Tom Werner, Red Sox CEO

" At 545. Today but joining us live on the phone line right now you've probably heard the Red Sox are back here on WEEI after two and a half your. Absence down the hallway to our sister station joining us live with a full line. Is the chairman of the Red Sox Tom Warner Tom --"

" Graham -- you guys about how things on the last two anti Islam and non -- all right. Blessed to have days they give visiting they have what -- talk a little bit about it."

" And you obviously get a sense now you've been here long enough of this town a little bit different than. Then LA San Diego the laid back. I'm wondering how you guys deal with -- is talking about something interesting about this whole quarter business because one the complaints that. Revenue coolest dad. Is that apparently somebody has come out with these phony. Supporter can -- the Twitter now."

" I actually don't let. I know that John doesn't. You know I see the the value of that but. The day is is short enough that they don't need to tell people saying I'm --"

" It's 5 o'clock I'm talking to Glenn Norton way right now the opposite -- I don't smooth."

" That's the same issue why that would that I can understand the value of it and maybe even more so in business by. What I don't I don't want people who don't want them doing every minute but how dangerous is it because rob -- sit here. Mentioned that when John Henry was talking about the Yankees. Provocative statement probably in -- probably as a joke. Is -- is a throw away it was a throwaway line but the way it all works Red Sox yankees you know now emotional absolutely how. He had to check out and actually get back to John to see if John actually said that so if you throw one of those -- lines out there. How do we know it's actually coming from what John --"

" You're right I mean you visited part part of the head danger of the Internet is that. There's so much. Disinformation and misinformation and bloggers say whatever they want and they can pretend to be. People they're not and it takes you longer to check out everything I mean that's. Part of the reason that I'm happy that you know did avoid the whole thing personally speak is that. It's just it's a very complicated the issue here."

" How difficult is it for organizations I mean there are a lot of players right now and that's were probably gains credibility who have Twitter accounts and they'll Twitter. Football players are doing it at halftime which seems to me."

" I don't know that there's Debbie -- between planes."

" They beat you said but but then there are others as you -- is claiming. That our our -- together phony accounts as an organization of a sports team everybody wants to know everything. Every little detail. How dangerous."

" Just dangerous and that's where we got to go to WEEI to get things right."

" That's a document that."

" Dot com it's -- that. Nation's biggest and highest rated Sports Radio station at Atlanta where in the big show every day that."

" Two thanks someplace had to throw Docomo and airlifted to be able to order it or not even we're not even for any all the one thing I Wilson. Where I think the WB."

" Yeah I becomes very very important is -- admitted it many times story Tom we we really. Don't solve a lot of the world's problems we canceled sports problems we can't solve world problems we don't save whales. 364. Days but for 363 -- days a year along with our friends over -- We. Get our people opted two to look at of real issue when that is so cancer with children -- with Yeltsin Jimmy -- the next two days. Are gonna be two days that we we need everybody out of those are important days for a."

" This is one of the great things about what WEE nine at in -- you know. Very. Impressed with it. The the fact that we raised seventeen million dollars. Your willingness and and our goal this year is is to reach five million dollars and you know most that guys you know that is made up of people who read 25 and fifty dollar checks and coming from. You know a few big. Big spenders and I think it's just it it's something unique. I think that too we often don't give enough recognition and our fans that they that they the coming out and and do this and it's it's not done it any other market and I'm really very proud of that and you know anybody who. Who. Says hey you know big deal that that this is a very serious issue and it's being tackled when people are getting involved you guys are involved and we're involved. The players involved and it's it's making the world a slightly better play."

" You guys have put together the Red -- foundation as well I wonder how important it was and how aware -- you guys were when you came in. And how much she knew about the Jimmy Fund which obviously dates back to to Ted Williams -- port it was or what impressed you. That you had to continue making that a top priority as a charity with the rest."

" By all the magic anybody. Anybody. Everybody who knows about the Jimmy Fund knows that this is the then the relationship between the red faction the Jimmy Fund is is exceptional in -- saved the best in sports that. It's exceptional and you know. The next few days that the stars are really going to be the doctors and the patients who are gonna come on WE nine come on -- and and who can you know anybody who saw that that boy run the bases a couple of years ago it towards."

" Andre Jordan and he's nine now. And he's in Little League and his dad that Ken has been sending me pictures of the kids pitching looks like CC sabathia on the --"

" Well we'll we'll draft and then -- as. What he would he's done you know I've seen a lot of people do home run trot internally park and that that was the great is that you must."

" Memorable moment from the for the whole fundraising drive."

