Bill Lee thinks the Red Sox need a change in philosophy

Back -- -- planet Mikey show on -- pre all star program. On the WEEI's. Sports Radio network -- writer here in the studio with me and -- basement we've reached him by. By telephone and it's the only way to get me doesn't have a cellphone. So where you got to get by landline and he's in. Calgary. Alberta. Canada. Where his lovely wife Diana is from and bill what are you doing up there. Hundred anniversary got to go to old ball. What -- now tell me about the women in Calgary. What are the other women. All the low -- in the I told you earlier we get -- on the -- I should do well it. -- mature got a right -- second. Cowboy hats -- -- -- and they're ready to rodeo. -- Picked up at their position of football that's. -- -- -- Now what -- we -- traveled all overjoyed to -- -- obviously you wherever you go we have a chance to watch the Red Sox via satellite or what have you been keeping up with his team and a others last series against the Yankees was was not a little disheartening and have -- All the say the least I mean I thought from the beginning and I didn't like the way they came out of spring training. Under the first at bat you had big late he has a little cupid hit but at first base it on the first pitch. Of spring training against northeastern. Which is just the college but at least they show that they were they get it trying to get -- Course didn't make the ball club. And I'm not disparaging the shortstop we have done a tremendous job but. Because some about that team -- I don't know where it's going to go wrong and that. I've got my own -- some of the way it was season's over before -- write it down in the formal book. -- under another book. Hey you know the the the injuries are -- huge factor arena that is it endeavors talk and it to -- about this a little bit at the golf term yesterday a couple days gives us that when. He indicated to me. That he and we we were talking initially pitching. That this system in today's game a Major League Baseball not just the Red Sox for all of baseball spoils the pitchers to the point now. Where their you don't they're not as tough as they used to be. Exactly it is beyond that system it's the system of trying to get people out instead of throwing to contact. And letting -- hitter get himself -- which we were taught to do in the old games. And we were taught to drop and drive they don't do that and they have strength coaches we've -- had strength coach we ever had anybody that did that always is play pepper. We shagged fly balls after every start. We would throw batting practice to world came a guy anymore respond when a hundred games after his forty. And every day after he started the second day he threw batting practice without a screen to his own team. With what's wrong with the Lester built on it ever was trying to figure that. Well Lester doesn't pitch to contact he pitches around the plate trying to deceive the hitter and strike him out he's a power pitcher. That pitches back -- sliders you know any does that pitch. From the middle of the plate away which I did he pitches from the outside of the plate in which doesn't think -- big hitters swing yeah umpires don't give in the pitch. Therefore he's just gonna get meaner and and tougher because they don't get in the pit. And that is just a vicious cycle and it's a downward slide stuff letter to the owner John Henry at that. Give me out of the legends suite I don't wanna be a legend you know I don't wanna be all this stuff I still play I pitched for a living I still get people out. But I found out might might get it is for younger people saw him mistake you know with the I love -- a mother comes up to me and says. -- my time came on that they have the greatest day of his life. And learning how learning a little bit about how -- that's the question is gonna ask you maybe these guys. Don't think enough about how you're supposed to pitch to get me and it sounds simple sound oversimplified. But. Unicameral greatest -- the world if you don't know what the -- what's gonna get the batter out -- don't know how to go about doing that then you know you're defeating yourself. Exactly blow the whole process of pitching to strike him out you don't learn anything. You know I I think that when you get throw the ball excellent sinker down the middle the guy rolls over there's a ground ball. You stay where that is that you watch -- at least start stir up in his shoulder goes the other way. But you got to pitch -- that it becomes a chess match which Beijing is all about. I had made that trade -- wrong. They start the -- are all wrong. You have hopefully. Muscles you have over strained muscles you know what your -- dominate you and all of a sudden your upper body I can't -- I think prior it was supposed to be a. You know Mark Bryant Bryant is with a Red Sox Triplett take -- And his -- couldn't handle his -- you just when you start using machines and everything else you know you're tamper with the double. You