Kevin Towers - Padres GM

Right now we well up preview this weekend's big weekend series in San Diego between the Red Sox and Padres. The general manager of the San Diego Padres Kevin towers joins -- Kevin -- on Michael how aria. I'm doin' fine have what you guys. Doing pretty well got a huge hour now Kevin towers and bill Russell in the same -- this is very day. I don't know but want to take -- money on the art -- themselves stay away at. Well let's say one thing you have been able to do is build up pitching staff meant to you guys throw the ball well right now.

Well I'd say what pectoral park is probably one of the toughest hitters parks there's baseball and a as an organization we've always been a very good job of I think drafting pitching in developing pitching -- that's been our strengths would be so it can stick to our strengths then just try to add to it each each and every year in this year it's been one of the better years -- at long --

Kevin I remember being on the air last year. Hearing a lot of rumors about Jake Peavy being moved obviously they were knocked down it didn't happen. If you have a lot of conversations are a lot of phone calls from other teams about peavy were you ever close to making a deal with them

absolutely not that's can when the vultures start coming out when I -- down years think you know. Other ball clubs think to maybe you're starting this hour one year. Good young pitchers in you know it was just. One of those years were I think the WBZ after coming out of that I think it's tenderness in the elbow and shoulder -- just never was able. Get on track but this -- seven probably one of the best years that he's ever had in his career in the you know he's somebody that although people vast we've never even considered.

What that is quite a pitching matchups Sunday as a -- when you've got peavy and Beckett -- here -- spotlight.

Why I Taylor I think all three of them pretty good dramatics and Daisuke tonight no Tim Wakefield. Always thought Tim Wakefield will be good pitcher over here post potter was that knuckle ball would be good and San Diego were. And new Tim back my day's work with the pirates in the early 90s that rookie year was. Very memorable year in which like he has -- missed the east they'll. Probably successful and you know -- and Chris Young tomorrow be it wouldn't you know on Sunday I think you can Beckett he get to power. Power pitchers and two guys that may end up landed up in the all star game here in the next couple weeks that they had -- again.

Last year there was a trade between the Red Sox and Padres at the time Red Sox fans were celebrating. Doug Mirabelli was returning Cla Meredith and Josh Bard we're leaving. Now that trade looks very lopsided in your favor what I have bard and Meredith brought -- team.

Well you know go into that that deal. -- had a you know big need to get mirabelli back to catch the knuckle ball -- stroke. -- there to catch it -- you know for us so we know we've had some interest -- Mark on back Tuesday's Colorado and autumn and Cleveland in the you know we felt we got that we can control herbal it was going to be free agent the next year and felt the -- it catcher would be a good fit Meredith we liked lot coming out of college I know he kind of rushed up to the big league struggle a little bit small sample would -- there that. We thought that I would that type the delivery that type of -- would be very very tough on right hand hitters in. He's certainly exceeded our expectations Europe and it was if you shot or herbal and last year in the chat. Some struggles this year which we can we got him back on track and were very happy to have both solution.

Is it fairly safe to say that the decision to push back Chris Young start by a day and his appeal of his five game suspension related events.

They could be absolutely you know. East or try to try to work things that are on the all star game meters away that you know mean that dropping his appeal you -- Ulster game or we could. They've manipulated a little bit to work you know maybe miss a date with they had nothing to do with the match ups applause in the brawl that we had Chicago you know he was a little bit tenders left shoulder after coming that's we felt given extra -- would give that that worked and -- he'll.

You know Kevin you know certain guys are -- are identify with certain teams and I think of the Atlanta Braves obviously Bobby Cox Joe -- with the Yankees and I think of the Padres always think of cruise -- you so we hear from me not to see him in the dugout -- oh what's the adjustment been like -- you.

