Larry Lucchino: No one feels bright and cheerful today

It's our territory Dennis without Callahan Dale Arnold into the vacationing Gerry Callahan which I know is gonna break Larry's heart the weekend gels with mr. -- managed couple minutes from now. A joining us on the AT&T hotline AT&T four GL TE the president of the Boston Red Sox Larry Lucchino good morning Larry how are you up. Good morning got the money -- Let me apologize in advance -- a little. Grumpy today it's been a the -- several days here in terms of these. These losses and a -- I think feels so particularly bright cheerful this morning's. But I should thank you guys or at least. Following up on the suggested we made. And I made do you guys have -- few weeks ago that we had a regular reports every Thursday. And -- this is. Well excesses of the fourth time we've done -- pentagon place twice and I hope we continue -- -- secede and so. Well you are to be credited for coming on the morning after what happened last night in on the heels of all this going on right now -- just ask you this as a as a personal -- when you get home from work family cat and dog run for the -- -- behind took out his out of work. -- Let that was particularly bad there was a that are we were supposed to go to. My. Thirty toward state the was so willing to go alone and not let me -- stay home eat dinner by myself. Stew in -- -- this -- to invite a piano if you will while I was recovering from the last several days these. But I'm not on this is a way do. That we take your job and Tom take it did equally hard. If not even harder and and the total offense but it was a it was a it was a it was a -- to sort of shut out the world. If -- possibly could then. And that's so -- it just sort of let anyone around the holy thing to work speak copy it which last night that's why I'm warning you -- Okay but we're we're river boys we can take you bring it on I'm gonna follow up the softball question about the cat a dog with a very pointed question Larry you are. Nothing if not analytical. What is the source of the dysfunction on this baseball team. Well as -- John Henry says I think so well that statement get a -- there's a single source that no single person this. It's that combination that's of factors Ben's been saying that for a while certainly the -- Disability -- effectiveness. Of the starting pitching. Is a is an important place to start is with almost every game winning team or losing game. And I think that there is is when did you first meet. Talk for years and I'll ask him about the importance of ditching those starting pitching and throughout the bullpen. So the risk of I mean to point fingers at anybody in particular because as you said earlier. It's there are a lot of factors that have contributed to it's gonna there's probably transition. Pains to from. From. Globalization that we get to the new organization with new people on different personalities. But that I think you've got to focus on the on field. Activities and the unpredictable really instability of the starting starting pitching. Larry do you think that Bobby Valentine has done a good job as manager of the Red Sox this year. My take he has to he has done a good job he had to note today's day -- that they ask that because we spent a lot of time. And it will those of us are baseball fans. Second guessing field managers second guessing the general managers second guessing the the club president and and after last night's. Bitter loss there -- a couple of decisions. That you could. You can question but that's the nature of the games that's the way it is and that you did that they're going to be decisions that the field manager makes -- -- -- shake your head -- and exploit it they don't work out and and marvel at. If they do it may he receive the guy who put a picture and they will -- what -- meadowbrook. Get a three run homer that. To Mexico and it looked like he had a magic on and so it's very. It's very hard -- to -- To react to individual data -- I think he is -- as hardworking as committed. Managers we've had. It and and I. I certainly think -- that agents. At the risk of looking short term here it some it felt a little bit to me late yesterday like he's kind of managing with one hand behind his back because of a lack of availability of bullpen arms is this roster made up the way it needs to be right now to allow him to to do the things he needs to do. Well I think so. -- Certainly there are times during the year when you're gonna have. Shortage in one element or another I mean there was a shortage last night in bullpen arms. And -- still would just it just for that I don't necessarily think it's state eight roster. Problem. As much as it is a inevitable. Sort of evidence -- deceit and they're going to be times when you're not gonna have. All of here elements in line. And music and have to adjust that to that. Up Bobby. Did Bobby Valentine Larry in your estimation get a -- shot from his players who rolled their eyes when they heard he was going to be the manager after allegedly. Being told -- manager like Bobby Valentine would not be the -- of this club. What I'm not sure I agree with that can't premised on the State's players rolled their eyes you know which players rolled their eyes and and you make that assumption. I'm sure there'll some players who were surprised they would have been surprised by any managerial selection there was not a easy obvious. Person waiting in line for succession. So I think there would have been some element of surprise to us so lot of people. And that that that time. Comment regarding embodied now Bobby Valentine -- it was not made by anybody who's currently -- about Boston red. That's -- Bobbitt told us yesterday Damascus -- managerial decision being questioned and criticized as you