[6:03] ..." April to that are -- before giving -- away at Scott Rolen right careful guy Scott Rolen you know the guy who loves got rolled more than any it was a producer on baseball tonight and we talked about maybe we should you know get on Scott Rolen is not playing very well. So the producers that careful like so ever since add. You know car -- skull that careful ground ball third careful frozen first and I guarantee you people are gone -- why is he do it. The other thing is hat's off to Jim tell me every time Jim Thome did anything. With baseball tonight he -- he loves -- so. I was at the also game Pittsburgh last year in this"...

[12:35] ..." Not -- speaking of issues Mariano Rivera's had some issues are -- this season given up to Marcos who wrote earlier in the year given it up. I hear"...

[16:13] ..." and maybe get them to a place Nolan Everett on sweeping Yankees Curt Schilling said. I'm going to make even more dramatic I'm going to take some paint and put him on my stock fell apart -- that was completely amazing that this team and came up how -- have time to even think about -- and we know our biggest ego ways and many like to think about it it's Curt Schilling but to follow through on that sorry I just never body even from the beginning."...

[0:00]" Laughter rate 24 hour baseball hiatus in the Red Sox very nicely gave us tonight off last nights a week -- really. -- Randy moss talked baseball is back on the docket today here in Boston. Sox hosting the Oakland days tonight at Fenway Park and we're -- baseball as well with -- our our -- is that in studio with us I was just looking at that the -- let's say. Analyst reporter for baseball tonight and sports that are senior writer at ESP in the magazine columnist for espn.com frequent guest on ESPN radio. Does he have any time to himself and her residence as just that -- The year Tim cartoon is whether sendak he's got a brand new book out called is this a great game or watch. And we had the opportunity to read it and like a lot of great great to see and thanks -- thanks for having found."

[0:49]" But you're gonna solve the year value you wanted to write a book for many many years with what was inside -- and it just came -- I've had a million stories as does every other baseball writer he's been covered for as long as I have and I just felt like it's kind of put a ball in one place I've used some of these in the magazines some in -- newspapers some on television summit cocktail parties and some I have used anywhere which those of my favorite ones. And I just needed someplace to put a mall. And I actually this is that I just heard 50 years old nice that this is a very symmetrical time 25 years in baseball turned 50. I gotta put this together I've planning added that in the process probably drove me crazy actually writing the book it actually it it didn't because Ian Ian how it is when you got a really good story and you want to tell somebody well I ended up really enjoying the actual writing process and I can tell you. I don't always enjoy because it's not very easy -- your writing. About your favorite subjects that's all this is are my favorite stories and my favorite topics of my favorite. Observations it makes a lot more fun what year here you know kind of entertaining yourself at least I was a long way."

[1:58]" You didn't have to actually get Ahold of everybody you write about and clear this stuff -- is that what -- taking another five years just to do that now there or just some things in there or ice and luck and the statue of limitations I'm going to use that he can't be angry area they after all this time but there it's. There hopefully a lot of humorous stories in his not a whole lot of heavy lifting is now a lot of steroid stuff this is the stop. -- people laugh at when I tell on this at a at a party or something and that's when I knew all right if they'll laugh and it here they'll laugh at in the book maybe and that's when I'm going to do -- give people a quick example we were just talking about how how it is in baseball now at the it was representative of this. They're very Belichick Keyon in terms of information I mean they've played their cards close to the -- They don't tell you anything you got ferret out stuff nobody shares anything anymore. Which you tell a story in the book about Ken Harrelson when he was a general manager."

