" It's just another perfect baseball weekday in New England. Now little touch -- fall in the air maybe when you first wake up in the morning tell me about it at least 78 Gregory is when they. They drop that first pitch on and about 135 or so it's perfect."
" it has great day and I like the open like what announcer boy had to say about you you -- this year alone. Pregame show up at. You know what's going to happen you are you are setting the tone for your game today. Help I don't screw this -- setting the tone for yourself when there's not a lot of pressure no -- I would say well. I just came from a Buick joke is that we own today mean -- on Red Sox Wednesday right here Sports Radio WEE -- when sports news."
" Breaks well we have it I just came from a basically empty Red Sox clubhouse as a a game after night game and a night game it just seemed to go on forever last night. It'll be a little more late arriving crowd than usual. The Red Sox are not leaving after the game to go to Texas because of the off day tomorrow. If this had been a night game they'd be leaving tonight. After the game to go to Texas would be get away night right because they've got an afternoon game today -- an off day tomorrow Terry just told me they'll leave tomorrow and and you know take advantage of another night your own bed time."
" It will haunt him. He just that scary just home in the tube ride in today with the manager now are you guys commuting together. Now. He just he just call up Terry Francona and he just knows his stuff. I'll just sit too well candy on exit nearly empty it's empty east. In W just hanging -- on working on stuff when put together lineups for today in you know trying to figure out how they're going to try to. Keep this string going my my guess is as long it's anybody's pitching for the Baltimore Orioles they got a good chance of keeping things don't -- that is a terrible they blood to that baseball team and it just got worse because Jeremy Guthrie was. Scratched from his start actually think he's a good pitcher. The Orioles that -- barely got to authors say every year they have a guy yeah. We've said I wouldn't mind having him on my team last year -- I was Erik Bedard. This year that guys Jeremy Guthrie but he's not pitching so you expect. I don't know if you expect fourteen run Tokyo last night but do you expect them to view. Put together some pretty good at bats against Baltimore pitching staff."
" Lance Cormier is your relief starting pitcher for today Jeremy Guthrie scratched with what he's describing. As a tired arm. Not a good sign you know when you hit September in your arms tired Lance Cormier will start it'll be his first start of the year today. And -- heck they've been in the bullpen in the third and fourth innings of the of the last couple of games self. I don't know how far they think Lance Cormier is going to be able to go today Daisuke Matsuzaka will go for his seventeenth win of the season today. And if he does win today's game he will break the Major League Baseball record for wins and a single season by a Japanese born pitcher."
" Does that does that stat impression that much I'd say rise quite honestly that was -- a -- I I I hear that Steadman and I guess I'm supposed to be impressed but I'm not. Considering that we didn't have. I'm there -- years and years before. We even had a single Japanese pitcher in the Major League I guess I just."
" But normal and wins than that the year but look let's be honest. It's kind of rare to see a twenty game winner these days in the only had one in all of baseball last year Josh Beckett right up one so far this year. I think you've got several guys who can get there but. I guess I shouldn't be surprised because you just multi twenty game winners anymore."
" Well I think the bigger surprise forget about. Daisuke Matsuzaka in the seventeenth win in the most for a Japanese born pitcher I think that the bigger surprises that he's a position to have seventeen wins. It. Because of the way he has been talked about this year. -- even though we sixteen into he's not talked about a pitcher. Who sixty he's not talked about like a guy -- sixteen to do remember we talked with Ken Rosenthal a couple weeks ago. -- you said the Rosenthal. I think Daisuke Matsuzaka is in this our young discussion any any pretty much brushed it off. I well what are you talking about gay might be in the discussions. There's no way he's going to win head it it really didn't. Didn't take that record seriously or his achievements seriously. So he is probably. -- hate this term underrated because some people -- so underrated that he that they've become overrated but he's probably. The most underrated. Sixteen in two guys that I've seen in baseball the last ten or fifteen years."
