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June 6, 2007
Projo Sports Chat transcript
Here's the transcript from our second projo Sports Chat. We'll have another one at noon tomorrow.
Warren: Does anyone besides me realize that the Boston Bruins exist....
Art Martone: Hi, folks. I should have known Warren would beat me into the room!
Art Martone: As for your questions about the Bruins, Warren, yes, there are people besides you that realize the Bruins exist. The problem is, they haven't given anyone reason to know they exist until quite some time. Until they do, you could be a lonely voice in the wilderness.
Mike: This is projo.com Sports Producer Mike McDermott. Art, do you have any theories on why the Red Sox can't hit junk-ball throwing lefties?
Art Martone: I think that's more urban legend than fact, Mike. Fact is -- as I discovered by a quick perusal of Red Sox stats on our projostats page, http://projostats.projo.com/mlb/teamreports.asp?tm=2&report=profiles (there's a seamless plug, eh?) -- the Sox, in fact, have a higher batting average (.288 to .275), higher on-base percentage (.379 to .355) and higher slugging percentage (.454 to .442) against lefties than righties. So the numbers don't bear out the theory!
Mark: What do you make of the rumored Bobby Abreu for Jermaine Dye trade? Why would the White Sox make that deal?
Art Martone: Apparently they won't, at least judging by recent reports. But I think they were contemplating it because they believe Abreu is a slow starter and is due for a prolonged hot streak, and they desperately need another bat in their lineup.
Warren: Art...clearly the sox need a rest....but how do given em a rest and prevent a tailspin from becoming worse and avoid the burnout and collapse that Zimmer did in 78 ?
Art Martone: Hello again, Warren. Even if it costs the Red Sox a couple of games, they can't be afraid -- and, indeed, they must -- give the regulars a rest every now and then. The reason they collapsed in '78 is because the regulars were in there day after day after day, with no letup. Rest 'em. It's the only way.
Warren: Can the sox afford to keep Pena and JD Drew both on the roster with little being contributed to that position offensively ?
Art Martone: Drew should be fine. Pena . . . well, let's just say they may be looking for a positional upgrade.
Warren: Art....come trade dealine...what do you see the sox seeking ?
Art Martone: I don't think they know yet. They're probably looking for a fourth outfielder, but they have questions they're going to have to contemplate between now and July 31. Will Lugo come around? How about Crisp? Can they live with Mirabelli's lack of offense? Is the bullpen deep enough? And then, once they make *those* decisions, they have to see a) what's available and b) what they can afford to give up. For the next couple of weeks, though, I think they're going to be trying to figure out what needs they'll have to address.
Warren: Why start Wake against the yanks...they have his number ?
Art Martone: They have the last few times, anyway. But the question is: Do they have his number, or has it just come down to him being in one of his down streaks when they play him? He's had success against the Yanks in the past.
Mark: Did you see where Al-Jazeera applied for media credentials to cover the Stanley Cup Finals, and was rejected? No one is watching or talking about the NHL. How can the league afford to turn any media outlet away?
Art Martone: I *did* see that. I didn't realize the Middle East was such a hotbed of hockey interest!
Warren: with regard to Manny...do we keep him ? Trade him ...and if so...do we rock the boat and trade him during the season ?
Art Martone: I doubt there's any trade for Manny in the works now and I doubt it'll happen this year, not with the Sox' offense as disjointed as it is. There could be one if the offseason, though, if they sign Alex Rodriguez (if A-Rod opts out of his Yankee contract). I know you and a lot of other people would hate it, Warren, but what a hitter he'd be at Fenway Park.
Warren: Has Roger Clemens further enhanced his image as a mercenary this year...Also while on the subject...don't you think he shoulda gone out on a high note rather than this....I think he picked the wrong team if he did have to come back this year...Do you think the yanks regret signing him ?
Art Martone: Warren, Warren, Warren . . . the only person in the world who *didn't* think he was a mercenary is you!
Warren: How much longer can the sox go carrying Mirabelli as back-up purely cause he can catch a knuckleball ?
Art Martone: If things go sour this month and the lead shrinks, I have to believe Mirabelli would be one of the guys whose job would be in jeopardy.
Warren: Art.....Granted Dice K is a rookie albeit a older one...but he sure hasn't yet lived up to any of the hype...did we all set the bar too hight ?
Art Martone: You hit the nail on the head: ROOKIE. He's never pitched in the major leagues before, and it's an adjustment, no matter how much success you've had in the past. He pitched well last night, and all in all I think he's doing exactly what we should have expected this year. Anything more than what he's provided so far, I think, would have been unrealistic.
Warren: Art...yankee fans in New York keep yapping 78'...shouldn't they be more mindful of 1965 rather than 78' ?
Art Martone: Yankee fans up here are yapping '78, too. Just remind them: You can't summon a miracle on demand.
Warren: Has Varitek ever mentioned what he plans on doing when his career is over ? I think he'd be perfect as a coach or manager someday for the sox ?
Art Martone: If he has, I haven't heard. But I think a post-playing career as a coach or manager is a natural progression for a player as intelligent and heady as Varitek.
Warren: Will fencing be put in place on the Tobin bridge to prevent jumpers if he sox lead further shrinks or God forbid we blow it ?
Art Martone: A little early to be thinking that way, don't you think? If you think of the season as a game, we're in the top of the fourth inning right now. Would be getting all nervous is, with a 7-1 lead, the other team got a couple of runners on base in the fourth? Because that's *exactly* the situation the Red Sox are in right now.
Art Martone: Make that, with the *Red Sox* leading, 7-1!
Warren: Do you think the sox are going to place some emphasis on catching come this draft ?
Art Martone: I think we know them well enough to understand that they're going to try to pick players with the greatest value regardless of position. Bill Parcells once described this perfectly (and he said he actually learned this from the Yankees' Gene Michael): Say you're a football team and you need a fullback. When it's time for you to draft, a potential Hall of Fame linebacker is available. Teams should draft for the future, and trade/sign free agents to fix problems in the present.
Art Martone: Folks, we have no idea what the profanity might have been! I swear, I didn't swear! We broke the response into two sentences, and the second sentence made it through. We're working on the problem.
Warren: Didn't you just love it when Lowell gave that nice hip check to Cano this past weekend ? Hey...maybe the Bruins could use Lowell ?
Art Martone: That was a clean play, but, yes, it was something you might want to see more of with the Bruins!
Warren: Art...when the Bruins were the toast of New England....were they as big or bigger in popularity than the present day Sox ?
Art Martone: I've lived through the glory days of all four Boston sports teams -- Bruins in the '70s, Celtics in the '80s, Patriots now -- but I don't think anything compares to the popularity of these Red Sox.
Warren: Art...the sox are planning on lots of things to add seats to Fenway in the future...but when all is said and done...it's still a small park...how concerned are the sox about fans like myself who travel up from the belly of the beast ( New York) and elsewhere , not being able to get tickets to games ?
Art Martone: When all is said and done they'll have close to 40,000 seats (or capacity for 40,000 people), which is regarded as the optimal size for a baseball park these days. I think they feel people who want to come to the games will find a way.
Pam: Art, I enjoyed hearing from Tom Brady and the others attending Patriots mini camp. Can we expect more of those press conferences this week?
Art Martone: Hi, Pam. (What happened to black&gold . . . ?) They'll have players available for press conferences throughout mini-camp, which ends tomorrow (Thursday). So, yes, expect more!
Posted by Mike McDermott 
at 2:11 PM | Permalink
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