Terry Francona, Red Sox Manager

Terry Francona is brought to you by DCU where right now people are cutting their car payments with the second champ car -- find out how much you could save. At DC you dot org and start banking the DC UA Terry joins us on the AT&T hotline. AT&T rethink possible -- you know I don't. I don't. Great to -- pretty well it's it's kind of a strange time for -- I was looking ahead starting today with Buchholz. If things go the way they're supposed to you'll have your starting rotation in place for the first time since may eleventh.

How bout that that -- everybody's ready to go to. I think more important or just as importantly is that. Is not just give them back in name only but didn't back or they can be productive I think -- some but we can't lose sight of there's a lot of good. Players that are out -- and were trying to get back. But we can't Russia to the point. The -- will -- come back with a good name would got to get the production the comes along with that sold Devils were trying to do.

To that -- how do you figure out how many rehab starts is enough for a guy is that something that is that is that John Farrell looking at a guy is that. Listening to whether it's Josh Beckett -- Clay Buchholz tell you when they feel comfortable.

Well just think too global but probably about three -- four factors one there's we certainly. Listen to other pitcher feels. John Carroll when he talked of opportunities early those miter. But again just what's best short keep you know keep you -- somebody out there before they're ready not only -- and have a hard time competing. But they're they're gonna put up Austrian under bull have big ol' Roy wanna do either so get news try to bounce everything and -- we talked a person -- try to come to the right conclusion.

There's. Came up because of the way the game played out for you last night but I know we've asked to this question in the past. About your philosophy. About using Jonathan Papelbon and a tie game at home was supposed to on the road and how you look at that.

All we -- we won't use him on at home in a tight game all the time. On the road it is it has to be. Very rarely does that happen maybe there's that they offer -- more like battery doesn't have so long time but like last five bristled when they have Bailey of the game. He's gonna -- to. That you bring happier and -- tie game your leader hoping. That he goes two innings that's. That's not the best way to we we need to hold him back we had plenty -- last fight we need to hold him back to. It is. -- or when we. Or rod if we -- happen and we used -- that we -- horrible president we've finally take a lead and we can't save the game I'd be --

So -- in other words and tell me if you're not as if your sense of the different. If if you bring Jonathan Papelbon into that situation on the road. You have to be prepared to use him for. For two innings.

Exactly okay with that doesn't happen very often throws.

Would -- be different. If this game was in September and you had. An end. It's closer to the end of the season where you feel like okay if if you actually needed to do -- needed to use them for two innings. I mean who would it would be different at the game was this was later in the season.

Yeah about guess my point was. You wouldn't do it in on July 20. Win using a guy effort to -- 'cause I gotta have this game seems to be shortsighted but when you get closer to use the playoffs and end of the season. I would think it's it's worth it. More in that situation.

Well hunt I just. -- and I'm not quite sure. -- if they're there are times where we certainly try to monitor our our relievers innings -- weekend it'll lead on them what we need to. You know if you do that too much earlier this season UK have been I think -- without the past we've got -- When wonderful cook and I think they had enough in the tank to get the job done. If you do things like that in July. You're gonna run the type drug -- can't do that.

You said George sure where I was going and it's very difficult to follow a complex and growing in my -- understood.

I'm in Utah. Up. -- did you see the end of the or highlights of the end of the Dodgers Giants game last night.

While I saw the highlights. I -- when we lose -- did you guys notice you've heard me say this a lot of times when we lose I either don't watch sports that are war I want every team to lose and I haven't figured out how to make up cycle won't work.

When and you know that the question I'm gonna ask is about. -- Don Mattingly was a hitting coach thrust into the role of manager and gets called by Bruce both cheaper making two trips to the mound. Did you I assume as a manager in baseball you knew about this rule and I can see were hitting coach might not know.

You know all the little things a bit you'll wake up I don't know what -- nightmare you know old. You go lineup cards staff who were walking off the mound -- bowler brings good you know and then you'll -- Gotta be careful what you wish or if I saw about -- like golf she's what special worst nightmare. -- blocks of walking off the mark over a hundred and and couldn't afford -- walked off the field -- loss that's got to be a terrible.

You know we talk with -- Jason stark earlier who I know you know from Philadelphia. Back in the day and he said. -- it was interesting to him but he wondered if that was the spirit. In which the rule was put in the places seems like a technicality that. Does not really the spirit of the -- what do you think.

Well I think after -- rules and for an umpire to enforce rules against sometimes it'll definitely. Boy that's been explained to me Tom -- to technicality you're not. -- the second trip could be left amount and he broke contact he left the third and anyone backstroke begin if you're gonna enforce rules are just gonna enforce rules.

