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How hard has it been to adjust coming from Worcester to the 'Bigs'? Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy joins! ||The Greg Hill Show
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00:00Joining us for the first time on this show, the manager of the Boston Red Sox, Chad Tracy.
00:06Hi, Chad.
00:08Morning.
00:08How are you guys?
00:09Picked a good day to come on after a win.
00:11That's smart on your part.
00:15A good win, too.
00:16Yeah.
00:17Good win.
00:17How hard, you may say it's no big deal, but how hard has it been to adjust when it comes
00:24to coming from Worcester to the bigs?
00:28I think it just depends, no matter what you're talking about.
00:32I mean, the first couple of days, obviously, was a challenge, you know, coming in with everything
00:37that had happened and getting settled.
00:40And then I think things settled down and then coming to Fenway for the first time and getting
00:44used to that was different.
00:45But I think at this point, things, at least on my end, feel somewhat settled as far as
00:52the day-to-day.
00:53Chad, when you look at, excuse me, your approach, what do you think the biggest difference is
00:58for you and your approach with this team versus when Alex Cora was the manager?
01:05The tough part about that question is that I wasn't here, you know?
01:09Like, I know Alex very well, but I wasn't here watching the day-to-day go down.
01:14So, like, I can tell you about my own approach was being that I know the players as well as
01:22I do, having most of them have come through Worcester, was to just, you know, kind of rekindle
01:28the relationships that were built there, be a calming force, settle them, let them be
01:32themselves, and then just slowly start messaging things that I think we need to do better.
01:37Obviously, like, offensively, we have to do better.
01:39But one initial thing was, like, we're athletic, we're fast, like, let's get some people on
01:44and start moving.
01:45So those are things that you trickle in there as you go.
01:49But a lot of it was trying to make sure that our players felt, you know, felt calm with
01:55me there and can go be themselves.
01:59Chad, because you were so recently in Worcester, wondering what your perspective on Christian
02:03Campbell is, if you feel that he still has a path back to the major leagues here in the
02:11Boston organization.
02:14He's improving big time.
02:16You know, obviously, when he came, I've seen a lot of versions of Christian, as you guys
02:21know.
02:21Like, obviously, I saw a very brief time of the version of the guy right before he went
02:26to the big leagues where he was player of the year and his confidence was through the
02:30roof, and I think he spent about 14 games with us before he got hurt, and then saw the
02:36version last year that came back, you know, and had gone through a lot at the big league
02:40level and struggled, and the confidence was lower.
02:44So it was just a, just, you know, body language, just a difference in how he was going about
02:48it.
02:49As I was in Worcester this year, before I left, I started to see the other version come back
02:55out, and I've been kind of paying attention, and it looks to me like that's continuing to
02:59happen, so he's a talented guy.
03:02I think, you know, the time being spent down there is good for him, and I can just see
03:07little things in his swings, the aggression of swings, the way he's running the bases
03:12that indicates me that he's starting to feel confident in himself again, which is the most
03:17important thing right now.
03:18But I think the talent level can't be denied.
03:20I think even at the major league level, you know, winning player of the month in your first
03:25year in the big leagues, rookie of the month, like, that stuff, it can't be ignored, but
03:29very clearly had some things he had to go work on.
03:32Chad, I'm curious, you said you've known Alex Cora a long time.
03:36Has he spoken to you at all since you took over, and if so, has he offered any advice?
03:41We've spoken numerous times, yeah.
03:43And I won't get into, like, all the details other than just say, let's just say broadly,
03:49like, very supportive of me and there for me and willing to be there for me and offer
03:55any advice that I want anytime I want it.
03:57That's pretty much the gist of it.
04:00You know, like I said, I've known him.
04:02He played for my father 20 years ago.
04:04I've known him since then.
04:06And so there's a lot of familiarity there, but we have spoken.
04:10Did he tell you to make sure you support Driveline?
04:17We didn't get into that, no.
04:20Where are you on that, though?
04:22I think that's of interest to a lot of fans, is what, you know, marrying the analytics part
04:29of it with the baseball part of it, like, with being a baseball guy and talking about
04:34your dad, like, where are you in general on that?
04:41Well, I guess I'll ask, like, a better question to ask you guys.
04:44What exactly do you know about it broadly?
04:49You know, because there's more to it.
04:51I think sometimes it gets the, you know, the thought of it is it's just all analytic space.
04:57And, yeah, there's things you collect.
04:58But, I mean, the premise of that is swing.
05:03I mean, we can all talk about, like, swing decisions.
05:05Well, I know that there's reporting that the young guys are not necessarily fans of that
05:12approach when it comes to balls in the air.
05:16You could say, no, that's not accurate reporting.
