Red Sox/MLB 2023 Off-Season - Red Sox-Yankees trade

[Morris Wanchuk]

Ok I am going to throw some optimism on this:

Breslow played the game. The nerds have won, it was always going to be a nerd so it might as well be one that played.

He seems very good at identifying pitching which very much need.

Looks like he is going to be able to pick his GM. I hope it is someone with contract negotiation experience.

 

[GatorMike]

Awkward.

 

[Johnnyduke]

Both the Rangers and Diamondbacks lost 100 games two years ago. Don't tell me a GM needs 5+ years to get things on track in Boston.

 

[GatorMike]

I hope it is someone with contract negotiation experience.

FWIW, The Athletic reported that Breslow was the Cubs' point man on the negotiations to sign Jameson Taillon.

 

[Mione134]

Phillies blew it.


As for Breslow? As long as he's willing to f***ing spend and get players, I'm good.

 

[McGarnagle]

Two exciting young teams, new blood going to the sseries. It should be good, but honestly given the markets, the lack of identifiable superstars, the aesthetics of the indoor ballparks, the nature of broadcasting and streaming entertainment, etc., I'm 100% sure this is going to be the lowest rated World Series in recorded history. I'll still follow it. I'd like Texas to win, they deserve it for what they went through in 2011.

 

[GatorMike]

After warning of lengthy search, Red Sox move fast to hire Craig Breslow atop baseball ops

The Red Sox vowed a lengthy search. But they may have had their top candidate in mind all along.

theathletic.com

Good stuff from The Athletic's Chad Jennings on Breslow:

According to multiple people with knowledge of the process, Breslow was the only candidate to receive a second interview. He’s been described as a favorite of Red Sox ownership from the very beginning, and — perhaps not coincidentally — also a favorite of former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, whose opinion still carries weight in the organization and who has long touted Breslow’s potential as an executive...​

​

...He’s never run a baseball operations department, which leaves some elements of his leadership style unknown, though people in the Cubs organization have noted that Breslow was involved in aspects beyond pitching. He worked with their farm system, their draft room, their big-league coaching staff, and helped with free-agent negotiations.​

 

[Donnie Shulzhoffer]

After warning of lengthy search, Red Sox move fast to hire Craig Breslow atop baseball ops

The Red Sox vowed a lengthy search. But they may have had their top candidate in mind all along.

theathletic.com

Good stuff from The Athletic's Chad Jennings on Breslow:

According to multiple people with knowledge of the process, Breslow was the only candidate to receive a second interview. He’s been described as a favorite of Red Sox ownership from the very beginning, and — perhaps not coincidentally — also a favorite of former Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, whose opinion still carries weight in the organization and who has long touted Breslow’s potential as an executive...​

​

...He’s never run a baseball operations department, which leaves some elements of his leadership style unknown, though people in the Cubs organization have noted that Breslow was involved in aspects beyond pitching. He worked with their farm system, their draft room, their big-league coaching staff, and helped with free-agent negotiations.​

"Breslow was the only candidate to receive a second interview."

Because everyone else turned them down!

Who in the front office handed Chad Jennings this prewritten puff piece?

 

[Johnnyduke]

Ya it's pretty easy and convenient to spin "he's who we wanted from the beginning"

It's not like they're gonna get up on the podium and say he was the 10th choice.

 

[BMC]

Says a lot about an ownership when they are a big market team, get turned down by multiple candidates and now have to settle for someone who hasn’t agreed yet

And none of it is good.

Baseball execs should be pounding down the door wanting to run this franchise- a big market team with an amazing history playing in an iconic venue that draws fans from the 6 New England states & beyond. Instead because of lousy ownership this is what happens.



I wish the new guy every success but he's got his work cut out for him having to contend with Henry, Werner & Co plus the most demanding fan base in sports breathing down his neck to field a winning team. He should buy stock in Maalox, he's going to need lots of it.

 

[Johnnyduke]

In the end I don't really care if it's Craig Breslow or Harry Schmedlap. If you have half a clue it's not a difficult job. You have more resources than most teams and if the hyped farm system is legit you should be able to turn this team into a contender within two years. No, I don't want to hear any more garbage about how it's ok if the Red Sox endure a 5 year rebuild on the path to sustainability. The two teams in the WS lost over 100 games each in 2021. This extended grace period sanctimonious people in the baseball industry think Chaim Bloom should have gotten is not reality.