say. Is part of the game is part of the game for the fans to do it the media to do it certainly ownership because they've you know they get the biggest dog in this fight and and and baseball off people as well. What about managerial styles Larry and -- I Harken back to the criticism of you Kalus and a snide comment to will. Middle Brooks is that's something that management would go to. Bobby Valentine and say we don't do it that way here we need to soften this up a little bit. Well. Not the way to Q do you putter at the press has put it make it seem like. It's been a back. There way communication. I think Bobby put it very well yesterday when he Wikipedia. Dealt with that issue. I do think that there I know that there is a regular dialogue and conversation. With with Bobby analyst and. On job problem myself and we can talk about. Feedback we do have opportunities to to make comments about things to each other. They tell us what they think they need from us and we we talked to them about it. Ideas that we may have that this would be -- -- -- might be helpful things that we occurred. I think it's important that ownership stake. Connected not just to. The manager the coaches but also to the players and we've tried to operate that way for the last eleven years German and this is our eleventh season. And we had that we do a lot of the same things that commitment the motivation that John Henry Tom Warner myself. All of us and our ownership group have to two winning is the same if anything it's even stronger given the frustration and disappointment we feel this year. So you can you can look at which. The most recent data of course and you must but I actually also considered against the body of work -- we've been engaged since last year's. Our let me be more specific and it'll move on past this did the did the comet that Bobby Valentine make -- will -- Brooks nice -- will. Offend your sense and sensibilities or anybody in ownership. -- I can't speak about anybody you know to ship that it did not offend my sensibility into which I've been around managers and coaches than those that. They're not always. Warm and Fuzzy. -- grew up with so Earl Weaver who is this crusty and sarcastic and -- critical as they come. It was highly effective guide so the the capacity has sarcastic come sarcastic comment taken out of context particularly given away Bobby. It explained it afterwards that it was a great relationship is with will. The time spent with them -- right after that that very game. Talking about the problems that he had when he was a rookie. I think I think that was that that the classic presented to the people. Is is communication at any level. A problem in the organization and I'm thinking specifically about communication between Bobby and his players. The players and Bobby maybe Bobby in the medical training staff -- Carl Crawford four day program that Karl didn't seem to be aware he was on. And Bobby found out people found out from different places is there a communication disconnect from time to time their Larry. I think that is the that is that's a tight budget do you guys but that's the -- valid point. I do think there in every organization. As the fight to ensure that it left and those with a right hand is doing. Particularly -- an organization that has as many people on this as much. Time intensity and information as soon as we operate with. So yeah I think we could do better in that regard I think -- or on the medical front we don't we have a whole new structure to the medical operation. And there are going to be some. Some glitches and some miscommunication that happen from time to time but I think it's I could walk over and conducted Jason wolf over deputy. And say that they can get the communications problem in this organization respectively -- he would say yes we constantly. Have to battle to ensure that the right people -- the right information -- right times. So yeah I think we're probably guilty of that. There is a perception in this town based on listening to callers and and listening to fans of the team that there's a disconnect between the ownership. And the team itself would you dispelled that that notion among fans parts. Absolutely. Absolutely as a said that the -- and an attitude goes dale we spent a lot of time. Talking to our players we have. Player around people's which is something and I suspect very few teams in baseball that country some do but. We sit down periodically and have for many many years. But our players several times a year and just sit down and talk directly but it's ownership. I can't. Coaches sometimes. The front office people all the time ownership all the time and they would color around cable because it's in no agenda discussion. And that we've been doing that they have for years that's our modus operandi. This year we've spent time. Getting to talk indoor players responding to our players. I do think the best organizations are ones. Where there are no. No walls or or problems between India that he should say problems are always be some issues you've got to do it. But walls and barriers between. Honest. Candy communication between players and the process and around. Let there is a possible. While in theory a player roundtable seems like a great thing to keep the lines of communication open and I just asked about communication the that in some perverse kind of way could be misconstrued by the players sending a signal that they are empowered to. Two to bitch and moan and get their own way. Well I suppose it could be if it's that -- that tone and the effect. That just total wanted to go to war or not do it. You know that's not. The way. We shop we operate. But I do think there isn't it there's another issue and that is the it is it is difficult to to have. Honest communication. We're