[2:51]" give anything you want it even stopped and thought right well Ken Harrelson mean imagine this Michael as a reporter like yourself I called my team the Rangers I know they're talking in the White Sox -- call him did just -- guys like where is this kissed -- all employers -- Scott Fletcher I -- like six -- set hopefully lab has done it two days two days later. It was done to beat. That general manager -- changed more than any -- I keep in mind when ray miller was that it was the manager of the twins 20 years ago his general manager. Howard fox -- told me this story he said Howard would column occasionally. The next morning the after game -- say. And you guys do that's. -- he didn't even know. Who won the game can you imagine that today with their cellphones of their black berries and their text messaging and everything -- not knowing how the -- Atlanta last night if I don't the last it's not -- ridiculous but that's that's the biggest difference to me is have a GM job has changed now we have more -- is that we have former players you know maybe count several years ago 75% of the of the GMs were former major league players. And now we have guys like the -- who barely played in high school and -- mean they can't do the job some of them are better equipped to do the job. Specifically because they can run a payroll in the disparaging if you make it terrible mistake in years small market team on a contract of for a guy five years 55 million. You can -- guys back. Your team back for five years by screw it up a contract that's why the smart guys are very good. But the smart guys to me really need to surround themselves with real baseball guys the guys you can look at that guy and tell you. Kenny player -- and that's what -- does very well."

[4:35]" Aren't you pointed out in the book that. You know. -- have four or five guys in in baseball now general managers. Who are who actually play a me a lot of these guys didn't like the guys who -- like field didn't play in the major leagues I'm wondering. What did it change who started this we need a young bright ivy league educated in the lot of cases general manager to lead our team who was first well."

[4:59]" You know Jim Bowden was one of the first -- in general manager at 31 for the Cincinnati Reds in a really young aggressive guy and even though he's not a Harvard guy he's pretty bright guy and he was the 11 of the guys at least that kind of got the ball Rolen and -- and a bunch of other young guys have followed by. Two points while made Michael and that Billy being the reason I think he's so good is he did play the game on the major league level he can look at a player and say I can play. I know. I used to play in the big leagues. But he's also smart enough to do the rest of the job witches get is why he's so good Kenny Williams that's another reason he's so good major league player who understands the business side. -- and together and he does."

[5:39]" I'm very well now I love all the baseball stories is -- but I gotta admit I'm a member of the media. I'm a baseball ban so the baseball might stop was the best chapter of the apartment. I mean I'm telling you I enlisted a -- air play I haven't listened to Ravitch say oh happy day for how long now. And one LC talkin' about. You gave all the secrets away well."

[6:02]" just a bit of April to that are -- before giving -- away at Scott Rolen right careful guy Scott Rolen you know the guy who loves got rolled more than any it was a producer on baseball tonight and we talked about maybe we should you know get on Scott Rolen is not playing very well. So the producers that careful like so ever since add. You know car -- skull that careful ground ball third careful frozen first and I guarantee you people are gone -- why is he do it. The other thing is hat's off to Jim tell me every time Jim Thome did anything. With baseball tonight he -- he loves -- so. I was at the also game Pittsburgh last year in this thing and comes up to me -- street he had never met him -- each his positives halo he says. Tell me. Please let this hats off to him to alleviate. And I told that you should see this there relief on its face it's like I've told this. Unbelievable national secret but and Andy that all happy that hey this guy -- virtue works at ESPN he's the greatest guy in the world. Immigrants Phillies fan and a great producer but he loves the Phillies more than anybody in the world and every time they winning game. He goes out to his car sits in the currently since oh happy today which is his favorite -- again -- comes back in and goes back to work because -- this is every -- I mean he goes to about they had won loss and he needed a moment right I mean -- I'm going to keep him home here as he watches every game either on television -- on his computer -- he missed one at the all star game one year -- were all working -- Sunday and he can't watch the game. So he's on the phone getting play by play for the Phillies in the 19 because he can't watch the game and -- with all -- the phone and I he gets opposite. Gently tapped into him. He's at my mother grew out. This does get a point I play for the Phillies game you know the the part that I found fascinating and if you're in the industry you know of about this. And as I think -- says in the sports that are script it. Baseball I -- no script there is nothing you are flying by the seat a year pants. And sometimes when you're looking at highlights you haven't seen him. And that's true I mean it's the high wire act and and ESPN because you're right it's all live and things are going on -- long we eagle on at 10 O'Clock all sorts of things are happening. While were on the and we don't even all that's the first time you guys -- home worse unit for the first time I've been on airway and Hideo Nomo pitched a no hitter. In at a through six innings we went on any finished it while we were still on the year. And you know you don't have time to prepare for that you'd better be ready with some sort of Hideo Nomo no hitter note because you know anti researcher -- on live TV and that's when the guys here talkin' a year year help you through certain things which can be very disconcerting by the way but he got to do it but. -- attack on baseball tonight is my favorite you know and it's because it's it's a spontaneous and it's so alive."

