1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: Everybody. Welcome to another episode of Monster Territory, brought to 2 00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: you by the Foul Territory Network. We have a very 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: special guest here today, former Red Sox executive Zach Scott. Zach, 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: I believe you were with the Red Sox sixteen years. 5 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: Sorry if I'm wrong on that. Is that sound about right? 6 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 2: Seventeen but close enough. 7 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, So you worked in, you know, quite a few 8 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,599 Speaker 1: different things. You're heavy in the analytics, baseball operations. You're 9 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: the VP of Baseball Research and Operations at one point. 10 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: Lots of time with the Red Sox. That is a 11 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:34,879 Speaker 1: long tenure. I got to ask you know, it's been 12 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: a few years now, you know, what are your reflections 13 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: overall from just your time with the Red Sox and 14 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:43,160 Speaker 1: considering how long of a tenure that. 15 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 2: Was, Well, it was an incredible experience. I'm so grateful 16 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 2: for all those years. Obviously we had a ton of 17 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 2: success with four championships during that time, but we also 18 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 2: had there's a lot of opportunities to learn. I had 19 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: four different gms I worked for. Unfortunately, we also had 20 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 2: a lot of last place finishes, so there were a 21 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 2: lot of ups and downs we had, you know, being 22 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 2: I enjoyed being in a big market because you're always 23 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 2: in the mix with all the different player pools. You 24 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 2: can't sit anything out, so you have to be involved. 25 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 2: So it was it was really fun, and you know, 26 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 2: I kind of grew up in the industry. I started 27 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 2: in my mid twenties and really at that time under 28 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: theo Epstein everyone was pretty much in their twenties and 29 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 2: single and no children yet, and it was just a 30 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 2: fun place to be and to grow and learn, and 31 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: you know, it's just spent so much of my life, 32 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 2: so I've just really enjoyed it, really grateful for the experience. 33 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, what an incredible time there. I mean like seventeen years. 34 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 1: I mean that's you know, you see, you know, so 35 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: much turnover in the baseball world today. To be in 36 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,600 Speaker 1: one organization for that long, I mean, that's incredible. 37 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 2: You know. 38 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: You look at I think it's an underrated aspect of 39 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: someone like Brian Cashman where he's been in that role 40 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: for I mean how long now, I mean goodness, since 41 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: ninety eight, you know, and even before he was with 42 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: the Yankees at that point. So yeah, incredible. But uh, 43 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 1: you know, looking at the Red Sox offseason, we'll touch 44 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 1: on this real quick. They've made a lot of moves 45 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: this offseason, trading Figuerett Crochet, signing Alex Bragman, just recently 46 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: signing Walker Bueller, you know, making a couple other little moves, 47 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: you know, a world as chatman for the back end 48 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: of the bullpen, you know, Justin Wilson, Carlos Nevas. If 49 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,640 Speaker 1: I had to ask you real quick, you know what's 50 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: a you know, what's a great you would give this 51 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: Red Sox offseason, especially after, you know, considering how long 52 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 1: you were in the Red Sox front office. 53 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 2: Well, I'm uh, I'll say I'm with the caveat that. 54 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 2: I'm a tough grader. Probably i'd say, you know, B 55 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 2: plus is probably the grade. You know, what could they 56 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 2: have done better? It's hard to say. I mean, there's 57 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 2: there's always things you could do better. But I really 58 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 2: like a lot of what they did. I love the 59 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 2: Crochet trade. I think that's one of those trades that 60 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 2: makes a lot of sense for both teams. They you know, 61 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 2: they're still considered a top farm system even though they 62 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 2: moved a lot of good young talent in that deal. 63 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 2: So I think they had I think they had a 64 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:06,679 Speaker 2: really solid obviously and I like the Bregman signing a 65 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 2: lot too. 66 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, it's fun. I'm glad you mentioned the 67 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: Crochet trade because I love it for the Red Sox obviously, 68 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: but I love it for the White Sox too. They 69 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 1: got a pretty solid package in return. They got Kyle Teel, 70 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: you know, one of the top prospects in the game, 71 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: one of the top catching prospects in the game, a 72 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: guy that just a dirt dog kind of a player. 73 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 1: I'm gonna miss him very much, you know, getting a 74 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: guy like Bradon Montgomery, high upside bat coming out of 75 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: college last year, would have gone higher in the draft 76 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: if you didn't get an ankle fracture in the College 77 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: World Series. I think the White Sox did very well there. 