Leary: Red Sox must change to stay in the game

Denis Leary is known for many things - his acting, his sharp wit as a comedian - and because he's an avid Boston Red Sox fan.

In response to trades made this week by his favorite team - in particular that of infielder Kevin Youkilis to the Chicago White Sox - Leary said he's a "happy man" because the team is rebuilding.

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"I think that we have a lot of great players that are coming up," he said on "CBS This Morning." "... I'm a huge Kevin Youkilis fan. But people are going to have to start to go, and the team is going to have to start to change if we want to stay in the game.

"And I love these new young players and I was sorry to see Kev go, but (Will) Middlebrooks has got to be in the lineup. Otherwise, we'd have to trade him. And I like (the new Red Sox manager) Bobby Valentine for working with the younger players. And change is tough. ... At a certain point, people have to go."

When asked if he hates the Yankees, Leary said, "Let me tell you something: I love the Yankees. And let me tell you why: because without the Yankees, there is nobody to hate. And it's no fun to win the Eastern Division without going up against the Yankees. It's no fun to be in the playoffs without the Yankees. So, I don't want to face the Twins. I don't hate the Twins. They're nice. ... It's like 'Spider-Man': You have to have the bad guy. To me, the Yankees are the bad guy."

For more from Leary on baseball, as well as other topics, like comedy - including talk about the rise of his friend, Jon Stewart - Twitter, and what he likes about reading the news, watch the video in the player above.