which which your colleagues with the people your employees to people who work with but the idea baseball players or others. And you've got to constantly work -- I know that that time is limited here -- this will be my final question. Now that you've had a hundred some odd games to look at the performance of your baseball team you wish you had done more to revamp this roster in the offseason. That's a very. Very easy question and answer in terms of 20/20 hindsight -- because. Where 500 team right now and August and we never expected that to be the case. Like down. We have media. Gigantic payroll highest payroll in Red Sox history. Various numbers float around but -- and other real about bird. You know it's going to be somewhere around a 195. Million dollars. It's second and in all of baseball so we have had been despairing the the -- that that the dollars. We have made an effort to that we do it is. Make an effort to use every avenue available to -- did the waiver wire keeps free agency the trade and I think we used a little bit of everything minor -- free agents -- -- -- do I wish we had done a little bit more to stabilize the starting pitching that we anticipated. In advance the kind of difficulties we would have yes has been rich respected that makes a lot of sense -- that and we understand that but we we -- you can second guess the decisions we make but what you cannot do I believe this question. Our motivation and our commitment to winning. That's been there for Europe for eleven years and that's the touchdown on which we run the franchise is this is not about. Making a few dollars more has never been never been a profit distribution from the state team. Process dividends -- city ownership everything we've made we've reinvested in the player payroll and -- again. -- operations in international signings and renovating Fenway Park so the commitment is there are sometimes would make misjudgments and you're right absolutely we do. So learn how to just get fixed in rerouted does that happen you'll let it happen organically and then attack and fix the off season or the repairs available now. Well there are still barred from. Limited avenues available this year in terms of August acquisitions as you guys well know straights can be made before the very first of August. That's a little hours before that. But we don't do anything that's it's organic or casual. We are analytical. -- to falter and we will we will sit down and in get everyone on the same page -- improve the communication between and among us. And do that we've always tried to do which is make this team better. Recognizing that we -- baseball games is what were all about that is the basic. Central focuses club so we'll sit down and come up with it was with plants and and new ideas. For next season but we're not focused on next season will focus on. On improving this club this year finishing strong and accidentally. Malaria Twitter follower named Dennis Donovan what -- -- askew is the reds are the Red Sox management front office. An ownership afraid that Sox fans won't buy into a and he said choose whatever term you want rebuilding year bridge -- reconstructing here and playing playing the youngsters -- the end of the season and and doing what -- need to do are you afraid of that and I don't you hate the term bridge here. Are you afraid conceptually that your fan base will say this is a year were definitely not gonna win it because they're trying to do something or down the road. Well that's not in the way we've operated we we believe with the kind of market we have and they action it. Passion and intensity of our fan base and they financial wherewithal at that passion turns into. That we should. Be able to compete year last year mean -- yankees have been the post season for. Competing at least seventeen or eighteen years and wrote the Braves -- that the answer. Double digit years there way to do it. But there are times when you've got -- go be with young people are stuck it to game last night to some of our baseball guys and. And -- it does -- that he had on the that approach helped produce the games the ball on the young players. And so -- -- W Taiwan -- we will do it equipment we're gonna depend. On young players. -- just coming up to this team year after year and one's the best way to be consistently good. And to consistently and they gave it control your payroll. Is still have. Good young players every year I frankly think there's a lot of appeal to getting a rising star and that'll slogan but. To say. Dana -- simply -- -- rebuild -- I don't think you can hear that promised but you won't hear -- and see a focus on on young players as we go forward. Our Larry we have with -- that's another question from Twitter Jim gore wants little ball and why does it seem the Red Sox rarely get equal value in trades and are paying money in the second part of that. How does the budget work out how much money is in the budget to eat salary win and if you need to. Well we've demonstrated that we will eat salary when and if we need to. And the you know you gotta be a little careful that the -- to I don't take a premature snapshot of the trade. There were. Very traits that don't look so good today after and then a year after the couple other things in two years later you -- my goodness what a magnificent trade -- was. So yeah I can't question the premise that we don't get fair value and that we don't step of the competitive we need to make. Trade to get talent. -- -- I think that that we've we've proven that we -- able to Lou we will do well as soon as those areas. Larry thanks for the time good talking to you good luck go forward and and and beat these yellow dog and -- okay yeah all right CNN -- let you know president -- -- -- joining us on the AT&T hotline.