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Craig Breslow hired as Chief Baseball Officer
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Post by incandenza on Nov 20, 2023 14:47:27 GMT -5
While it's nice that Breslow seems to know what he's doing in pitching department and can nerd out about it with potential signees, I'm sure curious what his plans are for the lineup, which seems like the thornier problem for next season. So far they've shipped out their second baseman and have shopped their rightfielder, and that's about all we know. What does he plan to *add*, and how does he plan to do it, given the weakness of this FA class? Would he be content to go into the season (as some here are) with the current outfield roster minus Verdugo? Does he have a particular philosophy about hitters? Is there any reporting on this at all?
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Post by benogliviesbrother on Nov 20, 2023 14:59:00 GMT -5
The point of the story, as I understood it, was that Breslow was TASKED with signing Taillon, and he did. And the HOW part of the signing -- by connecting with the player in a way a typical FO executive might not. I don't believe the Taillon anecdote was intended to extoll his scouting, analysis, or player development skills. I understood the point, but a more inspiring story would have been Breslow convincing the org not to sign Taillon based on his understanding of what makes pitchers good. He either didn’t have much agency or was off on his evaluation. Maybe so, but that is not the story Jen wrote. A direct quote from the story: "... that Jed would say, ‘Hey, why don’t you go try to meet Taillon and see if you could make him a Cub?’” makes clear that Breslow was following directions, and succeeded. It is disingenuous to extrapolate that into a demerit for Breslow.
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steveofbradenton
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Watching Spring Training, the FCL, and the Florida State League
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Post by steveofbradenton on Nov 20, 2023 14:59:21 GMT -5
While it's nice that Breslow seems to know what he's doing in pitching department and can nerd out about it with potential signees, I'm sure curious what his plans are for the lineup, which seems like the thornier problem for next season. So far they've shipped out their second baseman and have shopped their rightfielder, and that's about all we know. What does he plan to *add*, and how does he plan to do it, given the weakness of this FA class? Would he be content to go into the season (as some here are) with the current outfield roster minus Verdugo? Does he have a particular philosophy about hitters? Is there any reporting on this at all?
I personally see a trade(s) for the other non-starting pitcher moves.
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Post by scottysmalls on Nov 20, 2023 15:21:53 GMT -5
I understood the point, but a more inspiring story would have been Breslow convincing the org not to sign Taillon based on his understanding of what makes pitchers good. He either didn’t have much agency or was off on his evaluation. Maybe so, but that is not the story Jen wrote. A direct quote from the story: "... that Jed would say, ‘Hey, why don’t you go try to meet Taillon and see if you could make him a Cub?’” makes clear that Breslow was following directions, and succeeded. It is disingenuous to extrapolate that into a demerit for Breslow. When you’re that high up in the org and supposedly a next level baseball mind you’d think he could have pushed back and said “actually, I think we should try to make Zach Eflin a Cub” (or whoever). I’m not trying to make it a huge thing though, he did the job he was asked to do well and it shows a positive ability to relate to some players. Even if the evaluation was a miss you don’t expect FO guys to have a 100% hit rate.
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Post by benogliviesbrother on Nov 20, 2023 15:56:52 GMT -5
We do not know that he did not push back, or if he pushed for another player. The story was not about that.
Jen's story, much like a Spring Training player piece, illustrated a thing he did well. Can we not accept that small accomplishment at face value, as a nice little story, as a small thing that likely means next to nothing but, if so inclined, a reader might read it and apply a hopeful bent to the man's competence in this probably small part of his job description (Salesman)?
Or must every report be endlessly parsed for negative angles and even if none found, assigned a "yeah, but"?
This whole conversation is depressing and I apologize to board members subjected to it. As Forest Gump liked to say, "And that's all I have to say about that." I promise.
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Post by Underwater Johnson on Nov 20, 2023 22:18:56 GMT -5
While it's nice that Breslow seems to know what he's doing in pitching department and can nerd out about it with potential signees, I'm sure curious what his plans are for the lineup, which seems like the thornier problem for next season. So far they've shipped out their second baseman and have shopped their rightfielder, and that's about all we know. What does he plan to *add*, and how does he plan to do it, given the weakness of this FA class? Would he be content to go into the season (as some here are) with the current outfield roster minus Verdugo? Does he have a particular philosophy about hitters? Is there any reporting on this at all?
