- 2 days ago
Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy Joins the 24th annual Jimmy Fund radio telethon! Kennedy discusses the partnership between Red Sox and the charity. Started in 1953- Over $80 Million donated!
Offensive outpour! Red Sox rout Diamondbacks 11-1! Brayan Bello dominant out of pen. Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy joins!
Offensive outpour! Red Sox rout Diamondbacks 11-1! Brayan Bello dominant out of pen. Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy joins!
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00:00to the whole place here, Sam Kennedy.
00:03We've got a lot of Dana-Farber doctors around here,
00:06so you and I probably should not refer to each other as doctors today.
00:09Already.
00:12We are just on a different level.
00:14We're at a different level.
00:15Our expertise is limited to orthopedic injuries,
00:18and with those, we don't even know what we're talking about.
00:20It's all good.
00:21But listen, obviously, it's incredible.
00:24This is 24 years old and over $80 million donated.
00:29We just went over $3 million.
00:32The longest-running partnership between a sports franchise
00:35and a charitable organization in the country started in 1953,
00:40and you've been able to watch it grow.
00:43It's extraordinary.
00:44It's really amazing.
00:45You think about 73 years old.
00:47As you said, no professional sports team has had a relationship like it,
00:53and it was really a priority.
00:55Speaking of old, you and I go back a long way,
00:58but 25 years ago when we came in,
01:02I remember the late, great Larry Lucchino,
01:04who was treated multiple times at Dana-Farber,
01:08stating very boldly that we were going to enhance the partnership
01:12with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund,
01:15and that's exactly what Larry and John Henry and Tom Werner set out to do,
01:20and I'm glad they did.
01:21It's been remarkable, and we've just got to keep this going.
01:24Thank you guys, everybody at WEI and Nessun, for keeping this tradition.
01:29Thanks to all the volunteers back there and everyone who's donating.
01:33It really is a special two days.
01:35Big and small, people step up.
01:38Rob and Karen Hale stepped up.
01:42They do so much for the community.
01:43Is there a Mount Rushmore for philanthropy in Boston?
01:47Because we should start with the Hale family.
01:50It's just unbelievable.
01:51And it's not just this.
01:52It is everything.
01:54It's everything.
01:55You know, you and I are on a board that Rob started,
01:58and Rob starts the meeting off and says,
02:02I'm going to start off with –
02:03Karen and I are going to start off and donate $100 million.
02:07This is the Children's Hospital.
02:09Greg and I walked out to the side door.
02:11I always describe it.
02:12It was like the Simpsons and, you know, the bush.
02:17Oh, yeah, yeah.
02:18Homer's going into the bush.
02:19You and I were like Homer backing into the bush.
02:22We're like, you know, and sorry, we're not on that level.
02:25But it's – they give so much to the community.
02:27It's incredible.
02:29We're all so lucky to live here.
02:32And, I mean, it really is the most incredible place to live and to work.
02:35And, you know, we have our sports and all the amazing things in Boston.
02:40But if you're lucky enough to be here and for – you know,
02:43this disease has affected everybody sitting up here, everybody listening.
02:49And, you know, when it hits you, when it hits home,
02:54it's the scariest thing in the world.
02:56And we are – we just – we all have a responsibility to do everything we can.
03:01So you said it.
03:02Big donations are great, but small donations are equally appreciated.
03:06We just need them in mass.
03:08We need everyone.
03:08Give as often as you can any amount.
03:12Let's keep those totals going.
03:14Try to get back over that $5 million mark.
03:16Bats got going last night here?
03:18And that's what you need to make happen.
03:22I think we talked about this last time I was on.
03:24When you figure out this sport, you'll let us know.
03:27I mean, it's just night in and night out.
03:29You don't know what's going to happen.
03:30I've never been a part of a season like this.
03:32Anything like it, right?
03:33This is bizarre.
03:34No.
03:3525 years, and we've seen a lot, Chris.
03:37But I have never seen such frustrating, maddening performance in the beginning of the season.
03:46And then the –
03:46Exhilarating.
03:47July.
03:48It was just incredible.
03:49And then we've scuffled the last couple series.
03:52And then it was great to see us get back on track last night.
03:56Go ahead, Courtney.
03:57I was just going to say, it's such an awesome time for somebody to join the organization, too.
04:01Like, you look at Adley Rushman.
