" In the general manager of the Atlanta Braves he's frank Randy wants to beat their close friend. Now there are close to FaceBook eight hey frank got thanks for a mile radius is -- are at a -- about. What must've been a rough week for you in terms of people reacting their very very emotional about -- John Smoltz they blame you you are the general manager. How was it free -- deal with the with the had last week in the fan base."
" Well I'm I think it's disappointing from a standpoint of I think we're all. In a separate junk -- going to be here venture and I think that. I think that's the bottom line and that's you know that was. Never our plan never attempted. That he wouldn't be here and we always hoped he would be -- but at the same time. I think we were. Pretty consistent from the time the season was over. Talking about and and planning to not repeat 2008 will we just had so many injuries. That we you know coming down the stretch we couldn't compete and so. Using our real focus has been to put together pitching staff. That we think can go -- long -- And we were you know we were very up front we were very job where where -- comics. That we had put our team together and then once that was accomplished. If they were able pitch in -- they were. They want to pitch then we would try to bring them back."
" So obviously franken major sticking point is -- or or let's let's just say it this way the difference between the Red Sox in the range threats -- can afford to sit back and wait you guys could not afford sit back and wait. -- went and if John Smoltz would be ready to pitch."
" I I think that that's partially -- I think there's there's still a there are still are -- ago over until you -- sitters to use you know one of the most stressful openings at all sports and you guys noticed is is throwing a baseball. -- SS especially at the Major League level and and John hackers to make significant surgery I think when he had the surgery last summer I think there were many that -- ribeiro. And he's -- black where media. But the fact -- he's he's 42 going to be 42 year or this year and coming off that additional surgeries somewhat unprecedented. And he's still mr. Hillary -- and work. He noted that the time has move back from I think now talk in June at your earliest and so once he starts speaking hitters in. And pitching in games one have a much better idea. All right well every week now going to be did you not have much better idea of how come -- coming by what would even make them all all. Out of respect I think you know out of respect for John and and mount that was one of those things that we. We just want to having. For all of the reasons that the sampling back we wanted to back and that's why we wanted to measure of protection. Which we will -- team. You know. Several million dollars. With the stipulation that it got close to the Boston guarantee if you were healthy for sixty days I'd F."
" To the surgery after seeing what it did this offseason weather's at a schedule one not. After having Bobby -- get medical reports to use think -- all night you personally believe he's going to be winning eternal night."
" You know I that I wish I knew that. I honestly don't know Quebec -- applicants and were just too far away from him actually picking games to note actress. This is that this is the part of the rehab where most difficult instrument for pitchers especially shall -- as they'd get up to 78%. Usually goes fairly smooth. It's after that when they start getting to -- 90% and and gains speed. That we find out how well short gobbled up considers assuming you know it may be it may be perfect it made him very well. But I think precious is their chance at one."
" Frank -- as well listen gentlemen to the Atlanta Braves on the eighteen d.s own phone at seven -- his -- you save it who out of respect for John we offer the two and a half -- three million dollars. You know the fan would say a lot of guys in the car right now probably as a hall of Famer most popular brave of all time maybe after Hank Aaron. He deserves if if you're serious about wanting him backing you series are showing him respect. Another few million dollars to insure that he does not end his career in a Red Sox uniform. Would be money well spent if for nothing else and -- around this team and the chance that he can contribute later in the year."
" Well I think that you when you look at our club I think you know in fairness to the other 24 guys McCain. You know they want to have a chance to win. It would have a chance to win from day one and that's why I keep hearing is that you know we go to spring training we need them pitching staff need to have came on the field. That if that doesn't repeat to go out and say we want to you know union -- you can't control can control injuries things happen. But our guys want to get -- obligate. -- and and you can't do that when. A good portion of your payroll on the disabled list. In May or may not come back and so that was guiding principle kind of the best team we can't on the field early in spring training in -- and so we can go out and compete with only one guy. That is a premium pitcher that's going to give it the second half as we think in income Hudson is on the disabled list and coming back rehab so I just don't know that we can predicated -- Building our team having a couple guys that make them back in the second half and we we just need the parking media."
" Frankly had a chance to reach out Chipper Jones who really wasn't happy and you know he wasn't happy because he went public -- it."
" That it you know like guys and I think. These guys are their friends they've been friends for along time and and you know -- we've seen it over. Over time with players. That when things happen. -- emotional and I think that's one thing that makes some good they're. They're passionate about what they do in in who they do wit. And so those things happen I don't think that'll -- Anyone in my Jabber in professional sports. Really gets all up in arms about. Kind of spontaneous reactions to things happen like that. And I have reached out -- a lot of supporters apart a lot of players this past week. But it a lot of players excited about. But it's spring training in future. But I have not talked chipper and not not from lack of trying seven register reaching out and he was traveling some the the other week."
" One of the things though that now comes about this let's just say whether numbers are close or not I'm not flip a cavalier when it comes to other people's money. But let's say only three million dollars but doesn't this put your position now where it you have to pay more for Derek Lowe's cup -- C cashew PR. As well as from a -- in point of view you might have to stretch to a Ben Sheets that you might not of wanted to do beforehand is never domino a trickle down effect to the one decision."
