u/Brusoxpatcelt

Cotillo article on the organizational plan and philosophy on offense.

“We’re not looking to be Driveline. We’re not looking to be another organization. We’re the Boston Red Sox,” Breslow said. “We have our beliefs, our methods and our information. We also have to recognize that facilities like Driveline and others, there are a number of prominent external resources that players are seeking out and going to in the offseason. If we ignore that reality, we’re not going to be able to meet players where they are.

“We have a number of staff members who have spent time as trainers at Driveline on the hitting and pitching side. More so than saying therefore that means that as a matter of principle, we’re going to employ every belief Driveline has, I’d say it means we have a bunch of coaches who have experience working with coaches and marrying information with the practical application of influencing a pitch or a swing.”

Complete article: https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2026/05/red-sox-offense-seeking-comfort-zone-after-firings-if-were-winning-its-gonna-be-an-easier-transition.html

Ian Cundall had a nice bit on the latest SoxProspects about how the Red Sox power outage has become a systemwide feature, and that the prospects they're drafting and acquiring either don't have a power ceiling, or have a power ceiling that isn't really believable because of their size.

The few players they have gone for, they've already traded away: Braden Montgomery, to some extent Zach Ehrhard but he's small, to some extent Kyle Teel although that's stretching it because he profiled as having average power.

The few they still have don't "fit the archetype of guys who can exceed their ceiling" based on their size. They called out Mason White as someone who has a "power ceiling" but he's too small to really believe it.

He ended by saying he's been talking to a lot of scouts and it's like a "what is going on?" type discussion. It feels strange how lacking the system is.

Breslow is getting lots of credit for fixing pitching but he's doing it by ignoring offense.

Interim manager Chad Tracy highlighted that the Red Sox plan to utilize both Sogard and Durbin moving forward for the near future, and the importance of giving the struggling infielder a few days to rest and get back on track. 

(Love this move from Tracy. I'm sure he does have Breslow's blessing, but I like to imagine he's forcing Breslow's hand a bit here. Durbin should at least be considered for a AAA stint as a reset.)

Very interesting dynamics at play now with Marcelo Mayer publicly lobbying his interim manager to take over as the Red Sox short stop.

He has made sure to say the right things to go along with it. He notes that it's Tracy's decision and he just wants to help the team. Healey reported that in a 90 second interview, he reiterated 4 times it's up to the team and he'll accept whatever. But Marcelo is doing this via the media, so it's notable.

Full context:

Marcelo: “Obviously, that’s home to me. That’s where I’ve played my whole life. And we’ve had some discussions, going to get some reps there in practice whenever I can. But wherever Trace [tells] you to play, that’s what it’s going to be, whether it’s short, third, second. I’m just here to help the team.”

Tracy: Tracy reiterated Sunday, a day after Story went on the injured list, that moving Mayer from second base is appealing only if Story indeed is going to miss an extended period. So the Sox won’t make any concrete moves on this front until they get clarity on Story.

“I think he’s capable of doing anything, but again, in that situation, there’s gray areas involved. We’ve got to make sure we do it right.”

Alex also noted the front office has been discussing how “the struggles of competitors have kept them in a better position than they likely deserve.”

Nothing new really, but another way to contextualize the offensive ineptitude and how much pressure is being put on pitchers every single night, not to mention a new manager in Chad Tracy having to make high stakes bullpen management decisions every single night (last night was a backfire, but you can see why it happened.)

Our starting pitchers have gotten 0 runs while they were in the game 13 times this season.

9 of these 13 times have happened at Fenway.

It's happened 6 times in the last 17 games since the firings were made.

In postgame, Tracy stressed over and over again how much this team is struggling to score even 1 run and how much that is weighing on every decision the team is making.

It's impacting their base running decisions and their bullpen management. Noted there aren't issues with getting guys on, they just keep missing the opportunity to knock him in.

Also noted Ranger was on somewhat of a pitch count, and that he doesn't consider lefty or righty game vs. a guy like Schwarber because he can hurt anyone equally.

