Terry Francona, mgr Boston Red Sox

The manager of the Boston Red Sox Terry Francona joins us on the line -- Terry I don't. All right not as good as your bullpen looks which is better even than it did yesterday and it looked pretty good yesterday.

Well I hope that securities I agree on paper we have significantly gotten better. Just hope our goal obviously -- of the field because it is exciting to do dialect on. Everybody better not disputing keep bridges but children guys back like Manny Delcarmen to maybe earlier in the game so big move gross.

I don't feel pulled the trigger but I you were involved in the shore. How long have you guys been looking at Gagne specifically or anybody who could fill the role he's going to --

Well we didn't just want to feel old -- too because it could just fill this role. From and I don't feel the guys -- had certain guys scouted pretty heavily for the last two weeks. You know we didn't want to do something just to do it. Our bullpen like you guys too convoluted to started doing pretty well also if we could give somebody help us through it. You know missiles one of the few guys that I think fills that role.

Theo was sucked quick yesterday to give a little bit a credit here to Brendan Donnelly who. You know you guys have known him he's known that he headed for surgery but. If that was out there than the asking price for a guy like Gagne could have changed significantly -- as a lot about Donnelly that he was willing to keep this whole thing quiet

yeah I guess -- thought and really thought that Tom Donnelly is always a team guys that's not surprising I don't molded. Regardless of what gas prices we will have done anything different -- it feels pretty adamant in offering what you think his corrected. And inaugural 24 actual title -- play departed or not but I would never disagree about team guy structure.

The Major League Baseball season is along when there's a lot of time to play poker and other card games is that a little bit what it's like when it's coming down to the trading deadline a little bit of poker. 4 before 4 O'Clock to see if a guy is -- and other general managers bluffing or -- you get a better deal he's trying to get a another prospect that he shut.

I'm sure that that's almost put some -- you know who'll blink I think Sullivan is sometimes. Both teams want to make -- trade in -- he looks don't -- the right matchups. A -- steals -- times as they want to do this emotional match little time I think -- deal could it was better in post you can point and I'm sure I'm glad. -- build a church probably. It's instinct at times for the general managers sometimes priority and I think sometimes sports fought -- it's ultimately I would have no interest built a like -- about such --

while while most Red Sox fans are excited about Gagne obviously it's easy to forget about some of the guys who went the other way I know you're impressed with Kason Gabbard would -- your team just elaborate on that to start what brought.

You know I mean it's exciting isn't worried yesterday to dictate. You'll always tempered by the -- deal with some human beings and their lives to be altered drastically watched -- walk across to rule. And listen elephant has -- and they've talked about the trade. You know you can just read frustration it is it's it's unfortunate that sometimes we let him. Not anybody's fault just you know it was a couple of really hard -- deal look about felt bad for. He's done such a good job to give us to a point were talking about trading for a darn it. Mr. general got a great job and it is probably going to continue to grow jobs but thrust to have. That type trading placed really mean just to be top special.

Terry is the fact that that Theo was willing to part with a starting pitcher like Kason Gabbard and an indication. All of the reports you're getting on Curt Schilling and how confident you are that he's going to be able to step right back into that rotation Korea.

Are you going to step right back him he's he's finished up his rehab -- like do a great job when people pitched next week. And in Egypt you -- there's probably going to be available we still of the right of the Seattle the first in banana. -- that that's not double slump the -- kept an eye on. Children to -- jobless ticket agency Ian proportions restrictions -- dorsal I think we we we have a right to think the -- helpful.

We mentioned that with the off day on Monday. The erratically I guess you could have pitched Tim Wakefield today and had him be on regular rest how to to make the decision how you were going to handle this.

Well you're right we could have done now but didn't work we would've gotten to what I think Saturday where we applaud starter and commitment we can only go so far on five men. We really at this time of year values PX -- arrest since we have to go make a move anyway. Let's go hadn't. Just keep typically Tuesday to already planned on it in their routine to fall and having a truly valuable to give -- an extra rest again especially this time here. This is not something we just come up with. We talked to the pitchers received it's important you know again we we really value is an extra -- to.

There's you know there are a couple of questionable calls strikes and balls last night on both sides I don't want to. I get into that specifically what I really want to know is how much time to use and thinking about who's gotta be behind the plate four particular game in in. I mean what kind of planning goes into that.