Well Bruce's well I ever -- former teammate so we played partridge organization in the 80s in. I was just pitching coach -- rookie ball first and we both in -- in the same year and you know my -- first 11 years general manager that's all I've ever news so you know was a little bit different going into spring training this year but I think Bruce. -- happy -- you know still on the west coast in the NL west up and sentences when but he blacks just -- minister you know he'd been rumored for the last several years of may be in the managerial candidate even hurt Boston -- from a -- Cleveland in -- remixes on here Rancho -- I think this is the ideal spot foreman. After spent seven years at the right inside of my so OSHA I think he was ready and he's been a tremendous job you know filling some very big shoes of Bruce -- I think -- fans embraced players embraced I think he's got a chance to be roast or.

You made a trade this week acquiring catcher Michael Barrett from Chicago we all saw the Barrett zambrano -- stopped in the dugout we kind of thought that they would make a move what was your thought process in acquiring Barrett.

Well actually the first calls placed whether GM Jim Hendry told me about so overly -- go cities and -- since wrigley field. Mentioned two or three names to meet one name that blues that's stuck out to us like here at in coach tremendous aptly he's been nationally is oh era. You know I think some of the problems he's had in the way of flights have been because he cares intense player you know it's left in the pitching very very well and you know or. Never ever be an everyday catcher catching you know 130 plus games you know we felt and even Bowater backed up never doing so -- so. If were we were an injury away from lack in depth that the position and you know Michael's experience coming here nor in the nationally knowing the hitters strengths and weaknesses in. You know bring an intense competitive guy and the next week though was good move forums.

Kevin if you talk that Theo Epstein for a few minutes. And get into this personal history -- professional history your name comes up P it's obvious how much respect he has for you now that he's here Boston. Running his own team what's the relationship like like now how would you describe

it's a very very agreed to respect for the news. The smartest young men that are better around and it's great to see what he's been able to accomplish there and Austin you know going back home up knows stone's throw from -- weigh in. Pretty remarkable it's not surprising nudist it would have success in. -- so it's good baseball people I think is done a tremendous job I think equals for long long time and but don't feel it known myself -- these three days although that your we will we will talk. You know one of us is going to want to wear the orange after in this week in and -- which --

Kevin Kouzmanoff return to your lineup but after missing five games with some lower back issues. Is he as close to a 100% as you're gonna get him at this point ready to go again.

I think I think -- line oh because came back even a couple of days that one extra times so you know he's a 100% -- No plate yesterday in the -- will be in the the next arena it's.

They're Kevin a lot of us -- aren't what were surprised by how the how powerful the Colorado Rockies lineup was they came to Fenway they really handle the Red Sox and they just swept the Yankees tell us a little bit about this team I -- you see them a lot more than we deal

was talking about Arizona you know be in the real talented club all the young talent. You know nobody was pitched Colorado and that they what we seem a -- and spring train somewhat last year and you know once -- both of those clubs might be here was they start winning because they be very very and I think you know arguably they got probably the best middle organized in the middle of that are. In middle of their lineup as -- in the national -- when you think of actions you know oh. -- holiday you know and if you. Can't keep metsu earlier taveras off the bases they can do a lot of damage and scored. Rodrigo Lopez is back on the ball well chip France is back Aaron Cook could be very very -- and Josh Fogg you know an Arnold because it would pierce or what but he seems to. About when based baseball game so no other some creative kinda creep back into this and illustrations things can be -- right up in the including rockets.

Final question from me Kevin there was a piece in today's San Diego union Tribune by Chris Jenkins talking about how. Red Sox nation travels pretty well and whatever the Red Sox play. They seem to have a big presence have the players talked at all about having a whole lot of red suddenly appear -- this weekend.

Well you know we had a chance to play -- in 2004 and so what it was like playing in Fenway and we you know we do either going to travel very very well -- little bit like the raiders the Steelers and football make some here's San Diego depleted chargers in the they they've got to in almost a hundred people coming from the front office to so. No a lot of familiar faces a lot of people working in the front announcer Austin worked here in San Diego. I imagine the gas lamp district here's the next two retreat next pretty -- the -- should be. Playoff atmosphere you know I can wait for the first pitched it should be a lot of fun and match and you will see a lot of red.

We really appreciate -- a few minutes to join us and preview the series enjoy the weekend. Thanks much take care they haven't Kevin towers is the general manager of the San Diego