Sam Kennedy, Red Sox COO

Back on the hot stove show joining us now in the AT&T hotline -- Red Sox CO Sam Kennedy Sam our UC. It's going great guys they sure haven't beyond. -- loss to start with the I guess -- the story of the week here at the the Shaughnessy. Francona but here's my first question would be is have you read hitters -- to -- -- excerpt that was in Sports Illustrated this week. I have not read the book but I have seen pieces of Diego Serb tonight I think by now operate most bit but that. A lot of emails. That up seeing come across my street -- down there and certainly there's people talking about it over the last several days. I guess my question would be the the Warner. Francona meeting about sort of Mangini more exciting team to do so in -- ratings he said there was a meeting the other people there in the room were you in the room to the conversation. Yeah you know I'm not gonna get into too many specifics. You other than this that I think that Theo Epstein actually. Directed and clarified -- -- today which was which I thought it was a helpful. And there may have been some other meetings I know I was at a meeting. Where where Tom. Certainly. Could not say anything of the sort related to. -- and or the Red Sox in terms of on the makeup of the team but then apparently. There was another comment I think I'm you know publicly stated today that he says that in -- -- Tom and -- I was a a really good sense of humor. As -- studios like -- C been discussing hadn't. I can actually hear that -- coming out of his mouth says the as a -- comments that made sense to me when I first heard -- -- I thought. Chaotic kind of funny but that would be -- clarified it that it makes sense. Well Sam let's -- kind of step back kind of broadly since you know without going into details of the book because I haven't read it it's not out yet. What do you view as the proper relationship between the marketing side of a baseball operation of an organization. And the baseball operations side of things. It sure to great question. You know all that great sports organizations. Great ownership groups like two hours. I think I have one goal and that's to win baseball games. And the you know we can here for eleven years together columns -- groups won two world championships. We've had six postseason appearances. One over a thousand baseball games in fact I think. The only other key 1000 games during the period that we've been here for eleven years of the New York Yankees so -- so. On the business side the baseball side didn't end and the community. Outreach side. All need to work together to achieve that common goal pointing. Gains. Good to be clear clear the way that says that I view the world like this before myself. Is that we on the business side are here to support and provide. The necessary resources and and the baseball operations group to do everything in their power to fuel the team that does one thing and that is win. Winning baseball games he is and always has 10% formation. Of the Boston Red Sox since we've been here I think that the John Henry and Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino have have demonstrated. An incredible track record in doing that. And I noted that I'm really proud to be a part of the organization I know that. -- -- was proud to be a part of this organization that's was Tito. And -- I certainly wish them both well as I know everyone in in our organization does. Salem but as as you said there is you've had a pretty consistent philosophy throughout. Your time here but have you noticed any change at all. The say in the last three or four years or whether it was a change a couple years ago or change back. When that group but he turned over last year have you noticed any kind of change in terms of the approach that you guys took in that respect. No I I haven't what I have noticed though Robinson -- the change in our. You know winning percentage -- And I think that. -- it -- started to cause. Different folks started. -- criticize organizations. More regularly and then I fully understand that and I fully respect that. Our job don't we are pretty good and we are here to do one thing and that is win baseball games and we know that. We take that responsibility very seriously. You know I I grew up a sports fan a passionate Red Sox fan. And there's nothing more important can be then then winning baseball games and so I think that over the past several years given that. We've fallen short of our sort of organizational. Goal or mandate which is to play baseball in October put yourself. In the post season and give yourself a chance to win the World Series. We fall short of that so we have been -- understandably. Not criticize. And for. A lot over the last several years in and that's on us to fix it and -- recognize. That we have not performed up to beat the very high expectations. That to exist in this marketplace and I can assure you the John. Have given Larry and be content sharing it and the entire organization. The resources. 26 that and to get us back to where we belong which is on top of the baseball world -- really believes it. That we have that know how about the work ethic the passion and dedication. I get it done but those are just words and so. It it down it doesn't mean very much -- coming from me right now audit and I've been here for twelve years and wound and -- We tasted the champagne and and we wanna get back there and and and that's that's why we're all here. Same can -- Red Sox COO joins us about seeing musical from Franklin in the book talks about day games and final days of home stands he says. One thing the players were always asking for. Was getaway day games he owners would never go for that couldn't have more day games because the ratings were already suffering. And now -- heard worse is that an accurate. Because accusation from Francona. You know I think it's it's very little bit of an unfair characterization. We we sit downwind. When we sat down with Theo Epstein and this year and and -- -- -- them. And now and and we try and -- workout schedule that that works out well toward the baseball operations. And it's. It's always a difficult -- scheduling especially in New England with the weather issues is probably the most difficult. Think that we have to do. We would love to have more critique and especially for kids and for families we've. And the fact that needed a priority to add more day games over the last several years. But there are certainly just to -- issues and and pools with with each and every DP tried scheduled game onside kick go into detail on on all of them. But do you factory in. The chance where the most fans possible to see a game home either in person or on television. Yes we do so you have to. Take into consideration. That it is. Broadcast implications and impact on on the game. All game -- which is under our control. -- wonder put together the schedule on time but it's unfair to characterize the fact that we we never didn't took any. Importer