04:02Obviously, the games weren't going your way when he first came to the team.
04:05But now you're turning things around.
04:07But for him to be on the Jimmy Fund last night, I was watching him on Nessun.
04:10And it's such an important way to get into the organization for a guy like that to be able to
04:16speak on how important the Jimmy Fund is for the Red Sox after being here for just a few weeks.
04:20You're absolutely right, Courtney.
04:22I was listening to – or watching Andrew Monasterio with you guys yesterday.
04:27At some point, it's all a blur.
04:30But to hear him talk about what these fans mean and what it's like to be in Boston and what
04:34the Dana-Farber means.
04:35And then driving home, I'm listening to Mickey Gasper talk about growing up here and how he was in tears
04:44standing out there for the National Anthem after seeing patients and kids coming in.
04:50It's like, man, these guys, they get it.
04:52And they're new to the organization, but they really just immediately get what's going on here and what makes this
04:58place so special.
04:59So you're right.
05:00And Adley is going to be a great addition for us right now.
05:04How do you get – because I was at the game last night and the fans were into it and
05:10we're here every day and fans get frustrated, the expectations.
05:15There's no patience because, you know, baseball is just so up and down.
05:19You talked about how do you make sure as an organization, as an ownership, as players, like you guys don't
05:26get caught into that, like that being impatient because maybe a series or a stretch isn't going well for you.
05:34And not hitting the panic button.
05:37Well, I'd say we're not that great at it.
05:39We are emotional and passionate.
05:43You know, our baseball operations group have to be dispassionate and really think about, you know, the short term and
05:51the long term.
05:53That's our collective job.
05:55But I'm lying to you if I sit there and tell you we're not – we don't get too high
05:59or too low.
06:00You want to be consistent.
06:02But it's just – it's so personal.
06:04It means so much.
06:06And I don't know.
06:07Maybe as we're getting older, you appreciate every single day that we have the opportunity to work here.
06:12I come in here every morning, 25 years, and just never, ever take it for granted.
06:17So it's really tough, Wiggy, and the one thing I do know is after, you know, 30-plus years in
06:24baseball, after 162 games, like you are who you are, right?
06:27I mean, we let's – you know, we thought coming out of spring training this was a team that was
06:33going to be in the postseason
06:34and we'd be good enough to take that next step in October, whatever that means, because of the randomness of
06:42the postseason.
06:43We still believe that.
06:44But were we doubting, you know, May and June?
06:47Yeah.
06:48I mean, it was brutal.
06:49Like, I haven't seen poor performance like that in a long time.
06:53Then all of a sudden we turn things around.
06:56So it's just been – it's been a great year, but it's also been very challenging.
07:00Isn't it nice now when you come in to work every morning, the driveline guys aren't around telling you what
07:07door is the most analytically feasible that you should go in?
07:11I tell you, if I see a driveline person today, that would be the first time I see a driveline
07:16person.
07:16I know there's a lot that's been made about driveline.
07:19I don't know where they're off.
07:19Oh, no, they have nothing to do with anything.
07:21I don't know where their offices are.
07:23Oh, my goodness.
07:24Can I go in?
07:25I'm going to go off.
07:25Talk radio, driveline.
07:27I know.
07:28It's so annoying.
07:29We have a job to do.
07:30I get it.
07:30But let's talk about fact.
07:33See, I sit here and go – I look and go, hey, there was an unbelievable turnaround on this baseball
07:38team.
07:39Is it Chad Tracy?
07:40Is it the fact that Kyle Boddy is not around as much?
07:44So it's interesting for us to just ask.
07:46Of course.
07:46No, look, I think what happens in professional sports is individual people get way too much blame and way too
07:58much credit for when things are going well.
08:02That's just true.
08:05I mean, but it's – I get it.
08:07In the media, we have to point to certain things.
08:12The truth is there's contributions coming from all across the organization.
08:18Like, look at our man Eli last night.
08:20Like, I mean, it's like, you know, you pick a guy up at the deadline to come in and help
08:25out with defense and with speed on the bases and comes up with a huge hit.
08:31Like, it's just – contributions come from all over the place.
08:34And so, you know, I do think that we assign way too much blame and we give too much credit.
08:41So it's a bunch of factors.
08:43Look, starting pitching, a great bullpen, great defense.
08:47That's what this team was built around.
08:49And ultimately, if we're successful this year, it will be because of those factors, I think.