" My my point with can then and and it's the same point -- now he's not the cy young Award winner play athletes but he'll be in the top five. And and I know that'll blow people -- but he'll be in the top five. In the cy young voting this year yeah I mean that's a good year he sat. And I know how frustrating years for people. I although the last couple games the walks have come down dramatically. I I know -- you feel like you're walking that tight rope. But when you when you look at the bottom line and you look at the real numbers you know look at sixteen to look at ERA look at batting average against. You know get into little deeper than just told my caddie walked another one. You get a little deeper and you realize."
" He's had great years there's something else. He he improved from last year to this year. To get better a lot on April I mean a lot and he's he's not done this like. We're looking at Daisuke Matsuzaka whose 3334. Years old in. This is what he is and there's not going to be any dramatic improvement we've we've seen dramatic improvement from 2007 we're going to see dramatic improvement in 2009. They were after this guy because they believed he could be an ace in the major leagues. He wasn't an ace last year he probably was probably had number force stuff last year that's what it felt like -- 2007. This year he's a tour at three. And he has the potential to be an -- his second year in the major leagues and he sixteen into. So yeah you have to look at it that way I know people say well he he played in Japan. Before so we've not really a rookie and people use that argument. Two to see their argument. On one hand. A Japan is not the major leagues is not as good as an -- so some to be -- right grabs him if if you want to argue against Daisuke when when we say he's good when argue against him. You can say. While. How can that can BP he's been playing pretty much the minor leagues in Japan is that Major League Baseball. And then if you want to if you if if you're arguing -- someone who tells you. That Daisuke Matsuzaka. Has been pretty pretty impressive considering this is just his second year in the major leagues they'll say well. He's been a professional in Japan before."
" Yeah no matter what they want to use the use that against Henman. You know he was ten and one before the All-Star break he's been six and one since the All-Star break. -- he's been remarkably consistent. His two losses. He lost a game in June and he lost a game in July he just went through the month of August. Five and oh with a two point 25 ERA that was -- month -- He's been to reflect this year as you said you if if you're asking these playoffs start tomorrow. I got all my pitchers available -- my handing the ball to in game one on handing it to Josh Beckett. No doubt about that I understand that even though we have that is good years Daisuke he gets the ball in game one. I have no problem and the guys capable game to no not at all I'd feel great about."
" Now the guy -- last night. Is making a case -- for taken -- all the mainly to absence so he got Jon Lester and two when he got down like buck. Playoff rotation talk after a -- sport radio I'm -- not try to do that yet try to point out where this guy is in that you know. What he's done for this team. And I think he's done a lot but as I've. I got no issues at all think about it for a minute he wins today is separate it shoddy play in Baltimore he wins today. Seventeen and two who."
" I'm seventeen. -- what's that -- seventeen into his seventies into right you'll are what your record says you mark quote Bill Parcells. Well if you're seventeen and two on -- high enough that. And I don't care how you get there. It's still pretty impressed."
" Other production anyway you look at those numbers I think the other numbers matter more than in the seventeen wins I don't want him to yet so sixteen went one to sixteen wins right. You want to see what guys are doing against him hardly hitting against him. I think -- only knock against Daisuke is that he just doesn't go by deep enough into games. But if if he can correct that speaking to be a little more efficient. In the early innings. A really don't have any complaints with."
" So you get -- today against Lance Cormier who's making its first start of the season. You've got an offense. It is just. Rank right now. On -- part of it is Baltimore but they came in there aren't they came into this series as the best hitting team in the American in with a best batting average American. Second in the American League in runs scored Texas. So so you know this offense was pretty good even before Baltimore showed up when Baltimore's here that you really get that pound little baton and that's exactly what their --"
" Dale Arnold fans outside I -- huge they came by. You were talking dated and you know they weren't listening what you receiving this one this Malcolm who it was just this."
" I don't believe it. -- it certainly gotten out of that tie. That's an impressive guy there but yet you know it's funny heard John Jerry say this earlier. They asked a question is anybody left on the Manning island. -- her. Not offense with -- drop -- gave her -- would never see pitched anywhere to these people ago. Personally I always wonder where they come from. After a big trade or or."