That's a little generous to Urias, don't you think? They had three "second basemen" on their roster, none obvious incumbents, and they shipped out the one who cost the most. Indeed, 2B is Urias's third position after 3B and SS, in terms of MLB experience (and he doesn't rate well at any of them), so the idea that he was "their second baseman" is highly suspect. Good luck to Urias, who finds himself in a similar 2B Bermuda triangle in SEA with Dylan Moore and Josh Rojas.
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Post by scottysmalls on Nov 20, 2023 22:29:45 GMT -5
We do not know that he did not push back, or if he pushed for another player. The story was not about that. Jen's story, much like a Spring Training player piece, illustrated a thing he did well. Can we not accept that small accomplishment at face value, as a nice little story, as a small thing that likely means next to nothing but, if so inclined, a reader might read it and apply a hopeful bent to the man's competence in this probably small part of his job description (Salesman)? Or must every report be endlessly parsed for negative angles and even if none found, assigned a "yeah, but"? This whole conversation is depressing and I apologize to board members subjected to it. As Forest Gump liked to say, "And that's all I have to say about that." I promise. you’re making this a way bigger thing than I intended. Yeah agreed the article is a nothingburger and who cares. It’s still relevant context that Taillon isn’t actually good, that’s all
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cdj
Veteran
Posts: 14,457
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Post by cdj on Nov 20, 2023 22:40:12 GMT -5
Craig was told to woo a guy and he successfully wooed a guy. That’s it. That’s the story.
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Post by asm19 on Nov 20, 2023 22:57:39 GMT -5
Craig was told to woo a guy and he successfully wooed a guy. That’s it. That’s the story. Do we have a sense of whether he’s mastered speaking Japanese in his short tenure ahead of the Yamamoto meeting, or are those negotiations going to consist of Masa leading the seduction while Craig sits in the corner with a giant wheelbarrow of money
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cdj
Veteran
Posts: 14,457
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Post by cdj on Nov 20, 2023 23:01:05 GMT -5
Craig was told to woo a guy and he successfully wooed a guy. That’s it. That’s the story. Do we have a sense of whether he’s mastered speaking Japanese in his short tenure ahead of the Yamamoto meeting, or are those negotiations going to consist of Masa leading the seduction while Craig sits in the corner with a giant wheelbarrow of money He borrowed Schilling’s “negotiating for dummies”, we will be ok
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Post by Underwater Johnson on Nov 20, 2023 23:42:25 GMT -5
Craig was told to woo a guy and he successfully wooed a guy. That’s it. That’s the story. Do we have a sense of whether he’s mastered speaking Japanese in his short tenure ahead of the Yamamoto meeting, or are those negotiations going to consist of Masa leading the seduction while Craig sits in the corner with a giant wheelbarrow of money 1. Masa is a hero to YY. Was the star of the team when YY arrived as a teenager and became a national sensation by mashing the opposition relentlessly. 2. Big Papi has to be involved. I don't care if he doesn't speak Japanese, his charisma knows no barriers. No other team can bring that. 3. Wouldn't hurt to have Papi tag team with Pedey. Pedroia can give him a pep talk that he won't need a translator for.
4. Speaking of tag teaming with Pedey, get Pedro and Sale in a bullpen with YY, with Koji translating. YY's head will be spinning. Breslow can stand there with a clipboard if he wants to. 5. Find out if YY idolized Matsuzaka as a kid (he wears the same #18). If so, try to get Dice-K involved, maybe sign a jersey. 6. Last but not least, take him to the Hayden Planetarium for a 360-degree video of a duck-boat parade. Make it happen, Steinberg.
Full court press. LFG.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Nov 21, 2023 0:17:43 GMT -5
Do we have a sense of whether he’s mastered speaking Japanese in his short tenure ahead of the Yamamoto meeting, or are those negotiations going to consist of Masa leading the seduction while Craig sits in the corner with a giant wheelbarrow of money 1. Masa is a hero to YY. Was the star of the team when YY arrived as a teenager and became a national sensation by mashing the opposition relentlessly. 2. Big Papi has to be involved. I don't care if he doesn't speak Japanese, his charisma knows no barriers. No other team can bring that. 3. Wouldn't hurt to have Papi tag team with Pedey. Pedroia can give him a pep talk that he won't need a translator for.
4. Speaking of tag teaming with Pedey, get Pedro and Sale in a bullpen with YY, with Koji translating. YY's head will be spinning. Breslow can stand there with a clipboard if he wants to. 5. Find out if YY idolized Matsuzaka as a kid (he wears the same #18). If so, try to get Dice-K involved, maybe sign a jersey. 6. Last but not least, take him to the Hayden Planetarium for a 360-degree video of a duck-boat parade. Make it happen, Steinberg.
