" Joe here today we'll talk a -- about the Red Sox because. They just wrapped up yesterday in Seattle miles the talk for four hours yesterday you know general what are you going to do about the bullpen get a trade for somebody what's the cost going to be but then Justin Masterson comes out yesterday. And could you have asked for a better performance from this rookie making his Major League debut of the bullpen and just like about where he's been this year are used pitching in Portland that he was start for the Red Sox. And he had this all shucks way about a minute you met him before this year you know that that was genuine he was at the futures at Fenway couple years ago when he."
" Kinda had that feeling my while if I never get here again at least I pitched well here today in the first interaction you had with him though -- understood genuine mature -- and very special as far as poise and maturity ego because. You don't run across a lot of -- once weekly look at what he's going through the minors when you bump into him. Where you come away thinking that -- got an altogether that's unbelievable remember talking career run Johnson when I was out of the -- And the one thing he said to me was he looked at the first time you met him he was freaked out he's like skated so freaky he's -- it sure does. You know he runs -- so many young guys throughout his career that he's not used to these guys that just. Have this poise about them have this maturity about the handled pretty much every situation I've thrown in and just look at things very mature early like masters and and and that speaks the -- Red Sox felt comfortably about putting him in that bullpen role where with a lot of younger guys maybe they wouldn't be so comfortable. Switching from start -- bullpen and thrown him into that relief role with a lot of responsibility like in last night were came into game 21 he immediately at -- notes you know couple guys on base you gonna start get it done. And he absolutely did -- and we also -- the real thing that we won its which was a little bit the uptick in velocity at 94 miles an hour which is company didn't it was the start because he was conserving them throwing as hard. And that's -- had so much more bite to -- everybody talked to him pitch in relief rather than starting. His velocity was going to go up and is not speed seven slide was going to have a lot more by to a lot -- to it and it did and that helped me if lefty batters mean. That is a great first step for via the great Justin Masterson -- pad and a cup."
" A couple of things thinking about a Wallace happening one I'm sure in a perfect world. Francona would -- to get him out there and in a clean inning you know just the start and that way a little bit more low pressure however let's just dip your toe in the water but. You know it goes to tell you what he thinks of him and and the expectations I mean Francona has been pretty consistent until four if your on the roster you're going to play you know it -- called up from Pataki called from Portland Morgan authority and usually Losman that day by. The put Masterson in that situation where okay there's two guys on. We liked it -- Lucy you got right now and -- came out and it that you mentioned velocity was up a little bit. On good against lefties I mean that's the thing that always just be out a lot of people are concerned about him maybe he's going to be a situation and I know -- and then he goes. Almost three innings worth the work so -- gave you some like palpable and an extra inning game so you know that jumped out to me that they they -- him in there and everybody else responded after that you really had an effect on everybody else seemed in the bullpen Delcarmen Okajima Papelbon comes Ann Hanson I mean it's going to be a tightrope walk and and you -- you can just look at the radar got the -- or 9697. He had to Asia but really up."
" Trade value yesterday didn't if he's going to get dealt with the way he he was playing with fire at I think it's truthful with masters in the way he performed. Not only it was a good first step for him a good confidence booster as far as go an inning getting the job done. But I think the way he performed a lot of other Major League teams were watching to see how this was going to go. And that's a statement to allow the teams with with a middle relief that are asking for the sun and the moon and the stars that. You know what maybe the Red Sox are as desperate for the middle relief help as we thought they were and they might have an answer if we don't come down off for the real high demands of asking for -- in -- and that we're not going to get a deal with the Red Sox and I think that's it that's another -- very --"
" You know let's let's be fair I -- I I I you can look at and say that's the answer it's all done it became in in the first two guys hit home runs instead of you know suffered strike outs and and a masters and I think you'd have to still -- aren't lets you know what it'll not let's not make his plaque for Cooperstown yet. But also let's not just dismiss them like -- if he gave up couple home runs or got lit up that. -- this isn't going to work it'll play a little closer to the middle but that's kind of what they expect you know you're gonna get a little bit more velocity like you said. He he can get -- pretty soon well suited for the bullpen I mean he said it. Ron Johnson senate I think the Red Sox are going to seed that that doesn't take long to get warmed up he's he's he's freaky athlete in that way I mean he may be this tall lanky guy but. You know with the arm slot with everything he does -- way it lends itself to going a little bit longer and game and it's that Majorly -- out there and being able to get guys out with the game on the line."
