Red Sox's Craig Breslow Era Is Set to End With A Whimper

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, JoeBrady said:

So your take here is that we were going to cut or bench a 4.1 bWAR Story in favor of a 3.2 bWAR Bichette (or equivalent)?  And his $42M+ contract?  C'mon, everyone knows that Story was the presumptive starter.

Wash, rinse repeat.🤔

[JoeBrady]

1 hour ago, drewski6 said:

rule of thumb, dont keep around the acquisitions that got your predecessor fired.

The second rule of thumb is that, if you are given $42M in spending money, you do not tell your boss you are going to spend it on a SS that was worse than the one you currently have.  No one on the entire planet would've spent $42M+ to replace Story with Bichette.

[notin]

10 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

So your take here is that we were going to cut or bench a 4.1 bWAR Story in favor of a 3.2 bWAR Bichette (or equivalent)?  And his $42M+ contract?  C'mon, everyone knows that Story was the presumptive starter.

At a bare minimum, it should be universally agreed upon that after 2025, Story at least deserved to not be DFAd…

[drewski6]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

At a bare minimum, it should be universally agreed upon that after 2025, Story at least deserved to not be DFAd…

I like Trevor Story.  My point is that in year 3, this is breslows team - and theres an argument being used in defense of breslow that he had no opportunities to do better because all the incumbents were locked in and he had no reason to think that the offense as built wasnt going to be good enough.

But plenty of respected MLB analysts saw giant red flags with our offense, so that argument doesnt satisfy me.  I think Breslow should be accountable for this team.

[drewski6]

We're now up to 31.25% likely to make playoffs per fangraphs.  Falling out of out of it.  

[moonslav59]

8 hours ago, mvp 78 said:

Every year prior to the deadline, you think the Sox are still in it. 

Me?

I was the first to give up on them not long ago, and Ole Red went off worse than ever.

I've wanted to sell another year or two since 2018.

(I'm still in sell mode, now.)

[Old Red]

8 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Me?

I was the first to give up on them not long ago, and Ole Red went off worse than ever.

I've wanted to sell another year or two since 2018.

(I'm still in sell mode, now.)

Yes you were the FIRST to give up not long ago. A fair weather fan then, and still the same Man Behind The Curtain today.👎

[notin]

16 hours ago, drewski6 said:

I like Trevor Story.  My point is that in year 3, this is breslows team - and theres an argument being used in defense of breslow that he had no opportunities to do better because all the incumbents were locked in and he had no reason to think that the offense as built wasnt going to be good enough.

But plenty of respected MLB analysts saw giant red flags with our offense, so that argument doesnt satisfy me.  I think Breslow should be accountable for this team.

Some like Ian Browne snd Tim Britton were critical of the Sox offense, primarily due to the absence of a “35 home run hitter”.  Ian Browne  saud “Where will the power come from?” verbatim. (I might argue not one analyst saw “giant” red flags or had the Sox offense as bottom 5.  So if you can name someone who did it’s a big help.)

But I think more analysts (Jim Bowden, Chad Finn, even Lou Merloni) liked this approach and figured this team to use better athleticism to their advantage on offense and defense.  Some figured them to be a top ten offense like they were post-Devers.

Those who keep adding “we said we need two bats” like to ignore the analysts who disagreed with them.  (To be fair, we all ignore the analysts we disagree with.) But that need in January, February wasn’t as obvious then as it is now, with Durbin lately proving he is a capable bat himself…

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

12 minutes ago, notin said:

Those who keep adding “we said we need two bats” like to ignore the analysts who disagreed with them.  (To be fair, we all ignore the analysts we disagree with.) But that need in January, February wasn’t as obvious then as it is now, rape with Durbin lately proving he is a capable bat himself…

Durbin's not just hitting, but hitting home runs: 8 HRs in June and July, more than Abreu and Duran combined.

Only Contreras, with 9 homers, has gone deep more in that span. 

There's no doubt a few key dingers here and there have boosted the Sox in their 14-5 record since June 19. The way the starting rotation has been throwing, it doesn't take many runs for a W. But let's not pretend Boston is loaded with suddenly hot hitters (Seigler -- love the energy -- hit .350 in June, but he's at .150 in July so far).

So if anyone thinks Will and Caleb are going to continue their longball pace throughout the second half of the season, then all those preseason pundits will be proven wrong about Brez needing to add a 35-homer bat to contend.

