Larry Lucchino

Cool welcome back Tom Finneran here. You are listening to Finneran forum on AM 680 WRKO joining me in the RKO studio is my co host for the day from the Boston Globe. Jones and hockey here column appears every Thursday in every Sunday. In the globe like college the assassin the gunslinger but she's so sponsor so much fun to be with and she's. It's been a ball they were having a lot of fun and that we're about to accelerate the fund media because we join Larry Lucchino pretty well downtown. Well known guys in this town and he's associated with a well known Boston Massachusetts new England and now global. Phenomenon the one and only -- Red -- Larry Lucchino a Red Sox Nation how are you today.

They have science behind -- good morning he would appoint --

Nice to talk to Larry good to hear a voice Larry Larry and it's resting -- that may so the season is well under way. An interesting spate of games recently spotlight on pitching. And that's just some fabulous baseball games to 13 to two ninth inning -- arts.

While bodily Clinton as sunny side on that aren't you didn't let us let us.

Outlets to start with some of the good that that's it come to an old school guys so many ways it is old school baseball -- like old school games that good pitching and the answer. Two hours and eighteen minutes to hours and thirty minutes that -- different kind of baseball and that we have paid played the last several years. Well we've had much longer games off or pitching. -- pitches for that matter. And this is the -- is police that it may be 3040 years ago before the explosion -- the changes but stated they had been. 2222 games this week I guess it was it. Tuesday when -- answer to the they -- to fit right it is all they take take it -- by a Hollywood scriptwriter music in the the top ten nature of the camps -- drop. And I could make comebacks they were rather spectacular baseball games. We're thinking of one point did -- to this could perhaps physician PA has also charge typically it yesterday.

plop -- I don't think so popular okay there's nearly ever created yeah. --

Guys you know you people will pay the value and that I think the beauty of baseball by observation and pleasure of baseball all the many many years grabs a hold of really what Larry just said in we all go to the game we love the game would love the park that he halt. Dynamic of -- all but the beauty of baseball is you literally don't know what to expect the blockages be jumping out of the park on any given night even against the best of pitches. And then sometimes unexpectedly you'll get into one of these tools and I do love the crisp nature of it you know two are an eighteen minute game.

Side yeah that eighty two -- but.

Yet predictability evidence did two things that they they they also adorable a lot of 26 to do it two I would pitch -- on the wanted the -- The unpredictability of the two beat really is a case that. View while I don't know what's going to happen the randomness spent so you gotta focus on pitching and focused on the panels but there's so much rampant. As -- because field so gates also small a lot of that's going to her. And the second thing that because so charming about it is the that they really does so that the use you -- every page you can watch it every day. Fine thank you want year old bother watched in Pittsburgh what is every game export every game. We have an offstage because it is my hair out saying artistic they get a tight throughout this --

You talk about old school then edit the Al what do they -- do they needed to ask you as a matter of fact Larry you remind me I think I'd met your mom lost fall over at the park pushing it out for one of the game --

Indeed he now six Richard French a Pittsburgh for her hard grouper ball to feed her bungee or whatever -- comes up then. He was here for opening day that you result there for the policy analyst.

As she always been a Sox -- is -- a new thing.

I don't know -- they I think it started out almost seven years ago.

Okay on the eve -- it was a -- applauded them.

I want no lied and and by the way anybody who wonders we -- Larry Lucchino gets this kind of does his dynamic sense of energy go go go on top of everything showing leadership showing vision you got to -- Bob season he is a chip off the block right there are -- And I know where all the juice and it probably energy comes wrong.

So -- journalists Fenway Park recession proof with talking about the economy.

You know I don't that's because of course -- I I think there's something about sports this Conor 6 it. It has been at least historically our I but I don't think we are entirely recession proof we major support for the business community Austin delinquent. I think the level corporate support is can be will be affected by the general state of the economy when it comes to. Individual support I think there is today. We are at least one of the last one to be effective I think by a ticket --

You know Larry and I want to get back to the baseball because this recession proof thing is pretty is that I think it's a real challenge we have Steve -- a little while ago talking about a -- In of all things casino gambling which historically had been seen as relatively intercept recession proof and yet the stocks -- down Red Sox Nation I think it's a really of phenomenon unto itself stick into the diamond just for a second Joan and I'll go back and forth to his room really wouldn't -- have me for the ninth time in question is how. -- Larry brings it Larry birds and -- you know what he does now that is really remarkable you don't see them a lot of baseball executives. At the hitting has not really been in my opinion has not been what we might have expected. A lineup that has the guys that this has guys like a Pretoria and you -- J. D. Drew up to a better stat this year than last year obviously Big Papi and a man and so on and so forth. What -- what what you sense of you know the state of about the state of the hitting now. Any any concerns that we should be aware of.

