Red Sox sign Alex Bregman

[Hugh2]

1 hour ago, Hitch said:

Where's the evidence he is an intelligent individual? All I see is a kid that will give his opinion on anything at anytime of the day. In my experience those people tend not to be most intelligent people you bump into on a daily basis. 

And let's look into his latest opinions. He's either wanting to step up for Devers (I believe this less and less) but couldn't stop himself going further, in which he treated us all what was best for the club, Bregman (a player he isn't fit to lace the boots of) and told three highly rated prospects they're not good enough. Or, as I think is more and more likely, he's trying to make sure he doesn't lose his 1B job and is willing to throw anyone and everyone to the wolves to keep it. I don't imagine he's hugely popular with some of his teammates right now.

Half this board has been up in arms (probably rightly) about the way the media were trying to bait Devers (and now Casas) into saying things. Well, there's a reason players speak in cliches. Casas either doesn't understand that, or just doesn't give a damn. Regardless this doesn't show him in the best light. It might show him in the correct one, though.

And lastly, a lot of reputation has been built off that stretch in 2023, but seeing as this organisation has been more-or-less obsessed with cost controlled players, you have to ask why they have been so active in trying to trade a guy with the future you believe he has? I think it's because he is wholly disliked by Cora in particular, but others, too. And I don't think it's down to intelligence. I think it's down to a stunning lack of self-awareness and arrogance. 

I like Casas, and people make mistakes.  I hope he learns and grows as a player in Boston.

but you’re 100% spot on with this.

[Bellhorn04]

3 hours ago, Hitch said:

And lastly, a lot of reputation has been built off that stretch in 2023, but seeing as this organisation has been more-or-less obsessed with cost controlled players, you have to ask why they have been so active in trying to trade a guy with the future you believe he has? I think it's because he is wholly disliked by Cora in particular, but others, too. And I don't think it's down to intelligence. I think it's down to a stunning lack of self-awareness and arrogance. 

On what are you basing the "wholly disliked by Cora"?  

[notin]

22 hours ago, Bellhorn04 said:

The fuss is over the top, but the "who plays where" riddles are real.

And only one  man has the answer.  Why are they asking others who don’t?

[Bellhorn04]

2 minutes ago, notin said:

And only one  man has the answer.  Why are they asking others who don’t?

In hopes of getting juicy quotes, presumably.  

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

38 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

On what are you basing the "wholly disliked by Cora"?  

It was Bigfoot -- BOB STANLEY!

[Hitch]

30 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

On what are you basing the "wholly disliked by Cora" part?  

Just a hunch, the way he talks about him. There never seems to be much warmth. There's also been moments where he has seemed outwardly critical.

There was the time he pretty much accused him of not playing while healthy - 

Quote

"Right now, it's him. It's up to him," Cora told reporters. "He's healthy. Like I said, he's been taking grounders for a long time. I think the baseball part of it, the physical part of it, he's ready to go. Now the timing of it. He will let us know.”

His response to the whole yoga thing - 

Quote

"Of course. We’ve never seen a guy with no shirt doing yoga before a game. We’ve never seen it. I played in the big leagues for 13 years and I never saw it. We made adjustments. Instead of doing it on the field, do it on the Coca-Cola porch. Up there, he’s actually closer to the sun. Then the whole nap stuff. If you’re preparing for a game, and you see a guy taking a nap in the middle of the room, you’re gonna take exception. There’s a nap room. That was a big deal for the CBA a few years ago."

Then you've got stuff like the unnamed pitcher (believed to be Sale I think was the rumour?) -

Quote

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Two hours before his major league debut last September, Triston Casas sunbathed shirtless in the right field grass at Fenway Park. Out of earshot of Casas, a veteran Red Sox pitcher walked out of the dugout, saw the scene in right field and bristled. To no one in particular, he made his feelings known. “Are you f***ing kidding me?” the pitcher asked.

I could be miles off, which is why I said 'I think' but he doesn't seem to be beloved shall we say. And again I ask the question - this is an organisation obsessed with cost effective players, so why have they been so aggressively pushing Casas in trade talks?

[Bellhorn04]

7 minutes ago, Hitch said:

Just a hunch, the way he talks about him. There never seems to be much warmth. There's also been moments where he has seemed outwardly critical.

There was the time he pretty much accused him of not playing while healthy - 

His response to the whole yoga thing - 

Then you've got stuff like the unnamed pitcher (believed to be Sale I think was the rumour?) -

I could be miles off, which is why I said 'I think' but he doesn't seem to be beloved shall we say. And again I ask the question - this is an organisation obsessed with cost effective players, so why have they been so aggressively pushing Casas in trade talks?

But we don't really know just how aggressively.  If they really wanted to get rid of him you'd think some team would have taken him.  Breslow was apparently asking for more return than other teams were willing to give. Is that aggressive?