Otherwise...

[mvp 78]

1 hour ago, notin said:

Some like Ian Browne snd Tim Britton were critical of the Sox offense, primarily due to the absence of a “35 home run hitter”.  Ian Browne  saud “Where will the power come from?” verbatim. (I might argue not one analyst saw “giant” red flags or had the Sox offense as bottom 5.  So if you can name someone who did it’s a big help.)

But I think more analysts (Jim Bowden, Chad Finn, even Lou Merloni) liked this approach and figured this team to use better athleticism to their advantage on offense and defense.  Some figured them to be a top ten offense like they were post-Devers.

Those who keep adding “we said we need two bats” like to ignore the analysts who disagreed with them.  (To be fair, we all ignore the analysts we disagree with.) But that need in January, February wasn’t as obvious then as it is now, with Durbin lately proving he is a capable bat himself…

They are 30th in HR and 29th in R. They are still not a good offense. 

[notin]

36 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Durbin's not just hitting, but hitting home runs: 8 HRs in June and July, more than Abreu and Duran combined.

Only Contreras, with 9 homers, has gone deep more in that span. 

There's no doubt a few key dingers here and there have boosted the Sox in their 14-5 record since June 19. The way the starting rotation has been throwing, it doesn't take many runs for a W. But let's not pretend Boston is loaded with suddenly hot hitters (Seigler -- love the energy -- hit .350 in June, but he's at .150 in July so far).

So if anyone thinks Will and Caleb are going to continue their longball pace throughout the second half of the season, then all those preseason pundits will be proven wrong about Brez needing to add a 35-homer bat to contend.

Otherwise...

Well the Sox are on Small Sample Fire lately with a lineup featuring players like Cheng and Seigler who were not on the bench to start the year but rather were in Worcester.  Add in Yoshida, a bench bat on the opening day roster, and thr Sox are better despite 33% of their opening day lineup being replaced, 44% on days Wong starts..

[notin]

2 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

They are 30th in HR and 29th in R. They are still not a good offense. 

But for the last two weeks, they’ve been a “good enough” offense.  
 

And as I said, it’s depleted with players like Seigler and  Henr in there regularly.  And those Worcester/bench bats in there are the only reason yesterday’s game wasn’t a white flag for me.  Because of your best lineup gets shutdown by Anthony Kay, that’s only because your best lineup sucks…

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, notin said:

Well the Sox are on Small Sample Fire lately with a lineup featuring players like Cheng and Seigler who were not on the bench to start the year but rather were in Worcester.  Add in Yoshida, a bench bat on the opening day roster, and thr Sox are better despite 33% of their opening day lineup being replaced, 44% on days Wong starts..

Cheng's 638 OPS is really getting it done! 

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

But for the last two weeks, they’ve been a “good enough” offense.  
 

And as I said, it’s depleted with players like Seigler and  Henr in there regularly.  And those Worcester/bench bats in there are the only reason yesterday’s game wasn’t a white flag for me.  Because of your best lineup gets shutdown by Anthony Kay, that’s only because your best lineup sucks…

We can always fine SSS to be happy about, but if Durbin going super Saiyan mode can't even get them out of the doghouse, what does that say about the rest of the roster? 

The only AAAA guy that I'm interested in is Seigler because he can play all 9 positions and is ambidextrous. He also seems to leave it all out on the field, something a lot of these other guys don't do. 

[notin]

16 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Cheng's 638 OPS is really getting it done! 

He’s Vern Stephens compared to Story…

[notin]

12 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

We can always fine SSS to be happy about, but if Durbin going super Saiyan mode can't even get them out of the doghouse, what does that say about the rest of the roster? 

The only AAAA guy that I'm interested in is Seigler because he can play all 9 positions and is ambidextrous. He also seems to leave it all out on the field, something a lot of these other guys don't do. 

You’re wrong.  You’re also interested in Braiden Ward.  I mean, not romantically or anything.  Just as a role player on a Major League Baseball team.,,

[JoeBrady]

16 hours ago, drewski6 said:

I like Trevor Story.  My point is that in year 3, this is breslows team

And my point continuing to be that Story was going to be our starting SS this year.  When people start looking back with 20/20 vision, it should start with 'who can reasonably have been replaced'.  Story, Narvaez, and Anthony were always going to be the Red Sox 2026 regulars.  And those are three of our biggest problems.