I think we will hit the top I think there's a question of the track record is established. And and the players well. I think perform to their established level though he's an aberration something national so like eight years as they have an op here but on balance there's enough balance. On ballot as an off balance in this lineup offensively. We will score a lot of riots and it we will draw a lot of walks and we will do things we have done successfully. And of course is is an extraordinary a year while David's got off to a slow start that there is -- over all there'll be a balance the opposite. I think he the question. From -- remain so did you -- me say for that they gain should be changed the name of the game should be changed to be companies two biko pitching pitching pitching. Because it is so essential to team success and our pitch again it anywhere. Years its effectiveness was last year that we as a younger pitchers in there. There's going to be a irregularity to their progress it will be completely here and upward I think that's -- we have some some agents of injuries we we certainly as per Chile and instability. He has provided the rotation. In the last few years. We got. Tip wheat fields is it is it is forty eight he spent a dollar now former. For many years we have aged depredations analysts -- that that rotation. The bullpen is always challenging it's. It's one of the challenges contemporary baseball able to sample of people that yesterday I don't know what to pull up politics of the.

Hot hot hot hot hot he's going to ask you should get has not Hillary Clinton might pitching question actually yeah. What Roger Clemens and all stops it's been coming out of that him. Are you rooting for him to wear a Yankees -- blue jays. --

It I knew there was an ambush happened Larry I have apologized Arizona State report about the village columnist for the gloves mischief is -- DN AK.

Our readers. But that was sitting in his Roger is is a both personal they had an issue that the cap you're being facetious but that that will be determined of course by the -- same values to -- Player had the preference tickets -- what it ain't yours it's or whatever. But he can't do that anymore but I think Rogers that Eritrean all the evil we determined by not by his performance on the field that's undeniable. Certainly qualify -- first ballot hall of Famer. However is going to be compound that complicated a not just eighties there or an accusation that the higher fallout wade is story accusations was handled my guess is that the final chapter has agreed yet to visit. Justice Department investigation going on and and it's all the smoke -- to serious fire I think the sportswriters and after an older -- that the policy saying the -- that the -- by. Essentially sportswriters like any other. Policy change that I know of is it is the sportswriters to make talks the institution it's partly to sportswriters. And they're pretty good barometer of the idea of voices of the people so I suspect there will be. Some lady. His in his admission to their peace partner.

The stats on -- enough it'll.

I don't think so on I think that Mark McGwire has been evident that that's.

You know it's the EE a look at any need just it has all the makings of a a Greek tragedy a fun nominal absolutely phenomenal baseball career and -- yet. These last several months have not been good for Roger or his family.

Or or his legal team exactly yeah no -- just -- just -- Rogers -- and wonder. Though all of this happened different at this the vice somewhat different.

Yeah I think if there's an attorney by the name of Larry Lucchino working with Edward Bennett Williams it probably would have been -- a different different body of that vice.

I'm glad you mentioned that because my I did have a presidential question and you worked with Hillary Clinton during Watergate you know and it lawyer days so. The other -- in this campaign.

I'm actually aggressively studiously neutral.

He's going to baseball and its.

I would say yeah I would say a baseball game and we try to be publicly not partisan I I have actually said some money to each it'd -- democratic candidates the completely which company.

Covering your bases.

Now I have actually a decent strength sent me an agent and the asserted -- white. It is aggressively Hillary supporter and is. Quite enthusiastic and active idea she tremendous. Opportunities with that brought about this candidacy so old fashioned cents a connection Hillary so. It's it's it's an awkward position for me and now while compared to sort side right now on the radio.

And that's and it's almost as long season for them as it is for -- food for Major League based.

The -- that is for sure via. There -- two the primaries of 2000 and multimedia I'm bill Bradley was right present you Bradley 120 -- was city. Better more rational. More economical -- Not the president that this is serious. -- primaries and basic yes I think it that the perfect answer and the only entity that jump shots place.

I thought about pop pop pop pop pop.

I like Bradley hey where where a full month just about a full month into the season I have to ask you Larry and I'm going to take is brought to you wanted to as possible though don't restrict itself to just the American League. What -- what stands out thus as these surprises of the 2008. Major League Baseball season anyone to things just strike you as completely unexpected.