Jab -- rejoined your team yesterday out and Oakland have you guys made a decision on. When he'll be added to the roster.

He he doubted the rays actually don't play shortstop to. We designated -- to -- for assignment. The other moved to get -- back on was we optioned to Dustin Richardson back to Pawtucket.

It seems just knowing the stuff that that Marco -- Rose been playing through your neck issue an elbow. And all -- stuff he's probably a guy you'd like to have had about a few days off -- before this.

You know I probably should have been a better job. Post material off of the last homestand. The big game they talked me out of it not cut ticket myself out the worst because the public could use it. Order would we -- today -- quick turnaround. I think it'll circuit while our guys need to be careful as part of water to work ago but maybe I've reached a little time or. I think sometimes are -- obvious reasons -- still. Just to deal that doesn't help people got -- it's good we object here now he -- but there that should really helpless.

Bush or take on on why the the -- simply. Disappeared last -- was a for it was a frustrating to be frustrating game to watch for Red Sox fan and probably just as frustrating if not more for you.

Don't come about until we talks would want to wake pitches. You know. You're gonna say the same thing and it gets -- could've happened to you're gonna see Paul bases passed balls wild pitches. What you look up the normally in the sixth or seventh inning you know chance to win. And that's basically what awards last night those things all happen right in a five -- by him and -- accounted for four runs -- they've they've struggled together everything happened in. Nobody -- they doubled stole when you're doing a great job of old -- the first. You know the first -- on second that what we got we got to kind of forgot a bottomless doubles -- that a lot of things have happened local getting tied up in knots and flights aloft a -- Those kind of crazy getting.

Did you have any problem with sending Ortiz on the play where he got thrown out at the plate.

sent him to sometimes guys are going to be out to. I was it'd -- it would be really unfair from -- to come on the radio the next saying go up boat you should know 71 dominant dugout screaming girl that I thought. I thought it was a good decision and I actually thought into the break it I'm not too sure didn't make it but again -- are not a very and they made a perfect relay throw.

And speaking of decisions 'cause I thought he might have made it as well. Did you ever get an explanation on the --

To be honest with you I will also manned and I was thinking of the whole time Obama won a horrible walks Suzuki and I want to listen I was just biding time that I knew what to -- to reverse -- call. He was explaining his rear end off and I had no luck yet. Because I was so glad and I I don't strive for over towards those who can actually -- look at of people walked away right in the middle was explosion.

Doesn't it seem -- cyclical. On when they called these things to me sometimes as a whole rash of balk calls. And then you'll see balks and they don't call it.

Well Bob's obviously box in my twenty years -- but we also pursuing. And that's it'll be sort of become a running joke in the -- regulated -- people far away you know what loaded balk -- matches against likes older couple that are sort -- part of your -- umpires.

I know the Buchholz and Beckett who had their rehab starts you know you wouldn't have them pitching if you weren't confident and how they go. But -- there's some some restrictions in your mind. Just in terms of how far he allowed him go or what to think they can they give your first game out of the gate.

While I think we use some common sense I think. I think the one thing would certainly look for as they -- into the game. Is to make sure -- in their deliberate Italy if they start coming out -- delivery without interest are to do little but packed all the tired. And that's -- a little bit longer bill anatomy they're in great shape but it didn't work hard now again it'll broadening after -- little bit different part of replicate that we'll --

We look at Josh Beckett at the beginning of this -- of the season -- not very impressive at all. Is was it the performance. That led to the Red Sox saying -- and something's wrong with this guy or was he just performing poorly and on top of that he got hurt.

Although he end -- get irked he is actually don't you looked -- his outings some of his outings whose stuff was. Unhittable and then he something go wrong and it would go fast. You know he's had a few hiccups this year but doll Williams. If that isn't in new York and the wrong sort of back. And us going back like we do we want him to block to the mound and Cilic he's indestructible. Because when he -- away. He's one of the best pitchers in the game so that's what we tried to use caution. -- hold off or what we did discuss backing lobbied about it and we need.

I know that you've made an attempt to get Major League Baseball rules changed so you concentric. Dustin Pedroia -- Japan for rehab start. Get him the whole body your hair but. It's nothing and act and get that changed. How's he progressing where's the act.

You know what he's we actually took BP on the field -- went -- he's doing everything in his power to do two things one to be ready. As quickly as possible and one in the side of things drive me insane. Doing that pretty Ellis and BP yeah yeah yeah I'd like occasion animal we have got to get him back in the lineup forty. Or somebody's gonna kill it. John -- actually pulled obviously usually stop have been a waste -- Of me -- students and we we gotta get back on the field you're delusional mind.

