- 3 months ago
Do Red Sox anticipate Alex Bregman to opt out of contract? CBO Craig Breslow joins!
Curtis: "What's the first thing that enters your mind, when you see your phone ringing and it's Scott Boras?"
Curtis: "What's the first thing that enters your mind, when you see your phone ringing and it's Scott Boras?"
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00:00Your baseball team on a little bit of a roll here.
00:03It would probably be difficult for you to pick one thing,
00:06but I'm going to ask you to do it anyway.
00:09If you look at this team and where they were in April and May
00:15and where they have been lately,
00:17what, from your perspective, is the primary difference?
00:24Yeah, so I will try to narrow this answer down
00:27and respect the question,
00:28but there are definitely contributions being made up and down the roster.
00:32But I think the thing that you would point to is pitching.
00:36I think we've gotten consistent starting pitching from Garrett and Brian and Lucas
00:40and maybe some inconsistency at the back of the rotation,
00:45but those three guys have been really good for a while,
00:47and then the bullpen has settled down,
00:49and we're winning games that we're supposed to win.
00:51We look back and think about the one-run losses
00:54and giving up leads late,
00:57and then now with Chapman and Whitlock and the way Wilson and Weissert
01:01and Bernie and Matt has been into the mix,
01:04we feel a lot better about being able to hold down leads late.
01:07Craig, can you win a World Series with having three pitches like that,
01:11and you brought up Crochet, Baio, and Giolito pitching that way?
01:16Can you win a World Series that way,
01:18or do you need another guy to step into that fourth role as a starting pitcher?
01:22I think you can win.
01:25Ideally, we'll have guys who will step up,
01:28and it might not always be the same guy.
01:31But in the postseason, the schedule is set up to where the top of your rotation
01:36throws a bunch of innings,
01:37and then your bullpen throws a disproportionate number of innings.
01:41So teams we've seen lean on their bullpens.
01:45But yeah, you've got to feel really good about those three,
01:48and then I think there's still plenty of time for guys like Dustin and others to step up.
01:54Craig, not only are you guys playing well right now,
01:56but you are expected to get back Slayton and Ref Snyder today.
01:59The hope is to get Willier Abreu back next week.
02:02What do you hope that those three guys can contribute to this team
02:04as you inch closer towards September?
02:06Yeah, you know, we've seen what each of those guys is capable of.
02:12Ref as a veteran professional at bat and someone who feeds off left-handed pitching,
02:17which is an incredibly valuable role on this team.
02:20Abreu's been an everyday guy who brings great defense
02:24and, you know, 25, 30 home run potential to the middle of the lineup.
02:29And then in Slayton, you know, the guy who's been a dominant setup man at times,
02:34but has struggled to stay on the field.
02:35And his ability to maybe take some of the workload away from guys like Whitlock,
02:40Chapman, Wilson, Matz, and others, I think, will be really welcome.
02:45But we also have to be smart about, you know,
02:47kind of easing him into both workload and leverage,
02:51and we'll make sure that we do that.
02:53Craig, do you anticipate or have you been told
02:57whether or not Bregman will opt out of his contract at the conclusion of this season?
03:02No, that's, you know, that those conversations will, you know, happen in due time.
03:11But right now, everybody is focused on what's happening on the field.
03:14And, you know, every time I have a chance to talk about Alex,
03:18I will take that as an opportunity to point out just how impactful he's been on the group,
03:23both in the clubhouse and on the field, and on me, you know,
03:28in helping me see things and think about things that I maybe otherwise hadn't.
03:33So nothing but the highest praise for Alex and his contributions to this team.
03:37We were talking earlier this week about Lucas Giolito saying that Bregman had identified
03:45that he was tipping his change up.
03:48I mean, it seems like a guy who is, it's been said a bunch,
03:52but is an additional, basically an additional coach for this baseball team.
03:57Yeah, and there are, there are probably three or four guys on every team that people are effusive about
04:05and talk about how, you know, this guy is a baseball person through and through
04:10and sees the game uniquely and adds to the culture.
04:13And, but then there's Alex, who I think has maybe set himself apart from others
04:18in that he's been more than advertised.
04:21And he came in with this stellar reputation of being a great teammate and helping others.
04:27But the way that he's impacted our group is, is, is truly remarkable.
04:31Craig, I know the, the politically correct thing to say is, yeah,
04:35we don't really schedule watch.
04:37We're kind of, you know, focused on the here and now, and I get it,
04:40but you have to be looking at your schedule and going, okay,
04:44we're going to be taking on Pittsburgh, a team that we should be able to win that series.
