Craig Breslow hired as Head Of Baseball Operations

[notin]

I butt dialed Ben while he was signing more guys to the degenPirates.

 

Admit it. You had your hand in Chavis for Davis...

[notin]

Henry is forcing BOH to collect recycling and drive to Michigan to get the additional 5 cents.

 

Off topic, but I always wondered if people outside of New England and Michigan even understood that episode. It was so regional...

[mvp 78]

Admit it. You had your hand in Chavis for Davis...

 

I thought we were just coming up with a fun little rhyming game whilst imbibing on Whistle Pig. That scoundrel!

[notin]

I thought we were just coming up with a fun little rhyming game whilst imbibing on Whistle Pig. That scoundrel!

 

No, but that might be what Bloom was doing...

[mvp 78]

Off topic, but I always wondered if people outside of New England and Michigan even understood that episode. It was so regional...

 

IDK, but it's a top 5 episode for me because of it. I don't go back and watch reruns or Peacock or anything, but that was great from what I remember.

[mvp 78]

No, but that might be what Bloom was doing...

 

Yeah, we needed a CBO whose drink of choice wasn't bourbon. Maybe Redbull and vodka?

[mvp 78]

Breslow spoke on the @BNightengale report about the Red Sox being determined to deal Kenley Jansen:

 

“I don’t actually know where that came from… I would not say anything with certainty right now. We’ve got plenty of baseball left.”

[Bellhorn04]

Breslow spoke on the @BNightengale report about the Red Sox being determined to deal Kenley Jansen:

 

“I don’t actually know where that came from… I would not say anything with certainty right now. We’ve got plenty of baseball left.”

 

That's our boy!

[mvp 78]

That's our boy!

 

@OverTheMonster

Craig Breslow Vows to Pick a Lane at Trade Deadline

 

In each of the past two seasons, the Red Sox approached the trade deadline with records that were more or less right around .500. This led to some confusing moves by former chief Chaim Bloom, who seemed to struggle with the choice to either push for the postseason or build for the future. This year, the Sox will likely again be right around .500, but new chief Craig Breslow hopes to avoid the muddy path that Bloom took, saying that, while they haven’t yet decided on what path they’ll take, the Sox plan to “pick a lane” this time.

[Bellhorn04]

@OverTheMonster

Craig Breslow Vows to Pick a Lane at Trade Deadline

 

In each of the past two seasons, the Red Sox approached the trade deadline with records that were more or less right around .500. This led to some confusing moves by former chief Chaim Bloom, who seemed to struggle with the choice to either push for the postseason or build for the future. This year, the Sox will likely again be right around .500, but new chief Craig Breslow hopes to avoid the muddy path that Bloom took, saying that, while they haven’t yet decided on what path they’ll take, the Sox plan to “pick a lane” this time.

 

Aye, we'll be holding ye to that, laddie.

[Elktonnick]

@OverTheMonster

Craig Breslow Vows to Pick a Lane at Trade Deadline

 

In each of the past two seasons, the Red Sox approached the trade deadline with records that were more or less right around .500. This led to some confusing moves by former chief Chaim Bloom, who seemed to struggle with the choice to either push for the postseason or build for the future. This year, the Sox will likely again be right around .500, but new chief Craig Breslow hopes to avoid the muddy path that Bloom took, saying that, while they haven’t yet decided on what path they’ll take, the Sox plan to “pick a lane” this time.

Passing lane or breakdown lane?

[Old Red]

And with the 12th pick in the 2024 HOBO draft the the Boston Red Sox where anyone would want to be according to Sam select Brez for Prez.

[Bellhorn04]

And with the 12th pick in the 2024 HOBO draft the the Boston Red Sox where anyone would want to be according to Sam select Brez for Prez.

 

That's pretty good.

[Old Red]

That's pretty good.

 

I don’t know who the Red Sox had their sights on, and who they would have picked if everyone hadn’t said no to an interview, but who knows maybe Brez will turn out better after all. Bloom set a low, low bar though.

[Maxbialystock]

I don’t know who the Red Sox had their sights on, and who they would have picked if everyone hadn’t said no to an interview, but who knows maybe Brez will turn out better after all. Bloom set a low, low bar though.

 

Chaim Bloom wasn't the right guy, but I'm not sure anyone could fit into the procrustean bed created by John Henry's reaction to the 2019 season.

 

And we still don't know what he's thinking. What we do know right now is that Craig Breslow made his own stupid deals of bringing in Giolito, who will be paid $38M for one season, provided he can actually pitch next season, giving up Sale to the Braves while also paying $17M of his salary while he is now the ace on their staff, getting Grissom, who so far is gruesome, etc.

 

Nevertheless, I think Breslow was smart to take the job because right now I think he and the Sox are in a very good position.