" That's not the major leagues but he did do it in the KP did do it in college closer and attack right yeah relief experience before so. On some level at least he knows what he has to do in order to get ready on short notice to get into a game into that stuff it's not like you're taken a guy. That never threw in relief before in his life you know we didn't do it pro but at least he'd done it in a pretty fairly high level competition he was used to a little -- I think that was something like --"
" It's -- to waive the caution flight here he still develop immediately three relief appearances and socket that that was his fourth time coming out the bullpen. In a professional situation -- theory here during this time over the last couple weeks with a like he's a guy -- in the bullpen. He's developing his there's going to be Yeltsin thousand that was a high yesterday and he could come crashing down the next time out."
" Jacoby Ellsbury just like all the other young people that that come up with the Red Sox young players come through the system come up when they first get here there's going to be ups and downs Jacoby elder was going to hit 300 for his entire rookie season like he didn't September. Wasn't going to look like that guy that he did last year in the post season September he was going to have. Times like right now where he's struggling a little bit and maybe that last city got that sparked the rally will help him out. But you know all of these young players they're going to have tough times like that obviously just -- and it's going to have a game that he blows at some point this year when he goes in into that kind of a situation but. I think the thing with him at their very impressed with is he's going to bounce back from that he's not going to dwell on that situation where he blows a game mark. Has trouble getting out of an inning or sliders not biting or whatever he's going to be able forget about that move on I think he's shown that just with -- poise and maturity."
" Are more used talk with the Red Sox -- was better best of the three starts he's had so far. -- no decision form yesterday. Jed Lowrie is obviously a guy who were going to be watched a lot of shortstop now the report came out today we're -- are tons of reports over the next week obviously about. That maybe the Red Sox are rich didn't want you read I don't know the validity of that report."
" the most interesting thing about that report was was the fact that they it set in their also that the Red Sox are down on Alex Cora it said that within the report about your rebate which I found interest thing. And I actually blog about the this morning and I was wondering aloud if may be an I this is speculation -- no idea what whether this is the way it is or not because they're on the west coast lamentable attack the players. Whether Alex Cora may be it decided he might wanna get into a different situation because. He's back up guy but he's always viewed himself kind of -- that starter viewed himself as having the skills to be -- play a little more regularly if things happened. And then Lugo gets -- written in May -- out scores expecting he's going to play a little bit more and now he sees that that -- is getting a lot more the playing time when he says to himself you know. Maybe I'm not valued as much as I am here maybe I should go to Chicago and I think he was linked in that trade with your -- yes it. Maybe -- went -- Chicago my brother Joe records the bench coach and it may -- that's a little bit better environment for me right now because the Red Sox are ready to give that the job to the kid here and maybe the writing is on the while offer Alex. Speculation but it it it makes a little bit --"
" You know I think about it if you're going to try to connect the dots here you know -- goes there there's talk of moving Orlando Cabrera out of Chicago and if your opinion about him coming to Boston Jimmy Stewart to the research is making nine million the -- don't think that's going to you know all in the late season push like we saw -- for most he's not going to happen. I could seek. Or Rockets trade Julio Lugo into that next nine million for nine million. Fit beautifully -- The one thing about Alex Cora is maybe the Red Sox had to be direct with a maybe you're right maybe that they said. They had to say it on your not an everyday shortstop and if that's -- I don't think he's an everyday shorts I don't think there's any doubt about how he may feel like this is at my windows closed and -- going to be an everyday player I thought he was. Kind of happy and content with being. The utility man the Everyman than the signs stealer in the dugout when he's not out their fill in in in late innings when maybe not getting that late -- chancellor did it would -- up there -- like like at a place somewhere."
" An -- reserve on that team a Major League bench player reserve player you expect of the starting goes down you're gonna get a lot more playing time and it looks like that's not going to happen for him. Because Lowrie looks -- going to get about going to Seminole there was some speculation that he was going to start corps was going to get that start in that final day game after night game. And he didn't get it and Larry was back in the lineup I mean you know it."
" Doesn't that mean that the Red Sox want to Steve Lowery is much they cannot actually received this is a guy who can go up there and play every day a couple of months I sort of they need to bring someone else and for the 31."
" Absolutely but I I think the message that they're sending out there is where we want to see this guy over a long period of time three weeks a month to see whether he can play. Whether may be he can be that the next starting shortstop for the Red Sox whether he could supplant Julio Lugo. And they can maybe do damage control of him and maybe look to deal him in the offseason if they have to. I think yeah you're right the trading deadlines more short term one but I think long term they're looking to play him a lot while Lugo is out over the next month six weeks whatever it's going to be."
