Buck Martinez, MLB ESPN analyst

Talks on in the playoffs but. The playoffs are going on the Yankees tigers -- theories that gifts. A lot of people's attention in New England because of -- Yankees Red Sox this guy's a former major -- to former big league manager. And it ESP NY analyst with name is buck Martinez he joins us right now but it's Michael holly and -- rock I don't today.

And they're good you guys.

all doing very well. And I wonder well what do you think this series now between the yankees' entire tigers is tied at a game and Jim Leland says I want people to take a serious threat seriously now at the playoff team.

And I expect they should -- this matchup was characterized gently imploded -- these words the freshman against the varsity. But derivative of the freshman began partially pretty soundly yesterday on the strength of two rookie norms just a burly Siberian jewels by who really have -- arms they've been incredible earlier law. The book very confident -- now on it that's steiger -- comes home and face a very shaky Randy Johnson's over they don't be surprised as the tigers knock out of pocket Yankees in this series.

What do you think's going to happen to be tigers gonna went.

I think they have a good chance of winning it I think certainly that. Our big boost is typical Dutch duo that you -- series but now stage a lot of confidence they hit well against -- big long they hit well against Mike Messina. And now you know pledged not spoken about very well right now branded it hasn't done much. But the balance of lineups pretty good and I think what you think about Iraq just pitching in this ballpark -- they believe it has done in -- Rogers pitched Yankee stadium ever pitched well in fact if Rogers has not beat the Yankees in 1993. And you know a couple of hoosiers whose district for the Yankees but it special long time ago its -- not -- but now he gets home he's in this ballpark the -- going to be not so on the -- historians coming in on. On the plane this morning answered talking about it the taxicab drivers talking about it but it that would go -- there's going to be a pretty raucous atmosphere at midnight in. I think Viet tiger fans are anxious to give the Yankees players little dose of what that -- tigers have put up with the interstate.

But I watched the game yesterday and -- tools in my commit out of the pin and throw. I don't know how many fastballs over hundred miles an hour he touched apparently 103 miles an hour on the -- was able to paint the black on the outside corner have you ever seen. In Europe playing in managing now broadcasting career -- guy with a power arm like this.

Well there's there's -- organized come to mind all of -- of course. And bill let remember it and -- many years ago would be at 100 point eight we always thought that was so big milestone and that's -- everybody's mind billick got papers about -- trial. A distinct type or and then Matt Anderson who had great army here in Detroit but it hardest his talents -- traditional 100 -- but I don't think there's anybody. It's come up with the same type of movement it jewels bias it's an explosive always have barred. But it label but that the security Derek Jeter rushed -- it was ridiculous off the -- by about six inches. Her -- and -- read over the -- outside court he overmatched and -- the challenges Jimmy Davis talked about not using mr. back to back games and that's what you want view -- Levys are back 2628 pitches yesterday's so I think the question -- I'd but it same time. In Dover -- October you can edit -- those --

the multi million dollar question is what is the deal. With Alex Rodriguez.

Noted that China and they've been headlines in the air fare Eric fails again well what about Gary Sheffield -- failed pretty miserably yesterday they do their view or an exact Ripper predicted his cabin it's all about Iraq. And that I don't think it's fair I don't -- happens because of the attention of the contract. Meanest guy is big career to 96 -- kaposi's. Ever 128 that she's had success but and now he's pressing a bit because he's on -- biggest agent world sports Yankee stadium. But it's unfair and it's you know Gary Sheffield ducked away from breaking vote yesterday AA and really looked overmatched but nobody booed him off the field. And -- at a couple of good at bats in the first game the -- down a couple of times but the people forget that understand that because he brings this image of being the perfect baseball player while nobody's perfect Regina. And you know I think -- it's going to take a big hit from Alex Rodriguez in a win by the Yankees to get this group of fans on his side the he is under scrutiny here are no one else ever receive over the gate bridge -- that the purpose.

Although Alex Rodriguez is sitting sixth in this lineup which should tell you how good this lineup BA's and I saw John Miller and Joe Morgan go through this during the rain delay before game two is finally canceled or postponed. Is this top to bottom when everyone is healthy the best lineup in the history of baseball.

