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

[notin]

3 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Nobody likes you when you're injured.  

Doctors do…

[moonslav59]

59 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

I completely disagree because I'm confident that no one wanted to give up much for Duran and this year he has in fact come in handy with Anthony humbled by his little finger (go figure).   Duran has done well in LF with 5 assists, no errors, and some nifty catches.  His OPS stinks, but he is 4th on the team in total bases, 3d in rbi's, 3d in runs scored, 2d in dingers, and first in SB's.  Also 4th in games played on a team which has not hesitated to play almost anyone.  

Someone would have given up something good after 2024 and something better than now after '25, but I agree.

I have been for trading Duran for a long time, but one argument made sense to me: "When our weak area was obviously offense, why trade your top 3 offensive weapon, even if he has shown decline before reaching prime.?"

[moonslav59]

35 minutes ago, Alex Mayes said:

The fact Breslow couldn’t see the inevitable downturn that was coming post 24 was insane. He should have sold high on multiple occasions. 

While nobody expected a repeat of 2024 in 2025 or ever again, i don't think anybody projected this steep of a decline. The fact is an 80% of the 2025 Duran (who was 80% of the 2024 Duran)would have been very helpful in 2026.

I don't want to sound like I'm defending the guy I suggested trading more than everyone else combined, but none of us expected this bad.

I do agree we should have traded him, but I'm biased. I wanted to trade him before 2024, too, so I'm not gloating, here.

[moonslav59]

19 minutes ago, notin said:

Well, expecting any 8 WAR player to decline hardly requires psychic ability, but at some point, disappointment in not selling high shouldn’t rest solely on the belief that the other 29 GMs and CBOs are all impulsive morons.  Safe bet all of them knew this was selling high as well…

Let's say the most Duran optimistic GM thought he'd decline from 8 to 4: they'd still have made a hefty offer.

[Maxbialystock]

46 minutes ago, Alex Mayes said:

The Anthony hate is so funny. The kid has a freak injury likely caused by the team’s hitting philosophy and people act like he’s made of glass. 

The fact that Duran is that high in every category says far more about the state of the team than his abilities. The fact Breslow couldn’t see the inevitable downturn that was coming post 24 was insane. He should have sold high on multiple occasions. 

Are you serious????!!!!!  Anthony is our best player.  Yes, I ridicule the little finger, but have no doubt that it is real and debilitating enough to keep him from hitting.  He was absolutely stunning last July and August and there can be no doubt the Sox missed him in September and the wild card series.  A healthy Anthony would have been huge this season.  

About Duran and Breslow.  I never thought a downturn was inevitable.  But, if everyone was as prescient as you, then Breslow probably wasn't going to get much for Duran after that great 2024 season.  Other teams, just like you, would expect a huge downturn after 2024 and not offered much in return.  

Meanwhile, he has been useful last year and this year.  Keeping him was not as calamitous as you say.  He is earning his pay ($7.7M) better than Yoshida or Story.  Heck, better than Crochet or Anthony or Riner-Falefa.  

[Bellhorn04]

52 minutes ago, notin said:

Doctors do…

Tell that to Fred.  😀

[moonslav59]

20 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Meanwhile, [Duran} has been useful ....this year.  

I have to ask without sounding mean:

"Are you serious?"

[JoeBrady]

2 hours ago, Maxbialystock said:

I completely disagree because I'm confident that no one wanted to give up much for Duran and this year he has in fact come in handy with Anthony humbled by his little finger (go figure).   Duran has done well in LF with 5 assists, no errors, and some nifty catches.  His OPS stinks, but he is 4th on the team in total bases, 3d in rbi's, 3d in runs scored, 2d in dingers, and first in SB's.  Also 4th in games played on a team which has not hesitated to play almost anyone.  

I agree.  Duran is not having a good year, but he's not as bad as some of the numbers.  His .617 OPS is largely affected by his .245 BABIP.  His 3-year BABIP is .345.  Even at the lower end of the three years, his .326 in 2025 is still way ahead of his 2026 .245.  Duran can be a little out there, but if this was anyone else, I'd gladly bet on positive regression.