78 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: I'm pretty excited for their future, you know, getting that, 79 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 1: but you know, Crochet obviously huge addition for the Red Sox, 80 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: a sorely needed ace at the top of the rotation. 81 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: But yeah, I'm kind of right with you. I'm kind 82 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 1: of like an A minus. I guess, depending on my mood, 83 00:03:58,080 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: some days i'll say an A. I don't think I'll 84 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: go a plus. I would have liked to have seen 85 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: some kind of an extension possibly for maybe Crochet. Hopefully 86 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: they can get that done. But I think we can 87 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: all agree it was a pretty good off season, at 88 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: least for the Red Sox. Now there's been some some 89 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 1: news over the last week or so. You know, it's 90 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 1: funny because I'm sure you would agree with this where 91 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: over the years, you know, for as long as someone 92 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: who's been a Red Sox fan, they know very well 93 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: you can have good times and then all of a 94 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: sudden the next morning, you know, it's not so good 95 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: of a day. That day there's some bad news followed up. 96 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,799 Speaker 1: And you know, I think of a good example where 97 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 1: you win the World Series in two thousand and four, 98 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: theo Epstein's in a guerrilla suit in two thousand and five. 99 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: So that's kind of how it is in Boston. And 100 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: unfortunately after the Alex Bregman signing, very happy Tims and 101 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: then Raphael Devers he's sitting on the bench in Fort Myers, 102 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: asked if he would get off a third base and 103 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: he said no, And uh, it's it's been a rather 104 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: interesting conversation the past few days. I mean, I got 105 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: to ask you here, based off your own experience in 106 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 1: the front office when you had something like this with 107 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: a player where they you know, didn't want to move 108 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:16,800 Speaker 1: off a position. You know, maybe you bring in a 109 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: guy you know, kind of what do you think about 110 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: this situation and how do you think would be the 111 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 1: best way to handle this moving forward. 112 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,520 Speaker 2: Well, I'm not sure what was going on behind the 113 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: scenes there, but I think in general you want to 114 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 2: try and get ahead of these things as much as 115 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 2: you can, so as soon as you know. You can't 116 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: do it too early because you may not sign Alex Bregman, 117 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 2: and so once you do, though, I think you immediately 118 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: need to have a conversation with the key players involved 119 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 2: and that's your really your infield, but especially Raffie Devers. 120 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 2: I would have thought, and maybe this is true, that 121 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 2: you'd have a plan. You'd have the GM and the 122 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 2: manager on the same page about kind of what the 123 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 2: plan is in the in that Bregman would be informed 124 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 2: as to what the expectation is for him position wise. 125 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 2: I think you'd go into it with a with a plan. A. 126 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 2: Obviously you can change those things as you learn more 127 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 2: about the players involved in spring training or whatnot, and 128 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,920 Speaker 2: things can change with health and other things that happen. 129 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 2: But I think you want to already kind of know, 130 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 2: like we're bringing in Alex Bregman to play position, you know, 131 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 2: second base or third base, and have a plan in 132 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 2: mind and already immediately communicate what that plan is to 133 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 2: the players. It affects like Casses and Devors, and maybe 134 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 2: you sheet it like trying to have that conversation. They 135 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 2: may have had that conversation, and then you know, guys 136 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 2: just kind of go rogue with the media. I tend 137 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:52,679 Speaker 2: to be pretty laid back about how how players handle 138 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: things in the media. I'm a broken record for people 139 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 2: that have worked with me that I'm always saying, like, hey, 140 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:02,080 Speaker 2: this is entertainment. We're not you know, it's not Pentagon's secrets. 141 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 2: If things leak out, I never really freak out. If 142 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:09,159 Speaker 2: players kind of say the suboptimal thing to the media, 143 00:07:09,279 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 2: that's not a huge deal. You know. In some ways, 144 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: you want your your big money player like Devors to 145 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,040 Speaker 2: want to be the third baseman, you know. I think 146 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 2: it was something that you know, with Bogarts at short 147 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 2: it was one of those conversations that sometimes I think 148 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: there was fear that he we may want him to 149 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 2: move at some point, and I think you have an 150 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 2: open dialogue about those things, and you know understand the 151 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 2: players not always going to want to do it, but 152 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:36,119 Speaker 2: you have to have good communication to get to where 153 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 2: you want to be as an organization. 