" And that's the other part of it maybe they think Lugo is going to be out more closer to the end of the year -- it is an injury when we heard it happened like that's something that that doesn't go away and perhaps Lowrie is the guy and they got to find out if if you can win the in October with a rookie shortstop I -- that's that's of a valid question that's why you could look at someone a veteran coming in to help out. Not named Alex scored you know court can do he can. -- inning here there and -- maybe. A spot start here -- there may be -- upset because he didn't play yesterday I don't know but they gotta get Lowrie out there as much as possible this will be great test this weekend -- how he handles things at Fenway against the Yankees and you know with all that you know intensity and picked up a little bit but they like -- Francona has come -- he -- he hit well in Seattle and in -- he has a high ceiling but can you expect him to respond the way you need him to hear down the stretch -- one -- rebate or somewhat similar the answer."
" I'm -- you -- Lowry showed enough to me so far that I am intrigued to see more and I want to see what he's going to be able to do going forward in that pressure cooker and and you know the heat of the pennant race in the playoff chase and I want to see more plays at shortstop. Where he's going into the hall's EC maybe if he can or can't make that play and that's fine if he can as long as he's making all the other routine plays but you want to see if he can make that play go and up the middle. And how how good is ranges you want to see how strong and true his arm is going to be an all these different plays that he makes and at shortstop and you want to gauge of an all these things annual obviously want to see how well he's going to hit Major League pitching it's obvious. In the minor leagues yet 68 extra base hits last year it's obvious that he is going to be pretty good gap to gap you know doubles hitter and got a good contact that are. -- but what you want to see is can he do this in the Major League level the one thing about you rebate that scares the crap out of me if you're looking at his numbers is. Batting average and on base percentage is so unlike a Red Sox player. This is on his career OBP is like 293 or something like that's it's got awful you know he doesn't seem like a good fit as far as the offensive philosophies that team but. Maybe just look at him and say he's at 230 hitters as a shortstop he's pretty good defenders got some pop. You know maybe we can use him somewhere down the line and maybe."
" Just come to grips some of the fact that any offense you get from the shortstop position there's there's going to be a positive receive more from -- than we saw from Lugo are and I noticed a small sample but -- EP was diminishing returns the personify when it came at the plate."
" Basically told us that the club and the clubs he's not a home run hitter he's just he's given up on that I'll I'll turn the page and a single run producer not like you know -- for a lot I mean there is not an and it's magnified because that bottom third of the order -- it's been you know on. Everybody's minds of last month or so besides just in the sixth inning where you looked at that as an opportunity -- loaded and Dario yeah that was going to sting them updated when that game you can look back at that time. When he was when it was was that knows Felix and he was crank it up. He got to 976. Miles an hour and as much love Jason very tech it is hard to watch -- and an hour fastball right now it's more more difficult on the."
" And 87 my arm at this point but that's that's been a long. Longtime problem now for Ameritech over the last few weeks or months now but. You know it. The problem is it's magnified because. There's always guys on base for the bottoms -- of that order I don't know what no matter what happens is going to be someone on base with a what the top of that order whip save with the exception of."
" Old berry has been at least 45 situations over the last 234 weeks where you side that exact scenario happened where they got a pretty good rally going and it was a key part of the game. Those guys are coming up in the not to and and had -- some numbers on Barrett take yesterday actually. In order to get up to 242 batting average by the end of the year given in my games he's played about and the past. He has to hit 280 in the second half of the year here and post all star break -- at 2242. I don't see that that's I don't think that's the."
" A pennant that would take politics of the -- the big question I think going in as we get ready for the Yankees. Is what will Francona is lineup look like come Friday I'd be willing to just be a simple case of Ortiz is sitting there while now. There's an expected now what Manny. Now proclaiming himself day to day with a knee problem that came up late yesterday but. You know what all the lineup he will it be. Are completely different looking."
" Lineup I don't want to Loyola replacement we'll never know what's that soccer is still -- that do that I exits at the time it's Manny you know and that's Manny being Manny -- Manny being Manny that's the same knee that he had the patella tendon and -- in back in 2006 where he missed almost the last. Two months month and half two months of the --"
" We can't DH tomorrow we know that the DH is coming back tomorrow but it is they're kind of a drastically in Francona really went in -- yesterday. He was swatting away the Manny questions for vulgar but."