[Hitch]

1 minute ago, Bellhorn04 said:

But we don't really know just how aggressively.  If they really wanted to get rid of him you'd think some team would have taken him.  Breslow was apparently asking for more return than other teams were willing to give. Is that aggressive?

That, of course, is hard to gauge. If we're believing Jen McAffrey, McAdam's and Cotillo, and I see no reason not to, they have repeatedly said that we were shopping him. Other teams' journos said they were being shopped Casas on their platforms. 

Cotillo and McAdams basically called Breslow a liar for saying that he didn't know where the rumours were coming from about Casas being moved and called him out for it a second time a little while back when Bres said they weren't shopping Casas. A week later he was on their podcast defending himself (talking out of both sides of his mouth in that way we've all become so familiar with in the Sox FO), so we're not talking about hacks here that can just say whatever the hell they feel like, and who don't have access. 

He's cost controlled. He's cheap. He is - according to most - a power machine just waiting to go off. And we were trying to trade him (with several rumours attaching him to Yoshida in a part salary dump!). When something like this, that doesn't add up, happens, I ask myself why? And it leads me to the conclusion along with other evidence that he probably isn't much liked. I might be way off, and he is adored, and Cora loves him. We'll see in time. We're all reading tea leaves here with only partial information. This is what my reading of them has led me towards. 

[Bellhorn04]

9 minutes ago, Hitch said:

That, of course, is hard to gauge. If we're believing Jen McAffrey, McAdam's and Cotillo, and I see no reason not to, they have repeatedly said that we were shopping him. Other teams' journos said they were being shopped Casas on their platforms. 

Cotillo and McAdams basically called Breslow a liar for saying that he didn't know where the rumours were coming from about Casas being moved and called him out for it a second time a little while back when Bres said they weren't shopping Casas. A week later he was on their podcast defending himself (talking out of both sides of his mouth in that way we've all become so familiar with in the Sox FO), so we're not talking about hacks here that can just say whatever the hell they feel like, and who don't have access. 

He's cost controlled. He's cheap. He is - according to most - a power machine just waiting to go off. And we were trying to trade him (with several rumours attaching him to Yoshida in a part salary dump!). When something like this, that doesn't add up, happens, I ask myself why? And it leads me to the conclusion along with other evidence that he probably isn't much liked. I might be way off, and he is adored, and Cora loves him. We'll see in time. We're all reading tea leaves here with only partial information. This is what my reading of them has led me towards. 

We're all entitled to our speculations, that's for sure.

Personally I think Casas's stock dropped a lot last year because of a) the injury and b) the focus on the Sox porous infield defense and his contributions to it.

As for Breslow lying about shopping Casas, I can't really condemn him for that.  What's the benefit in being truthful about something like that?  It's a no-win situation.        

[Hitch]

4 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

We're all entitled to our speculations, that's for sure.

Personally I think Casas's stock dropped a lot last year because of a) the injury and b) the focus on the Sox porous infield defense and his contributions to it.

As for Breslow lying about shopping Casas, I can't really condemn him for that.  What's the benefit in being truthful about something like that?  It's a no-win situation.        

Yeah, I have no condemnation of Breslow for not admitting to it. It fits in the same box as not saying "Yeah, Yoshida isn't getting much game time for us", you just don't do it. But it does reinforce my belief that the journalists were right as he didn't challenge them on it and talked around their questions on the matter.

Like I said, we'll see in time. It all comes out in the wash.

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

There’s a difference between having an opinion and going against the team.  If they’ve already decided Bregman is the 3B then his comments are even worse than Devers IMO. 
 

We dont know what they’re being told, perhaps Casas and the team haven’t been told it’s a forgone conclusion that Devers is at DH. But if they have been? Then Casas can’t be saying things like that

Bregman said in an interview on Section 10 that the players and team haven't even discussed it. Right now, they are just out there practicing and it's not a big deal. Bregman said he just wants to win and doesn't care where he plays. Ultimately, it will be up to Cora, which means Devers will probably need to show in ST that he's able to field the position. 

[mvp 78]

2 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

I like Casas, and people make mistakes.  I hope he learns and grows as a player in Boston.

but you’re 100% spot on with this.

Casas just doesn't give a crap. He's always going to say whatever is on his mind. I think his teammates realize that now and either "get it" or tune him out.

[Hitch]

What was interesting about Bregman's interview on Section 10 was that he said 30 minutes before he signed with the Sox he thought he was heading somewhere else. 

Which likely explains why they weren't able to approach Devers about moving him off 3rd beforehand. Sounds very much like a last minute thing.

[Bellhorn04]

1 minute ago, Hitch said:

What was interesting about Bregman's interview on Section 10 was that he said 30 minutes before he signed with the Sox he thought he was heading somewhere else. 

Which likely explains why they weren't able to approach Devers about moving him off 3rd beforehand. Sounds very much like a last minute thing.

Yes, from all accounts it was massively uncertain that he would choose Boston.

Considering that Detroit offered him $171.5 million, the Sox were kind of a long shot!