" After some something controversial happens and they come up with these wild theories don't like in the distill Manny this -- do this for Manny. Manny he he got -- these World Series titles made this sport so they come out of nowhere."
" And make disappears."
" Where are these people told as the Boston baseball was bad as we noticed that Manny Ramirez is going to the west coast. Yeah I don't know the answer."
" We're the people laughed when we said. They would be a better baseball team without Manny Ramirez although they may have traded their best player they did trade the best player in the I don't -- absolutely. And and Manny has been great since he went to LA I mean got like he's you know coughing up -- a 400 -- me. It four hundred eighties you know he's he's doing everything he can do an all by the way the Dodgers to alarm went. You know while the Red Sox. Have gone on this -- since August 1 and it got a great record. The Dodgers are below 500 since August 1. They are a game and a half out in the west simply because the west this'll."
" Our guys -- they just plan a brutal division diminished just terrible terrible baseball. Are able and then justice -- if if the Dodgers win that division. Now they're not going anywhere in the post season. If if the Diamondbacks when the division I do like the Diamondbacks -- I'll stick with them because that was my pre season. To come out the national sort of got a soft spot for them in Josh Byrnes. But there's not really an impressive team. In that division I like the Cubs a lot in the net in the National -- I think the Cubs to deal with anybody in the nationally but just that division. You with they. By bringing in Manny Ramirez as you said the Rosenthal yesterday you bring in Manny Ramirez you bring in Greg Maddux. -- you bring in Casey Blake yeah we have Joe Torre there as a manager got some good young talent. You would think you'd be able to control that division they have been able to get it done but the larger point is the Red Sox are are much more relaxed. There are a much. There's so much looser group a much more open looser and focused if that that's not contradictory but that's exactly what they are. There relaxed. Off the field but when they play. They think about playing baseball on the other distractions of the contract talk no nonsense."
" Last night literally just before the national land them. Kevin Youkilis trying to get himself ready to play in the game. Tweaks his back down in the batting cage underneath that behind that and I mean literally as -- get ready to to sing the national. He goes to Terry insists Terry just tweaked my back out of the -- While -- starts Kremlin. Now they wait for the anthem to finish than they tell Champ Bailey get out there are loosening up is your plan. They they've got Brad Mills down in in -- office reprinting the lineup as you've not got a lot presented to the -- yep. They've got a shuffle everything around you -- was going to hit cleanup last night in and all that stuff now we gotta put Bryant back in the cleanup spot we got to move guys around. Bailey's going to go -- we gotta do this we gotta do that. Nobody it didn't -- yes this is Kerry will tell everybody in the in the pregame show he said the only people were that world hot and bothered were Meehan mills. Is it because we're scrambling trying to get things -- everybody else just an okay fine he's going to get there on it there that's fine yeah and how they go."
" Well you've never been a Major League manager. Which you have been and you are a parent you -- exactly but how I would think that. Being a manager is kind of like being apparent in that you could have a 25 Q okay evidence yet you have a great plan. This is what I want to happen this is what we're going to do tomorrow this is what we're going to do the next day. And then there's a wild card. The curve ball it didn't expect to get him planned for but now you have to do something. -- pretty quickly because now this is kind of we're on the run here and we got to make something happen we just not going to give up on it. And this is a great example of creative managing. On on Terry Francona smart you have to do something you have to be unconventional. And it just because the baseball. In intelligentsia say he can't have 856. Cleanup hitter who's a second baseman who a lot of scouts don't like. As a mean you can't put that guy in the cleanup spot if that's what's best for your team and that's exactly what he's done this guy. Is he so much on the watch just for Red Sox fans believe me if it around the country watching Dustin Pedroia. How did you not like -- open there's a magnetism -- there there's something hilarious about them but he's not a joke."