" As much I love Ellsbury are you hoping that maybe they switch things that -- a -- maybe have Pedroia lead -- for people say J. D. Drew a leadoff maybe Youkilis or Pedroia in the second slot and then. You back -- Barry got to kind of take the pressure off him for a little bit maybe he's not. You know killing himself for every at bat where he's not getting on base in the mornings not reliving it all the time in and he can he kind of find his bearings again at the bottom of the order and get on --"
" I think there are options I mean I think that's why -- testing -- because you you can look at a handful of guys. Who can bat leadoff you can throw Drew up there if you want to -- pro Pedroia up there if you wanted to we'd see new -- in the past I mean Pedroia. What is -- 25 for his -- he's hitting point -- last won six road games I mean nobody can get him out right at about 440 -- last 32 games -- batting average -- on the major leagues over the last I think 3334. He's getting on base he doesn't strike down -- mean that's the problem right now with Ellsbury -- he can't get on base he's not. Yeah I think back and it's on -- Ellsberg as a rookie in this was the conversation with Franco yesterday because he's a rookie are you trying to guard against. You know him just completely flaming out here because he went soul -- at the start of the season Francona admitted that at the beginning of the season like --"
" Back awful I remember that in put him in the leadoff spot immediately in the -- down a little lower for a few games of for the kind of installed there when they felt a little better about it. Because of that very same reason and it want to eat too much on them. At once and it's definitely a fine line your right -- between. Losing confidence and looking over your shoulder insane you know manager has no confidence in me anymore he's taking a leadoff spot. And saying look -- we're going to put down their for your own good so you can kind of relax and get back to what you were doing well rather than pressing like you're right now."
" And so BP's under 330 now right and one thing and again it's an unfair comparison because Damon was open. The top of his career when he was here but think about him -- leadoff -- he would see 8910 pitches per at -- he -- everything I mean he would work pitch and that's what Pedroia does it seems you know Pedroia is up there. He doesn't strike out he's always making contact the balls put in play you know he's doing things I could see that there I can see a guy who's hot just ride him and put put him in there. There's also the school thought of don't tinker with that you know you where he is right now but. You look all around the lineup let's let's say Manny. Now I think there's doubt that -- will play tomorrow because if he's got a knee problem he's got to play left field and he's not going to be DH so maybe they say you can't play so it's Ellsbury left and and Coco -- but we've been waiting for Ortiz to come back so. Welding you're taking somebody -- critiquing -- while the lineup is he's not a plane vineyard talking about they're attacking your shortstop 89 and you know as being the though -- that's that's the problem area right now right. I mean I think you know making up -- I think there's probably 234 different lineup cards that he could probably fill up for tomorrow's game no matter what --"
" Help this yeah the one thing I think you won't see is -- and I think there's been a lot of talk about this is just Youkilis. Is a guy that I think is uncomfortable with the leadoff spot in the very top of the lineup I think he's voice that in the past don't even though there he's the one of those pretty good unconventional leadoff hitter guys. You know like a Scott Hatteberg in the past rallies different guys where a money ball philosophy takes over maybe it is a very unconventional strange looking lead -- hitter at the top your lineup. I don't think it's going to be Youkilis I think it's going to be one of two guys if it's not -- can definitely be Pedroia J. D. Drew. Because they've tried Drew last year was obviously they're trying to get him going they liked the way he does the same thing we're a foul off pitches you'll see a lot of pitches. For the guys below him in the lineup he's got a great on base percentage he would be able to get up there the only problem is it taken when he your guys that the big batter run producer and you throw them up the top and you know maybe gets in the last situations -- our guys on base for him the Nike and our Pedroia because he's just been getting on base and the overall health and wellbeing of that lineup is going to be so much better you have got the top that just simply on base all the time like Pedroia is. You know it's going to be really interesting I remember you mention Johnny Damon the one thing I always loved -- Johnny Damon talk and him. When he was here is just he took -- through things. He took pride in fouling off pitches and seeing a lot of pitches to the rest of the guys in the laps only pitcher that was coming into the game. And he took pride in looking back at the end of the year and seeing how many runs he scored because he knew that was his job to get on base and score as many runs as possible. And Jacoby Ellsbury for for the first month month and half of the season with -- Runs by the bucket load in was at at the top of the league he starting to drop down now and I think that's our direct byproduct of not getting on base enough. I think it's time to move him down a little bit in the order and maybe try something else for a couple games. Unless. David Ortiz comes back and immediately lifts that offense on his shoulders made you can get by for a little bit if you don't do that happen now. With him coming back in the equation I think it's a natural time to like mix things up a little bit try something that."
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