[notin]

19 hours ago, drewski6 said:

rule of thumb, dont keep around the acquisitions that got your predecessor fired.

 

So you think the Sox should have DFAd Story (2 yrs $46mill) and Yoshida (2 yrs $36mill)?

[JoeBrady]

10 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Me?

I was the first to give up on them not long ago, and Ole Red went off worse than ever.

I've wanted to sell another year or two since 2018.

(I'm still in sell mode, now.)

Are y'all arguing about who was the first to quit?

[Old Red]

4 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

And my point continuing to be that Story was going to be our starting SS this year.  When people start looking back with 20/20 vision, it should start with 'who can reasonably have been replaced'.  Story, Narvaez, and Anthony were always going to be the Red Sox 2026 regulars.  And those are three of our biggest problems.

And you continue to wash, rinse, and repeat. Going into the season the Red Sox needed two power producing bats. I suggested Alonso, and Flintstone Schwarber, and yes I know Schwarber was a long shot. Brez thought he had Bregman coming back so he half assed an offer to Alonso, and went out, and got the Con Man thinking he would go along with Bregman. He whiffed on Bregman, and then pivoted to Ranger, and settled on DUBin. Another Big power bat was still needed. Yes Story Land went down for repairs, and little pinky Anthony didn’t produce anything except walks before Mayer hurt his finger with that pinky swear. Another big bat was needed then, and another big bat is needed now.

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, notin said:

You’re wrong.  You’re also interested in Braiden Ward.  I mean, not romantically or anything.  Just as a role player on a Major League Baseball team.,,

His exit velo would be the lowest in MLB. I'm not interested. Not sure the Sox are either. How does a slap hitter like him k over 20%? Crazy. He has less 2bs than Jason Delay somehow. With his speed? 

[mvp 78]

18 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

And my point continuing to be that Story was going to be our starting SS this year.  When people start looking back with 20/20 vision, it should start with 'who can reasonably have been replaced'.  Story, Narvaez, and Anthony were always going to be the Red Sox 2026 regulars.  And those are three of our biggest problems.

Breslow could have moved any of those guys if he wanted to. You just don't have the vision. 

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, notin said:

So you think the Sox should have DFAd Story (2 yrs $46mill) and Yoshida (2 yrs $36mill)?

Eat money and trade. 

[notin]

6 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

His exit velo would be the lowest in MLB. I'm not interested. Not sure the Sox are either. How does a slap hitter like him k over 20%? Crazy. He has less 2bs than Jason Delay somehow. With his speed? 

He K’s for the same reason he walks - lots of pitches.  
 

He’s a 4th OF/ghost runner…

[JoeBrady]

7 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Breslow could have moved any of those guys if he wanted to. You just don't have the vision. 

Could have?  Possibly.

So your idea is that we should've traded Anthony?  And maybe traded Story, eaten some salary, and signed maybe Bichette?

[mvp 78]

6 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

So your idea is that we should've traded Anthony?  And maybe traded Story, eaten some salary, and signed maybe Bichette?

No and no.

[notin]

15 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Breslow could have moved any of those guys if he wanted to. You just don't have the vision. 

He probably has to include enough money that if just makes sense to keep them…

[UtahSox]

11 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Me?

I was the first to give up on them not long ago, and Ole Red went off worse than ever.

I've wanted to sell another year or two since 2018.

(I'm still in sell mode, now.)

Yeah and then I looked into the Joan Duran trade, they got a relief pitcher I haven’t seen any stats for, and Eduardo Tait. Who has fallen from 2nd to 5th in their prospect ratings. And they sure could have used Duran this year. I’m shifting to buy mode we are 2.5 out, but 2027 is the priority #1. I’d LOVE Bichette, not as a SS…. (But much better than Story.) Long term I think he is a 3rd or even a 2nd baseman. I like the 3 year commitment for a 28 year old that has always hit well at Fenway.

[Bellhorn04]

34 minutes ago, JoeBrady said:

Are y'all arguing about who was the first to quit?

I know that's feigned surprise. 🙂

[Old Red]

20 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Breslow could have moved any of those guys if he wanted to. You just don't have the vision. 

This is just like Bloom who couldn’t work out the expiring contracts he had.