Craig Breslow hired as Head Of Baseball Operations

[Bellhorn04]

I was telling that the other day to my eldest son, Simonize Archipelago Fruit Bat Notin…

 

Yeah, that last name really is brutal.

[notin]

Yeah, that last name really is brutal.

 

It does make him heir apparent to controlling interest in Notin Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Notin TransGlobal MegaCorp (NTMC)…

[mvp 78]

It does make him heir apparent to controlling interest in Notin Industries, a wholly owned subsidiary of Notin TransGlobal MegaCorp (NTMC)…

 

I thought Slasher was still the majority shareholder?

[notin]

I thought Slasher was still the majority shareholder?

 

No. He lost a bundle when the stock tanked due to that giraffe stampede through our headquarters that was started by that meteor…

[Old Red]

After listening to Sam The Sham’s great introduction at the press conference today, and Breslow answering questions is everyone all in?

[moonslav59]

After listening to Sam The Sham’s great introduction at the press conference today, and Breslow answering questions is everyone all in?

 

What is the word you are hearing on your enormous corner?

 

To me, he seems like a pretty good choice for what we need.

He seems to have a focus on pitching that expands into the farm scouting and developing aspect.

He seems to be good with analytics- something many fans don't care about or even dislike.

 

The lack of experience as a GM is a big concern, as it was with Bloom.

 

What are your feelings on Breslow, after you've had some time to read and hear about him?

[Old Red]

What is the word you are hearing on your enormous corner?

 

To me, he seems like a pretty good choice for what we need.

He seems to have a focus on pitching that expands into the farm scouting and developing aspect.

He seems to be good with analytics- something many fans don't care about or even dislike.

 

The lack of experience as a GM is a big concern, as it was with Bloom.

 

What are your feelings on Breslow, after you've had some time to read and hear about him?

Lack of experience is a big concern. I have no idea who the Red Sox were interested in after firing Bloom, and if Breslow would have still been in the mix had not so many slammed the door in the Red Sox face, and declined to interview. At any rate he’s here now, and living in the area, and playing for the Red Sox he must have some idea what he’s getting into, where I don’t think Bloom ever did, so I’m all for giving him a chance to see what him, and Cora can put together.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Red Sox want you to know they're so done with the Chaim Bloom Era.

 

Sam and Craig both made sure their opening comments stressed the same message about our new CBO: 1. He knows what it's like to play in Boston for the Red Sox; and 2. He knows what it takes to win (2013 ring). They also spoke about how Sox fans deserve to root for sustained contenders...

 

... the rest of the Q and A centered on upcoming efforts to get better; Breslow noted a few times that will include players getting better, as well as getting better players. For the latter, he said he has no restraints about spending money or prospect capital.

 

As a mostly ground-ball pitcher, Breslow knows the value of tight defense. How he fixes the D is just as intriguing -- and maybe harder to imagine -- as who he recruits for the rotation.

[moonslav59]

Lack of experience is a big concern. I have no idea who the Red Sox were interested in after firing Bloom, and if Breslow would have still been in the mix had not so many slammed the door in the Red Sox face, and declined to interview. At any rate he’s here now, and living in the area, and playing for the Red Sox he must have some idea what he’s getting into, where I don’t think Bloom ever did, so I’m all for giving him a chance to see what him, and Cora can put together.

 

Sounds like a big differe3nce from your thoughts on Bloom out of the gate and every day afterwards.

 

They both had no experience. I thought you'd feel more apprehensive. I'm not sure how playing for the Sox, long ago, gives him all that much more perspective on how the front office works, and people are gone, who were there when he pitched for us.

 

It does seem like he was not the first choice, but it's hard to know, and being a 5th or 6th choice does not mean it's a bad one or that they settled.

 

I'm not trying to push you for a firmer opinion, because it seems hard for anyone to have one.

 

I'm hopeful- perhaps more than with Bloom's signing, but I was hopeful, then too.

 

[mvp 78]

No. He lost a bundle when the stock tanked due to that giraffe stampede through our headquarters that was started by that meteor…

 

Very ironic as it was a giraffe wearing a Sox jersey in hot pants.

[moonslav59]

The Red Sox want you to know they're so done with the Chaim Bloom Era.

 

Sam and Craig both made sure their opening comments stressed the same message about our new CBO: 1. He knows what it's like to play in Boston for the Red Sox; and 2. He knows what it takes to win (2013 ring). They also spoke about how Sox fans deserve to root for sustained contenders...

 

... the rest of the Q and A centered on upcoming efforts to get better; Breslow noted a few times that will include players getting better, as well as getting better players. For the latter, he said he has no restraints about spending money or prospect capital.

 

As a mostly ground-ball pitcher, Breslow knows the value of tight defense. How he fixes the D is just as intriguing -- and maybe harder to imagine -- as who he recruits for the rotation.

 

I guess I have to see it to believe it.

 

They could have done all this under Bloom, too, and talked much of the same talk, all along, except for the "no restraints on spending" part.

[mvp 78]

After listening to Sam The Sham’s great introduction at the press conference today, and Breslow answering questions is everyone all in?

 

Didn't hear a lick. My work internet was out and the backup wasn't kicking on.

[mvp 78]

From the first clip I saw, he's much better spoken and charismatic than Bloom.

[mvp 78]

He stated that his preference is for pitchers that generate swing and miss as it relies less on defense. Good with this crew.

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

Breslow identifies starting pitching and solidifying middle infield defense as obvious areas to address. Also cites addition of a RH bat as obvious area to address.

