Larry Lucchino: We’ll deal with Bobby V decision after the season

It is our number three Dennis and Callahan joining us on the AT&T -- AT&T -- LTE was speeds up to ten times after the three GAT and T rethink possible. CEO presidents of Boston Red Sox Larry look you know good morning Larry. Red Sox Nation is dying to -- has the latest youngest newest Pedroia arrived. I well you know I don't know the add to that I don't think about it again last night and I presume it has happened. I know he was it is they have they've been on the edge of their seats waiting for it to that happened upside. I left the ballpark last night without knowing if the is it was Pretoria is. -- that as a right as a classic piece of video with Bobby Valentine on the field telling -- and his wife is in labor and I've never seen -- looks -- not a baseball yeah yeah scared to death -- I I couldn't figure out at first what was going and I realize of course they pregnancy. Issue was is that not a spot for a pro while. And I did hear they use eagerness to at this baby born before. The as an extra trips but I'm afraid they're larger forces at play here. Indeed there are yesterday on this broadcast Jerry Remy said. That he would not be surprised if Bobby Valentine were managing the Red Sox next year would you be Larry. They guys I understand the obligatory nature of here. Query about the manager issue but. It's it's getting it's a little. Tedious he has to keep asking about it because they tend to say the same thing that all organist saying about the situation or deal with that. Audiences idiot does decently sit and argue this season and that you go from there. -- that'll let me ask that broader question how does that process. Present itself in the offseason. Well. We sit down at the end of the season as we've done. Really close the past several years and and and talk to. We get that John every child martyr myself the it the it general manager. And now we we sit down and we sit down with the manager and we should that was -- baseball ops folks. And Malia and we review make decisions. What -- would first do -- little diagnosis and analysis of the of the year. So that there is an operating game play and from the off season. This year unfortunately we're gonna have to start the offseason and a little earlier than. And we -- customarily been used to. But. That's built -- at stake in the not to analyze the this season and decide what the red meats are what the with the best offseason -- this. And so that will double take place immediately -- far this season. Well why don't you do it now when and we've been asked in this that some doubt about that -- -- mourning Larry. And we asked this is more like why would you release. For -- -- say embassies to when you know goodies -- disruptive force. You're not going anywhere why would you trade Daisuke if he could get anything form why have him start he's -- until those contract. -- why don't you make do things that teams do. When they're out of contention and looking at the next week. Do we are doing things that teams do when they're out of contention that we are playing. Young players -- we it's. Some like four rookies and online at the other night. We are it was -- we're watching the development -- so far -- and Iglesias. And Syria go. There are there's but when we are trying to. Make other moves. Just because we haven't succeeded in treating players do you think should be treated. Doesn't mean there's an idea full throated effort afoot to try to find it trading partner for some of these. Some of these players. So it's not as these ideas. As pressing a button and say they would like to trade disguised. You don't wanna give away a player for adult -- reasons. And and so there is I challenge the premise Thursday various activity afoot to efforts afoot. Is that did it did make you sit with artists are afraid of making bold moves incidents in the -- around the trading day and I -- -- debt that. And you probably thought I would suppose just. Speaking rhetorically that. There are things that. -- -- And I'm not suggesting that there are further bold moves -- a season like now there -- opportunities just aren't there. But that there could -- there is an effort going on to. The new move them move players and do we can do. I find it I mean it's just -- -- the looking at the standings and sure you do the same thing year. Nineteen games in the loss column behind Oakland -- in the wild card race. Who else other than injuries who do you blame what do you blame. Well you know -- I wouldn't choose. You're popular. Show to air our dirty laundry. Like that -- I made some -- though answer that but I hear. I won't say that there -- is is general manager like this state and Texas multi -- tutorial analysis. There are a lot of factors like talk about what do. As -- at home. And I do think as you guys have heard me speak bad about him big games should be called -- ball on not baseball. Because the centrality of pitching is so great for the success of any team. Be it starting pitching in particular but also. Relief pitching these to these things so long relief it is a place where you would relegate. Players pitchers to address. That's important. Every pitcher that bullpen is important. And it every pitcher starting rotation to support and I think they stability or instability. Of our of our pitching rotation had. Pitching in general has a lot to do with that I think. The epidemic of injuries to key players I -- that every team suffers so. But we've said the he just numerically. The