" Now really that there really isn't but rather that the you know that that's the assumption that that's the only behind town and it really -- there's other guys out there that we like. I have. Possibility of a trade proposals on my desk as we speak. That would bring another pitcher to -- so there's other things we can do. And you know it again. Not in the door usually change is that decision John -- go to Boston. That hasn't changed our offseason program while working on. We're working on many of these things when the announcement was made last Tuesday. We had already invited they're glowing account well before that happened. We already. Started negotiations woodcock -- several several. Months ago. So a lot of things in life the trade proposal that I have my debt. That was put in place six weeks ago so there's lots of things that have been going on. This in orbit and really doesn't change that."
" Talk to -- gentlemen the Braves on Sports Radio 790 is nonstick -- quoted in the paper yesterday. I wonder where your reaction was kind of saying whether -- may have lost that swagger a little bit. The for cal decision the Burnett decision PV deal doesn't happen in small please for the Red Sox. What do you say to the folks what do you say -- similar comments that the Braves are certainly in a different place and they work for a five or 78 years ago we've been in terms of respect -- the -- week."
" Well I mean I I I think that Bob and I think that's obvious and I and I don't mean -- and -- meanest. We have made the playoffs the last three years. And we're we're going to replace -- by six years ago we were negotiating with free agent. They saw this as a place that they were almost guarantee -- guaranteed to be in the playoffs and so workable place and we've gone through you know as a stretch where. Now we've got a we've got to. Solid infield in and catching situation model that that group is all coming back in that group has its solid and and respected within the league. Outfield as a bit of work in progress and our our our bullpen real good and some things are happening in our rotations so we're not the same place and then. That's what we gotta get back in it again that's that's that's what were attempting do."
" The -- and it just go back if let's just say John it's -- in the -- this year's top about the mentality of the players and but he needs -- start from middle one. My line the other day it was affecting -- a four month -- issues he gives you best chance to one of anybody that I -- starting on your stamped this year. When. John if John is healthy enough that they the baseball. I believe that would be your best chance to win on a given night how your staff is made up right now. Two robotic."
" If -- John healthy I don't agree with you never disputed that. You know what kind of competitor John as we know what he brings to the mound every night but. That I think that's a big gap and that that's why we you know we felt like we made an appropriate offer and it was a bit of marriage. We need to measure. The risk of that because we we do have to have a -- take the mound every night that you know we feel like you give us innings and can give us quality performance and that's. That's going to focus our winner and really that hasn't changed."
" Finish up with frank run as he joins us on the eighteen diesel for a Sports Radio 790 is now so I guess I want to toward the amount but I guess ranked the best message to fans out there who are pretty much up in arms about the whole John Smoltz situation no pun intended as. This team this roster is still a work in progress this spring training is right around the -- in February."
" Yeah hey idiot and it and I think one I think we've seen it is. There's still you know the majority of free agents are still out there this has been very slow market I think the economy obviously have a lot to do with that. And I think outside of house by the -- New York the baseball economy in in the the payroll clubs have to work with. Our I'm a little bit of state flocks and with those two new stadium going on line in New York. -- it -- them -- a little different spot the Red Sox are a great position they law you know what many in Coco Crisp and protect Romanov spare. Payroll roster from last year in it we looked the other day in their club with the exception of part of starting catcher their club is pretty much in place. The payroll fifty million below what went last year and and and not likely to go up that much so. There are hurt -- great position that they can take a chance. That would probably couldn't at this point because we still have some -- we need to."
" Frank respect than you give it to him not want to give way to much do you believe there's any reason for any of us to believe that a manner nearest phone call maybe happens the listing."
" No I I really don't see that. Yeah I really don't see that hasn't at the possibility event to Jones beat back the packet that I can't comment on just from strictly is that from tampering position he's east over. Property of their LA Dodgers he believed -- I don't think so I think in I think guys that was one America. As hard as we tried early on it just wasn't going to happen because there were to meet dynamics on genocide that would not allow to happen as -- that."
" Eric glow a fourth year is that some BB very hesitant to give him."
" Well -- again I that you guys know how we we stand on negotiations specially. Negotiations. You know maybe you're going just -- comment on what we would or wouldn't do it just --"
" Real quick as you gotta go on opposes -- along the to decide over the weekend 33 already Kenji Kawakami. Out of Japan."
" Well we haven't signed yet so. Just stated -- outcome is the best pitchers in Japan won -- cy young four years ago should want to two years ago. And came inspector and three time gold glove winner has very good stuff he's. Very dynamic vision is very used you can -- is emotion on the mound. And you know there are people think he fits very well and very strongly in the rotation. So does that look."
" Appellant RC in Atlanta today for a physical. Are you okay so if that goes well into a pitchers Eric. -- our our all right well eight to barring -- a frank thanks for -- openness and we -- we watch eagerly to see how this roster feels itself on over the next month so I Garrett -- forward speed are returning."