I'll not not not as much as you'd think we certainly -- It is from previous probably more meter of the umpire how they handle things. How you can talk or things like that the strike zone you'll you'll. For consists Drexel whatever don't strike so maybe you -- consistent. You don't want just like players just like pitchers sometimes umpires have good games. Sometimes their bad games sometimes at middle road games I think that's unfair to expect anything different it happened that --

Yeah they you can actually see them having bad games like that that means of an umpire has a bad game -- teams. There's not just a couple of calls that's.

Well I -- or some bumps and I just I guess is just you know -- when he's not actually think about it. They're trying to do they're operate like we are in players sometimes don't have good games. There's there's a -- umpires don't either I think they would probably offered that up. That's the way humans are and it'll what you want it affects the October -- respected a spectacular game that's what we all around. But that's just the -- goals there's not too many times you lose a game because umpire -- roll it comes down to their. -- itself -- position sometimes where questionable call. Can really hurt your chances which tried to stay away from them play good enough baseball that doesn't give away.

David Ortiz -- a -- for you last night I think David would be the first to admit his power numbers have been down this year I think that's fairly self evident. Is there anything in particular involved here is that a physical issue for.

Well again we've we've been pretty honest about some of the things he's been battling -- or early on talked Bosnian. Or bush -- games causes shoulder but I guess I think you gotta look back and David branded that in camp on -- 22 count went from first to third so is -- pretty good acoustic gotten in this from its habit but award was using his legs early. And it would -- like start for startled everybody got some habit not to sort of generate the power I was like he always has its specially currently just left handers I think sometimes. Then again maybe we were not completely forthcoming all the time you guys are reading and everything we say. So I gotta be careful because sometimes there's not -- sometimes guys just don't. Old favorites that the standard pretty. Sometimes you don't hit that standard people want to know exactly what happens I guess I come back to effective they're humans sometimes is not perfect.

All over the the years we've been doing this this get together we've talked at different times about Manny. And about how you know maybe not as well as you want this month or you know he's had a bad week and you always come back -- In -- talked to me at the end of the year show me what the numbers are and you know what that's exactly the situation he seems to be again this year.

I wish you guys just -- in the first I'm going to. -- a lot of other stuff because.

I felt I you know you know -- up and you probably tell your kids.

Yeah I it'll it because it can -- it agreed to be did you Doc Rivers affects the thought I'd I'd guess if that factors sometimes gets lost. Is that many such a good hitter if people want he's not perfect -- still find ways to beat pretty damn good. -- what he gets blocked in the east dangerous -- that maybe we ballclub blocked. But he he somehow finds a way to survive people want to stop perfect and it is exciting don't extortion generate a power right -- because you know that they were always wanted to wait until the technical.

Obviously the results are different when it comes that you Manny not going to bother park. But does he look different than you different you know they did at the beginning of the season that's what -- difference to me.

Well I think what he's doing is he's taken some pretty ferocious swing without mostly not. You can see guys take breaks went from time to time the probable at all. And maybe there were a little ball. It made me right now -- that -- result was some pretty good bat speed. He's not muscle to duplicate that that means he's on time mr. -- put down -- time he's able to generate some great bat speed. Without you without and old were swinging and that too good -- rose.

How do you get J. D. Drew to that point.

You know every time it it comes it goes it's been kind of surprising almost. He's had some games work all the but it looks like he's going to use a little worn it. Man this is -- and the next -- to go on consistency has not been there. I'm sure in his -- also put again this is a guy to win or really bank on him. Riddled roster run from him would not be a good thing to do so I think good chance of him get hotter back a lot better than not.

Last night that after they made the the changing got bedard out of their which everybody was thankful for yet a right handed pitcher you went to a pinch hitter and brought hinske and did you think about bring in -- at that point.

Omar development really tough guys on. Due to the hospital was -- nobody ever have four slight doubt about that -- I think -- second -- on but. It was even here so don't don't really difficult.

I guess the next question is everything okay that's.

you know again there's some personal things -- you don't long before and it'll ever I'd I'd you know it I don't know I was comfortable where it'll probably nobody seemed to ask right like for essentials like doesn't over the rafter would -- of these when they answer.

Well this -- long way down on the priority list especially if you're in the Drew household but does that affect. The lineup today.