worst. Injury record. His statement compiling. Disabled list statistics over the last forty or fifty years. And I think that he can't excuse like -- reason why why certain things happen. Some visitors visit to the the personal resentment there -- he is sort of. Unpredictability. Of some of the some the performance we got last year we -- players with the established track records. Who performed. Very differently from there established track records that there's no way that that could have been. Anticipated at least nobody spoke person that I don't did anticipated. Given the injury situation that you just so -- cited. The fact that you changed your medical staff -- your training staff. It in a large fashion in the offseason do you find that ironic you find that coincidental or you find it irrelevant. I find it frustrating it's. You know we we yeah we had a serious injury problem. Last year. And we we took some some some serious steps to reconstructed the as a medical staff. And I think we're in we've we've moved in the right direction and I think we have some highly capable people is that is that role. But we didn't have the the net result -- that we're hoping for now. I think the reason for that is many of these injuries were accused. Traumatic nature Bailey. Has a collision at first base and we start the season without our clothes and. Jacoby Ellsbury areas shortstop fall on his shoulder and we lose that are I was number two -- -- these voting last year. Carl Crawford as it is a a problem with his -- that develops. Over the off season. We did no water anticipates. There were some. Especially acute injuries can probably at least more excited. Thought about it but the fact is that the these are not things that you can attribute to -- medical. Training and I do think they -- that one reason why there are several reasons I think what we can be. Optimistic. Where for the for 2013. Years there after and that is the probability of having to. Having a surge a year. Consecutively when that we have when we are bitten as severely as we have been bitten by. Major injuries I think is it is small on. And I think that there is there's reason to believe we should have better health next year but we still -- -- medical stuff -- Boston we have the best. Medical infrastructure and establishment. In the nation. There should be a way -- I nuclear or. Or marching towards that goal. And I and I know that there's a focus on the -- John Henry on down. That we are kind of focused on making sure we have the state -- -- -- Medical. As. Facilities and and and infrastructure in place so that we can deal with rehabilitation practiced rehabilitation. Where Larry can you define the discipline term that Ben turned to refers to as it applies to acquiring talent in the offseason. I yeah I've of course I know he uses that that phrase was some of frequency. Disciplined approach. But yeah I think it means. Some some element of patient. We're not gonna go out like -- drunken sailors having payroll flexibility is the second factors that I would -- -- for optimism -- -- sort of for the future. -- -- -- Payroll flexibility is not needed to squander it -- just first of freeagent opportunity. And editors go to eight year deal at some astronomical. Going -- level. -- doesn't mean we're gonna abstained from the free market free agent market to be sure. We're gonna operate on all cylinders that means trade does that mean to waiver -- If that means. Rule five draft so whatever it whatever we can do. We are going to. Do we can't they just -- better going forward. But I think discipline means speed below the patient -- Don't just go crazy in the in different markets and those two of the characteristics. Q do you think you you've told us the payroll was close to 190 million over -- -- I meant the start of this year it will it be that I at the start of next year. No no -- it. It will be we we are very reluctant to talk about payroll numbers for the April respectively. Analyst Leah could tell the world including me other competitive teams where we -- our payroll is going to be announced he had reason to tell them what are. Activities are likely to include and where we're likely due to people -- As those teams duke closely tracked -- They payroll. Both of other clubs that are. Particular division so it will be eaten it will be substantial but it won't be at that level I would expect. Idle and let it let something that is. -- Would and and I can't talk about players specifically or on other teams but there are couple of marquee free agents. Including the guy down in Texas who's known Triple Crown threat but the guy with some issues 32 year old guy. In theory would you be kicking the tires and that guy or does this new direction new approach disciplined approach kind of forbid that you won't. Well it is forbidden because we have. We have the flexibility. And the obligation. To examine all possibilities. So will examine all possibilities RJR presumption that will be different and that perhaps they have -- in in recent years about the necessity or the strong inclination. To move in in that direction. With. High price belong in this is the link does that term that is most troubling what you can and -- seven and eight year contract indeed there have been some tenure can check. That presents some issues of four for repairs or close them. Because the market has such -- allow that to happen doesn't mean we have to particulate. What do you think when Saint Louis. Hired Mike Metheny got no experience of the White Sox I grow and mature