Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated - MLB

" will be played tonight there will be a game seven. In the NL CS and believe it or not yes a three and 13 pitcher will be carrying the weight of the New York Mets on his little shoulders joining us on the -- talks in baseball right now from Sports Illustrated is our buddy Tom -- hey Tom. Hawaii I've done well are you. Great thanks also very. Kind of an interesting series this NL CS is an out."

" He heads -- and I gotta tell it has surprised me because -- about the Mets would get through this -- lately maybe even you know it is losing one game but now more than to expand. It's become more competitive series and I can't put you're is that I am very weird series in which meter eight as ballast take -- a -- at all so. You know they wait to argue they're -- what's going to happen tonight I think they're pretending that -- because it's been -- the prospect of deceit but now."

" And along those lines and gone back to the weirdness factor is the fact that Jeff Weaver spent about a post season picture and has carpenter."

" And it's remaining -- executive editor PO let's go about between Jeff Weaver and Kenny Rogers appeared appear most reliable starting pitcher in the post season both those guys did not want 80s but you're right at me. Well it's a lot I would think it odd that the cardinals who really should have outlawed they have their -- Chris Carpenter and met at a guides -- pretty good picture by. You know when you look at all it injury that out of their staff made it about there's seven or -- the -- I mean that's. Accept the cardinal really need to wear black. You know anybody -- watched the game I think they -- the game was really over that first panic you know that they have second third one out -- at the plate against Maine who you know a little nervous than -- underneath them. And -- that you pictures of men you know wet senate changed above a 30 about three pitches and that's Serbian go back there -- conceding a run wide -- obviously -- run and you know cardinals get -- the -- they negotiate you ought to happen thereby not that was a horrible -- bad by -- yet another bad at that the third inning. So it'll -- bank credit he's self doubt after the outburst that it I really thought that Arnold -- at 11 applaud the bird spinning"

" Tom wondered before this post season -- you one of those guys who put a lot of stock in the way team finished and you look at Detroit. They were 1931 in the last 50 games in the cardinals almost coughed up an eight game lead in the NL central."

" You know what normally I would say no I mean that it has -- an 18 struggled down the -- you know Yankees in 2000 the White Sox last year by. -- that tiger that will say that it would like it puts its stock get it because it wasn't just to retrieve week it was two months. You know out that wasn't just a little bit of let her all off -- which grant. Main it was 18 is -- the last 50 worst that he game. Ending and there was even for a buyout in. And I thought -- about their pitchers that little pebble walk in actually it's pretty well on the -- but that is that it's and they were different paint a lot in my oh. I -- I am really surprised at where they have -- opposed the use it completely Carter wrapped. I guess that I did not -- economic."

" I think Joe Torrey has a reputation perhaps have a burning -- bull -- dusty baker has a reputation of burning out arms period. I'm not sure Willie Randolph has a reputation of burning out of bull -- and I'm also -- that he has any choice when you take a look at the way his starting pitchers have not performed."

" Yet that's a good point because you have to look at them a little bit differently they'd just don't have right now the starting pitchers are going to get the ball to the experts that a -- I have night -- This is there at all it reminds me of the 2002 angels where the starting pitcher. It basically not let -- game he lost in the first five innings you were okay you know he'd have to have -- after five but. You know it but basically he became the rate Rhonda -- by the inning and the Mets feel good he has paid lightbulb and they feel like we all thank gains because they have. I'd comment that the game down you don't -- bad -- Iraq than I expect it is the matter where people out there are eventually going to get you and we started it last night that the big Iraq I would if it would broke -- though. -- unconventional aim I mean normally would face starting pitching Eric that they've opposed these but I ever -- what the met separately it's not bad bank. All the starter goes only private think they're used that they know IPO it."

" Khatami made the case in and one of your earlier articles that the Detroit Tigers may be one of the best turn around stories in the history of baseball could just put this team into perspective. What they've done coming off a 90 loss season and 12 consecutive losing season."

" You know I -- baby -- forgot how bad the tigers work because they were so good -- reject this year I mean that they got the 40 games over at 76. -- that Internet you know or marked getting 40 games over five under remaining totally forgot where they came from what -- these dead 12 straight losing season you know I've seen as a role of 90 or more losses opening after the World Series ever was that -- for an outlaw. Not on back looked at -- 91 -- an award winning percentage in the -- or they've made the World Series -- Have Elaine that the tigers at a trying to get just you know more aware that locked the ER Xena looked out of the 19 board in Britain night in 69 met Blake yet eight war is bad for the law I really believe in my book. Tigers are the most jockeying world eerie scene that we've ever -- And at credit if Leland more than anybody make it it grabbed by its arms and yet it is one year the act. Leland has been used different."

" It we're kind of expecting this to be a very busy offseason from the Red Sox perspective with the possibility of trading -- and try to re build area a bullpen and things like that do you expect that the -- going to be a very busy guy here over the next month or two."