[8:56]" Tim you said earlier there's not a lot of heavy lifting in this book when it comes to the steroid stuff in the HGH novels accusations. -- wonder what you what you think of this chase that everyone's talked about with hank Aaron and Barry Bonds and just. Or what baseball's doing just your your your opinion based though either somebody question that the start of what. Right your your opinion on Barry Bonds as he approaches this sacred records."

[9:20]" Well he's got a break it and I think we have to acknowledge it and I think we have to celebrated on some level because this is the greatest numbers in sports period for me it's the greatest record there is out there now. After that. I think we have to leave it at every individual person to decide. What are we gonna do what I'm gonna say. Keep their record don't put an asterisk next and recognize him for what he is the greatest home run hitter or at least number one home runs all time. Now wait in the minority on this does my friends are not going to vote for him for the Hall of Fame I have. You know non baseball writer friends that there are saying look this is not a real record I'm not recognized as one cramps and is. We have to recognizable while we do as we attach a story to it. That's as a caddy he's the all time record holder. But here's what he did and that's what we do with all stories in baseball it's who never taken a record away from anyone we never other than the Maris and we don't put an asterisk next to the success and reds won the World Series. And the White Sox tried to lose and yet we don't -- that we don't take it away from them but we attach a story. So everybody knows for the rest of time this is it so wherever Barry Bonds -- it's their life this is going to be attached to him people look at look at him and goes there goes the greatest hitter I've ever seen. And he's cheater he's liar. Now maybe that's not enough punishment. Sounds like some punishment to me."

[10:42]" So your partner minority are you in the -- in the minority because of what you just said because of baseball history because we haven't -- worse like it was -- right."

[10:50]" And most of my friends say if you -- I'm not going to vote for you for the Hall of Fame if you cheated I'm going to take your records way I. I'd just don't think it's that simple I mean I voted for Mark McGwire for the Hall of Fame I'm one of the 23% that voted for him. Because I just don't have enough concrete evidence about exactly what he did. And even if he did something Italy and I'm sure he did. He's not the only one who did -- this is the steroid year you want an asterisk we've already created it even imaginary gastric. That we all know that something fishy went on here and baseball will be judged these guys will be judged for the rest of time because of what they did during this era."

[11:28]" We would be remiss if we didn't -- current baseball stop while we've got -- here in the studio in your thoughts on whether the Yankees are as vulnerable as they appear right now. Whether or not very good right now but they're going to come back -- I don't believe they're going to fire the manager and I think they're going to be right there at the Red Sox as the season goes on keep in mind guys the used nine different starting pitchers in the month of April they've never used more than seven in April in any time in the history of the franchise they also. For the first first team in 50 years try to follow this use at least five pitchers in the game for ten consecutive games what does that tell you tell the entire pretty after the shambles. And why because they're all hard. -- have to think logically that should mean one's going to. Be okay here pretty soon BD AC used to be seen as -- back and it's got to be better than this maybe they'll make a run at Roger Clemens maybe even pavano comes back and gives him something. My point is they're gonna slug there way through a lot of issues that are going to get their pitching straightened out. And I think they're going to be a very good team by the end of the year but. Have I adjusted my thinking of this I don't go to the World Series at the beginning of the year -- clearly not as good as I thought they were going to be."