 

He's one of us!

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

Breslow says building a consistent winner will require “bold, difficult decisions,” including trades of popular players and prospects.

 

Yes x 1,000,000

[mvp 78]

@alexspeier

Tom Werner described the Red Sox as “full throttle” this offseason, and suggested Breslow can pursue rotation upgrades in ways he sees fit.

 

When the owner/muppet that actually wants to spend chimes in!

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I guess I have to see it to believe it.

 

They could have done all this under Bloom, too, and talked much of the same talk, all along, except for the "no restraints on spending" part.

 

You're kidding. Bloom never played pro baseball, nor for the Red Sox, nor won a World Series in Boston.

 

You may not think those things matter, but being able to relate to uniformed personnel and empathize what they're going through matters to the team (even if you did like the Vazquez trade, you have to admit hearing or reading how the clubhouse soured on Bloom for the way he handled it).

[Old Red]

Sounds like a big differe3nce from your thoughts on Bloom out of the gate and every day afterwards.

 

They both had no experience. I thought you'd feel more apprehensive. I'm not sure how playing for the Sox, long ago, gives him all that much more perspective on how the front office works, and people are gone, who were there when he pitched for us.

 

It does seem like he was not the first choice, but it's hard to know, and being a 5th or 6th choice does not mean it's a bad one or that they settled.

 

I'm not trying to push you for a firmer opinion, because it seems hard for anyone to have one.

 

I'm hopeful- perhaps more than with Bloom's signing, but I was hopeful, then too.

 

Playing for the Red Sox, and living in the area has nothing to do with giving him more perspective on how the front office works. I was referring to the whole Boston experience in general.

[Bellhorn04]

@alexspeier

Breslow says building a consistent winner will require “bold, difficult decisions,” including trades of popular players and prospects.

 

Yes x 1,000,000

 

We don't actually have many popular players.

[Old Red]

From the first clip I saw, he's much better spoken and charismatic than Bloom.

 

True, but that doesn’t take much comparing him to Bloom.

[mvp 78]

You're kidding. Bloom never played pro baseball, nor for the Red Sox, nor won a World Series in Boston.

 

You may not think those things matter, but being able to relate to uniformed personnel and empathize what they're going through matters to the team (even if you did like the Vazquez trade, you have to admit hearing or reading how the clubhouse soured on Bloom for the way he handled it).

 

One of the biggest complaints about Bloom was his inability to communicate with the clubhouse. That should be fixed going forward.

[mvp 78]

We don't actually have many popular players.

 

Yet. There may come a time when he has to trade a 2nd year ARB Mayer for a starting pitcher or something. Sox are in a bit of a funk, but that can turn around quickly here. We've seen it before.

[mvp 78]

True, but that doesn’t take much comparing him to Bloom.

 

Well, that's who he's going to be most often compared to.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

We don't actually have many popular players.

 

The in-joke was that Brez' kids became Cubs fans and Dad traded one of their favorites at the deadline... but he wouldn't "name names" (poster rushes to fangraphs...)

[sk7326]

You're kidding. Bloom never played pro baseball, nor for the Red Sox, nor won a World Series in Boston.

 

You may not think those things matter, but being able to relate to uniformed personnel and empathize what they're going through matters to the team (even if you did like the Vazquez trade, you have to admit hearing or reading how the clubhouse soured on Bloom for the way he handled it).

 

Bloom has been in baseball forever - and he was tabbed in the industry as a rising star for a very long time. Playing experience is a non-issue here ... or more to the point, being an ex-player is not fairy dust in handling players or not. It just likely that Bloom's interpersonal skills were meh in general. What is definitely true is that his public-facing skills were bad - and while it sounds shallow, it IS an important part of the gig.

[Bellhorn04]

Bloom has been in baseball forever - and he was tabbed in the industry as a rising star for a very long time. Playing experience is a non-issue here ... or more to the point, being an ex-player is not fairy dust in handling players or not. It just likely that Bloom's interpersonal skills were meh in general. What is definitely true is that his public-facing skills were bad - and while it sounds shallow, it IS an important part of the gig.

 

I think his public skills would have seemed much better if the team won more games, though, and no amount of skills was going to compensate for back to back 78-84 seasons.

[mvp 78]

The in-joke was that Brez' kids became Cubs fans and Dad traded one of their favorites at the deadline... but he wouldn't "name names" (poster rushes to fangraphs...)

 

He was just the Assistant GM in CHC.

[Old Red]

I think his public skills would have seemed much better if the team won more games, though, and no amount of skills was going to compensate for back to back 78-84 seasons.

 

Bloom’s best public skill was picking up trash in the stands between games. AWESOME.

[Hugh2]

You're kidding. Bloom never played pro baseball, nor for the Red Sox, nor won a World Series in Boston.

 

You may not think those things matter, but being able to relate to uniformed personnel and empathize what they're going through matters to the team (even if you did like the Vazquez trade, you have to admit hearing or reading how the clubhouse soured on Bloom for the way he handled it).

 

I think those things absolutely 100% matter and they make Breslow an exciting guy here in Boston. BUT he hasn't done crap yet, and it's also true that having resources helps no matter what your background.

 

They have indirectly eluded to Breslow having more resources at his disposal. He talks a good game, his smarts + baseball experience + track record in Chicago have me thinking he's 10000X better than Bloom. But his job will be tremendously easier if he's allowed to go out and spend whatever it takes to bring Ohtani, Nola, or Yama in here.