05:21It's not blanketed across all players.
05:25There are things that we believe in from an offensive side of things that, in my opinion,
05:31when you look at them, like, these are all, like, yes, these are things that matter for
05:36a big league hitter.
05:37It doesn't mean you're telling every player, launch the ball in the air as far as you can.
05:42You know?
05:42Some guys need more work on their swing decisions and swinging at strikes and taking balls.
05:47Other guys, the thought is, hey, can we get the ball over the infield?
05:51Because there's more hits in the air.
05:53Other guys, it's let's impact the ball harder.
05:55So it's really meeting the player where they're at.
05:57And you look at every guy individually and say, what does this guy need a dosing of?
06:02And then at this level, you're also very much taking into consideration what they like
06:07and what makes them comfortable.
06:08They're in the big leagues.
06:10So the fact of the matter is there is quite a few of our young guys that came up through
06:15our
06:15system with, you know, learning these things.
06:20And they have some pretty good feels of doing some of these things and like some of these
06:25things.
06:25And then there's other things that maybe they don't like.
06:27And when they get to this level, you start working with them on that.
06:30So it's a really broad question.
06:32I know you guys are getting at, but it's broad and different for everybody, if that makes sense.
06:37My question, Chad, though, is that you would agree hitting a baseball is the hardest thing
06:40to do in sports, right?
06:43No question about that.
06:44So if for some people it's paralysis by analysis, is there flexibility to say, hey, like, do
06:55what you've been doing or because saying swim, I mean, I peaked in high school and barely,
07:00but like saying swing decisions and like all this, just it feels like just a word salad
07:06of analytical approaches that may not be for everyone.
07:10No, I hear what you're saying.
07:12And I've heard that term before, too.
07:14And I actually agree with you.
07:16There are paralysis by analysis.
07:18There is an end to which you can go too far.
07:21And you're trying to hit a baseball or somebody that's throwing a projectile at you at 98 miles
07:27an hour.
07:27That's hard to do with the things in your mind.
07:30But yes, like, again, I think you hear a lot of the things that go into it and think that's
07:38what's getting spewed to everybody on a daily basis.
07:41And it's just not the case.
07:42Like, there are things they look at, you know, when they're training and, you know, before
07:46the game to like, what can I do to help make me better?
07:49Yes.
07:49But when you get to the game and we go over starting pitcher, we're going over that pitcher's
07:55arsenal.
07:55Here's what he's going to do versus right and versus left.
07:57And here's what we got to be prepared for.
07:59And let's go out there and get them.
08:00Like, that's, it's not, this isn't stuff that I think the view is that this is getting
08:05spewed like right before the game.
08:06It's stuff's getting spewed during the game.
08:08That's not the case.
08:09We're competing with the pitcher.
08:10It's really that simple.
08:11But there are things you can do five hours before the game to make yourself a better
08:15player.
08:15Chad, since you've taken over, it seems like the pitching and the defense has gotten better,
08:19but the offense has still been struggling.
08:21So what do you think the reason is strictly offensively that in, you know, the driveline,
08:27all that other stuff out the window, what is your reasoning on why your offense has struggled?
08:32I just think that we have a handful of guys that are really good players that have gone off
08:37to really bad starts.
08:38And, you know, similar to what we were just talking about, it's a hard game.
08:43And when you're struggling and trying to find your way out of it and the confidence, you
08:47know, can get affected a little bit, I think that's what I see has gone on here.
08:52You know, you've got some guys that are good players that are going through struggles that
08:56are trying to find their way out of it.
08:57So, and having hit before and know what that feels like, we have to get some guys to get
09:03some traction, gain some confidence.
09:05And I think you could see things change.
09:07But it just so happens that we have a handful of guys all that are, you know, in the lineup
09:13as everyday players that are going through that.
09:15And we're trying to go out there and score runs and win baseball games in the midst of
09:18it.
09:18It's not an easy thing to do.
09:19But to your point, our pitching and defense has been so good.
09:22We've been able to kind of, you know, weather it a little bit, at least for the time being.
09:26You're there all the time.
09:27So it's interesting because we just talk about and guess, as fans, guess what's going on,
09:34what's wrong.
09:34So I, when it comes to the leadership component that Alex Bregman brought, do you feel like
09:43that is, that's replaceable?
09:46And if so, who are those veteran leaders here?
09:50There's a lot.
09:51Wilson, Contreras, Sonny, like, Brochet.
09:55Hey, there's a lot.
09:56Believe me, if you were in here and saw the interactions, the vibes, it's very good.
10:01That won't, I won't take anything away from Bregie.
10:03Like, I got to know Bregie a little bit last year.
10:06Great, great baseball mind.