guy would no experience did you think that that was. A risky and we surprised it's worked at least Chicago's case. I actually. Thought there was some. Different is that a that he every club Thursday. A different set of circumstances and you know it's Ventura they were getting a guy who is the. Well known to them who -- do listen in in many ways that he. But the metal building block for the franchise for a long time I thought it was very easy thing I was all of its -- closely today. Handled the coaching around him to give some kind of problem. Assistance because because you guys know. -- -- that -- it over and over coaches get too little credit to little blame. Its success success success of a baseball team so -- kind of an interesting. Endeavor on their part and they have it has proven Padilla. Padilla. Success well. Larry the sellout streak while once at one time the but cute little interesting footnote has not only take on a life it's. Of its own but has in many quarters become an object of derision by the fans why it's a sellout streak so important to the organization. And -- other forces at work behind the scenes to make sure lives. Well and get their so I think she said like to comment on. Wonder why today is not necessarily about -- duration on the part of our fans I think it's on Larry that he will make I haven't heard a single fan nor received a signal -- mill or cut a single letter. When that happens but. I do think there are some people to Boston Globe has taken a very different definition. You're in the battling definitions. And their definition is the literal one that is that every possible CT. Must be so. And indeed operating definitions of this year for years years long before we got here -- some place for the most Major League Baseball teams. Although there are some variations that most baseball teams. Defied. It's like you have more people in the ballpark because you. Sold more tickets or. The distributed more tickets in the -- so we have 37000. 494. Seats and if we have tickets out there for example we had did get a -- I remember tennis for two nights ago was so it's 3709595. That was -- just sold to. So there -- more people in the ballpark this is because we -- that we -- standing. Is as. Part of the crowd at the game. So I don't think it's for it and that's one thing yeah. So it's really a battle of definitions effectively. It's on its own you know as a sellout streak is developing has developed over here nine years. It's the source of pride has that sort of surprised we suffer fans as well as for the organization. But oh well but he it is what it is plan and it and it will land. There's no question about it of course Canadians. I felt this year because it. We sold so many tickets since September -- week and we've averaged. Yet again as we averaged 37600. People somewhere around 3757576. That's an average for every game this year you can quibble about definition. If this is delighted that the -- but that's an extraordinarily consistent record. We're taking some time this month to affect our stance as assistant fan appreciation -- homestand and excellent will be too. And snuck you can and you didn't grow and say hey there there are some seats behind the post it didn't get sold. Yeah there are several hundred people and standing room instead. And by high definition that has been and a sellout was further insights. That's been the definition since the 1980s we didn't -- it we got here. So. Is that it's it's something that fans think should be brotherhood that consistency. And we're taking. Time this month. The -- that was giveaways at the ballpark it was. Especially gestures and and I just direct expression -- of gratitude for the loyalty they have shown. But the course of this tumultuous. Difficult frustrating disappointing season. You expect to ticket prices to stay the same. We haven't made that there that the that decision so. Historically we'll -- make a decision. Immediately after this season in my mind my sense is that there's not a. Not a lot of compelling reasons. To increase the ticket prices but I think you'll see some. Some changes that -- a different approach to tickets selling for -- Larry we've talked about this with you in the past few here not in a year -- -- and Jon and I set went to lunch with somebody and will McDonough was there in the great moment on don't know him who and he knew everything that was going on behind the scenes he said mark my words. Looking will be gone within a year he'll be he'll be running the Washington Nationals. Lost his prediction and you don't usually will was right on. That was Stan ten years ago now. Much longer you're going to be around. Well I love it here I love Austin. That is the. The place I call home. I hope to be here for the foreseeable future I've got no plants. To go anywhere else. Enjoyed -- working relationship with my partners and my colleagues. And and the challenge that faces us here. It is a tremendous one it's. -- in some ways. Very. Dismissal perverse. It's very appealing we've done things. One way or this or eleventh here we had. Quite a good ride which lots of successes I think as he -- people would we would agree with. But now there's a very fundamental challenge to us a real opportunity. To get this franchise back where it should be in terms of. On field success and playoff baseball. And I relish that opportunity. Knock on anywhere. Don't by the way you're you're you're a hero of the commissioner Bud Selig he makes 22 million bills a year so. I don't like I don't blame you for