154 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think you bring up a good point 155 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: there where you know there's ifs in this situation. A 156 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 1: big if is Christian Campbell right now for the Red Sox, 157 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: one of the top prospects in all of Major League 158 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: Baseball according to reports you know from you know, the 159 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: guys in Boston, they seem to be very high on him, 160 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,680 Speaker 1: and it seems like they're giving him every bit of 161 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,280 Speaker 1: a lane to try and win the job out of 162 00:08:04,280 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: spring training. You know, if you were to kind of 163 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: go into this, you know, when you have a young 164 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: player like that, even though you might think he's ready, 165 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: do you feel like he really needs to If you 166 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: were in this situation, do you think he would really 167 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: need to just knock your socks off? No pun intended there, 168 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: but do you think he would have to have an 169 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,280 Speaker 1: incredible showing, you know, in spring training check off all 170 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: the boxes to kind of you know, step in here 171 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: to where you would cause that position change or do 172 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: you think it would be better off for everyone involved 173 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 1: to where maybe he goes down to Triple A to 174 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: start off the year, you know, for a little bit 175 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: of time, and then come up when the time is right. 176 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I'm not a big fan of young 177 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 2: players breaking with the team out of spring training. I 178 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 2: think when you do that, you're almost removing your safety 179 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 2: net throughout the long course of one hundred and sixty 180 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:01,160 Speaker 2: two games. Him being in Triple A is a good thing, 181 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 2: and he's gonna come up and play like this guy. 182 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,520 Speaker 2: They should be excited about this player. Obviously, they're trying 183 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 2: to figure out what is what best position fits for him, 184 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 2: and it sounds like, you know, from what I understand, 185 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,439 Speaker 2: they're pretty positive about him being able to play second base, 186 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:17,720 Speaker 2: play the outfield and think he'll work hard. He's got 187 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 2: the right makeup to do it. So, you know, that's 188 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 2: not so much the issue. But if you look at it, 189 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 2: he's really only had about six hundred plate appearances in 190 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 2: the minors, which is really low. You know, I know, 191 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 2: he's a college guy. You know, Dustin Pedroia had twice 192 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 2: as many play appearances in the miners before coming up, 193 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 2: and he came up at a relative quick you know, 194 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 2: cycle bookiets high school player, so it's a little different, 195 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 2: but he had twice as many play appearances the minor, so, 196 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 2: you know, I remember this kind of reminds me of 197 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,319 Speaker 2: twenty thirteen spring training with Jackie Bradley had a ridiculous 198 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,720 Speaker 2: spring training, and you know, we were coming off a 199 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: tough twenty twelve. We brought in some you know, a 200 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,959 Speaker 2: plus makeup character guys, brought in a bunch of free agents, 201 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 2: trying to really change the culture in there, and then 202 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 2: to have him play so well, and if he didn't 203 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 2: make the team out of out of spring training, it 204 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,599 Speaker 2: would almost seem like be sending possibly the message to 205 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 2: the clubhouse that we don't care about winning. You know, 206 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 2: we're not going to break camp with the best players. Now, 207 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:13,679 Speaker 2: we had an injury to David Ortiz, so that kind 208 00:10:13,679 --> 00:10:16,320 Speaker 2: of what led to him coming up, and he obviously 209 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 2: struggled right away, which is a cautionary tale on spring 210 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 2: training performance. Right, he had an outstanding spring, but you know, 211 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: he wasn't he was in the early He hadn't had 212 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 2: that many played appearances when he came up, so it 213 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 2: probably wasn't ideal, but we did it because of messaging 214 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 2: that we were saying, hey, it's important to win, and 215 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 2: we're going to reward players that come out and perform. 216 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 2: I don't think it really works usually that well now 217 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 2: he you know, Christian Campbell would be maybe an exception 218 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 2: to that. But I think the best outcome, long term, 219 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 2: meaning even just the long term of this season, not 220 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:54,439 Speaker 2: even talking beyond years, is to have him start, probably 221 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 2: in triple A, regardless of how well he performs in 222 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 2: spring training, because you have you know, as Tristan Cosa said, 223 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 2: you have grown men for those positions. You have guys 224 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:05,440 Speaker 2: that are pretty that are very good players. I mean, 225 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 2: you could be top five at third and second base 226 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 2: with Devers and Bragman so at each of those positions. 