" You know -- I think so because. Is the response I I would definitely park that day. And I don't think there's never ever been a more emotional. Beautiful moment that I have experienced and -- sure you guys it's insane."

" I would absolutely citizen he was all of us that afternoon and we talked to him about this and go do it go over on the and net night there was -- dry eye in the house that ounce. Because I think. He was running the bases for all of the other kids -- it was it was really exceptional and it's funny since we've done this. Jordan has been there since the beginning. Of this radio telephone. And we have seen him in very difficult situations and obviously he will be on with -- the next couple days as well. And right now this kid is as as -- has conquered the the flight he has won the fight and this kid is doing just great great stuff."

" Absolutely and Obama teams which beat by a client about the baseball psychologically for the next couple of days and we'll see a lot of the a lot of the partners of the Red Sox will be joining us over the next happy -- going to be. Dog is curious. I would hope that we've talked you since that'd be rookie stuff happened and I'm just curious how much were you involved and how much was the ownership involved in this. And were you surprised by the entire process from the time where. The news came out about David until the press conference because I think David obviously with somewhat surprised. But how much were you involved and how much did you know. What was going on in in -- right."

" A lot of questions I mean obviously. We we were as surprised Tibet. Is being on the listed as he was when when. The first heard about the New York Times story. In the beginning we we let David speak. He has earned our. Respect in terms of its honesty. Com he says that. That you know if he he. You know if he was on that list he wanted to know why he was on that list that they keep the surprise that he was on that list. I think that we now know. Based on. Step that has been served in the press and also I've spent some things that. -- can't mention the source but we've certainly found out that. -- that list list not completely. Conclusive that there are some. Some false positive on that list that. David thinks if if if he test positive that that there might be sort of some over the counter. Thing that he lives. Perhaps buying. That here's what I now there's a new drug program put in place the next year. Which you know the owners have been fighting for a tougher drug policy for a long time and that's it will be getting off the topic here that when that new. Policy came in 2004 David was tested and everytime he was tested which I think has been around twenty times. He always tested negatively so. I believe that that it was a bit of sort of irresponsible. Reaction. And I I think -- them David handles himself beautifully in my opinion Yankee Stadium. And then it's time -- assertive turn the page."

" But doesn't baseball have a real dilemma here on the net that 2003. Test was a simple test it wasn't -- in any way. Find fault with the players and suspend anybody he was to decide. Whether they were going to have mandatory testing coming up the next year now that was still exist. It apparently separated into different labs one in Long Beach, California one in Vegas but the feds also now because of the Balco case. Have all that evidence. And you've got lawyers. Who apparently of leaks of names now what's the say we're not gonna see more of those names leaked out there and apparently. There are some names maybe as many as eight. Who simply tested positive for all over the counter supplement the dilemma I'm talking about his. You can't go out in reveal the entire list and say hold on here that or over the counters and there are the other guys that were. Tested for something. You know more serious. How you -- that you can't -- the other guys it's not fair to their privacy. And yet how do you solve the problem because if lawyers have already leaked out some names. What's to say that two weeks from now we don't hear about two warnings in Sports Illustrated the New York Times."

" Well it probably will because somebody is. -- in this against the orders of the court. Com. To me I must say it. The bigger issue is baseball did have. As a problem. A number of years ago now we're talking about 2003. In you know earlier I think that they have attacked that problem. And I think some witnesses is is probably more interest says. And inside the beltway crap and it is the band and assertive aware of the fact that we. That a chapter a Palestinians in sports and people were now. And in based on people who are no cheating are getting --"

" I have a question about the the current teams -- cities acquired Billy Wagner. And and people say well you don't give -- much because it's a couple mid level prospects and and dog really given up with about three million dollars for the rest of the season. I come home how important was it. To have the payroll were wise to -- a lot of people said -- yankees spent X amount dollars. And how -- the Red Sox this took on the reclamation projects and Brad Penny and John Smoltz. But positioning yourself for now how important was it to. To have some flexibility or was that a case that at all."