you know idolize him but. Do you think he'll step in and stop Roger Clemens from the charade that he might these attempting a lot from Houston in the reset all of them clock. -- I think it there are there's a little but -- It's it's OK I used to work with the general manager named oral agreement and we sit -- and under an agreement that every year. There could be. One sort of odd billion -- can't. Activity -- we did it in spring training we did in this season. Or something. And so I think there's there's room for a little bit of this kind of bizarre. Activity and people -- uninteresting people default I don't know why you're so offended. -- I'm not offend that he's just -- no -- do and -- in. We all know wise he does not wanna be you know. Co stars co conspirators -- Barry Bonds in the hall of fame -- the two of them won't get in together in the two in the and we linked forever and it wouldn't mind reset the clock -- All -- language kids including his own. So alarmed you know that priorities kind of a -- a reason they're by the way at the end of the month we have the all -- team announced that last. The last homestand the last week of the -- collaboration very cheap things get. We're working on that we're helping you out here today you know we're working on ways to keep the interest them promote. We want district one tonight we want the and on him but ultimately I think what unite Heidi what do you like well. Bring back. 23. September. After the after the game. It's 6 o'clock of course and on number six will be Asia. Memorial ceremony. That the ballpark but we're gonna open -- ballpark that night did. So people are epic games -- state for is that the ceremony wander around the warning track and -- -- -- Various aspects of that it does is slice. Guess that'll include a few players this time yes it will. Sure I got Alfred elicit this medication and -- -- have whatever he's on we can all share a next marketing. Element criteria I I have two more questions Larry when you -- circling back to a Savvis has the same misconduct concerned you both the three game suspension conduct whatever that was the last night showing up as manager on the field by not -- the ball on being there when -- came -- to remove him from the game. It's simple answer yes OK. So -- his -- -- what do you what do you need them for you guys on in contention at the break. Get rid of -- -- and say yeah. Is that the -- -- ask -- question. -- -- yet another one I don't know what we're looking at this speculation really Larry is gaining momentum that John and Tom are maneuvering this team to sell it. How vociferously on how vociferously argue armored then call vociferously argue are willing to deny that. Quite vociferously. As I said they they feel. The same kind of competitive juices that are fans feel that I feel. There's that opportunity. Here to to put this. Team back on the track it's it was offer. For a decade. We were in contention year after year one with some regularity ever played October baseball with great frequency. And there has not been one word one word of discussion. Regarding. We are we are committed. And and for better or worse we had to guess you have to -- Europe for war. That's Tuesday here -- good morning -- here this. Are you Larry I'm okay yeah I argued that he came. With great interest. The revitalized the Eagles huge on this week at northwestern they how much concern is there in the organization that most Hardaway and blazes have struggled and notes a small sample of the Major League level but. Is there any concern at this. I think that you know we're hoping for more. Unequivocal. Evidence. Of their preparedness. For the big leagues and its data that's come and has been a little bit mixed but if you if you saw. The place. Deeply dismayed the other. You know two nights ago going across here. The middle it was as good potential players -- seen entire year by any team. It's just so the partly truth or the they run or stealing bank that's. The other and I've just stated was what took to be a perfect throw it very important part of the game. You have to be encouraged by the defense this side of things. To be sure. But the. Rogers Hornsby used to joke if you shake it -- 45 good -- have a lot of -- I don't think that's quite. The case but for us the for many of the youngest players that we have the issue is going to be that's. And Bartley is it everywhere he's been and I think there's. Prison for up to this. I know you've been around alone you knew Rogers Hornsby methods and its history and I Roger read the column -- -- How many more of these frauds the have to let. Try this be a gig before we give it to the to the best the the obvious successor coping well. -- clear we don't have let's see about six more games so the only -- -- more quote fraud and but it's it's been very thing process and -- even meter would admit there have been some. So talented people meters not out there alone in the operation on. Who makes the decision and -- meters which upon his -- have to freeze that to make this go at all. All that's a good question it's the -- are department generally in the ballpark operations folks. Who'll rule making that decision now whether any big sums will be put on the scale yeah remains to be seen. The doctor Charles have a say in this at all recently -- Hillary -- it's my dad is it is about state. Not I didn't know it couldn't. All right Larry thanks for the -- -- good conversations Larry we'll talk the next time they're looking at what -- and -- element AT&T outline AT&T four GL TE --