I think it could be I think it is -- the -- what -- this particular -- we've seen the last two days. That's right left right left right debate and without a switch hitter DH brought it was not a the other 340 -- hitting ninth which you have absolutely beside -- rabbit can no ratings have debate invited him either tojo I didn't know about the deputy state I think. I would say this is the best part of our reversing. In I don't know it's difficult to compare generations the 27 Yankees that murders or change but like -- is that they've got murderer's -- and Robbie can now.

Well -- I'm wondering does the cliche prevail though about we've always been told good good good pitching beats good hitting even Superior hitting and look at the stats the Detroit Tigers have the best pitching staff of all the teams remaining in the playoffs.

He directed tigers have big have been paid -- the 13 in the American league to lead the majors in ERA since 1990. The 90 athletics what the American major tragedy Harry the 2000 it'll wants Seattle Mariners -- the very and this tiger team so. Don't discount how common that they could be and today you know -- of Israeli adjusting after the game one -- or -- goes -- the tigers are going to go quickly and three they lost they want to fewer games than the Yankees. With the best pitching staff in baseball. They're not political quietly told us they're going to be right there Kenny Rogers got the ability to shut them down. He was the most consistent pitcher for the employer when they had the struggles -- in -- September he continued to win game she was the one stabilizing aspect to their rotation. And now he gets an opportunity he has not fare well on the policies there's no question about that but he has an opportunity to put this team on his shoulders tonight and give them a dramatic -- jacket that. -- Kenny Rogers eagle and three was at eight point 8 ERA in -- proceeds to purchase. But this is just came in he came over they give them the confidence in you know it's all opinion -- the extradition of -- because he'd finish strong 62 over last nine starts. If he has to carry that momentum to guard against any jobs who is a big question.

Yeah I was going to ask you what what is the latest you hear about Randy Johnson in his back ailment in the Yankees really expect out of in the C --

Think they have any idea what to expect got to read these jobs he could go in the first inning or he could give them seven innings or he could give up seven runs thicker when 97. I mean that's it just so much uncertainty but they have -- already ago he threw a side session yesterday afternoon late again. -- attitude -- little bit but Randy Johnson -- not pitched in -- 23 of September 1 12 days ago he had a little bit of throwing session two days ago only 35 pitches that he got a -- he flew to Detroit so he's been here for proposed based. So they're concerned did you know let's get it over there -- he's not taken a plane -- too late that night last night -- will be as good as possible but you know he began September with a one hitter over seven innings against Kansas City maybe is best started the year and then nature's extreme starchy about five or and so we don't know what we're going to get government are going to cost. Eddie Johnson is the ultimate point gossip that's going to happen tonight and certainly. The tigers -- count.

I'm just gonna say but as a as a former manager you know you can have a plan on paper and it looks like. This game is gonna turn out this way and it goes in another direction it at this game tonight turns out the way we expected to you don't know what you're going to get from Randy Johnson don't know -- going to get from Kenny Rogers and it turns into a bowl game. Or a manager's game chess match who has the advantage.

No question that tigers have been -- their bullpen has much deeper. And it will be as bad as they're wrong guy they have education related actually pitched pretty well down stretched they have those guys will pitcher -- something air carrier pictures that you didn't immediately ordered Cheney -- was outstanding last night and he talked about a pivotal move in the boy in a series one on one count on Robbie canal cheerfully and didn't like putting sovereign as Richard just Urlacher he walks around the comics pitching change credibility about as the first time this happened with her lab earlier -- brings -- Jamie Walker gets a double play it and six whopper it's Damon's first out of the seventh that it goes to the big guy jewels in my if you always talk about -- played the game. No question about it even though the Yankees have the best -- we have seen in this game. Our -- Rivera the tigers heritage.

As a manager how tough is that to remove the pitcher in the middle the -- because I'm sure those guys are trying to say to you. Come on what you don't get out of here reckon I can get this guy.