 

[Gordoff]

I was underwhelmed by all the candidates being tossed around so pretty happy if it’s Breslow. Played here and played in general. Will shake things up and be aggressive.

I hate Philly let’s go d bags!

I wish Curt Schilling was less of an ahole and could be calling games between his former teams.

Go to 08: seconds in.
David Justise:
"I've never seen a GM talk to players like that"

Billy Bean: "you've never seen a GM who was a player."

 

[Gordoff]

l

And none of it is good.

Baseball execs should be pounding down the door wanting to run this franchise- a big market team with an amazing history playing in an iconic venue that draws fans from the 6 New England states & beyond. Instead because of lousy ownership this is what happens.



I wish the new guy every success but he's got his work cut out for him having to contend with Henry, Werner & Co plus the most demanding fan base in sports breathing down his neck to field a winning team. He should buy stock in Maalox, he's going to need lots of it.

Maybe this job has become a 'stepping stone?'

 

[Therick67]

Ya it's pretty easy and convenient to spin "he's who we wanted from the beginning"

It's not like they're gonna get up on the podium and say he was the 10th choice.

Nobody spins things as good as the Red Sox..

 

[Gordoff]

In the end I don't really care if it's Craig Breslow or Harry Schmedlap. If you have half a clue it's not a difficult job. You have more resources than most teams and if the hyped farm system is legit you should be able to turn this team into a contender within two years. No, I don't want to hear any more garbage about how it's ok if the Red Sox endure a 5 year rebuild on the path to sustainability. The two teams in the WS lost over 100 games each in 2021. This extended grace period sanctimonious people in the baseball industry think haveHarry Schmedlap gotten is not reality.

Harry Schmedlap told them where to stick their job.

 

[GatorMike]

So, more than one thing can be true here.

1. More people should have been interested in the job, and ownership has no one to blame but themselves for the fact that they weren't.​

​

2. Ownership really liked Craig Breslow, and had him in mind as a potential candidate from the beginning.​

​

3. The fact that Breslow is moving from the Cubs' #3 chair to the Red Sox #1 chair is concerning, because that's a big jump.​

​

4. Breslow might just be smart enough to pull it off.​

So, I guess I'll wait and see. Some of what I've read about him is really encouraging, I would hope that he'll be allowed to hire a GM with some experience who can serve as a sounding board.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

"Breslow was the only candidate to receive a second interview."

Because everyone else turned them down!

Who in the front office handed Chad Jennings this prewritten puff piece?

Hahaha, the only one to receive a 2nd interview or the only one that accepted one?

 

[BigGoalBrad]

And none of it is good.

Baseball execs should be pounding down the door wanting to run this franchise- a big market team with an amazing history playing in an iconic venue that draws fans from the 6 New England states & beyond. Instead because of lousy ownership this is what happens.



I wish the new guy every success but he's got his work cut out for him having to contend with Henry, Werner & Co plus the most demanding fan base in sports breathing down his neck to field a winning team. He should buy stock in Maalox, he's going to need lots of it.

Honestly FSG are good owners they had a long run being right next to Man C in the prem and the current Bruins and Celtics are serial chokers at the moment. At least their teams took down some championships. And we do need to wait out the AL east being good.

Bring in Breslow spend some money I hope he has connections to Showtime. I bet he wants to come here.

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

https://x.com/sfgiants/status/1717179576089280910?s=46&t=ghGt87HeUh2T-Er6ePe05g

 

[RoccoF14]

So, more than one thing can be true here.

1. More people should have been interested in the job, and ownership has no one to blame but themselves for the fact that they weren't.​

​

2. Ownership really liked Craig Breslow, and had him in mind as a potential candidate from the beginning.​

​

3. The fact that Breslow is moving from the Cubs' #3 chair to the Red Sox #1 chair is concerning, because that's a big jump.​

​

4. Breslow might just be smart enough to pull it off.​

So, I guess I'll wait and see. Some of what I've read about him is really encouraging, I would hope that he'll be allowed to hire a GM with some experience who can serve as a sounding board.