" He's not a joke at all I mean -- just as he is serious as a heart attack when he plan and and you know he does everything right. His fielding is better than anybody expected ease ease seventeen out of eighteen stolen bases. -- need him to hit for some power okay I'll I'll hit -- some power. He needed to set the table you know for the guys coming up behind him that's one of the jokes Jason Bay has made since he's been here. You know every talking but -- like 29 RBIs in the month of August or whenever -- he says. There's always guys on second curtain when I come right and it's hard not to get runs batted in because these guys are always do what they have to do it. It -- it -- every -- we were talking about this earlier is kinda go back that high school when you start looking at this dance. Eighteen -- last thirty. Well at that that's high schools to Terry just said to me a few minutes ago on the clubhouse and I -- if you ever seen guy. You know hot streak like -- he said dale it's not you know 3050 that he said it's his last 200 at its. His last 200 at bats -- over 400. And Terry I've ever seen anybody. State that hot but that -- to head. Into the net I don't think Terry I don't play and I -- ignorance on play. But but think about that. His last 200. He signal for four. And and he's using every into the -- park he's at McDonald left field line sees it on the right field line put the monster seats -- gap in right center. I was big -- home run last night at Charlotte on sports -- crushed it I don't care how that you argue it off that thing you know. Your your your Muslim and up a little -- so and then -- infield it in his last at bat."
" Right well we talked about creativity. Tonight or to this afternoon once again in the lineup present. -- very leading off Lowrie batting second playing third Ortiz DH Hoosier cleanup hitter stuff and Torre have batting fifth. I kotsay is playing first base. He has not started a game -- first in two years. He's played 28 games overall at first base."
" Not Theo went out of his way when he announced the acquisition of -- he said one of the things he told kotsay in the phone conversation was -- your first baseman met with. And kotsay sort of joked and laughed -- no problem you know and he brought along they had this in the back of their mind from the time they acquired. He has primarily. Back up outfield -- Primarily but they also knew that he had some experience 28 games at first as you pointed out there and you talked about you know thinking outside the box a little bit. They had in their mind from the minute they got him. You know what we might be able to use in the first base if we have to. And and they're going to try this afternoon he's going to plays first time there in two years. And you know what you'll probably be -- over there I mean everything they touch this year seems to work out."
" He's batting fifth Jason Bay in left field six yet its first day off last night by the weight since he was acquired right. Field -- Like -- know this with part of the job description here at skipped off day. For me to about it so he's back in there he's batting sixth Jason very tech who's really. That looked a little better at the plate batting seventh. Alex Cora playing short batting eighth."
" And Coco Crisp playing senator who by the way is it like he's batting night he's 400 or something over his last -- X number of games. You know this offense to start to really click. And and inaudible and they they did give up around last night -- but you know for the most marketable and it's been really good -- occasional pick up that everybody has. But for the most part they've been really good they -- make me nervous on I which yeah -- and I understand. I mean I am not saying -- wrong and feeling that way but it's better I think than people think it is Javier Lopez for instance is happening great year here. And I know there's something about that side winding the -- was in Barry look at he has. It gets blow all uptight that you began -- Barea yet we -- about having issues right now but you know he's really -- heck of -- year but we talked about Okajima. Who you know has the picked up now and then. But for the most part second half of the season's been strong. Even Papelbon tactic now on. You know that the -- night before we asked to have problems Scotland like that than -- that debate. But I I I think overall the pitching you start -- that ball back into place Beckett is definitely going to start Friday. Through 58 pitches in his simulated -- side session here last night. Said he felt great now they're going to keep a short leash on Friday it'll probably be five innings like that. Although he said you know. Pitch to let them take all the way reckoning and it would. But you know they'll be careful as they should."
" say just doesn't doesn't make any sense and you picked up. Everything you needed to pick up last night's game a game on Tampa you're four back from Tampa pick up a game in Minnesota -- pick up the game on Chicago. So. If you if you do if he played as a reasonable baseball down the stretch and don't have fallen through any ridiculous swamp. You gotta be in the playoffs either as the as the division champ. Or the very least as the wild card you don't want to do anything crazy with Josh Beckett in September right before policy starts."
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