Terry Francona, Mgr. Boston Red Sox

Let's talk with a manager of the Boston Red Sox as we do each and every Wednesday at this time finishing up his last day of his all star break before gold back to work tomorrow and Terry Francona joins us take Terry -- you don't.

Good guys who don't you know to greatness well rest sound happy was at a I guess I don't sound like that's not always well not always well rest that it it would probably true.

Theo we were joke and before I I said you know if you've been away from home for a weaker so when you get home and and the white wants to -- it's the last thing you want to do could you been on the road. I was picturing you come -- back off the road trip in the white -- okay let's go away for a few days sunny and you said.

you wouldn't do that home we actually put the -- laurel park on Monday something that. -- maybe other people take for grounder that was really kind of over occasional frost and we got the car for our our happen. Most around you know -- bedard gave them and multiplied and came home in the royals -- Augusta spent some time with the kid who's going to retreat.

Well I think you're you're partially answered my question I wonder how you refresh. When you when you have the all star break are you just catching up with the family or do you think about some things that you did in the first happen. What you could do better in the second half.

Why can never completely from the game from me better than not -- know what he retired. When the season guru but I can title run out of deep breath maybe your goal on but. Throughout -- appeal court coupon club couple days and we feel we we do -- responsible -- job. But it's nice to stay away from the ballpark furcal the batters. You know -- Think over the last couple days like shall my youngest that I'm not that bad about that than people I have one -- can be I can still -- like me to -- a little basketball

little nobody got.

try to mix and match in Indian try to picture you're you're. Give rejuvenated just much educated but -- second you know -- we identical in the ballpark critical part look at -- 67 guys go to pearl. You know we need to take care of that and just to make sure -- open narrowly blue wall above -- all public through most -- there.

Terry when you look at at the end of the first half although technically and a were a little past the halfway point but go -- into the all star break. At and the sweep in Detroit just one of those things but were US frustrated as fans were with -- all those runners left on base

you know there's I think you can roddick keep things in perspective they don't -- We want the killer games like the American memorial we didn't seem like we put the ball political we win or -- middle don't dutifully did go play we -- we -- great game. And we clawed back the last game a real lot but he is going to get those who couldn't do over the hump broke. -- type of -- along those we did some really good things team wise or effort wise we didn't do some things so well hitting in the clutch total in order and that's what led to a sweep. That that happened -- frustrating I don't -- You know if you replied but gold opened screaming at somebody would they -- but it would help build it but that's obviously not a word games sported if if pitcher to do you do in the had been ballplayers or did you take strike three of those situations -- control.

Those of us in the media are always the last to notes on shore. -- we were surprised and you work when David Ortiz came out and said I probably will need surgery. After the season how has that affected you as a manager is that an effective familiar decisions tried them.

Well it's -- let me -- what's the -- It's too -- what got a couple of talk about medical -- sometimes things that are said to the media come out at different times. That don't necessarily make it you are appropriate or correct sometimes they do. Ministry would David dome where we certainly know what's going all everybody's body and we wouldn't play people that are jeopardy and they're probably going to be 45 guys who want to see an -- to have cartilage stick in other -- public that is disappointed gave -- just. Sort of -- that -- time ago we can either -- frustration with a wire or. They writer decided to -- it but I saw a couple articles like I was talked about. And they were nice article there would -- months ago told Maggette it is -- it. Is relevant absolute control what I can't talk about -- well both agreed to.

Do you think that as you look at the second half of the season and you've said you've you've talked it probably -- all the time but. Do you guys say hey maybe we can add this to may we can add that or you like what you got sitting in that clubhouse every day right now.

Well I think it's my job to like what we have -- we haven't make the most of it and not it's. Point fingers and do we need this we knew exactly I don't think that would overwhelm cobalt two would overload meet. At this same time we want to -- the best club we could we can be. And field check would -- let me know what he's thinking about it we've had conversations with perfect I think. That is probably a little bit -- missile. Misguided sometimes our communication brought the charge. You know again we have different. We have we laugh about the -- we have different objectives sometimes my objective pleasure -- is everyday doubled over Gloucester that actually it happened. You can't -- but Dave Roberts steal the base every single day of the year. If if that happened -- allowed me to make the roster we got 50 guys coming golden it would work and I and I know that I gotta respect that but we do talk more about things like that.