227 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 2: So why not do that, and then you'll have this 228 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:19,199 Speaker 2: depth piece. You have him play the outfield and second base, 229 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 2: play around the field and triple A. Have him ready 230 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 2: to go when you have a need that comes up, 231 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 2: because you can't predict what needs you're going to have. 232 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 2: There's going to be injuries, and you'll have him ready 233 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 2: to go when the time's right. 234 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's kind of the way. That's kind of where 235 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 1: I'm at. Well, I think the good thing here for 236 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: the Red Sox is like you said, they have that 237 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: flexibility here to where you don't need to necessarily, you know, 238 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,959 Speaker 1: put your pieces in place right away. And that's kind 239 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: of the beautiful thing about baseball is every single time 240 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: it tends to work itself out, usually in the end. 241 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: But I got to ask you, you know, you were 242 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: with the organization I believe at least a few years 243 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: while Raffi was in the organization. You know, what are 244 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: your thoughts on him moving forward? Uh? You know, obviously 245 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: he's had his struggles at third base over the years. 246 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 1: Now when you're looking at the advanced metrics, whether that's 247 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: out's above average, or fielding run value or you know, range, 248 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: whatever it may be. Uh, he does not rank very 249 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 1: well in those areas. You know during your time, did 250 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: you did you guys, have you know these thoughts, these 251 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:26,720 Speaker 1: question marks when it came to Raffi long term at 252 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: third base and if so, like, where do you think 253 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 1: would be the best position for him or best spot 254 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:32,840 Speaker 1: for him moving forward? 255 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, that was definitely part of the conversation with him. 256 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 2: It was, you know, the weakest part of his game 257 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:41,199 Speaker 2: in the area where he needed to really work to improve. 258 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,720 Speaker 2: And you know, I remember some conversations, conversations when we had, 259 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 2: you know, Raffi and Bogarts on the left side of 260 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 2: her infield talking about at some point that may be 261 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,680 Speaker 2: the right side of our infield. And I think, you know, 262 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 2: at some point he's very young still, he's what twenty 263 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 2: seven years old, twenty eight years old. Yeah, he's still 264 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 2: pretty young. A defensive peak tends to be a little earlier. 265 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 2: It tends to be in your mid twenties, so that 266 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:08,439 Speaker 2: does decline faster than your bat. But he's such as 267 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 2: he's not a good defensive third baseman, and that's okay 268 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:14,559 Speaker 2: because he's such a good offensive at first baseman. He's 269 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:18,839 Speaker 2: probably third baseman. He's probably still a top three third 270 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 2: baseman in the game. But you know, for me, I 271 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 2: do think of probably in the future the move is 272 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,680 Speaker 2: to first base. I think he could be an average 273 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 2: first basement defensively, and I think he's too young to 274 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 2: move to d H. I don't think that's really ideal 275 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 2: for him. I still think he'd be one of the 276 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 2: top five first basemen in the game all around. So 277 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 2: you know, I do think that's probably the future, but 278 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 2: there's no need to do it right now. 279 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, that's actually been a talking point this offseason 280 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 1: because you know, Tristan Cassas, he was in the trade rumors. 281 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: At one point, he was on the trade block talking 282 00:13:56,559 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 1: about with the Mariners possibly being a destination, and people thinking, oh, no, Raffi, 283 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 1: he he there's no way he should play first base. 284 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: I mean, he's he's so bad at third and I mean, 285 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 1: my goodness, he's gonna he's gonna pull a hammy at 286 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 1: first base or whatever. But I've always looked at it thinking, 287 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: you know, I think back to Kevin Nucleus, who was 288 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:18,040 Speaker 1: a better defender overall, Uh, but he was like an 289 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: average third baseman, but then he became a gold Glove 290 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 1: first baseman. And I think with Raffi, I kind of 291 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: look at the way he moves around out at third base. 292 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: You know, he has a good arm as well, and 293 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: I think he would fit fine at first base if 294 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 1: that's the direction they ended up going. You know, in 295 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 1: the