Red Sox GM Ben Cherington says the top priority has always been winning, not "sizzle"

Joining us on the AT&T -- like AT&T forgy LTE the Sox general manager Ben Jerry Ben good morning how -- yeah. Or don't find -- out the top at the Fred total book made the rounds at the office at Fenway Park and -- so. Are people generally upset about what was written or 08 with what was written. I have this is to look at other than you know excerpts that are that your vote that has seen. We actually just come off -- there it is. Or an additional means that -- And industry that you yesterday's news patterns are. It's obsessing about -- third person in so. -- that's been created. But you know I think I guess my general take on it is that. Seem to me that the best sister -- -- written a little bit more. It's never been there and at some point. People that. The period in 2004. And 2011. It's gonna -- -- you know integrated. There is period at our sister in and the but for players. You know their sex and the guerrillas and shelling them or sneezes the world. There are people that had more to do that anywhere else our our our great -- video and it's so. You know those are people. Who well we've seen in the appropriate light. The cancer is so important here. The culture of the owners as described by Francona during that time pop Warner mainly. And this is something that you could address because you're up to this in in in your in your to your -- was was mandating. The desire to improve -- and trading by getting sexier players -- Carl Crawford C Egon. And winning in more exciting fashion is that accurate. The first priority and there are actually. Prior it's -- -- -- -- that perspective. The first priority at first absolute first priority. All that but that's including our toddlers. Is to win and that's that's sort of on the mental. Till now so that's throughout this and when you're trying to win every year. There was like Austin. You know it requires us to be aggressive and -- is as. A lot where players and of course we've that are successes and failures over the years and -- player players. Where personal assistance. Are also trying to be aggressive. With the business because that. You know that drives. Revenue -- that -- -- You know reinvest in the baseball scene in our system and all part it is operations so. The App Store the other. The first priority has always all. Winning in the aggressive toward winning. -- this ought to manage that and -- it. -- -- make this decision and it is and it was it was that your statement. Hitler -- six that's. That's in the you know I think any and businesses trying to be as good as it possibly can you agree. -- -- Larry and so are out there are certain -- -- sports minister. Understand in the -- -- than what they're so important and there's things we can do. It isn't what they want it you know who argued apple we know what it really market it as the -- and not that was you know guys that are. Decisions. More than anything over the years and I know that's letters. Well then I feel flat out says in the book on page 272. They told us we didn't have any marketable players. The teams not exciting enough we need some sizzle we need some sexy guys. He says I was laughing to myself talk about the tail wagging the dog this is like an absurd just comedy. You were there for that. Did you -- you laughing and -- -- as it changed our I mean is it different now or they still demanding. That you have some sizzle. Well I think -- I have read the book I'm I'm pretty sure. What is referring to there as a as a -- that happened. You know as a result of of a marketing study that was. It was. You know. Enlarged heart and essence and yet it's a little bit. You know. A lot of a lot of sports organizations. And certainty networks do that are understand their houses that doesn't mean that. But -- in translated in their personal decisions and he's. But he says that he says he's the next line he says that type of bleed. Contributed to the decision in the wanted to go for more of a quick fix signing Crawford trading for Adrian Gonzales was in direct. Response to that shame on me for giving into it says -- but at some point the landscape is what it is I didn't handle it well. That kind of explains the -- what we were doing so he says flat out that that mandate. Was in place and he he saw -- come to. It is -- important -- they're number warm. At all on how to read the book is all my my understanding what is your current meeting. Where a group of consultants. -- it if -- over setting. I was not go to our mandate and our Larry you know thousand permission gathering. It's it is in the anyway it -- turned into four baseball decisions and so they are all agreed to desert here on. But there anyway it did contribute. And that -- out -- that it's appropriate spot and that's also wrong. Ownership group who worked together -- our commanders -- Demands of Boston errors that pressure to Wear and urinal. Success on the field here after years and we all -- that we. Are sort of last year certainly in. You know it's it's not that the and we ask our players to be accountable. All the time. I think there's certain notion. Blaming. I'm from marketing study out players sisters is folly assistance just that the -- happened. Bed and your offseason acquisitions might prove the point or make the case that you're not going after sexy sizzle guys tell us why the team you are in the process of assembling. Is going to be a better team without some stars in it in the opposition's. Well where else are as you know we have guys are here that has been. Prevents you know our little players. You know leave when we talk about -- the in hardest part about building testing we can't -- -- you know as many as well as possible. To search goes through. That the works are at an early answer our city workers little guys. In -- when it is it is. Is as much as possible and allies look at already. You know in both the current and sort who has or you lose you know it. Lester who knows he's right that are that are. This offseason our approach has been. -- as much strength