" I think that we proven. In in the past that that we are. Focused on winning I don't think Annika if we don't know we don't win it is -- lack of effort -- Latin. And hours in the -- is. Associates and -- all want to doing. We obviously wanted to get Mark Teixeira that's that's not news and I applaud Leo and win when things didn't work out way. That -- it will you know we're gonna try to find other ways to win here Billy Wagner can only help us he's. He's pitched quite well since he's come back it is in -- few appearances. If he comes in and in pitches the eighth inning in game against the Yankees when we were facing we left handed. There's inspect them all out you know. There's a great value. We we we we are desperate to get to postseason electric chances if we get to post season. -- has been a great let. And it pitcher for that Billy can only help lesson we've never really worried about are there roller where you know we -- willing to spend what it takes. Two win our division and win. Championships and that's what I think he's here to help --"

" Obviously nothing is have been proven yet until as usage to get through the playoffs and if you've got top of the rotation pitching guys anybody can when we've seen that you in the past. What is -- about. Those who bring up the point that the Yankees if they are successful this year. Are doing at the difference between the Red Sox and yankees is that the Yankees spent four over 400 million dollars in the offseason. And the Red Sox spent eleven."

" Right oh you mean what what the question I think it."

" They think the criticism if that that the difference of the division right now. Could be the difference in how old the Yankees have done their business and that is that they have gone out and spend big bucks on people like Teixeira. And -- CC sabathia and AJ Burnett. "

" Well we we I mean I certainly think that it was tonight -- in New York when when. It then that threesome you know really made a difference in those -- game we were swept. Almost three Burnett sabathia and share they spent their money wisely here. You know whether or not those very investments that are gonna work in four and five years it is. In other there you can't really evaluated day. Eighty free agent acquisition -- to twelve months ago look at that. The period in and you know who knows -- these people and performance at level. In the future they certainly have helped them this year. On the other hand. We've also seen it just spending money in itself as an epic guarantee. Championship in them. You know I was in Tampa last year when we lost that seven came within one. -- getting in the World Series again last year and and we were beaten by a team that was aggressive then and young men and I think the part of what I see happening in baseball. Is that. Youth is really born more important and so you get to these. These years when your free agent and some of these deals work in most of them don't work in the most important thing I think is that his. Is really having a EM balanced team and then. I still you know and I'm disappointed every time to share a two game winning home run disappointment. That. You know well there's other ways to win championships."

" That time do you think we need to see a salary cap in baseball or some form. Of being able to ceiling and -- four on these teams which by the way for the Tampa team probably would have to increase their payroll."

" I certainly think that you know -- where you know again that's fine in the mystical it. -- don't be talking about these things but I think that there'd certainly needs to be down. Way to. Minimize the in. Range of of revenues from the lowest into the -- team that you know that you've gotta you've got a lot of teams are getting. Huge subsidies from the revenue sharing system and they are not necessarily putting it on the deal. And you've got teams you know no one team in particular that. --"

" By the way I should mention that today in the ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals. That court ruled that federal agents were role. In seizing the drug list and samples of the 104 major league baseball players who allegedly tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. In all free. They agreed with the three lower court that judges who chastised investigators who had a warrant for we -- Drug results the ten that were part of the Balco investigation. With Barry Bonds and others in the course the -- and and taking every one of those yet. Again. I wonder if maybe the only way the -- gonna be able to stop we were we start this'll conversations can about the dissemination of information. And maybe the only way you're gonna stop it is if this the justice is Susan -- or somebody out there. Is able to they're able to prosecute. And find. This person guilty one of the people that were under a gag order that -- giving this information may be that's the only way you gotta stop all."

" My wish they wish that judge would go after somebody because then -- break in the -- up."

" But my last question is that. We just talked about of the way things are trending in terms specially with a red -- and the amounts that you know I don't like really going after building a team through free agency. You ever see. In the future the red side. Offering 170 million dollars to another free agent -- we did it this year dog today I'd -- at times they -- at -- at."

" Only having net. We year I wish we got in the last call then we would mean nobody nobody called it back into the Yankees over bid if you're -- on."

" If you set up with a deal in a deal I don't know we -- nobody that -- seven."

" But do you think it may be -- and I'm sure this happens a lot in negotiations were a team in this case the Yankees as you know -- go out here. Raise your price get it up as usual combat will top. And."

" Well all I can say as a as a person has been in business for a long time. If you're negotiating. And I want to make a new deal -- you plan to -- the best person and then WEEI. Somebody comes in and make you an opera would be nice if they called me back and said that. You know let somebody made another offer for land with which you can -- top that we never would you would you have gone up. You know. I don't know. But the answer to that is a very possible to who knows."

" You wrote I would never do that -- well let let -- done on this and it didn't notice how happy that we are that we're back on. WEEI also throwing game."

" We are we are thrilled to have you guys back here and again we look forward senior over the next couple -- the two most important days. Well our broadcast calendar where we're thankful that the Red Sox -- that such a big part of this. All the people involved and so we're look at -- to its on again so always good talking. Thanks chocolate on the Christian and I -- wouldn't -- Europe --"

" Technical -- and the big show every day."