04:49You look at Toronto, they're going to be playing Milwaukee.
04:51You start to look at your schedule as you move forward,
04:54because it's about winning the division.
04:55You talk about it.
04:57When you start to look at your schedule versus theirs,
05:00how important is for you to win these games,
05:03especially against these teams that you're better than.
05:05So when you get to the series against Toronto in late September,
05:10you'll be in a great position to overtake them for the division.
05:15Yeah.
05:15So it's, it's really dangerous to, to, to watch what other teams are doing,
05:20which is not to say that we don't all do it.
05:21Right.
05:23But yeah, you know,
05:25the most important game we're going to play is the one that we play today.
05:29And, and that's because we don't have,
05:31we can talk about the one run losses or the games that we should have won or that,
05:36you know,
05:36we found reasons for optimism from,
05:38but we can't go back and win those games.
05:40So every time we have a chance to win a game, you know,
05:43we want to, to manage aggressively, play aggressively,
05:46construct our roster aggressively so that we're banking these games,
05:50knowing that baseball has a ton of variance and there are going to be times
05:53where we lose one, nothing on, you know,
05:56a fluke play after a really well-played game.
06:00And we, we win games and I'm, I'm sure I'm not alone.
06:03After we win a game, we look to see what, you know,
06:05what, what other teams around us have, have done,
06:08but there are a lot of teams that are clustered pretty close together.
06:10And that team that we're, we're chasing is winning a bunch of games too.
06:14Craig,
06:14when you consider that the team has the second best record in the AL and you
06:18look back at where you were when the Devers trade happened,
06:22I always think your position is so interesting because depending on the day,
06:26you're either going to get cheers or booze.
06:28We're guilty of doing it with you.
06:30But when you look back to that trade in particular,
06:32you had said,
06:33I think that there's a real chance at the end of the season,
06:35we're looking back and we've won more games than we otherwise would have.
06:39Where do you put the credit there?
06:41Do you,
06:41do you give yourself credit first and foremost on making that trade happen?
06:45Do you put the credit with Alex Cora on making sure all the guys are on the
06:48same page or do you put the credit with your players and stepping up to the
06:51bat and making sure that you guys put on a successful season after a major
06:55trade like that?
06:58Yeah.
06:58So,
06:58you know,
06:59I know a lot has been made of that quote.
07:01And when I said it,
07:03I believe that I,
07:04I still do.
07:05And that's not a criticism of any individual player so much as just
07:09thinking that this would,
07:10would potentially clear a path for a more functional roster and for,
07:13for the guys to come together.
07:15And I think anytime you look at wins and losses,
07:17you have to first give credit to the players.
07:19Those are the guys that are on the field and performing and grinding through
07:22the competition day to day.
07:24And then a ton of credit goes to the coaching staff and to Alex because these
07:29distractions could be,
07:31could easily take away from you know,
07:33what we're,
07:34we're trying to accomplish on the field and,
07:36and they didn't you know,
07:38every player in that clubhouse,
07:40every staff member came together you know,
07:43recognize that the goal hadn't changed.
07:45That was to,
07:45to compete for the division and make a deep post-season run.
07:48And it's a huge credit to,
07:49to all of them that we are where we are today,
07:52but there's also still a lot of work left to do.
07:55Yeah.
07:55I definitely mocked that in the moment and I was wrong.
07:58You were right.
07:58So sorry about that.
08:00I'm just curious,
08:01obviously you're not going to get into the negotiations or any of the
08:03public conversation.
08:04You're not going to have those conversations publicly,
08:05but just as a general rule,
08:07what's the first thing that enters your mind when you see your phone
08:10ringing and it's Scott Boris.
08:15Probably best to keep those conversations out.
08:18Out of the public spotlight.
08:22Does he have a sense of humor?
08:23He seems like a robot.
08:26But I've heard that criticism about somebody else.
08:30So Scott and I have these just riveting conversations that I'm sure
08:38anyone listening would agree.
08:41Well,
08:41Craig,
08:42you talked about being aggressive,
08:44you know,
08:44whether it's from,
08:45you know,
08:45at bats,
08:46the way you manage it,
08:48but in the front office,
08:49let the guy tie you up at third base,
08:51let the guy tag up at third base.
08:53And you,
08:54but he also talked about being aggressive in the front office.
08:56And I know it's kind of looking down the road.
08:59Are you going to keep that same aggressive mindset when the off season comes?
09:05Yeah.
09:08So that's,
09:08that is absolutely our intention.