as many parts of the rosters possible. You know I don't know -- maybe we didn't make the war on headline news or -- emphasis for the I think I think a lot of -- -- -- is probably aren't that people we've added strength through a lot of different areas of roster including some. Liars we really need yet holders. I think in aggregate. You know -- still pretty good -- strong -- With a chance. You know. Eat eat a lot of areas and you know the chances matchup there whether -- are part of winning and aliases to. Avoiding having. Avoiding having a whole roster of black hole or positions. -- just not getting anything out of that position. Can register for Peter out people are out organize and you have. People currency currency. Starting out. And keep -- that that thing. And you put these pockets or all of their roster or -- aren't getting much. It is you a chance to avoid. You know you're in the future for our district. And and we can -- that's such an apple actually has semi ultimate roster on the east. -- longer losing -- it's just. Or your European currencies and so we have. Note that we have star level players our our domain registrar -- and that's where. We really try to addresses many are the -- there. -- would you concur that there is a potential for a black -- at a particular position that being first -- -- fifteen days that it took you to go from 39 million dollars guaranteed to Mike -- to five million dollars is -- five million dollar -- the -- and the medical staff in -- baseball -- people think his -- condition will not be an issue and -- -- not consider just washing your hands of this whole thing when -- got the reports. That we -- -- considers torture has this is that this is the situation that. You know player -- -- we really like happily. You know as something including -- about including Mike Napoli. And our physical part of our physical it is MRI revealed this. And then what you're -- you know we have an obligation to do. Says address and we talked to -- end. You know over the course of several weeks. You do a lot of information gathering we have a lot of information. At no point -- that time did he say we are trying to it is simply a matter of getting about what this really matter. I think the important thing is -- -- that orders. You know they are all the information we have from our thorough medical staff from. Independent medical opinion. We're very optimistic about. You know him being a force and power up when -- thirteen. Of course there's you know the government who acts as Serbia we are making it there are no matter who burned the players and I look this is an artist. But there's a lot of optimism about. It is is Billy -- report their school and he's doing right now and it -- now. That he normally would be doing. It's just going Nazis and our girls are on last Friday. You know they look great. So. You know we're we're very optimistic is there -- -- that America rotator cup where others. Thousands of. It's or anything you know they have certain -- -- huge. Samples. You know different you know different servers that are out there are certain labor -- You know all the information and so you -- he or. In Paris Paris. The cataract. That is determined on the Paris it is. In this case. We don't have that we don't have that. Sample -- the mission is much more than usual cases so really we don't we don't have a real warehouses are very Alexei. All the guys that -- it and they load test is used to have that and so we have to go off the expert opinion of the medical people. And mostly Al Mike and right now my younger so. You know where were hoping another reason to think that he is our ever alert things and our primary person. That's some great defense of first -- was over the years before them first baseman. You know from you coolest thing Adrian Gonzales. In name -- GB JT snow and Mientkiewicz and are you worried that he won't be able to do the job with the glove you may you -- young third baseman you may have a young shortstop don't they need some help over there. What he's very he's different pitches so working hard structure that prime border still. That'll -- -- of course this year because that's the business and the some and they were. A lot so -- Fort Myers but. You know -- we may try to greater compliment -- with someone else. Handle that or experiences oppositional or city that that is something we try and figure out spring training. You know obviously you know what we like to have. -- -- we'll look out -- artillery batteries are killed and really good offense. -- at the workflow and deliver our oil so you know look what apple does well happens and we noted. -- -- that it you know in the best defender and then you know we've had. Respected defenders at first base of the senate -- and but you know where. You know without adequate heat sensor. And then we get it others. To the well again so. The and then. A world where I'll let my music are. When you look at -- aboard in your office like on the board all the names and forty man roster on the wall when you looked up at that use think it's a team that can win ninety. We think it is -- going to be very competitive -- -- And that's where in Italy. Yeah and the start that went so I don't know because I think. I think this is the first time an -- and we are seeing you know you either. It's sort of character ninetieth and I limbs because. It's sort of and so there is some power insists it's important is that. That's a topic it's more of aliases so flat and edit it. That I think that it is sort of you know. You know or popular or our nurses. It is I don't know much in the middle class. Now in Australia middle class itself are all -- you know that it is. Get a -- not perfect -- everything that it flopped there -- you know that is as strong as. You know any outside group like that. Where there's -- culture the outs. I think the -- so that was -- -- shrink into each other. I think it is very very competitive it is and it's come down -- -- itself is -- -- about some serious -- that you. Who make the -- and -- those you know make the best decisions