FWIW, I think Breslow was a good hire. The guy knows pitching, and the Sox desperately need that right now.

I hate the Cubs, but he did a really good job retooling their pitching prospects and developing talent. And believe me, if you think the Sox pitching prospect pool is thin, you should have seen Chicago's 5 years ago.....It was atrocious. They hadn't developed an arm since Kerry Wood/Mark Prior.

Now, they've developed a Cy Young candidate (Steele), developed Alzolay into a solid closer, and have 2 solid top-half rotation prospects ready to make the step up (Wicks & Horton). If he can replicate that in Boston, he'll be fine.

People are getting a little too bent out of shape because he's a relative unknown and this is his first gig. It was Chris Young's first gig in Texas as well. Both were players/pitchers, which I think is a plus.

 

[KrejciMVP]

Red Sox and their new GM will need to make a splash this offseason. The fans BS meter is on full alert if they try to rebrand bloomball.

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

FWIW, I think Breslow was a good hire. The guy knows pitching, and the Sox desperately need that right now.

I hate the Cubs, but he did a really good job retooling their pitching prospects and developing talent. And believe me, if you think the Sox pitching prospect pool is thin, you should have seen Chicago's 5 years ago.....It was atrocious. They hadn't developed an arm since Kerry Wood/Mark Prior.

Now, they've developed a Cy Young candidate (Steele), developed Alzolay into a solid closer, and have 2 solid top-half rotation prospects ready to make the step up (Wicks & Horton). If he can replicate that in Boston, he'll be fine.

People are getting a little too bent out of shape because he's a relative unknown and this is his first gig. It was Chris Young's first gig in Texas as well. Both were players/pitchers, which I think is a plus.

Theo's stamp of approval for Breslow carries weight, too. I have to think that his visit to Fenway gave Breslow a significant boost.

Your point about Breslow being relatively unknown is spot on. While Breslow's front-office abilities and experience are relatively unknown to fans, and to a lesser extent, the media, it's well-known within MLB. We shouldn't discount his 12 years of experience as a player. A player like him learns a lot from seven organizations about how players should be evaluated and developed.

In the same vein as your point about Chris Young, we should also remember that the Sox were Theo's first GM gig, too. That doesn't mean that Breslow will be a success, but it also isn't necessarily a recipe for failure.

 

[Johnnyduke]

https://x.com/sfgiants/status/1717179576089280910?s=46&t=ghGt87HeUh2T-Er6ePe05g

View attachment 757713

I see someone like Bruce Bochy and I think ok maybe the manager still matters. I then see a team let their manager leave for a division rival and think ok maybe the manager doesn't matter. Ultimately I don't think the manager matters that much until the playoffs.

I hate the Cubs, but he did a really good job retooling their pitching prospects and developing talent. And believe me, if you think the Sox pitching prospect pool is thin, you should have seen Chicago's

This is interesting to me. I am sure Theo is beloved in Chicago but is he getting the heat for that? Or has he been gone long enough where they blame Jed Hoyer?

 

[sarge88]

Not sure i am ready for the Craig Breslow experience

I don’t have a problem with giving him a shot. I like that he’s intelligent, but more so that he played in MLB.

 

[Chevalier du Clavier]

I see someone like Bruce Bochy and I think ok maybe the manager still matters. I then see a team let their manager leave for a division rival and think ok maybe the manager doesn't matter. Ultimately I don't think the manager matters that much until the playoffs.

A good manager can elevate a team, while a poor one can sink it. Poor player management can be detrimental. Zimmer is maligned in many circles for exhausting the '78 Red Sox positional players, leading to the team's collapse down the stretch. The players and coaches turned against Valentine early in the 2012 season for generally being a jerk. To be fair, the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team didn't like Herb Brooks; however, one difference between him and Valentine is the players respected him. On the other hand, Francona is considered a players' manager. There were a lot of strong personalities that he had to manage. Some argue he didn't have to do much during a game. I wish Grady Little did a little more when managing Pedro in 2003 and McNamara when managing Buckner in 1986.

Melvin is an interesting case. While in Oakland, he was generally perceived as a manager who gets a lot out of his players. That perception was torpedoed in San Diego.