Major Takeaways from Sam Kennedy's Interview with Tom Caron:

1. The front office is very frustrated with the offense.
2. It's still the belief of the front office that this team can be better than last year's team, and with ~120 games left to go they just need to start hitting the baseball. Cited the wild card standings as proof.
3. He said Chad Tracy has leaned on and talked to Alex Cora for support. (I listened back multiple times to make sure he didn't mean while Tracy was still in Worcester. It really sounds like Tracy and Cora still talk.)
4. Varitek has not accepted a reassignment, but they will leave the door open to him forever and he can take as long as he needs to decide. Kennedy implied there is nothing coming soon, Varitek wants time.
5. They are worried/aware about fan sentiment, and know the anger can be a problem if the team doesn't improve.

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My main takeaway is just how much negativity there is and it's been apparent in both the Kennedy and Breslow interviews this week. It's not something they can avoid any longer, and every interview these days is purely them having to apologize for things. Caron even had to sign this one off by saying "let's talk about something positive for a change" to talk about the hall of fame stuff last weekend.

Takeaways from WEEI interview:

• General takeaway is they feel this particular injury (which he described as a 'finger tendon/top of the hand') is unpredictable and they don't really know how much longer it will be, they just have to wait for it to heal.
• Chad Tracy noted that Roman is only wearing the brace to keep the hand and finger stable. He said he knows people seeing the brace has led to ambiguity but it's just there to make sure nothing happens.
• Also noted that when Roman is feeling better, they're not expecting to then need to do some long build up/rehab assignment, because he hasn't been down that long.

Takeaways (there aren't many):

1. Varitek has not accepted a reassignment, Sam Kennedy will continue to meet with him in private to keep the door open.
2. Still believes strongly this lineup he built is built to turn it around, and thinks they're ok because no AL teams have "pulled away."
3. No time table on Roman, can't swing a bat comfortably, but Craig doesn't think there's long term implications as the imaging is all encouraging
4. He's reassured by the fact that Story was also really bad to start last year. Once he starts making better swing decisions they think he'll be ok.
5. Multiple times used the phrase "floodgates will open" once they can start getting the big hit with RISP, because they're getting on base and using their athleticism to run the bases

The walls sure are closing in on Craig. He keeps going in front of the media and doubling down on this team's likelihood to make the playoffs (did it again today on NESN!).

The more he says it, the deeper he's digging his grave because every move he needs to make seems like it will actually somehow make the playoffs even less likely.

1) Caleb Durbin

One of the worst batters in all of baseball

However, this team is all about 'run prevention' and Durbin is a league leading defender

The team actually gets worse without him

2) Trevor Story

Actually the worst batter in all of baseball

However, this team has no power and Monasterio/Romero/Sogard will add none either

The ceiling gets lower without him

3) Jarren Duran

One of the worst batters in all of baseball

However, he's been drained of his trade value and Craig needs to keep playing him to try to recoup some

The future gets worse if you don't play him

4) AAA

Even if Craig folds and wants to move on from any of these three, there is nobody to turn to that gives his team a chance

The only 'top prospect' in AAA is Campbell who isn't lighting the world on fire

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He has to do something and there is nothing he can do

On April 20th, Sonny Gray was pitching against Jack Flaherty when he had to leave early with an injury.

Today he picks up where he left off, pitching against Jack Flaherty.

Did I miss anything happening in between?

Tracy also noted that even though he talks to Breslow multiple times every day, before and after games, Breslow hasn't told him what decisions he needs to make.

"I talk to him a couple of times a day," Tracy said. "We talk before the game. We talk after the game. But he’s been amazing as far as, like, wanting to know what I think and has not, at this point, put me in any position saying you need to do this or you need to do that. Like, he knows I know the guys, too."

Feels like more changes have to be coming soon if this doesn't turn around.

Breslow may have messed up by firing everyone all at once. The only guys left to fire besides himself are his friends.