direction from baseball but again I'm not not being critical I haven't seen those specific quotes for anything it just. I know how it works hand in reality. Sam coming off of last season and obviously that was that was as a number of people refer to it as a traumatic season for a lot of you guys. Clearly there's been a is significant restructuring and reshaping the roster. How how have you guys figured out what the marketing campaign is for this 2013 season. How how are you presented you know in -- kind of sell it to the fan base and based on the quotes and excerpts that we've seen any thoughts of calling him bringing sexy back. But that's that's that's that's Daria that's collapse. Its legality he should probably keep your day job as it is the market price is that is out there are you know we do we actually. I I think we are hopefully didn't let our actions speak a lot out than our words. We do have an obligation to market this to be a principally we we -- We we don't -- shy away from -- run away from that we want to be a very aggressive. -- organization. On the baseball side on the marketing side and on the community outreach side. The and that's that's very important to us so in terms of the marketing this club and we have. All sorts of ways to communicate with our fans. I think the most important thing is to elect John Ferrell and that cherry and -- speak -- the baseball side and the types of players that we've assembled. And the reasons I thought process. -- -- assembling. Those those teams and then what we need to focus on not on the business side is make sure we're doing everything in our power to it. Deliver the best possible fan experience at Fenway when people come here I think it's. You guys know the last eleven years we've -- invested. 285 million dollars and at the ballpark just to save Fenway Park. And our ownership -- given away over 500000050. Million dollars to charity. And this group and a little known fact they probably don't talk about it put but I will. Did not take it one dollar. -- one dollar of profit. From Minnesota from the enterprise all the revenues that we generate. Are reinvested back into the club back into the player payroll back into renovate Fenway Park. -- back into the operation of the team so. That's something that we're very proud of that this group has made an incredible commitment is to -- -- and into the front office and so it's it's something that we're very proud of it and and you know I. I -- ask for our fan -- to like to keep off base here this offseason I know the L you're right we had a incredibly. Difficult incredibly difficult threes and 69 wins. -- just something that. I've never never been through before and it was awful and we we had tons of injuries I'm making excuses we can we just -- Lot of things went wrong right from the get go. And -- hopefully it's you know when people give us a chance to prove that. We can we can get this thing back contract and and I'm confident that we will. Same as he says it all comes down to winning races it's either you win or you don't in the last two years there's been a problem in that respect. From your perspective which has been more difficult to sell the team was it last off season or has it been this offseason. I'm not a question I think you can feel the effects of a a -- Really negative season on here on the on the business side end in terms of looking at pure. Sort of revenue categories. In the hopper down. Do you really feel the effects the following season after a bad season in the Indy you'd get sort of the positives. -- bombs and end up listed interest in demand. After a good season. So I think you know it is the last. Several years there has been tough just in general because as I mentioned we haven't as everyone knows we haven't been to the postseason since 2009. And it's that that's not acceptable we we we wanna get back there. And the good news is is it is ownership has. Given us all the resources to to do just that. I think that pin abandoned my keys in Bryant who aren't Jerry Porter and sex god and everyone in baseball operations. Kind of like you guys know they're -- force seven. They are working even harder if that's possible. Just this past offseason to get to get us back on track so hit ball over the last several years have been difficult Robin and but I think this year. From -- and the business perspective will be will be tougher and last year just given the fact that. We had such a disappointing. He's an on the field although -- -- you know we get off to a decent start. We we we might be okay and I do think. -- that our fans and will see. The commitment and and hopefully we'll we'll get behind misspoke but we need to we need to let our actions speak louder than ours. Same night to help me out here you guys track the consecutive amount of games you've had sellouts are now. Well we've we've heard something about about the sellout streak to us via. With with that is there any talk about as fast or slow start the season if you do good up to a slow start. Are you sensitive to the cynicism is out there regarding that streak. You -- we're we're really not come up but I do think that the sellout streak will and that's I know -- land at some point I don't going to may be it may be this this April. In May be -- it it may not. Laughter I see that's up to the fans and again we've -- repeatedly. It's -- streak that there are fans it's no one in sports is ever receive the type of support that the Boston Red Sox had seen during this incredible. Incredible. Ten years this decade. That Henry Werner and Lucchino administration and it it is humbling. And hopefully the fans support will continue. Put up decent pragmatic and -- realistic about it. -- -- this season you know it's going to be difficult to people are are. Are sort of -- or wait and see -- people are angry some people are upset. An and I don't blame them I understand that we we need to do a better job we need to. When he can win baseball games. This season and and do it consistently so. We'll see what happens with a sellout streak down the putt it's not something that doesn't keeps -- up at night despite. Some time popular -- Just just to clarify on that point to you and I have had this conversation a little bit in the past but. How do you define a sellout inter who defines -- is -- Major League is it defined by Major League Baseball or is it that is the standard set internally by the Red Sox. -- -- first of walks defined when united front when you have more tickets are distributed so so paid complimentary tickets to exceed your seating capacity. So that's the definition that it's not defined by Major League baseball's defined by the individual clubs in. Most baseball clubs and most other sports teams use that definition. And it's something that the Red Sox have viewed sport decades here at Fenway Park. Saying -- appreciated the extra time. Our -- a lot that's same can be Red Sox deal quick break we're back on the hot stove show WB yeah.