[12:35]" Not -- speaking of issues Mariano Rivera's had some issues are -- this season given up to Marcos who wrote earlier in the year given it up. I hear four runs in the eighth inning against the Red Sox they lose a game or five runs. Do you think he's the same or or is there -- reason for concern there was."

[12:54]" I think there's some concern given that he finished last year with an elbow injury and he wasn't particularly good at the end of last year and he's off to a slow start I mean -- greatest baseball that the greatest closer history is the last -- basically against -- this year they went April 20 -- that a save from Mariana Rivera. -- if you watch is the last close though it was pretty good broke a couple of bats and a lot of weeks swings I think. He's going to come back like maybe he won't be as great as ever but this is why the Yankees didn't extend him when they you know this spring when it -- how could you not give Rivera three or four more years. While they need to see if he's the Rivera -- I think he will be he's not right now but he usually finds a way to get people and I think he will again if -- had a chance to witness -- mania in person yet I yeah I went to a Red Sox game this spring at Fort -- you guys will appreciate this 7 O'Clock game I got their 130 and there was no place to plug it by computer the entire press box was already -- okay and he wasn't even pitching that night. I have seen him pitch I'm not surprised at all at the attention. What is it 12 Japanese papers are traveling everywhere with this guy for the season only five papers are covering the Red Sox this is doing -- and 12 Japanese papers are going wherever he goes. He's kinda used to this though from the days in Japan I think he can handle it I think he's pitched well I think you'll page banner. And I think he's fascinating virtually every time he -- out there."

[14:17]" You know right here in Boston gets obsessed with our little corner of the world talking about the Red Sox talk about the Yankees -- not to forget about a whole another league the national league. Anyone over there worth paying attention to that you'd you'd think -- challenge one of the teams in the American way"

[14:33]" well I don't know about challenging the American league with the brewers are very interesting team ice on this sprain -- dollars and actually central I had no idea what to do there I've found 16 ticket win and 16 tickets if -- that's interest in that division is. The brewers have pitched really well so far and some surprise team is and it is going to come forward this year it always happens in baseball. I don't pretend to know the other sports but I really don't think it happens like this in basketball. Hockey and football our team and look at the beginning years -- era fourth place team like the tigers they go to the World Series it happens. Every year in baseball maybe the brewers -- that team this year from the nationally. Idea that Schilling bloody -- story of a week ago is that only because at Boston. Yes and I while I think it's Schilling also and I think it's ESPN I think it's you guys and I think it's all of us we take its story and has the sex appeal and we ran it and I had to cover that story that today and you -- CME roll eyes I saw what I asked about this evil. Finally -- at luck would you leave this alone it was not pain it was blood let's move on from here and fortunately that story at a very short. You know life but it ran for an entire day in and -- you know Gary Thorne put it to bed and basically said. I made a mistake kindness communicating here that's when it went away but it was Boston and it was still interesting combination always privately had you ever hurt anyone's it would Gary -- Yeah I heard that soon after it happened again I may be the most naive guy in the world but it just wasn't buying and then on the eve of may be the biggest start of his life which he's trying to rescue team and maybe get them to a place Nolan Everett on sweeping Yankees Curt Schilling said. I'm going to make even more dramatic I'm going to take some paint and put him on my stock fell apart -- that was completely amazing that this team and came up how -- have time to even think about -- and we know our biggest ego ways and many like to think about it it's Curt Schilling but to follow through on that sorry I just never body even from the beginning."

[16:37]" Tim corrections new book is called is this a great game one now Tim will be at Barnes and noble -- prudential building 800 -- in street as soon as we get him out here at noon today Tim will be at Barnes and noble. If you'd like to stop by pick up a copy of -- book he'd be happy to sign it Korea we both looked at a certain and I I'd love stories anyway so it's just fun for me just only inside stuff on baseball -- made it work by in this book from my perspective. It's it's a lot of fun I hope you do very well well thanks for having me and fellas and that will do this against -- thanks and that's the only kicker Tim cartoon from ESPN joining us here on Sports Radio WEE"