Craig Breslow hired as Head Of Baseball Operations

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm not so sure Bello was a "sure thing" going into 2023. He had dealt with injuries and did not even start the season on the 26.

 

His first start was April 17th.

 

Maybe you didn't think he was, but I saw a young and healthy pitcher, compared to bushels of other candidates who were never one or the other the past four years.

 

This is not to say Breslow can't teach old dogs new tricks, but a key for Sox fans this winter -- as far as discerning sincere organizational change -- is for acquisitions to the pitching staff to at least appear young and healthy.

[moonslav59]

Maybe you didn't think he was, but I saw a young and healthy pitcher, compared to bushels of other candidates who were never one or the other the past four years.

 

This is not to say Breslow can't teach old dogs new tricks, but a key for Sox fans this winter -- as far as discerning sincere organizational change -- is for acquisitions to the pitching staff to at least appear young and healthy.

 

Hw was certainly viewed as a pitcher that would be given as many starts as possible to prove he belonged.

 

I did think he belonged. I did think he'd be good enough to be a #3 or #4 in 2023, but he was not a certainty.

 

As it turned out, Pivetta was not.... then he was, again.

[mvp 78]

I'm not so sure Bello was a "sure thing" going into 2023. He had dealt with injuries and did not even start the season on the 26.

 

His first start was April 17th.

 

Bello had a 4.24 bb/9, 0.16 HR/9, 404 BABIP in 13 GS in '22. He finished his season strong, but he wouldn't have been the first young pitcher to have a sophomore slump once the book got around.

[moonslav59]

Bello had a 4.24 bb/9, 0.16 HR/9, 404 BABIP in 13 GS in '22. He finished his season strong, but he wouldn't have been the first young pitcher to have a sophomore slump once the book got around.

 

Yes. I liked him a lot and felt he'd be slotted into a rotation slot for sure, once he was healthy enough, but he was not a certainty to hold it. He also was not healthy day one. Many were worried about his arm. last February, March and April.

 

I'm not dissing the guy. I was as high on him as everyone else, during and after 2022. I'm just saying there were doubts about his health.

[mvp 78]

The Red Sox still view Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock as starters, but also understand the duo could help out of the bullpen, similar to Josh Winckowski’s role last season.

 

Breslow told reporters in Arizona that he plans on building Houck and Whitlock as starters this offseason.

 

“I’m thinking giving them every chance to get built out as starting pitchers makes a ton of sense,” Breslow said to reporters at the GM Meetings. “I think as we start to put into place the pitching infrastructure that we’re working hard to put in place, there will be opportunities to maybe tweak around the margins: pitch usage, pitch shapes, attack plans that can maybe get more mileage out of those guys. I also think just having them healthy and having healthy offseasons and anticipating healthy seasons gives us a better look at what they are capable of doing. So I’m not sure that decision gets made in spring training. My hope is they come in built up, they are viable rotation options and the team needs and how we best kind of put the winning team on the field dictates ultimately (their roles).”

 

C'mon, man!

[moonslav59]

The Red Sox still view Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock as starters, but also understand the duo could help out of the bullpen, similar to Josh Winckowski’s role last season.

 

Breslow told reporters in Arizona that he plans on building Houck and Whitlock as starters this offseason.

 

“I’m thinking giving them every chance to get built out as starting pitchers makes a ton of sense,” Breslow said to reporters at the GM Meetings. “I think as we start to put into place the pitching infrastructure that we’re working hard to put in place, there will be opportunities to maybe tweak around the margins: pitch usage, pitch shapes, attack plans that can maybe get more mileage out of those guys. I also think just having them healthy and having healthy offseasons and anticipating healthy seasons gives us a better look at what they are capable of doing. So I’m not sure that decision gets made in spring training. My hope is they come in built up, they are viable rotation options and the team needs and how we best kind of put the winning team on the field dictates ultimately (their roles).”

 

C'mon, man!