09:10You know,
09:10we feel like we've got a really strong core here that is entering this ability to compete,
09:16you know,
09:17for world series championships year after year,
09:18we have to do everything that we can to,
09:22to maintain that position,
09:25to continue to put a really athletic,
09:27exciting team on the field.
09:29And when I talk about being aggressive,
09:33yes,
09:33there is aggressives in,
09:35in terms of transactions,
09:36whether that's bringing guys in via free agency or,
09:40or trades,
09:41but also,
09:42you know,
09:42just right now looking at the organization and figuring out ways to,
09:49to move the needle a little bit,
09:50whether that's bringing someone up,
09:52you know,
09:52maybe it is sacrificing a bit of,
09:55of long-term outlook in order to,
09:58to win today because this team has put themselves in a,
10:01in a position to,
10:02to justify that.
10:04And so,
10:04you know,
10:05we,
10:05we want to continue to find ways to,
10:07to push here and do everything we can to put the team in a position to win.
10:10And then,
10:11you know,
10:11when we head into the off season,
10:13hopefully after,
10:14hopefully after a deep post-season run,
10:16we should continue on that trajectory.
10:19Last one from me,
10:20because it came up with pop Douglas on the show this morning.
10:22If you could only go to one restaurant in the city of Boston,
10:26one restaurant only.
10:28What would your choice be?
10:29Craig Breslow?
10:32That's a,
10:32that's a really good question.
10:34Um,
10:35I'm sure I will.
10:36I feel like this is the people with whatever my answer is.
10:39This is like the three bands,
10:41paper,
10:41three bands thing all over again.
10:44I'm trying to give an answer.
10:45I'm going to actually name a restaurant.
10:48So,
10:48uh,
10:49a handful of times we've gone to,
10:50to Strega with the family.
10:52Kids have,
10:52have loved it.
10:53Um,
10:54so,
10:55uh,
10:55I think that's,
10:56that's what I would have to go.
10:56That's a good one.
10:57That's the one.
10:58That is a good one.
10:59That is a great answer.
11:00Last one for me,
11:01because I need help with this,
11:04with the whole stupid stealing of the signs thing,
11:08which I think is the dumbest thing ever with the new electronics from the catchers.
11:14The catcher's shin guard to the,
11:16the,
11:16the,
11:16the pitchers is the pitcher like hearing a one or two,
11:20like,
11:21are they hearing something in their ear?
11:23Cause I am,
11:24I was like,
11:25how can you steal something when it goes right from the catcher to the pitchers hat?
11:30Yeah.
11:31So the pitcher is,
11:32is hearing something in,
11:33in their ear via a transmitter.
11:35And I think,
11:36you know,
11:36what,
11:37what really astute base runners will try to do is understand as a pitcher comes set differently.
11:42Do they position their gloves differently when they're throwing one pitch versus another?
11:46And that,
11:46that says,
11:47that's old as time.
11:49Right.
11:50So,
11:50you know,
11:50electronics have,
11:51have made it impossible to,
11:53you know,
11:53to pick up on how catchers are relaying or catchers are,
11:56are,
11:56you know,
11:56sending signs to the pitcher.
11:58And I think this is more now just like pattern recognition and trying to figure out,
12:03can I see the way,
12:04you know,
12:04a guy puts the ball in his glove or his grip grip or the way that his wrist may be positioned or his glove and figure out if that indicates what pitch might be coming.
12:12But,
12:12you know,
12:13MLB is very,
12:14very clear about what the rules are and what,
12:17you know,
12:17what players are and are not allowed to do.
12:19And we take those rules very,
12:21very seriously.
12:22I lied about that being the last one.
12:23Where are you on realignment?
12:27I think it's,
12:27it's interesting and intriguing,
12:29you know,
12:29on the one hand from like a just travel and convenience standpoint,
12:33I think it would be welcome,
12:34but depending on where things land,
12:37there's,
12:37there's the chance,
12:38you know,
12:39that we could find ourselves in a really,
12:41really tough and competitive division,
12:43which may be great for baseball,
12:44but could make our,
12:45our goals a little bit harder.
12:47Yeah.
12:48Good point.
12:48You'd have to like,
12:49you'd have to spend.
12:51No,
12:51they'd be,
12:52they'd be in that division.
12:53Be like,
12:54wow,
12:54that's a juggernaut.
12:55And there'd be like some Midwest division.
12:57You're like the NL,
12:59you know,
12:59AL,
13:00essentially like,
13:01really?
13:02All right,
13:03Craig,
13:03as always,
13:03thank you for taking the time.
13:05We appreciate it.
13:07You got to take care.
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