Rodgers handles critical moment

By Bill Griffith, Globe Staff, 10/1/2003

Red Sox manager Grady Little won't have to worry about mean ol' Bob Rodgers second-guessing him after tonight's Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

That's because Rodgers & Co. will be on at 9, doing a special pregame version of "W.B. Mason Extra Innings" before the 10 p.m. start of the Sox-A's game, which will be simulcast on ESPN and Channel 68. The postgame version will have to wait until after tomorrow's 4 p.m. game.

When Little uncharacteristically chose to publicly chastise a media member last week, his choice of Rodgers as a target caused two reactions:

1. All the folks who considered Rodgers the ultimate "house man" had to reconsider.

2. Rodgers's bosses at NESN silently cheered. Before the season, they encouraged him to be critical but fair. The mini-brouhaha touched off by Little created the kind of publicity for "Extra Innings" that promos and advertisements never could.

But Rodgers also knew it meant he had two choices: keep the feud going or walk into Little's office and clear the air. He chose the latter. All he'll say of that meeting is that both men had their say, it wasn't comfortable, but some accommodation was reached.

"I want him to be able to watch the show -- something he really can't do, anyway -- but be able to say, `That's a good baseball point,' " said Rodgers. "I'm glad we were able to talk."

When it comes to cheap shots, Little got in one of his own, describing Rodgers as a "Little League coach." Actually, Rodgers was a high school coach for 11 seasons, 10 with the varsity.

"Everything I say, I then bounce off that night's analyst, be it Dennis Eckersley, Jim Rice, Bob Tewksbury, or Sam Horn," said Rodgers. "I'm trying to be the voice of the fan. If there were five different guys in Grady's job, each would make different decisions. That's the beauty of baseball. Of course, the downside is that no manager likes to be second-guessed."

Therein lies the rub.

"NESN wanted us to be honest so the show would have integrity," said Rodgers. "We come on immediately after the game, and this season many of the losses have been sudden and heartbreaking. So when they come to us, we have to let it all hang out. For all of us, the challenge is to be critical but to keep it from being personal."

Rodgers worked with an all-new rotating crew of analysts during the season and said one of the pleasures has been to see each grow into the job.

The big change for the postseason will be having Jerry Remy as part of the show.

"Here it is the playoffs and Jerry, the guy with the most insight into the team, is off the air in favor of the networks," said Rodgers. "We'll have him in studio and hopefully that will take us right through the World Series."