I don't think shall -- was kind of kind enough to call me yesterday communal Dayton. He's critical region Tuesday so to perform or -- hit it would like in a plate. But it has obstacle down on the priority list we have to be respectful to just wait here for.

Have you had a chance to talk to Eric Gagne out.

Actually as liberal quick from huge part be comfortable orbit pretty -- in the locker rented out to try to -- really excited. And we get there's going to be some adjustment here not only on his part but all my work. -- that we need to. You don't -- going to pitch deep into the night most of the time. And that'll be a little bit of a transition for him and I need to make sure this goes as smoothly as possible. It is real low pitch in the -- isn't always clock work because Lee can change things can change so this may not always be perfect he work hard. Communicate really well. And auto -- and work great compliment to another pitcher -- Calbert applied went to work.

how does that affect Okajima who's been used to pitch in English.

Well you really shouldn't accept the fact -- another good pitcher mean we're always. It'll -- trying not to over use him as much as we came in because that's the hardest things for for us to fall into was okay at a particular which everyday. This just gives us another good pitcher another weapon. And hopefully a way to keep guys healthy he would rotate and again we don't have to worry too much about. Matching up Gagne Okajima papelbon. When they're pitching their game they get everybody out apology got to get a guy down for electing to describe for -- you know run amount they're keep an expression try to keep per productive.

And you used Okajima in a closing role on those days when papelbon has not been available to yet. I mean there aren't many managers in baseball who -- comfortable have a three different guys closeout games for -- after.

On I'll come back to -- the game -- take you one Okajima closed again about I don't know that probably too many people work multiple suffer medimmune John Farrell. I mean I think people lose sight of the affected you have to try people in roles or -- trust that much site. Took to find out what they can do again -- took a lot of door Ross weakened. Drink champion in the gate sometimes now knowing that he wouldn't be available next night it happened to. Certified it'll pull out of this just opened up a lot of things that we can do -- so exciting for like you on the fact of just what Gagne can do.

I guess I should ask the question this way Okajima is that one of those. Creatures of habit isn't that where where if you take him out of the eighth inning he's a little disoriented because that's what he's been used to --

I don't know but disoriented though he's very much a creature of habit. And that's why we try so hard to communicate to these guys both. Sporting and how we envision the game progressed and sometimes it's impossible to do that. Always very much a creature -- as he told the guys in the bullpen at all so we do best we can to always alert them when they're going to approach.

You guys cannot and checked on Beckett after he fielded that's swinging bunt by tejada did he come out of this thing okay physically last night.

Yeah there was actually nothing there I think -- more aggravated. I saw the same thing are you guys do it looked like giving everybody you know Michael came tendon masculine build our one out -- there was nothing there he just I think you just -- aggravated.

They looked like he kind of slid a little better something on his left ankle but. I guess he was okay.

I'm bill I'd probably think bill would not compete and to award he -- saying that he was in no mood to talk about it. Kind of double lap it was Michael Leo Carson you guys Scott -- they don't know -- okay as good a budget an element.

I gotta ask you you knew what was coming your huge basketball and a -- Celtic games. What are they going to stray.

I can't believe you -- till point -- yeah. -- doubt in my opinion on the basketball --

Can't wait to talk about it and I.

Hey I'm a little excited I mean -- you know how much of the Celtics fan I am anyway. But what they were young and stopped -- I just -- the bottom grabbed Debbie and I became a failed. And and I have been up the big ticket is a bit of petrol longtime idol -- a lot of games.

You know it's funny that people were asking you know house stock going to handle you know completed taking care coach in this this veteran team and think and coach and three all star -- probably going to be just fine thank you.

Denham dock me to help people would call -- I'm excited about this this is a mean I did I get revved up about this from the guy that stayed up on the on the west coast and watches for the -- points and -- I just. What -- become afraid he can't help but I get excited and Knoblauch belief I can they got good.

So and I got to be at the games and heckled -- when things don't go.

Probably not a I think as you guys know little Boston that comes with the territory already he's already got a bunch of assistant breather here in economics I have mom really excited about this.

Any other change the lineup tonight other than you've said you've liked it -- in their fee if you kill it.

The united talk among us an opposite yours now yeah -- I think well actually we're gonna go with as long -- okay won't go look pretty much our basic lineup in. In cubicle didn't.

Terry we appreciate time we'll talk to next week are we don't think care that is that Terry Francona the manager of the Boston Red Sox