Well certainly Baltimore's quick start I think everyone wrote -- office that we sisters the a the American League east and I think the fact they got out two such strong start. And I would to an extent that -- that they that they were not written not by baseball people because people realize what you get the draft as -- it is is -- in order as they were addressed last -- So it later in accumulate a young athletic talent it and that's so I think it is a little bit surprised at our division. That the the American League east peace would be a bit of surprise so far that Baltimore and -- the day. At at the that you get the the Yankees struggling where they are off to a bad start Britain with some injuries but that was -- can't write -- vampire.

Yeah are in you know I guess is taken for myself on this front of looking at the standings now Toronto two 1274 and I can't -- the pace. And yet they swept we got swept out the end Toronto and they just gave well they win last night and give us to really had -- games as we've -- about a few minutes ago. Now there are there a good club.

Well it did great if you look at the pitching we've rented this week for two it was top to roar. Talking about how what they have the talent and a keeper and last night. Scissors and that those guys are healthy those three sensational pitchers and it's as we said earlier it all -- that and -- parents and good pitching this weekend as well with -- the page is not the vision that your father stepped. They double races is two a new addition. Do urgent the tip they raises about pope's.

Is it less fun with the Yankees weaken now. It is not going to get as excited about Tampa Bay is they are about the Sox Yankees showdown and you might -- reckon he's you know -- files you know he's the Yankees and so.

Own Jones explains so aren't you pop pop pop pop pop pop pop pop up. And I Jesus it'll well if I stay very I could say Jesus screwball -- Now I understand your point that you visit --

Is that the yet that this sort of red hot rivalry with the with the Yankees -- tax -- its own. Amman and intensity no matter what that one of those teams struggling does that make that he is feasible less interest. I I guess I can understand I don't think it's -- last I think that the in the games we've played with. Yankees were or real tents and important and and the Yankees all right the ship stuff on the way they won't. -- struggling in this way for our at least the old Yankees would not have there's a new generation of leadership there. -- to see how they reacted some adversity here but certainly historically. The Yankees had its financial wherewithal to react -- the diversity two. -- change course it it by it by attic talent making trades it. Do what they can't without regard to the potential applications transaction.

So is -- the greatest deal never made.

I yes in many ways that you have to say that wanted to -- one of the greatest steals they're -- because you may remember that part part of that transaction was the departure of mayor of Paris. That's where it would only be smile on where we meet people with -- performance last few years it is that -- in the postseason last year. Justices attach the -- Spain extraordinary restraint it is -- city.

You know John reminds us all of really one of the great principles I think around baseball we always always talked about the trade and how did that work out -- who you know which team got the benefit that benefit of the tread. But Iraq those moments when it's you decide no we not going to go forward on this and sometimes you can look back and -- move. Did but for the grace of god right.

We have an idea and those two Red Sox have -- image perhaps being aggressive like to aggressively market team elective were committed -- we but we do have as saying -- provide you heard first from it that way to and we we under old time it is. Not think is often a good thing to do and always a brilliant they say.

Hot hot hot hot. It would Bennett Williams -- and I have talked about -- when it one of the legends one of the legends in in America not just in in professional sports.

would -- let them make an amendment last Saturday it was not it was their. Where there's a new dormitory at holy cross -- the -- and we have tall. And it -- because he is. Devoted his entire life to totally process mister chairman of the board a debate -- contributions there.

The alma mater of my two daughters each of my daughters went to holy cross classics -- gone but yeah. TV Williams what was his major at holy cross not to do a biography of mr. Williams but he is really just one of the most remarkable figures in in the -- yes.

Blow people are expected to. Sort of no attempt I worry sometimes that that -- there's a new generation of sort of sports and at trial lawyers who will not be closed on such short as major was I believe it was archer -- it and I was I was gonna say it was English history or something that he had. So -- decided and so sports matches close it is legal action. Was that he was a combination -- he was a scholar this talent -- crossed it was a -- Alec. -- humanity it and in the courtroom he did in the streets -- as well as an intellectual yeah heart our -- two.

Great combination a great combination hey Larry you've been great with your time -- you know Larry always reminds us we're about the games into a 162 -- not. Not to -- not to love you -- you are around has attacked in an hour right Larry Lucchino the Boston Red Sox in it just an all around good good guy a great Gallup they have -- when we come -- guess -- worlds -- once again. The worlds of journalism. In the worlds of politics. While Barbara Walters and senate Ed Brooke. Apparently there was more than just a legitimate interview that was being held we'll talk about that when we come back in a moment honey and succeeding WR KOU