I want to switch gears and asked about the all star game you have managed in this game in. I'm sure you know some of the difficulties of getting every player involved in the game but as a strange situation last night from where we sit. That Tony la Russa was a manager for the national league at Albert Pujols. Didn't get into the game I guess have a couple questions for you did this -- situation jump out at Hewitt and in what are some of the challenges of being an all star game manager.

Well not really didn't jump out old because I think -- will -- play left in my in my letter to get a might be wrong I was.

That he was the only position play.

Yeah you know what this is a really tough. I think there's nobody things that are unfair about the all star game being older we'd obviously no -- The Monterey what is in the count now whatever. Well it counts and it means a lot at the same time you're kind of pulled they play as many guys you KM. And I remember do our game was in the -- order where is an American -- that he and I still don't remember recorders on the I mean I know I was told I enjoyed it what is -- quite bit it was so fast. And we're trying to cover so many things I can't imagine. -- in the national exit you're trying to play as many as you can't -- where you're trying to always -- you'll win. And you don't want to have a how would come back in the end -- your career and because use their body go to play level it's not fair and didn't building make some adjustments it's not going to beat fair and it's. Escalating and -- to -- will about the deployment we got there and it's just the way it is -- do the best you can.

So in terms of clubhouse politics that you didn't put your best player in an all star game and he's sitting there it in -- talking a bit you think that would. Be something that can be.

told you guys -- maybe I don't look toward your goal of output. I'm not want to do. Included on the path that I think what you do if you try to communicate with everybody that we try to communicate -- well -- exporting to the wall we're going to try to do. Well we you'll try to be fair to everybody it's not easy it's not perfect and again I while I'm not aware of what transpired besides what I saw. Why don't you guys didn't go to doctors -- about but I -- I'd rather just.

Would -- we did that the first the first couple and it and a I. I don't know if you spoke with David before he went to San Francisco -- my guess is you were not unhappy that he didn't participate in the home run contest.

Not a closed world that I understand the obligation to the fans. But it's a very difficult it is so much more strenuous that people over no. And I'm glad he didn't actually will -- play very long in the field because. This'll be good for him not -- the other -- nobody either -- believe they took the red -- last night put some of -- may have come home. Today was not much of a day off. And you know -- So rigors of what they ask you could do in the emotions that play into an all star game -- come back in the retired that's just it just deal with that.

What kind of reactions and what kind of emotions do you have when you see your guys out there on the last night for example. Jonathan Papelbon what what do you think we museum and the.

Yeah I did hard not to people out I mean don't sit there watching the game eaten everything in sight. And and really think and you know it's hard not to be brought out every game I'm an organization you could ask this of anybody. From the player development people took to meet the coaches appeal. When -- look Connecticut became the organization that you look at back it'll all that didn't come organization in. There are guys that handle probable men. I think they represent the Red Sox really well and it's it's hard not to move. It all mean it's hard not to be proud bolt hole out apologize for that.

You get nervous when you see a pitcher especially.

member when Beckett -- it and they can ilk can you just tell 123 inning in. You know perhaps not -- 30 pitches but yet that part gets in the way but but the but the Prague Czech Republic took over.

To find it as weird as I did watch in papelbon throwing to posada.

A little bit. To actually open it wouldn't communicate very much.

Why you know I was wondering just posada -- little edge here next time he faces a -- game

I don't think you could ever work but again you still have to hit it. And and it's not the same but I wonder about those types of things to I think the more familiar guys are. Dead did it can it can definitely help those that are but who knows if I have -- 97 in. The reward for one comes under your Chandler -- who knows looted it might not be that easy.

It's interesting it seemed like an annual talk shall topic in an annual column from the sportswriters where's -- Thomas. Complaining about the all star game how the all star game is not the same number one do you do you buy that premise that the argument that the all star game has changed and it's just not as cool as it used to be.

All -- well I think it's pretty cool right I mean they go home run hitting contest took off the charts and I think they do a great job with the all star game Miami we all have our issues I just I guess from a global bothers me is some of the importance tied to Hewitt I think there are better ways to to get home field advantage or may not be so we've gotten older hotel room Padilla and things like that -- logistics. But you know I mean if if you want the game that counts. You play guys nine innings. And you're certainly not going to do that they'll Beckett could pick one or two in the coming in -- it's a little bit. Ambiguous or -- field Aurilia just. It doesn't something you don't make a lot of steps can be. But -- you're trying to please everybody and I'm sure the commissioner all those people they're trying to please everybody -- and you can't do that.