" I do that relate Garrett I think for all games it begins at Fox's doc you know the pitcher -- post that a Japanese -- all. Not that this -- it's in -- the World Baseball Classic is they -- get member wants starter twice that yours well at its next year or. He heard it already averages about anti about an hour he could opt out at 95 he's got a hot some breaking ball is -- this -- stuff it just doesn't come on the market is that it is eight. Go to Italy in a post that around the members are and everybody have yet what that members in -- just get the right to negotiate with the -- bit. You know I I think it's going to be at least 40 million dollars but in are aware of the dominoes all I think that that everything emotion is he is that we be if for eight starting pitcher who were ever get an Red -- Soviet yank people -- and mariners Dodgers it's going to be pretty number is that -- That ineptitude and lead the war -- it investment but make it clearly the best arm on the market he is hypnotic you'd leave it at Perry veto -- taking. And I think that's the -- it."

" Isn't it hard to picture him being anywhere but New York --"

" yeah every right now is but you know they've ever complicate this is the potent product I mean the Yankees certainly go -- Eric a mop with a Democrat -- that blows everybody away but. Guesswork trying to guess what that number is going to pay it irrespective and they promptly created situation worried is he in -- that -- yet in the act. But it's expected -- art art predict that means the mariners won the bidding on -- you wrote it was closed that and I think that now goes out at 11 million dollars that was and I think this is double that at LA bank that would make me as a native. Is there's somebody out there was a member of the number little bit higher than it is yet not negotiate."

" As you said Tom the bidding process makes it complicated enough but. You have a sense of where this guy wants to -- does he want to be in New York or Boston or Seattle"

" a lot of these negative rumors but I say -- early rumor that he'd prefer the late New York City does not want to play -- you tell for whatever reason but that it would be the early line that that you -- played the art art space in Europe created -- opposed barrier Normal created. At the right bank saying just say hey you want to get the yankees' Bob ought to have that drive up the price but it does Spain to pay any being advised by Scott forest. That he does a verdict."

" Ended dec dictionary definition of -- coffee table book as a big fancy -- and book that goes on your coffee table it isn't necessarily a book as big as a coffee table. And yet Sports Illustrated knew Bob baseball -- in production by Tom for Gucci arrived on our desks today I guess if your baseball fan how can you not on this"

" now they must have been you know make coffee table book a lot of sat become gore fight -- coasters in up set it down -- at a -- up he drank it that's about it you don't crack it open but. It as a kind of book circle wear out the aid is ever get tired look at these pictures and it is obvious they -- greatest photography in fines were the illustrated but -- plastic voters do you know great 19 if he or what the oh -- that there work rate -- I really believe that your baseball then you're gonna is totally -- this book is that they you know what you're going to be a lot of voters never stopped or been expelled while. You know there's this is pretty bowl and I like got a bit part of book is. A lot that the -- that this plastic ball well and -- or not neck -- right that that or that he at world the year White Sox outfielder al if the year -- over it and it it all of act while. The pictures got that when it was the rookie with characters were -- out all that let the mind at all with the acting thing that that -- in it is -- a story I think I'm that the game where and part of the act yet where a classic got a lot black and white or of fall color."

" And of course that -- Sports Illustrated there's some pretty good riding in their -- but I do have to question about. What are the pieces of information era I was reading that Roy Blunt who you're talking about Reggie Jackson and I think it was 1974 saying Reggie -- 896 in the 100 I'm taken away I spoke Reggie Lewis that is pretty powerful infect -- copy of that that."

" Yeah I don't know either apparently were their real good high school football players Jack guy as well let. You know read it -- you know you know that propagate game says I don't call that 96 actually verified by anybody other than that he."

" Can we -- is -- announced job. Before we let you go on -- Joe -- thing you know for a while in New York in the New York Post is writing one -- new York daily news writing something else he's fired he's not going to be fired ultimately of course -- return how close was Joe -- To being dismissed by George Steinbrenner."

" You know what George is then for whatever reason -- pushed the button territory for years now my area and that his story -- it won its first year. You know immediately built up this huge -- where he let that they say it New York teflon -- what you are all group criticism I. George can't stand that as a thank you like it would it is not so well respected manager art -- couldn't get go this chance now opera and violate the Gannett you know and I think that they they blocked the strike -- war. I'm prayer really did -- fire or what made out yet but it -- well -- rather emotional reaction. And and need their reaction but that during about the way you operate now means you've got but -- there you are people or of course -- raining an out of a little bit -- the -- the way that he -- I think that they -- they -- the right. There's about my mind you wanted the fire or what it ever decided. Safire territory and I think -- all it may art act in our perspective your life or is -- right now. Ethnic where topic he was -- for firing in legality -- and art that about."

" Had to have to ask you one final quick question from the book. Because I I I I I do think there was a subtle little message being sent. By whoever put the book together you talked about you know jokes to using photos and on 12 page spread on pages one a late one on nine they've got a 1990 picture of Barry Bonds -- looks like he weighs about a buck 70. And on the opposite page they got a 1987 picture of mark Maguire ray looks like he weighs about a buck 80 no subtle message here was there"

" worst eight even it -- net but yet I don't think there's any -- in bad at all I think anybody. Woke up the -- those facing pages that looked at those pictures you know what I'm looking at baseball history year because NATO's actors -- in -- there right -- all where. The bodies guests saint radically at those guys are -- better parade."

" Tom we always appreciate the time to talk baseball with the -- the book is spectacular and available now by the way it's called Sports Illustrated the baseball book and now it is the definition of coffee table book I hope we get a chance -- against him. You are portrait thanks thanks -- take care that is -- numbered new year's Sports Illustrated in this -- dot com"