 

This is crazy thinking. I just lost a lot of respect for Brez.

 

It looks like we will be adding just 1 SP- not the 2-3 I feel we need, badly.

[Dipre]

It's a polite way of saying they'll be stretched out in case they need to spot start. Gotta contextualize the quote.

[moonslav59]

It's a polite way of saying they'll be stretched out in case they need to spot start. Gotta contextualize the quote.

 

Knowing one or both will end up starting, again.

[mvp 78]

It's a polite way of saying they'll be stretched out in case they need to spot start. Gotta contextualize the quote.

 

Stretch them out now, so that they can go to the pen for short outings and then do a spot start later? Is that spot start going to be 3-4 innings long?

[Bellhorn04]

It's a polite way of saying they'll be stretched out in case they need to spot start. Gotta contextualize the quote.

 

Yeah, we're reading a lot into things right now because we're nervous that we're gonna get screwed again LOL

[mvp 78]

Yeah, we're reading a lot into things right now because we're nervous that we're gonna get screwed again LOL

 

Stay lubed up just in case.

[Duran Is The Man]

this is crazy thinking. I just lost a lot of respect for brez.

 

It looks like we will be adding just 1 sp- not the 2-3 i feel we need, badly.

 

ikr? Wtf?

[moonslav59]

So, Pivetta is the number 5- the guy who lost his rotation slot, last year.

Sale is the number 4- they guy who has 31 starts total in the last 4 years.

Whitlock or Houck is the number 3- both better as RP'ers.

Bello is the number 2- the guy with a 5.58 ERA and 5.31 FIP in his last 13 starts of the season of 28 total GS.

Add and ace.

 

Sura, an ace if better than a Kluber or Richards, but it's not nearly enough.

[moonslav59]

Yeah, we're reading a lot into things right now because we're nervous that we're gonna get screwed again LOL

 

I've never started a "Fire ____" thread, but I'm almost ready to, already.

 

[Duran Is The Man]

I've never started a "Fire ____" thread, but I'm almost ready to, already.

 

 

Fire the entire clueless as f*** FO.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

What -- no one ever read Mad Magazine?

 

Breslow is merely using the feature What He Says and What It Really Means: "To optimize the morphology of our extant extent, we plan to stretch out all rotation candidates, ligaments, tendons, and possible permutations" (I don't want to insult any guys on the current roster until I replace them).

[Old Red]

I've never started a "Fire ____" thread, but I'm almost ready to, already.

 

 

As the voice of reason let’s see what The Brez, and Cora come up with, before we get out the tar, and feathers.

[mvp 78]

As the voice of reason let’s see what The Brez, and Cora come up with, before we get out the tar, and feathers.

 

[moonslav59]

As the voice of reason let’s see what The Brez, and Cora come up with, before we get out the tar, and feathers.

 

That's funny.

 

Like you did with Bloom?

[moonslav59]

I did say "almost" ready.

 

I'm actually okay with Houck being a 4/5 SP'er, if we have a strong pen with several long men that would allow us to yank Houck after 18 batters, every start.

 

Whitlock should never start another game, even in an emergency, unless as an opener.

 

IMO, Whitlock should have 2 other long men in the pen with him- 2 from Houck, Pivetta and Crawford.

 

Another key component of limiting Houck's innings a s a SP'er, is that we absolutely need an ace that can go 175+ IP. (I think 2, but not I doubt that will happen.)

 

Our pen can be our biggest strength, if we don't overload it and keep robbing from it our best long men.

[notin]

Yeah, we're reading a lot into things right now because we're nervous that we're gonna get screwed again LOL

 

 

What? Ambiguity on the internet?? Immmmm-possible.

[notin]

What -- no one ever read Mad Magazine?

 

Breslow is merely using the feature What He Says and What It Really Means: "To optimize the morphology of our extant extent, we plan to stretch out all rotation candidates, ligaments, tendons, and possible permutations" (I don't want to insult any guys on the current roster until I replace them).