Nobody has said that Egypt -- lawyer wrong. He heads of his mind you can see what becomes. With his head then there really is rocket with a purpose that nobody stage despite I don't care who it is. Any doing it is going to direct -- He said Israel my answer a couple of fastballs -- body one body Q after that 95 all day long he's down like -- I got these make that move in the case it would have been very easy for him to sit back. And let her lander -- could no matter what happens and nobody could question that because earlier there had been very good to that point. But he made his decision put it right out quieter I don't like this again Jenny walker he throws strikes about -- to a to discredit Jenny walker got behind -- account -- want and it got the double play it is up these guys have to deal with confidence in Jim Leland and nobody is going to question what he's done.

But how do you account for teams like Detroit -- over in the nationally with saint Louis two teams that. Really stumbled to the finish line in metaphorically speaking fell down I mean Detroit needed a win on the last day of the season to win the division and lost an extra innings to one of the worst teams in major league baseball. How do you account for good baseball only a couple of days later from the tigers and from saint Louis over in the nationally.

One other -- about the Kansas City game must -- six nothing lead balloon that. But I predict winning the first time as a challenge -- that I experiences as a player in Kansas City. In 1976 we were -- video clip page and we just could wind outstretched the last time the Yankees won the World Series in 2000 they lost 14 of 16 games in the street. It is difficult to wrap up 160 to gain seats in their -- Kansas City Kansas City has nothing. On the -- whatsoever. Now Detroit goes in this wild card they take -- rapids can anybody imagine that we would have been in the post -- a year ago. A year ago they want 71 games they improved by 24 games and there are a postseason so why would should be confident and relaxed a lot -- I don't expect that there pointed do anything -- the great in the you know I these prices they open the series two games to want to side with can it.

Block you and John were talking about the 2006 Yankees and maybe it's one of the best lineups of all time and for the last five minutes yes I've been listening to you but osment trying to think of a team. That I -- challenge -- the team that could challenge the yankees' lineup and I came but the 2003 Red Sox. Not set a record a major league record for slugging percentage extra base hits total bases highest OPS since 1950.

John I don't like -- or you don't like Soviets want to admit it. Well.

What -- latter isn't anything today

his ticket to -- charged just tickets they do do. It's just number you're big that. You know a good hitters on base percentage because reporters you know and good players produced net structural produce good players and it's it -- as a got a good numbers stand because people are afraid of. George -- at a garbage percentage as he -- you know it's treat 40 gets -- because he's -- do with the stamps first situation but would you look at that seemed to doubt entry in AA and outraged that two Red Sox they had a good line I don't think they had the same discipline as this team. I think this team as Marcos we discipline they have base stealers an airliner something reflected --

Only one only help Johnny Damon to doubt there's only got.

The minute they don't get thrown out. -- second in the league in stealing bases.

I'm saying that 3 Red Sox only had uneasy he's agreeing with I agree with John Gotti and wonder if.

Balance of the attack. Since Bobby -- who joined his squad is more votes in and I think that they have -- Octavia Manny Ramirez and then bill Miller on the batting champ ship parked truck had a great year holidays at 300 RB Eric guys in their -- You know that's a final on but out still stated this for a balanced left right switched. On base percentage ability to manufacture runs I think. The the Yankee taken manufacture runs better than the -- read -- so XT.

It's a good argument and one day we'll have a over here.

Only if the Red Sox it back in the playoffs

Gary tabloid got to work ahead of.

At that's very true I have one more question about the post season I'm wondering how you figure the Mets from -- understand that's not your series you're you're focused on the.

watch everything I'm gonna be right that is Seoul being out of the World Series I kept my that's Citic the Mets went think that we we forget about is that Tram that develops over the entire season. We should have given the Oakland -- more respect because they're pitching we should have given the Mets more respect because of their offense in the year they had. They stumbled to the post season. They -- had questions of their rotation but. They had such a great year that has some value what you try to evaluate it handicap kaposi's a so we are so quick to go on the last couple weeks of the season wouldn't back we should look at the all she's.

Well -- thanks a lot for joining joining us today. Enjoy this game tonight game three games with tigers two Yankees that he I'd like to say -- everybody says -- the short series in the five game series whoever wins tonight it's probably gonna win the series.

Yeah they'd like to think I think that's pretty dominant that it would be strategic I think we're going to see a dark side all the way I would be surprised -- stadium.

I -- thanks a lot into the great job and I can join us anytime. Right that's buck Martinez is an ESPN analyst