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Projo SoxTalk with Art Martone and Sean McAdam

Sean McAdam joins Art today on Projo SoxTalk, the day after the Red Sox' stunning 10-inning defeat at the hands of the Oakland Athletics. Click here to listen to the full audio file. A lot of people probably thought they could go to bed when Jonathan Papelbon entered the game in the ninth inning with a two-run lead and with the bottom of Oakland's light-hitting order coming around, but we all know what happened. Sean says it didn't appear that Papelbon was hurting on the mound -- just that he didn't have it.

"Both (Papelbon) and a number of teamates mentioned that he just didn't seem to have the good command of his fastball, which is something that usually is pretty key for him," McAdam said. "He wasn't locating with a couple of his pitches and that came back to haunt him."

McAdam went on to discuss manager Terry Francona's comments yesterday on the Alex Cora-Dustin Pedroia second-base controversy. At the end of the game, Cora pinch-hit for Pedroia (he was intentionally walked).

"I was a little surprised that Francona was as candid as he was on that topic, because he sort of cut off any debate at the knees whhen this subject has been brought up previously, saying that Pedroia is the guy who is going to play the position and Cora's around as a utility guy and to hep him," McAdam said. "But yesterday he kind of acknowledged that it is getting harder and harder not to let Cora play after he has games like he did Sunday at Yankee Stadium, where he hit a home run and a triple ... He's been just terrific, more than they could have anticipated. I think it's important though, and I think Francona is taking into account, to remember that Cora's a .245 lifetime hitter, and for the terrific month of April that he had -- and the Red Sox are happy that he had such an outstanding first month -- he sort of is what he is, which is a very capable utility guy who can play three different infield positions, but someone who is unlikely to keep hitting at a .360 clip over the long term."

McAdam also gives his take on rumors out there today that Oakland may be shopping their supremely talented but often injured young pitcher Rich Harden to the Red Sox.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:38 AM to Martone , McAdam | Permalink