[mvp 78]

25 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

As for Breslow lying about shopping Casas, I can't really condemn him for that.  What's the benefit in being truthful about something like that?  It's a no-win situation.        

100%

On Cora's yoga comments: I think his comments aren't out of thin air. I think he was just explaining why it rubbed veteran players the wrong way and why Casas' perceived attitude doesn't really fit with the typical MLBer. I think the older players who are all about "doing things the right way" are going to have to learn to adjust and come around on younger players like Casas like they have always had to. 

On Cora's injury comments: I think this was really directed towards Casas' pain tolerance and that there was a perception by the Red Sox, not just Cora, that Casas should have been able to be back a little sooner and play through some of the pain. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

23 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Casas just doesn't give a crap. He's always going to say whatever is on his mind. I think his teammates realize that now and either "get it" or tune him out.

And teams don't give a crap if an outspoken player is producing.

As long as he's not badmouthing teammates, blabbing to and at the media is ok. It may be a pain for others to have to answer questions about his words, but a clubhouse doesn't mind having a guy who reporters constantly flock to for quotes, if it means they'll leave the more private players alone.

Management can deal with the PR on its own. Clubs keep a Bill Lee around as long as they think he helps them win more games than lose image points. But as soon as Spaceman starts to descend -- and re-enter Earth's atmosphere -- defense systems lock their disintegration lasers onto the target. 

Bill Lee is still playing hardball regularly, 45 years after pitching for Boston. There's probably no better old-time ambassador for the game -- but we never see him in the booth with a microphone. The Red Sox bring back just about any controversial alumni, at least for an interview... but never someone whose mouth they can't trust, even on 10-second delay.

[Old Red]

36 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Casas just doesn't give a crap. He's always going to say whatever is on his mind. I think his teammates realize that now and either "get it" or tune him out.

Not at the moment. He’s not doing interviews.🤫

[mvp 78]

40 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Not at the moment. He’s not doing interviews.🤫

It's been 24 hours? He went a whole day without an interview? My stars!?!?!?!

[harmony]

45 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Not at the moment. He’s not doing interviews.🤫

Does Triston Casas come off as the privileged product of an elite private high school?

https://www.ahschool.com/broward-campus

Casas was a childhood friend and high school teammate of New York Mets breakout star Mark Vientos, who is a month older than Casas:

https://www.audacy.com/podcast/baseball-isnt-boring-50d1b/episodes/bib-on-the-go-the-bond-between-childhood-friends-mark-vientos-and-triston-casas-924da

Casas has posted 2.9 bWAR in 222 games, including 0.6 bWAR in 63 games last year, while Vientos has posted 1.9 bWAR in 192 games, including 3.1 bWAR in 111 games last year.

 

[Old Red]

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

It's been 24 hours? He went a whole day without an interview? My stars!?!?!?!

For him yes. Most likely been talked to.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

28 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

It's been 24 hours? He went a whole day without an interview? My stars!?!?!?!

What a relief. Heaven forbid a reporter asks Casas a question and he... he answers.

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, harmony said:

Does Triston Casas come off as the privileged product of an elite private high school?

https://www.ahschool.com/broward-campus

42K is pretty high for FL private high schools, but it's now basically 50% of that with the voucher program having no income eligibility restrictions. My guess is that he also got in pretty cheap due to his baseball ability. Also, if you're living in Broward County, you might not want to send your kids to public school if you can afford it depending on where you live.

[mvp 78]

13 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

What a relief. Heaven forbid a reporter asks Casas a question and he... he answers.

Is he actually saying "I'm not talking to reporters anymore" or are you all just getting upset for no reason again? 

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

Is he actually saying "I'm not talking to reporters anymore" or are you all just getting upset for no reason again? 

Who’s upset? I was just reporting in real time from the reporter who said Casas was not doing interviews. Nothing more, and nothing less. Read into to it as you may. It’s the name of the game.

[notin]

1 hour ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

And teams don't give a crap if an outspoken player is producing.

 

Not always.  That’s how we got Chris Sale in the first place…

[notin]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Is he actually saying "I'm not talking to reporters anymore" or are you all just getting upset for no reason again? 

“I’m just here so I don’t get fined.”

[mvp 78]

13 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Who’s upset? I was just reporting in real time from the reporter who said Casas was not doing interviews. Nothing more, and nothing less. Read into to it as you may. It’s the name of the game.

As far as I can tell, you're the only one reporting it unless you can show a source. 

[mvp 78]

10 minutes ago, notin said:

“I’m just here so I don’t get fined.”

Give Casas the ball at the goal line and his whole body would explode. 

[Bellhorn04]

57 minutes ago, harmony said:

Does Triston Casas come off as the privileged product of an elite private high school?

Quite the leading question!

[Bellhorn04]

24 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Who’s upset? I was just reporting in real time from the reporter who said Casas was not doing interviews. Nothing more, and nothing less. Read into to it as you may. It’s the name of the game.

What did the reporter say was the source for this?