As a guy who's ever sat in that dugout or sand that clubhouse I'm I'm at risk of asking what is probably going to sound like an incredibly stupid question. To UN and men all college guys in advance and have -- that you aren't you you know as a fan. I'm wondering if it's almost not a great thing. Having such a big cushion early on do you do you worry about that team maintaining an edge in maintaining a focus with what is at this point attend game ball.

Ought put egos are still talking about the all star game no I -- you don't want I don't know I don't even how to answer that. I can tell you what I don't like to be 20 behind. Good yeah I I really think guys that I don't vote of stupid question I would all let's say that PI I think what is his. Probably not understanding how we feel. I mean the one thing you know we show up every night at Fenway and it's like a playoff game and you guys know that. And I don't think there's ever donate problem without letting down I think when we don't hit and all we don't we go to a series like Detroit people they were -- flop -- walks sleep walked obviously it that much we got beat -- I don't think that happens here I think part of it looked really good team that cares. We have a place it's very passion to -- what you do it anyway so that's not really. They concern our concern is how we play an upset gotta think since they won and I think it's because that's the -- we believe if we play likely complaint. -- a couple of those failings and will be just fine middle we don't play like we can boy. Then it would depend on how other people quite so I'll probably want.

I can give us up an update on Curt Schilling or when do you expect to see him back out there.

He is coming into the ballpark at 4 O'Clock today to do -- stop. We got competitors come within that if you want to work immediately ordered a medical -- also who committed four. Before they take awful pinheiro the rest of particular community 600 or seven or double then you'll be evaluated the excuse me guys tomorrow to get involved Friday. And that will depend on when he gets the amount I don't know. It amounts too far -- he's doing he's doing really well which is the object of this and I think he's doing okay.

A couple of other guys who work -- work in their way back one is Brendan Donnelly do you have an idea on him.

He is doing real well real cold side tonight. And he's probably pretty close to give it a game we may need to see human being games two games again that's not etched in stone I think we're hoping all goes well maybe get a week away again things change just because they changed but I think -- the hope he's doing pretty well.

What what do you see different from Julio Lugo in the batter's box right now.

Nobody did the other night which was terrific news people lined every lined up all the left -- laughed at Baptist. After we thought maybe walked but didn't do -- didn't have -- you don't think he's got thick. We captives with a look at those things sometimes you lose the game you know what that that those things all enter into it and so -- can't -- too. Old typical way to beat him because just keep wanna awaken people -- don't think it will -- have -- like they -- But little stayed on that ball and lined a collaborative upper body didn't move forward there's been time to get that same pitching you'd probably -- dug up all the disorder so like that he -- up all of our -- still that we need to do took some good swings he's been more compact the ball came off his bat. You know with some authority and that's exciting --

What did you think of your first baseman. Bailey.

You know -- this little little feel good stories he'd been around long time any degree the typical hard not to like and all he was he was nervous he was he's a great kid. You could tell by the way the dugout reacted even when we're losing everybody that the popped up blatant form it's it's just a good story no -- problem for his effort to beat a good chance to play in the major leagues

I got a kick out of it because you know sometimes guys will Wragge I remember you Kalus at its first home run and everybody ignored him when he back to Toronto yeah I -- guys wouldn't even they would even rag on -- Bailey now.

Right and you don't -- course they might do that in every time. What does not out there is pretty neat I mean just the typical it would pretty well documented over the plate he's been proven. He's a great here than they have -- get a chance we've thought he could help what do -- pretty exciting.

You get a chance to talk to a much about a story about his journey through the.

Well -- don't talk to whoever brings like I didn't assertive reaction the last couple days but I tell you not been part of it on the one out to send him down so. -- pretty well.

Terry we always appreciate time enjoy the second half of the season I I guess you're right back in it again not not much rest for the weary.

The bad guys that'll be good pitch deep breath that I Millar play one hope we know --

I can't remember last summer this energetic man maybe it's not maybe we support you. I think athletic.

look doctor -- to take care of that is Red Sox manager Terry Francona -- does each and every Wednesday