the -- morsel tangled up children they gave China little on field five you'll see it for a few hours. So the moral war guardian of that and -- or sort Gartner cult will double completely turn -- in a.

You know tomorrow has been here for awhile but I don't -- lot of people are really get them really really know. His strengths and historians tell us about the -- why he will be a good bench coach --

You'll likely be a good anything he's. He's the one guy that. Went out and taxes and I never looked -- again a black hole in that year as you know the fire it again that's I would like to be -- that and I've never told anybody that. -- you -- that a lot but he's just he's real salt salt person and these -- good baseball and do whatever -- What cable here. Yet at first base so what do you do it to beat a -- ass off. And we but it returned it blows and he's a terrific job.

And M when he was third base coach he's in that position where. You never say his name and that's a good thing.

Great thing I mean you know we we looked through of one you guys were making up songs about -- and it -- an ordinance earlier this -- up. All has been inconspicuous down there and when you say that that's why the biggest compliment you --

Can I accurately say that you like your baseball team better today than you did two days ago.

Yeah and again -- you know because -- Get that -- the field -- ought concede some of these things comments what I'm probably more -- what our team then maybe a lot of other people are. Don't think people were clamoring for more blows. On the big Kotchman and I think Koch chronicled under the radar. Because he came over and he didn't play in saint saying Eddie just kind of went about his business. Weakened weakened and just final Koch. Went first to Gulfport the bottom of the order and catching everything in sight while all critical or that.

Tito we have hope you have a very happy holiday you and your family because it won't be long before you're working fulltime again.

Yeah you -- actually a pretty good album. -- a lot of excitement this year we read too much time off by the world record.

all happy holidays. Gutsy it to you know and and maybe in 2010 can be nicer to us.

You -- that is the manager of the Boston Red Sox Terry Francona. Who joins us on the eighteenth -- hotline AT&T about a three G experience.