08:54And Sam, not to be too optimistic, which I usually am blamed for.
08:58No, I'm blamed for that.
08:59I'm blamed for that.
09:00But this – looking at it objectively, the way the team is built right now, that's how you want to
09:06play in the postseason.
09:08Great starting pitching, nails at the end of the bullpen, great arms that are ready, diverse guys coming out of
09:14the bullpen, some timely hitting, leadership with Contreras.
09:17You've got Ashley – we've got Rutschman in now who's got, you know, that catchier leadership that Tech used to
09:21bring, hopefully.
09:22What do you think about the optimism that fans feel about a potential deep playoff run?
09:27Well, I think the optimism is expected just given what happened, given the run we went on and we sort
09:35of saw the potential of what this group can do together.
09:39But in my experience, the number one thing is pitching.
09:43I remember 2015 and 16 when we brought in Dave Dombrowski, a Hall of Fame general manager who did an
09:51amazing job here.
09:52And his sort of first comment in our meetings was like, we have a very talented team.
09:59We have a great group of young players, but we need top of the rotation starters.
10:03We need lockdown starters to come in here and make that push into October.
10:08And Brez feels that way as well, obviously, building out the pitching infrastructure.
10:14It's everything.
10:15And you said it, Chris.
10:16You get to the postseason.
10:17It's a different game.
10:19Guys only go a few innings.
10:20And so we need to have really, really deep depth in that bullpen and with our starters.
10:26And we need good health.
10:28Got a knock on wood.
10:29Speaking of health.
10:29Yeah.
10:31Last week, Geron talked about John Henry, that the family will not sell this team.
10:36You can also, what's going on with Liverpool?
10:39Is there, do you guys just take an investment or is that, are you selling Liverpool?
10:42Yeah, we took on an investment that was consummated last week, which will help support the team.
10:49But as we've been screaming from the mountaintops for the last 16 years, since we've been involved with different sports,
10:57each individual team operates on their own.
11:01So no impact on the Red Sox.
11:02And I think I made it pretty clear about the Henry family and their commitment to Boston and the Red
11:07Sox.
11:07And I don't see that changing ever.
11:10Awesome.
11:10All right.
11:10You talked about pitching.
11:11You talked about defense.
11:12But the bats are starting to get hot right now, too.
11:14You look at Wilson Contreras.
11:16Just what has he meant for this team?
11:17Not just on the field.
11:18He seems like a great leader in that clubhouse, too.
11:21Incredible, Courtney.
11:22You know, to get at that 25th home run.
11:23Big question in spring training was offense.
11:25Where is it going to come from?
11:27Him having a career year, getting that 25th home run was huge for him.
11:33But the leadership that he brings has been absolutely huge.
11:36Emotional player.
11:37Plays with a lot of passion.
11:39And he loves, loves, loves playing at Fenway Park.
11:42And he loves these fans.
11:43And that's the kind of player you want in Boston.
11:47And before you kick me out of here, by the way, can I just say that this disease has, you
11:54know, it, again, it's affected all of us.
11:56But I want to give a shout out.
11:57My best friend from high school, we lost a glioblastoma diagnosis, 2013.
12:04Ben Crawford, he lived through that season.
12:08He passed in 2015, but Lori Glimpshire and Lisa and everybody at Dana-Farber were so helpful.
12:20And anyway, my incredible wife, Amanda, and my two kids, Jimmy and Allie, who are not kids anymore, they're adults.
12:27We want to contribute to the Partners Foundation.
12:30Very small, not like Mr. Hale, but Amanda and I want to make a $10,000 contribution.
12:35That's awesome.
12:36So I want to thank you guys.
12:37That's awesome.
12:38And Ben Crawford, I love you, bro.
12:41And how great was Alex Cora writing a check for $20,000 this year?
12:46It's amazing.
12:47He's a part of the Red Sox family.
12:49And we're really grateful.
12:52Making change is really hard, but we're so grateful to Alex and the Cora family for stepping up as well.
12:58All right.
12:59Well, these are the best two days of the summer.
13:01Absolutely.
13:02Thank you guys for what you're doing.
13:03It's a grind, but we appreciate it.
13:05Let's keep those donations coming in.
13:06And we really appreciate it.
13:08All right.
13:08Thanks, Sam.
13:09That's Sam Kennedy, president of Boston Red Sox.
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