10:08Great player.
10:09Good leader.
10:10All those things.
10:12But we have people in the room, Trevor, you know, like, we have people in the room that
10:18give you that veteran presence to go with our younger guys.
10:22And I see it.
10:22I feel it.
10:23They speak up.
10:24They talk to them.
10:24Like, you know, that is not just something that just disappeared with one player.
10:29So, we're good in that regard.
10:31Like, it really is, in my case, in my opinion, watching it, is just getting our offense squared
10:37away and getting some guys rolling together and being that close, in my eyes, to seeing
10:42this thing turn for the better.
10:45But that aspect is still very present with the guys we have.
10:49You brought up Sonny.
10:50How many times have you discussed trees with Sonny, Greg?
10:53We have not, him and I have not talked about trees.
10:56Not yet.
10:57Okay.
10:57Not yet.
10:58Okay.
10:58You'll be shocked to know his favorite.
11:00He told us his favorite tree at spring training, and it'll shock you.
11:04So, I won't want to ruin it in case he wants to tell you himself.
11:07All right.
11:07When are you expecting or hoping that Roman Anthony's back?
11:12I'm hoping quickly.
11:14But, again, the nature of that injury with the, you know, like, basically like a finger
11:19tendon top of the hand, it really is a matter of waiting.
11:23For it to heal, and that could happen very quickly.
11:26So, I know there's been some ambiguity about that, and, you know, people see him with the
11:32brace on.
11:33The brace is just to keep it stable, to allow it to heal faster.
11:37But it's hard for me to give you an answer.
11:39Like, it could be this road trip.
11:41Maybe it isn't.
11:42It just really is a matter of, like, when does this thing feel like, hey, like, I can,
11:45the grip's there.
11:46Like, let's start to introduce some activities.
11:48And based on the fact that he hasn't been down that long, it's not, you know, necessarily
11:53like this two-week buildup.
11:55We just got to see what he can handle and when he can handle it.
11:57So, I know that's a bit of a vague answer, but we are, we're still hopeful.
12:02Checking in on Connor Wong.
12:04Landed kind of awkwardly last night.
12:05And there were reports right after that the imaging was clear, like, negative.
12:12Anything changed in the meantime from your guys' perspective?
12:15Did he wake up feeling rough in any way, or is he going to be okay to go?
12:19We're going to see how he feels when he comes in today.
12:22I mean, it was a very, like, you can see kind of stepped on the hitter's, like, pant leg,
12:27ankle as he was trying to go off that pop-up and just, like, quickly, not a big one, but
12:30a quick roll.
12:33And it's, you know, stuff is localized.
12:35It's not like he's, you know, unable to move or anything.
12:37So, we're optimistic on that, too.
12:40But we're going to have a better idea of where he's at when he comes in today after having
12:44slept all night.
12:45Get up, come in, and see how mobile he is.
12:47So, another one, we're optimistic, you know, and he was able to move around pretty good
12:51last night, even after we took him out of the game.
12:55But it's, that one's going to be easier to answer when we see him today.
12:59Chad, you've been around baseball your whole life.
13:01How much longer can you survive with a leadoff hitter hitting 180?
13:07That's a good question.
13:09Jaren's got to get going.
13:10But I've said this a few times as far as our offense.
13:13Like, there's others, you know.
13:16It tends to, we tend to, like, localize this to certain guys.
13:20And the leadoff hitter is important, of course.
13:22But, like, it's not, it's not just Jaren.
13:25Like, it's one to nine as a functioning offense.
13:29We have a handful of guys.
13:31And even some that are doing okay, they need to do better.
13:34We have a handful of guys that need to get themselves going.
13:36And they all know that.
13:37And we've talked about it.
13:39You know, so it's, it's, it's not just Jaren.
13:42It's not just Trevor.
13:43It's not just Derb.
13:45You know, like, as, as a lineup unit, one to nine, we need consistency across the board
13:49with, with all of them.
13:51But, again, they've all done that in their career.
13:54And if we can get that, I think you see changes in what the offense looks like on a, on
13:58a day-to-day
13:59basis.
14:00So, if that helps.
14:02Chad, I know I come from the world of football, but I remember when I played, it was all.
14:06Chad, are you familiar with Wiggy's career?
14:08Yeah.
14:09Patriots.
14:10Yeah.
14:11And I, and I remember.
14:12He actually created Tom Brady.
14:13Well, you know, I mean.
14:14He started the dynasty.
14:15He started the dynasty.
14:16Yeah.
14:16When you set records back in the day, I mean, it held up for a while.
14:21But I remember, you know, you have to stay.
14:23He wants to infield in on the grass at all times.
14:25That's one of his big ones.