during the season. Animated violator to. So all sources like. Minutes -- pointed out again and again that your acquisitions represented guys who are good character guys good clubhouse guys. It was this a bona fide attempt to change or at least tinker with -- all through the culture of the clubhouse. I Hispanic that's the part of the story -- is that is how I look at them and just. The citizens don't his organizational issues of our Paramount. It would -- we acquire players first and -- our he. You know and that's and that's got to help us -- gains voted field because. If you don't have that everything else is sort of new York and you get a Portuguese guys and hold outs in the YouTube this spring training there on in the -- -- -- mayor. Audience very. The temerity to get it out and celebrate and so. You know at the -- are and that all of our approach. That said I think it's you know we recognized that look think bottomed out last year and then you know there are so supportive of that. But in the opposite you know that and building. The next. Brits are seen them. Building back toward -- period is so long term. You know we we're not we're doing -- at a place where. There's an -- attention our -- can be scrutiny and we've -- that certainly deserves scrutiny. What are making -- -- you know if we lose -- in Guerrero would ever happen let's say. Or April. You know there's -- Guitar Hero that moved out effort that goes three RO. Of course it and -- it. Just picture you'd do you know -- -- to make sure you do it kind of sex yes sexy to -- sexy blues -- sizzle. But I couldn't detect the EU that we cancer built this thing in this quiet barrel or more candidates some places so. Support being -- we're gonna out. You know it isn't that isn't there in the that is. Need to feel it. As a group of people are offensive or not to get -- back after the next day and -- -- court's order goals are. -- the physical more attention. There's but as. -- -- just between us how this stuff is Larry. I wouldn't -- ownership obviously you know a lot this offseason about every aspect of what we're in the aftermath of -- book. We talked a lot more about players who talked about you know what will it well you were training you know. So XYZ. It's that are out there what was the conversation. I don't know I -- -- -- -- In my perspective as a bit different but I think this. I think this book. You know they take you lose huge part of our success or I'm understand people's interest in the book but I. Immediately -- -- At Fort -- Oh lead aren't quite certain that that the that it. Rhetoric -- we get. In the middle of it you know we just come off these meetings and -- has always been talking about his. Point thirteen -- -- about how we move forward earlier figure Martinez back. Back in the -- these -- workforce and he was there are about. There is Eric -- on the floor talking about you know those like the winners and go forward with -- -- citizens you know that are that are that. That's the conversation internally. Understand why announcers assassination was as well as through -- interest that they're at such a. I think people are surprised to -- do you feel like it's a weasel move for -- do this. Do you feel like a lot of the conversations you guys had or off the record were private or confidential. And now they're in a book for all the world to read. I don't are secrecy. I think look at it again as the setting is certainly -- silent people look back then they looked at this period. There'll be no dispute says that what it is says it was a that this that the greatest. The greatest. For prior ownership group Red Sox history -- performance side. Yeah there hazard and then they're our sisters and obviously a lot of good players from Oliver do into the fire principal in the thick thick. Aside from players besides principles and period success. Our our our Larry you know you know and those but -- should sit here currently our credit. So hopefully charter I don't error in that come close the -- The frontier it is together and there -- parlors. And -- so -- note there is justice just -- maybe more committed than ever. To get threatened to actually because you know we know we noticed elective process over -- And -- and you're not winning. Is it does not ours and and frankly. The luddite but -- against us here. You know I'm I'm not sure who could go to the book. -- -- it is it's partly at fault -- where we are the most important processor. -- move forward and focus -- alone in this city it's this contract and we're doing. Semi final question as my last look at the rear view -- and history do you feel in any way vindicated about Bobby Valentine not being your first choice of manager and it didn't work out that well. Now our -- -- a lot of their time. We are as a group citizens. And you know make these decisions the other -- and and -- -- -- -- and justice. You know work so bird -- player decisions that sort out. A city council for every other decision. There are are. Our wins and losses last year or not because about it. A lot of -- Things that we did for four years ago let's. What happened last year at the end of the day we felt like. Notre really move forward and it -- back into the the building something that has to succeed. This is this -- success over the lockers currently we need to make change in leadership truly not to talk about it fresh start but. But actually you know let it. Who made chain but it's not. You know it's unfair that. To the court last year on body is that it's this combination of things that those are. He worked itself that was our effort. You know but we we we really we have the right center place -- coaching staff -- A lot of the a lot of things that you'll hear about it here -- and let. You know all that matters -- what we do some things. It's April on. And we know that and or work on until. -- look forward to seeing you in three weeks in Fort Myers were pretty sure it will not be seven degrees thanks for the double talk do we see in Fort Myers. -- Jerry to Red Sox general manager were -- Cali on the AT&T hotline AT&T forgy LTD.