But you know people and I I know you're joking halfway but. People I don't think have an idea of what it's like to have him around when he can't play can do is give us a sense of of how he is when he's not -- when when.

What do you play and he don't restrict all these Red Bull did go Saturday can rub off on the field now and sit in the dugout mis directed read all of these. Pocket and in. All we've obviously got a mom being a little bit positions these these great travel around to -- politically. But he needs to play Hewitt so competitive and he doubled to duplicate. We're just also the dugout make stupid remarks -- we can't we conclude -- tobacco field.

Did you at do you think that some of the activity that he's had has helped them because many of us have never seen. Players taking grounder from their knees or or being in the batting cage even though. You know he can't he can't turn like he usually -- do you think this activity has helped him. In terms of getting back on the field or is helping him more in terms of the sanity.

I think it once he gets up booed off. They'll come broke quit because these you know don't have to do it can't back in shape these big grounder is -- you're sitting. But also think its opener Saturday title with a reasonably. Going to be anywhere around that. He also but in the polls text on the -- think these guys will all try to do as much as vacation without sitting there injured back so when they -- at the door at will be ready to play especially to him.

It sounds as though Victor Martinez may be starting to turn a corner a little bit I know that there's been a pain factor in the of made some adjustments on his catcher's -- but it sounds as though he may have turned a corner a little.

I agree that I think that's the way it always does -- you know you can global. Lost that he could jump at any level awful but it it was a nice big jump last couple days you've been able to right handed he was able to do applaud you actually play catch up to about 200 feet. But next thing were looking for is to see how aggressive he can be in catching the ball. With that catchers ripped out to be the next big step is right now -- doing great -- adults.

Time now for Mohegan -- lunch with -- question today's question comes from Joe central from Burlington who asks. Terry why don't you ever safety squeeze in late innings eighth -- ninth innings for Iran in a tie game. Many times you've failed to get the runner in by hitting into a double play etc. I think some of your best hitters can bunt and you'll surprise her opponent just my thoughts but all Major League players can bunt.

Well I thought they're kind of visit -- person hurt and you have less than two outs it's a great situation they hit. If the guy's stick and probably get a bunt down. Ordeal competency to get a bunt out more than likely they're the guys that don't normally get to a -- your -- faster guys on the team you don't want -- about W close or she's Belgian break those types of guys. Anyway and then on the flip side. If you have somebody yelled third base like -- Ortiz organ or catcher. That safety we go to work he's taught him to try to do against us. They had a first and third potential big rally Duke comes in they played all the -- the rally. Sometimes -- support plate I think that sometimes the busboy a manager -- Cowboys lead the -- like.

How did you about the squeeze in general do you think it's. --

I'm not a big fan of that I never have been idea I don't I think players. Like the fact the usual confidence in them that they can drive the road and I know there's a timer plays or sometimes but. Actually what our guys drug runner in the we can't drive a run and look into lots more trouble.

This is not one of those we're trying to lure you into a tampering situation -- we're not we were having a plain old ordinary baseball argument earlier. And we were discussing the relative merits of Prince Fielder versus Ryan brawn slow day on talk radio -- is probably oh well slow slow clay Tucker Milwaukee Brewers base annual auto you ought to weigh in on those two guys.

No I can't control are -- they want Ryan brawn. What I saw him out of the home run hitting derby a couple of years ago. I remember bacon a comic adult herald he had at the right hand hitter the closest leverage. That I had seen since maybe. Don't mean it was really going good you get that Laker lovers -- ball they connected deep but he could drive it and that's what he did so well I didn't play like that is the other -- Arsenal pressed to this point. Prince Fielder. I don't think people realize how all athletic. And how much do you play he plays they have very. You know he's not 66 to -- also -- Cutler.

We appreciate time as always any other lineup changes besides -- tonight.

Are you what guys. I hope not but I totally thought Cameron. It'll make sure he's okay. You can only turn around they got to become a couple of walked -- protest -- other bad know those big guys.

Talked to you next week thanks. -- you -- at a Red Sox manager Terry Francona joining us so live from Oakland. By the way for being selected for today's lunch with -- question. Joe central has won an overnight stay at Mohegan Sun and is now entered to win. The indices in grand prize a mile Mohegan Sun with Terry and the dale and Holley show -- at the dale and -- page on WEEI dot com. To submit your question for Terry lunch with Tito was brought you by Mohegan Sun. A world that play.