Full court press. LFG.
Yeah, do all that and dont forget tp come armed with well over 200 million or else all the above dont matter, lol
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Post by Chris Hatfield on Nov 21, 2023 0:20:05 GMT -5
This is the Craig Breslow hiring thread. Let's not turn it into a catch all for all of the things we'd like him to do going forward.
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Post by 0ap0 on Nov 21, 2023 8:29:09 GMT -5
3. Wouldn't hurt to have Papi tag team with Pedey. Pedroia can give him a pep talk that he won't need a translator for.
Hell, Pedey could probably teach him to play center field when he swings through.
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Post by KoreaSoxFan on Dec 4, 2023 7:20:30 GMT -5
I'm not sure if this is true, but it's not what I want to hear just a month after Craig hired.
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Post by redsox04071318champs on Dec 4, 2023 7:37:42 GMT -5
Hopefully that's not "The Red Sox way". Very problematic if true.
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Post by bellhorndingers21 on Dec 4, 2023 7:37:42 GMT -5
I'm not sure if this is true, but it's not what I want to hear just a month after Craig hired. Think we found Thad Levine's agent.
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cdj
Veteran
Posts: 14,457
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Post by cdj on Dec 4, 2023 7:59:44 GMT -5
Good to see a hit piece out before he makes a move of any sort of significance
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Post by Oregon Norm on Dec 4, 2023 9:13:58 GMT -5
Breslow having said that there will be some changes, this is unsurprising. The noise level is rising ahead of those changes, probably as people position themselves. Those of you who wanted more leaks from the FO are getting your wish.
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Post by grandsalami on Dec 4, 2023 10:12:51 GMT -5
Good to see a hit piece out before he makes a move of any sort of significance Also. Give an agent to be anonymous and you will get crap like the above.
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Post by orion09 on Dec 4, 2023 11:50:48 GMT -5
I'm not sure if this is true, but it's not what I want to hear just a month after Craig hired. A few other tidbits from agents:
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Post by grandsalami on Dec 4, 2023 11:54:47 GMT -5
I'm not sure if this is true, but it's not what I want to hear just a month after Craig hired. A few other tidbits from agents: Wasn't the conversation when Bloom was fired (from agents) that he was impossible to deal with? Which is it? you cant have it both ways mr "anonymous" agent
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Post by asm19 on Dec 4, 2023 12:13:35 GMT -5
A few other tidbits from agents: Wasn't the conversation when Bloom was fired (from agents) that he was impossible to deal with?Which is it? you cant have it both ways mr "anonymous" agent The word on the street was it was partly agents, but even more so other GM's. I recall Carrabis and Merloni gossiping that there'd be (and I'm likely poorly paraphrasing) situations where you'd have a deal worked out, and then he'd do things like ask for even more additional things or back out at the last second. I mean none of those quotes seem that beyond what many have already speculated or questioned (Cora supposedly has major influence, will ownership spend again, etc). They're not breaking new ground with comments like that.
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Post by benogliviesbrother on Dec 4, 2023 13:42:37 GMT -5
I was listening to Mike Lombardi (former NFL FO exec) on The GM Shuffle last week & he made the comment -- re: David Tepper, new team owner -- that those phone calls you get from folks around the league, and league-adjacent, aren't from your friends. Not a one of them people is calling you to help YOU out.
I view this sort of information dump similarly. GM/Agent relationships are adversarial, by definition. Owner has the bag, player wants the bag. GM & agent negotiate how much, if any, of the bag gets got.
It's doubtful agent has any real objective knowledge of inner workings. Sounds like a gratuitous shot taken, likely due to a bitter outcome.
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Post by jerrygarciaparra on Dec 4, 2023 20:11:08 GMT -5
A few other tidbits from agents: Wasn't the conversation when Bloom was fired (from agents) that he was impossible to deal with? Which is it? you cant have it both ways mr "anonymous" agent i don't read those quotes as being anti-Bloom. More of a take on the ownership group. The Cora stuff doesn't sound all that different than what has been spoken before. I don't think Bloom was the right guy for this market, but I also don't think he was given the keys to the kingdom. Breslow talked with people as well, i am sure he knows what he is getting into. No reason to really be uncomfortable with any of this, IMO. He is gonna have to earn it, as he should have to.
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