 

Don Martin is the most underappreciated humorist in American history.

 

I believe that segment was titled “When He Says… What He Really Means Is”.

 

But yes a tremendous memory for Mad (and Cracked, which was equally good)…

[Old Red]

That's funny.

 

Like you did with Bloom?

 

You keep talking about my original insight on Bloom for the 455th time, but yet you say it doesn’t bug you just like you said you weren’t a Bloom guy. OMG, OMG, OMG. The fact is my first, and last thought on Bloom was 100% correct, so thanks again for pointing that out.Bloom is gone, and the Brez is the Prez, and Bloom set such a low last place bar there is nowhere to go, but up.

[Bellhorn04]

Don Martin is the most underappreciated humorist in American history.

 

I believe that segment was titled “When He Says… What He Really Means Is”.

 

But yes a tremendous memory for Mad (and Cracked, which was equally good)…

 

I bought me some Mad compilation paperbacks a little while ago - mostly stuff from the late 60's.

 

Not only is the s*** as funny as ever, it's almost frighteningly topical - not dated at all.

[Bellhorn04]

As the voice of reason let’s see what The Brez, and Cora come up with, before we get out the tar, and feathers.

 

Well played.

[moonslav59]

You keep talking about my original insight on Bloom for the 455th time, but yet you say it doesn’t bug you just like you said you weren’t a Bloom guy. OMG, OMG, OMG. The fact is my first, and last thought on Bloom was 100% correct, so thanks again for pointing that out.Bloom is gone, and the Brez is the Prez, and Bloom set such a low last place bar there is nowhere to go, but up.

 

How am I showing it bugs me?

 

I'm pointing out what you did when Bloom was hired, and now you are cautioning we "wait and see" before saying something way less restrained that your initial position with Bloom.

 

I think it's worth pointing out inconsistencies. It does not mean it bugs me. I actually find it comical and entertaining, but you seem to know my feelings better than I do.

[mvp 78]

How am I showing it bugs me?

 

When two old men start reving their over priced Chargers at a stop light.

[Old Red]

How am I showing it bugs me?

 

I'm pointing out what you did when Bloom was hired, and now you are cautioning we "wait and see" before saying something way less restrained that your initial position with Bloom.

 

I think it's worth pointing out inconsistencies. It does not mean it bugs me. I actually find it comical and entertaining, but you seem to know my feelings better than I do.

 

You have pointed out me not liking the Bloom hire from day 1 456 times now, and I think everyone on here knows that . Bloom, and Brez are two different people coming into 2 different entirely different situations. Bloom followed DD, and Brez is following Bloom a guy who was in over his head from day 1. Brez I believe will get lots of input from Cora, so once again these are 2 so different situations that inconsistencies wouldn’t even exist.

[notin]

You have pointed out me not liking the Bloom hire from day 1 456 times now, and I think everyone on here knows that . Bloom, and Brez are two different people coming into 2 different entirely different situations. Bloom followed DD, and Brez is following Bloom a guy who was in over his head from day 1. Brez I believe will get lots of input from Cora, so once again these are 2 so different situations that inconsistencies wouldn’t even exist.

 

Input from Cora may not be a change here. Whether you want to believe it or not, Bloom (like every CBO/GM) probably received a lot of input from his manager.

 

Of course that doesn’t mean Bloom acted on it. And it also doesn’t mean Breslow will…

[moonslav59]

You have pointed out me not liking the Bloom hire from day 1 456 times now, and I think everyone on here knows that . Bloom, and Brez are two different people coming into 2 different entirely different situations. Bloom followed DD, and Brez is following Bloom a guy who was in over his head from day 1. Brez I believe will get lots of input from Cora, so once again these are 2 so different situations that inconsistencies wouldn’t even exist.

 

Of course the situations are different, and the people are different.

 

That does not change the fact that you are preaching others do as you say not as you do (did).