know the batting -- is that double. You know it felt bad pitching and hit it lower levels they they don't get people they can throw strikes you know any status swing the bat all of a -- pitching and that that's kind of that's they've been hitting side of it but Pedroia I worry about -- he's got small hands you know he's got a tough. Tough injury with the bump it seems to be reoccur Youkilis you get ready and all of a sudden noise it is like member they've got rid of Clemens would still. Right he did steroids. It went they went north to Toronto and -- 122 triple crowns as a pitcher. Unbelievable. And anyway it he's just I mean he's I don't like given that much at all like yeah you know I mean it he's a great pitcher he's but I can't. It's just when you name your side after the letter K I don't like that. And then he's been I don't believe I thought the strike out with the pressures saying I like throwing strikes getting the ball hit let everybody play. Right now is the injury problem that we're seeing in baseball -- how much of -- relates to India. You know chemical PED additives that they're doing does that do something to the joints and it because what we're seeing now specialist Red Sox when -- -- more than one and not just this year but two years ago they ended the season with a bunch of injuries and ruin their year last year of course they just they choked. In September so that was brutal but what we're seeing now is all this money piled up on the payroll. And the form of off -- Lackey who's got the Tommy John Crawford now is talk about haven't Tommy John surgery himself he's an outfielder we have seen squad out of this guy. Everybody seems to be art. Well I thought it over trading -- over diet it's. The guys the weight date they get them on machines. They don't play baseball to get in shape they do everything other than baseball. And that's flight over straight your -- You just gotta have I I -- kind of dynamic tension you know I can't Charles Atlas. Ever that yeah. -- as dynamic tension where you resist against your own body but if you if you win your -- -- all competing hurt yourself you. It -- work below. The threshold of -- You worked with flexibility I do yoga stretching you know bodies I do everything. That is not a basic. Hey if I'm 66. They can still get people out of the double A level. But because some right. Rat what you know it's funny because there there was the or a camp board is it is hugely he's funny -- -- they have -- and stuff he's been talking about how he smoked pot and everything these plane. Then they asked about you know I think it's in his book. And he said. At 65. You could go out and pitch -- do what Jamie Moyer did now. Now that that speaks to your whatever it is you do to keep your your old body in shape to to do all these unbelievable things. But why can't the players do a similar thing to keep themselves healthy now and get. That personal trainers people that are not baseball people. People that want to -- football players to be best to be that you know they wanted to be stronger quicker and everything else. The body can handle it. You can't if you develop your legs to the point we have got a really good compact swing like that you're gonna break -- -- -- hurt -- that and that's what they -- and they -- -- in April hamstrings and -- all week and look at all the Tommy John elbow trouble. We never had that much before -- because they. What -- place -- I we didn't. Tom -- never himself -- shoulders -- when he was younger but he overcame that he came back and became a hall of Famer he was a drop and drive guys. His knee touched the ground now there's a -- flies up in the air they come down male. In the air -- your medial collateral ligament your leg and there goes your meal upper carb diet your elbow and you're toast. And the funny thing is. They. Would have had a general manager this year big guy that comes in and knows statistics goes there's. But not help physiology of exercise it that it that balconies reality go out and hire Mike Marshall is bigger jerk as the years as much by eight that. The most knowledgeable guy and that you. But we only had a 106 appearances in one season. Yeah tell me about it the guy can throw -- shut put behind his back. Over your shoulder his rotator cuff muscles were stronger than my legs. And he threw the screwball to his and he had a. -- pro ball any sort of of velocity that was part of the curtain. Six appearance hope they it was one thing I know. Is I don't physiology of exercise that no respiration quotient and and I know flexibility and that's. Not to say I can't get a job in baseball because I know more than the general manager why would you hire me because make him look stupid. You mentioned -- mention all these injuries and all these other issues he is mentioned all the routines that these pitchers have but. I can't the first inning with -- -- Red Sox pitchers per minute and we we do -- I know you mentioned the nibbling but have you seen anything like that -- mean. That that's somewhat unique Yankee series yet that. Consequence of all the development and the guys they had before. The all of on the trading -- or not you think Carl Hubbell's teaching these guys are Johnny saying the last great pitching coaches are on. Yes and maybe that's part of this thing the Red Sox have had that of people -- tell -- when John Ferrell was here things seemed to be at least in control. Who attended that -- the episode last year now they gamma core right we'll have to get to the government or the assistant dean and -- with -- the -- that they get to break an assistant pitching coach this year bill look what's happening to blow up in the very first inning these guys it's it's horrendous. They had a chance to get me and they didn't take me. Well what I'm suggesting it willing to they know what -- tea. -- they had a chance to get good. People that -- pitching. And they wanna go with people that can run a computer didn't do a statistic and can take orders right right I can't take orders because like give orders. Well yes since you're not -- -- sitting in front of the computer and figure out how to get cheated out of it that you probably silencing if you want to be outspoken. Red. What's the guy Malcolm. The guy it's called Al liars you know. Malcolm Gladwell if you read that is new wind. Not blink but the new one is every match. And it talks about contagion and everything else and how how things happen and you're quick to the tipping point stalled at tipping point. Well the Red Sox are at that tipping point they have at maximum number of in things. Maximum number of sellout they've had maximum number success and now they're reaching the tipping point make you go over that point in -- gonna go down like the Titanic. Well Iowa and Halifax and I saw all of burial sites for those guys still. Yeah people complain if the Red Sox don't sign free agents because you know there in this division of the Yankees it's always been that way it was that way when you're pitching yankees -- get all the players they wanted to. And the Red Sox had a try to compete with that these days -- formula seems to be -- try to spend as -- weekend to the Yankees. But what we're finding out now bill is that these guys Gonzales for example here's a guy with a beautiful swing they -- him up for six years or whatever it is seven year deal twenty million dollars a year. And now he's a doubles singles hitter. Yeah -- right got a soft body and that you know -- attitude went down -- no idea. You guys -- you went the wrong way of spring training camp though you should've got the guy. Statement -- that no one knew his name and he was a clone of Dick Williams you -- got a Dick Williams type manager. The sat back. Didn't do a TV show and just have to watch the ball game yet you know it status salesman out there and I'm a better. Looks like he's gonna -- shabby between second. So you're not I think you're not a lot of talent get out of -- the overall fan of his managerial technique. -- -- He flunked out SE in his first semester I graduated with honors in four years. -- that means that they have. -- so you don't think he's the smartest guy in the room. Yeah -- does take trust these assailed me that this that type of guy. You know I've forgotten more about managing and playing baseball and he goes. -- -- frenzy here you probably really loves a lot in the old days -- Reggie Jackson spoke up and Sports Illustrated now. I've never been a big Reggie Jackson got an essay doesn't belong in the hall of fame we had a lot of home runs its prodigious home runs he had. Amazing feat of three swings three home runs in a World Series on him given his due. But Reggie is coming out now and saying that the hall of fame has. Too many guys in it. And dead John helping with some of the -- was -- -- some of the names of people he thinks don't belong in Galileo space now ornery as evidence yet Kirby Puckett. Don Sutton Bert Blyleven Jim maroth Gary Carter Gary Carter. He said they don't belong in the hall of fame -- every comments on those comments. Well I think they need more people in the hall of fame you know like it's it's an old leader's group that you know the only -- hall of famers are. Brooks Robinson. One guy all the dust number -- -- egotistical guys that -- -- or the money because you get a lot more when you're a when you're a there you go out on the bench and stuff like that it's the kind of -- is that fraternity. In up in a bad sensible way you know I mean right said that. That doctrine that belong and all the things. You know he told me for -- told me that you know he didn't have -- numbers that he yet. I would Bologna Italy played with a bad leg he had more injections is toughest guy I ever saw out there on the field. About Carter you know you pitch to him for ten years. Both him and -- Carter is -- hall of Famer so but the funny thing is. I mean. It's subjective it's what team you played -- I mean there's a lot of guys out there that should be and all of a -- Bob Elliott played for the boss that I mean the Boston Braves. You know is an MVP guy I mean. I I don't know why you're gonna do what they let these things that 3000 -- you know 300 win. I was a lot of guys Robin Roberts lot of guys we don't have that there's there's guys you look back in the past Jack citizen that has all workers -- -- look -- harder probably before. You know the 40s50s and should be in there. I think that some of the guys alleged use Clemens. Barry Bonds who should get in -- will get him. Oh yeah they should do it and they will get -- world steroid -- up reviewing Perdue chicken -- steroid. Italy it's been raised with any Monsanto -- if you're steroids and you're up there it would they glow in the dark those chicken trucks were mainly. No I've seen of it is played and out he got. Say they don't even hoped but there's a lot of and stuff like that you look at all the milky drink you wonder what that towers inject it with. You go into dairy farm now make it dairy farm and those -- you look like you're in osh where it's. It's just. -- -- -- -- -- -- Up their all black you're White Stripes -- up and make. But that is -- -- -- you know they got -- -- you know. That's a frightening now. Reggie Jackson also -- do it said in the Yankees banned him from the team for not be random but it wanted to stay away -- away yeah yeah because he he said that there's a -- Claudio over A rods. Performance and it and go out to be no doubt it is going to be a cloud over anybody in the steroid era when you see these numbers are gaga have 800 home runs. But where is that Reggie just tried to build himself up artists they're down -- and. He's building himself up and that's what he has I'm telling you what it the center fielder say about Reggie is a -- Martinez. Jackson right. Yeah read an old British Jets -- Martinez sees he's Hispanic and he doesn't know he has the things that. I think that's -- ethic that has. I shouldn't target -- -- it is like that I you'll modern sixty. Big egos out of a thousand. Mickey what are your -- no question Mickey Rivers. Did you know you. Rivers -- you know he's he sucker punched -- everything else let you know everybody has a bad day. North PR going back to that now how much of this. That's going on the Red Sox now do you think -- they've they've got that these consecutive sellout streak going you know this -- you've been here your -- you know what's going on around here with the fans and all that. Well they'll rebel. How much of a disappointment I mean I don't know maybe asked that question as we know what kind of raised his supporters to be you're spending a 180 million dollars -- -- players. But let's say you let's say you took over the Red Sox rains. -- -- day as a as either manager general manager why -- you drew to try to turn this thing around because it's getting ugly right now. Well I'd have a talk with -- first thing I'd do. -- and you know it you're great. You're great town that these fans deserve better you've got to go out and play harder every day you know you've got to get ready yourself followed you gotta get is that she's got to get rid of you gotta come apart prepared to play I'm not saying Pedroia I love the boys attitude that. And it is not the problem I don't think. These subtle little things around you that are problems and I I think sharing. You know I what you want to -- me and I say hey they don't answer I don't. Looked at me to even acknowledge that I existed. And that is that detriment. You know that these people are so wrapped up in their. Yourself all clout they don't deal with people on the every day walk alike yeah I I'm very upset I'm does that that was an upset with all of humanity. In that respect that's why I don't areas cellphone -- never well. And I I know a lot of people and I -- They've got the start from the beginning go back to spring training you know and get rid of the -- up and everything else simply based all the way the old days it. You know Johnny say they don't have -- history of the game I don't think these ball players make way too much money which is my fault I was the player rep. I started arbitration -- free agency. So. Yeah you know Marvin Miller you know and the late cardinal. Yeah Joseph Torre. Joseph Torre who was involved in that right yet. Before I was the American League -- is National -- -- there was -- -- And there was Marvin Miller before his sat down there in 1973. We came up with -- arbitration. And then we came up with free agency after Seitz agreed with us that the reserve clause was unconstitutional. Did you know you were doing such a big favor for Steinbrenner at the time we -- it all at that went all the money he had the. They have always -- did it play of the game. You know you Steinbrenner as bad as he is he bought the network you know right and it was Red Sox did the same thing what with the nets and you know you control the high ground. You control the advertising you control advertised -- everything and you control the world and -- Alexander the Great read his stuff he says go to the high ground fight from the high -- it. You know and that's what that's basically what television radio -- media. Tonight you're an all star one year right it was a 73. What now 173 at two point 751711. That year. A did you pitch in the game. No no no I was Dick Williams had a meeting and -- was Kansas City was actually. And 73. And housing Kansas City and they -- is there anybody that's not a 100% positive. He can get all the National League hitters out. And I raise my hand. These are built like your hand up like that my other set only Bulls are positive. They'll invite mathematically saying that that's the letter Infiniti and you cannot. You know you've got to be a 100%. I just. I just take things all the mathematical type guy you know I'm occurred -- guy -- -- I'm. I just think that way in my brain thinks different than other people. And that's why have trouble in society. Are you don't have that much trouble and you you moves. I don't have trouble with the fans in the -- I just kept from with a forty you know one outing -- gonna go to school they said physical or what's your name I went belly. Well what's your last thing. Billy you know I don't go sit in the corner. Yeah it's cool I've got to -- quiet time. You should begrudge your name wasn't -- hole you would have been in prison. -- don't lead the space man live in Calgary we come down here. I'll be back I got to go up to help back picked up my car but you've got to take the -- but the -- Just continued for two years and I gotta think the big leagues very. They'll put me in Saint John and New Brunswick. Who -- I got a car get over 300000 miles on it I may never get old. You we always bet you'd -- the wrap on your cars tocchet. Well I do but what I do I'm like a sure -- I go out every morning and see in my car. And I ticket I ticket just let it normalize. Well listen have safe travels and you call me when you get back. I will tiger is the best in the got. Almost bands you know that -- maybe a miracle happen you know maybe they'll start playing a little bit better but. With these injuries and Albania. You got it up. This strength coach is a nice guy he's been hired to do his job he's doing the best he can't be the philosophy is wrong. The whole philosophy of pitching is wrong. You know and it corresponds with injuries and you're seeing -- here and try to look at rather worse shape that you guys. Yeah eyes and his and it bit baseball is a more brave that you few -- like you smoking pot is opposed to tightly -- doing lines then that's better for. Well you know you're metaphors are amazing it. Yoga is not don't blame anything on Drudge don't blame anything on steroids. I would I would like to work comprehensive effort densities. Tell your fans -- look that one. Comprehensive propensity is yet -- Papelbon more understand that -- that many players would it. Papelbon goes out there with a good attitude you don't have. -- thing he does have is an attitude is dumb as he might be. -- they have maybe it's a bad managers sometimes sometimes is a good attitude that is an attitude at least he goes out there. You know I mean I hit away went three and two on everybody and everything but I like -- -- -- you know I mean he says some ups and -- and he'll hang a breaking ball every once in awhile but he. He's got a -- As you know attitude you might end up with forty saves too after all this you know he's got and twenty losses. Couldn't do it and he was in triple and I took him under my arm and -- that site you've got you've got -- You got a great attitude you're eleven don't want what this club you're eleventh I think you have the best winning percentage in the history of baseball your -- 243. Going into -- -- that's all changed this year 449. -- -- I think if you get a say in baseball it's because to do that on your win record just like actors play. And -- some wind and what you call went with a chance of losing a ball gave. If you save a ball game. That's the same as the way. But you're right I think you're right and anchors his leads -- -- leads leads the world in that. They space don't talk -- you real soon. I had 1908 and all of homered three innings say. Oh yeah well let's see that's back when men were men in the cheap new. -- -- I got the American leg and I'll say -- stake there's an article in today's paper about they shouldn't have the winner do this I said. They always the only all star game that means anything -- -- is the most important game of the year. For the but he sort of for whom -- well whoever wins it. Leaks and then -- whoever wins this thing. Then they get the other team an amazing advantage of the games that have had the home field advantage of 12126. Years. That yeah that is that's a key step I'm gonna use that you might have a use that tomorrow night. You know and that you. Guys are tied it. Safe to give a big guy -- -- -- you have funny Calgary my friend I would say. Willie right take -- the space in my count reason not.