 

Yes, way too much of the $182M payroll has been wasted on weak or non-performers: Story, Giolito, Sale (pitching for Atlanta), Yoshida, Whitlock, Turner, et al.

 

But the relatively new and extremely low cost guys like Duran, Abreu, Wong, Hamilton, Rafaela, Casas (well, except for the injury), Houck, Crawford, Bernardino, and Slaten have made it possible for the Sox to look downright competitive--and even more so when Abreu and Casas get off the IL, hopefully in the next 2 weeks. Plus more talent--we hope they are MLB talent--is waiting in the wings.

 

Right now there is the very real possibility the Sox will want to compete this season. Better still, the team as is ain't that bad, except for the defense. And, frankly, as bad as it has been, I don't care that much as long as those same guys are getting hits and scoring freaking runs. Taking 4 out of 6 games against the 2 best won-lost records in MLB ain't too shabby, nosiree.

 

Assuming the Sox are still in the hunt a month from now, Breslow can make a deal to improve their chances, but he doesn't necessarily have to. He should only make a deal that is smart.

[S5Dewey]

 

Assuming the Sox are still in the hunt a month from now, Breslow can make a deal to improve their chances, but he doesn't necessarily have to. He should only make a deal that is smart.

 

...and one thing we can be certain about is that Breslow is smart.

[Hugh2]

What have we come up with for bad Breslow nicknames so far?

 

 

Breslow, BresBlow, Bloom 2.0, the kid from American pie grown up.

 

That's all I got for now.

[Elktonnick]

The trade deadline is Breslow's big test. He must do well to avoid becoming Bloom 2.0.

[Bellhorn04]

The trade deadline is Breslow's big test. He must do well to avoid becoming Bloom 2.0.

 

With 40 or so games to the deadline, a lot of that is dependent on the position the team puts him in. He'll definitely be tested if the team is right on the borderline of a Wild Card spot again.

[Hugh2]

The trade deadline is Breslow's big test. He must do well to avoid becoming Bloom 2.0.

 

I'm not fully ready to judge Breslow based off of one of anything.

 

Especially if it's a prospect trade, it may take a year or two to really get a sense of how he did.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not fully ready to judge Breslow based off of one of anything.

 

Especially if it's a prospect trade, it may take a year or two to really get a sense of how he did.

 

I think the point here though is that Breslow needs to be decisive.

[mvp 78]

I think the point here though is that Breslow needs to be decisive.

 

No matter what he does, it won't be decisive enough for somebody.

[moonslav59]

I think the point here though is that Breslow needs to be decisive.

 

IMO, he also need to choose the right path of decisiveness. If we should be sellers and goes all in on buying, that is not good, and vice versa.

 

Of course, it's hard to know in foresight. We still argue about past lanes taken in hindsight.

 

I've been one of the most optimistic fans on this site, this season, and I'm still nearly certain, selling should be the lane taken.

 

That being said, if Brez can be a genius and "buy" a younger pitcher with 3+ years of control, at the deadline, I'm all for buying and would even trade top prospects to do that. IMO, that is nearly impossible to do, but maybe Brez can pull it off.

 

If selling means trading Matthew Lugo, Wikelman, Jordan and Paulino for something decent, then I have no issues with buying. If Brez is done with someone like Wink, I trust his judgment on trading him or the like.

 

If we trade a top 6 prospect of 2 from #4-20 for a rental, I'd be very concerned about it being a bad choice.

[Maxbialystock]

...and one thing we can be certain about is that Breslow is smart.

 

He's intelligent, no question, but I'm less sure he is baseball smart. He brought in Giolito, and he let Sale go while also paying $17M of his 2024 salary--in return for Grissom. So, as of June 18, Giolito has yet to pitch to earn his $18M this year--stay tuned for next year. Grissom has been worthless. And Sale is the Braves ace. Not smart.

 

Napoleon had it right. He had plenty of smart generals, but what he looked for was generals who were also lucky.

 

It's still possible Breslow is lucky because he got the job--which few others wanted--and so far the Sox look pretty decent. Team ERA right now is 6th in MLB and lower than the Sox team ERA in 2018. That was completely unexpected and could be because someone, maybe Breslow, insisted the Sox change their pitching coach after last season.

 

It also looks like the lineup is coming around--despite Mookie, Bogey, and JDM being long gone, Dugo now with the Yankees, Turner with the Jays, etc Plus Story is on the IL for the season, Casas on the IL for over two months, and Abreu for 2 weeks.

 

The Sox still lead MLB in errors with 53, 4 more than 29th Miami. Something Breslow can work on, but not at the expense of hitting.