14:26I like to be aggressive as a, I was an all-city catcher.
14:28So, I was, I was very aggressive.
14:31But.
14:31You should see him in a buffet.
14:33But, but I remember you have to be patient with the process, but there comes a point in
14:38time throughout the season when the urgency starts to pick up, knowing that where you
14:43are.
14:43Are you looking at it like, all right, we can win series, but we have to go on a five,
14:49six, seven game winning streak to kind of really, you know, make a dent in this to get
14:55back into the real race?
14:58100%.
14:58Yeah.
14:59That's, if I said no to that, I'd be lying.
15:01Like, I think they know, we've talked, like the players know that too.
15:05The, the benefit we have is, you know, it's 162 game season and the American league not,
15:10you know, doing much right now.
15:11Um, but you're right, like, you know, uh, in my 15 games, like, you know, it's like
15:17we're eight and seven.
15:18Great.
15:18That's, that's, but that's not going to cut it, you know, in the long run.
15:21We know that like, there's going to have to be, um, some type of run in there or a month
15:26in there where we play really, really good baseball and win more games than we, a lot
15:29more games than we lose.
15:31Um, that's going to have to happen for sure.
15:34At some point, um, in the meantime, like, uh, you know, getting the wins where we can
15:39grab them and doing what we've done over the last two weeks has, has kept us afloat, you
15:44know, but yes, you're right.
15:45Like the offense, you know, offensively, we got to get going and yes, at some point we're
15:49going to have to have some type of run or a winning streak.
15:51And, and when that happens, usually people go, Oh, you know, now the outlook looks a little
15:55bit better, but, but yeah, that's going to have to happen at some point.
15:58Wiggy is giving you a nickname.
16:01What is it?
16:02Dick Tracy.
16:03Dick Tracy.
16:05Yeah.
16:05Like for the comic you're talking about back in the day.
16:07Classic comic book.
16:09Uh, did you, I mean, do you have a nickname that would you prefer?
16:12Trace.
16:13Everybody calls me Trace.
16:14Everybody calls me by my first name.
16:15Yeah.
16:15All right.
16:16Trace.
16:16All right.
16:17Wiggy's trying to get Dick Tracy going.
16:19Also, you spent, you spent a lot of time in Worcester.
16:22We are heading to Shrewsbury for a road show tomorrow morning.
16:27Any recommendations, notable, uh, attractions locally that we ought to visit in the area?
16:33I lived in Shrewsbury for a couple of years, my first couple of years over by the hospital.
16:39So, um, uh, no, I think anything you go to in Worcester, if you guys have, I don't know
16:45if you have been there, not been there, how long it's been since you've been there.
16:49Um, if you get in or around the, uh, around the stadium, uh, there is a lot of places
16:55to eat, check out.
16:57It's, it's amazing what's happened there since my first year in 22.
17:01And it was like this beautiful stadium and it was just kind of like set there with nothing
17:04around it.
17:05Um, and in the meantime, since that stadium's gone up, like there's, there is apartment
17:11building, shoot, shooting up, there's new restaurants going in.
17:14Um, and it really, I looked at it this year and kind of just took it all in.
17:17Like, this is crazy how much this has changed in four, four to five years time since I first
17:21had gotten there.
17:22Um, it's, it's really, uh, taking off.
17:25So, um, if you happen to sneak away to go check out Polar Park, that'd be a good idea,
17:31but there's a lot, a lot going around, around farmer's market, a lot of things going around
17:36Polar Park.
17:37Did you happen to see the guys at the game the other night with the paper bags over their
17:41head?
17:42I, I, somebody showed me a yes.
17:45I saw at the behind home plate.
17:47All right.
17:47Well, how do you, how do you, how do you feel about that?
17:51I, you know, I'm the manager of the Red Sox.
17:54I don't like it obviously.
17:55So, um, you know, I get it.
17:59I get it.
17:59I get it.
18:00I get it.
18:00Fans get frustrated, you know, and, and they want to see better performance, all those things.
18:05I get it.
18:05Um, but you know, my, my belief in our team is still strong.
18:09You know, I think, I think we'll, we'll get there.
18:12All right.
18:12If they put the smiles on, maybe they don't get kicked out.
18:15You know what I mean?
18:16Nothing wrong with a brown bag and a smile.
18:18Right.
18:18It's like uncle Leo with the tape on eyebrows.
18:23Well, listen, we really appreciate you taking the time and we hope to do this again with
18:28you a bunch of times the rest of the season.
18:30It's great.
18:31Thanks for having me.
18:32Okay.
18:32All right.
18:33That is Chad Tracy.
18:34Trace.
18:35Trace.
18:35Trace.
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