[vegasbob]

With 40 or so games to the deadline, a lot of that is dependent on the position the team puts him in. He'll definitely be tested if the team is right on the borderline of a Wild Card spot again.

 

I would wager that after 40 more games, it will not be conclusive as to whether the Sox need to sell or go for more talent to finish 2024. On the cusp of or in the WC, I say he tries to add talent, a pitcher and any other position suffering from injury at the time. But nothing to go above the Lux Tax line.

 

If the Sox slip 6 or more out of the WC race, the expiring contracts are likely to get traded away including O'Neill, Jansen and Martin. Probably a low yield on the surface , but maybe restocking at Portland level.

[moonslav59]

He's intelligent, no question, but I'm less sure he is baseball smart. He brought in Giolito, and he let Sale go while also paying $17M of his 2024 salary--in return for Grissom. So, as of June 18, Giolito has yet to pitch to earn his $18M this year--stay tuned for next year. Grissom has been worthless. And Sale is the Braves ace. Not smart.

 

Napoleon had it right. He had plenty of smart generals, but what he looked for was generals who were also lucky.

 

It's still possible Breslow is lucky because he got the job--which few others wanted--and so far the Sox look pretty decent. Team ERA right now is 6th in MLB and lower than the Sox team ERA in 2018. That was completely unexpected and could be because someone, maybe Breslow, insisted the Sox change their pitching coach after last season.

 

It also looks like the lineup is coming around--despite Mookie, Bogey, and JDM being long gone, Dugo now with the Yankees, Turner with the Jays, etc Plus Story is on the IL for the season, Casas on the IL for over two months, and Abreu for 2 weeks.

 

The Sox still lead MLB in errors with 53, 4 more than 29th Miami. Something Breslow can work on, but not at the expense of hitting.

 

Before the year began, I thought our offense would be okay (top 10-12,) but I was not all that confident.

 

As you pointed out, some good bats had departed, and most were replaced by question marks.

 

It's too early to grade Brez, and I think the Sale trade is being used to grade him more poorly than he deserves, but such is life as a GM.

[moonslav59]

I would wager that after 40 more games, it will not be conclusive as to whether the Sox need to sell or go for more talent to finish 2024. On the cusp of or in the WC, I say he tries to add talent, a pitcher and any other position suffering from injury at the time. But nothing to go above the Lux Tax line.

 

If the Sox slip 6 or more out of the WC race, the expiring contracts are likely to get traded away including O'Neill, Jansen and Martin. Probably a low yield on the surface , but maybe restocking at Portland level.

 

The way this year is going, we might be in the exact same place as now.

[Dipre]

No matter what he does, it won't be decisive enough for somebody.

 

You're on to something here.

[Dipre]

He's intelligent, no question, but I'm less sure he is baseball smart. He brought in Giolito, and he let Sale go while also paying $17M of his 2024 salary--in return for Grissom. So, as of June 18, Giolito has yet to pitch to earn his $18M this year--stay tuned for next year. Grissom has been worthless. And Sale is the Braves ace. Not smart.

 

Napoleon had it right. He had plenty of smart generals, but what he looked for was generals who were also lucky.

 

It's still possible Breslow is lucky because he got the job--which few others wanted--and so far the Sox look pretty decent. Team ERA right now is 6th in MLB and lower than the Sox team ERA in 2018. That was completely unexpected and could be because someone, maybe Breslow, insisted the Sox change their pitching coach after last season.

 

It also looks like the lineup is coming around--despite Mookie, Bogey, and JDM being long gone, Dugo now with the Yankees, Turner with the Jays, etc Plus Story is on the IL for the season, Casas on the IL for over two months, and Abreu for 2 weeks.

 

The Sox still lead MLB in errors with 53, 4 more than 29th Miami. Something Breslow can work on, but not at the expense of hitting.

 

Giving out grades for the Grissom-Sale trade before half a season is a fool's errand.

[notin]

I would wager that after 40 more games, it will not be conclusive as to whether the Sox need to sell or go for more talent to finish 2024. On the cusp of or in the WC, I say he tries to add talent, a pitcher and any other position suffering from injury at the time. But nothing to go above the Lux Tax line.

 

If the Sox slip 6 or more out of the WC race, the expiring contracts are likely to get traded away including O'Neill, Jansen and Martin. Probably a low yield on the surface , but maybe restocking at Portland level.

 

If the Sox do sell - and I’m not on that ship - I think O’Neill would be difficult. Unless another team has an injury easily filled by a Sox player, I think the starters don’t get moved. Jansen and Martin? Everyone needs bullpen help? Pivetta - starting pitcher for actual rotation depth? I could see it. But I think someone like Refsnyder will be in more demand than O’Neill. Plenty of teams will be looking for RHH bench bats that can handle LHP…