future, who knows what happens, you know with Casus 296 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:39,240 Speaker 1: or maybe even Flagg Junior next off season. We'll have 297 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: to wait and see. But uh, it's gonna be interesting 298 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: moving forward with Raffi. But speaking of Cassis, Uh, there 299 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: were also some comments this past week where it actually 300 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: seemed like people were they got to you start to 301 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: see the flames come down a little bit with Raffi, 302 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden, Tristan hops on the 303 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 1: bench and then the flames reignited again. I got to 304 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 1: ask you your thoughts on his comments. You know a 305 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: lot of people out there saying, you know, he's he's 306 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: like coming off like he was the manager, right or 307 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: coming off as the chief baseball officer. I think even 308 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,200 Speaker 1: someone in the media asked him like, oh, are you 309 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: the CBO or something like that. From a front office perspective, 310 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 1: you know, you mentioned earlier like yes, you like these 311 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: guys talking. But when it came to Tristan's comments about 312 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 1: you know, how he thinks the lineup should be or 313 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: you know, what they should do organizationally, he was saying, 314 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: you know, like you brought up earlier in the grown 315 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: men comment where these guys should go down to the 316 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: minors kind of like from a front office point of view, 317 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: do you feel like maybe he went a little too 318 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 1: far with that or kind of where where where are 319 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: you at with that? 320 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 2: Yeah? I mean you never when you when you're in 321 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 2: a market like Boston or New York where there's a 322 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 2: lot of media attention, you really just don't want to 323 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 2: have to deal with more noise. And so when a player, 324 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,640 Speaker 2: when Kasa said that, you know, my indusiry reaction was, oh, 325 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 2: man like, just say, that's not my job, that's the 326 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 2: manager's job. I'm and I'm just gonna do. But I 327 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:05,960 Speaker 2: don't think it's the end of the world. I don't 328 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 2: understand when people get angry about that and start like 329 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 2: get rid of him. He's a you know, not a 330 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 2: team player. If that's if that's what people how they respond, 331 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 2: that doesn't make sense to me. He clearly is a 332 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 2: quirky personality. There's some other things that I've always obviously 333 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 2: come up over the years, and that's okay, but I 334 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:23,640 Speaker 2: you know, again, it goes back to what I said 335 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 2: at the top, which is being proactive in getting on 336 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 2: the same page about your communication. They may have done that, 337 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 2: and he may have just said what he wanted to say, 338 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 2: but I do have some concerns with that and with 339 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 2: you know, some of the stories earlier talking about Bregman, 340 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 2: and you'd hear that like, well, Bresla doesn't necessarily want him, 341 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 2: but Cora and Sam Kennedy want them. Those are not 342 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 2: great stories to be out there. Again, not the end 343 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 2: of the world. It's baseball, it's entertainment, it's sports. But I, 344 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 2: you know, you start reading between the lines, I wonder 345 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 2: what's going on, Like why can we get on the 346 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 2: same page? Is this something that you know Craig being 347 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 2: someone that's relatively new to this role and relatively new 348 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 2: to front offices, maybe that's a learning experience where it's like, Okay, 349 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,400 Speaker 2: I need to be more proactive and making sure we're 350 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 2: all aligned on even if we don't agree, we have 351 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 2: alignment on what we're doing and how we want to 352 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 2: approach things publicly with the players and just have that 353 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:21,199 Speaker 2: dialogue in those conversations. That's why it's important to make 354 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:23,880 Speaker 2: sure you're talking to keep in open lines of communication 355 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 2: all the time. 356 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, I wanted to ask about that too. Where you know, 357 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: it seems like all off season and even coming into 358 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 1: spring training, it seems like everyone wants to be successful, 359 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 1: everyone wants to win, everyone wants to do the best 360 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 1: they can. But it feels like you're I don't want 361 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 1: to say too many cooks in the kitchen, but it 362 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: feels like you almost like there's a lot of differing 363 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: opinions going on. Was there ever a moment when you 364 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,439 Speaker 1: were with the Red Sox where it felt like things 365 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:52,879 Speaker 1: got I don't want to say chaotic, but where it 366 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: just felt like things weren't really on the same page. 367 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 2: Well, I think in the competitive industry you're in, especially 368 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,160 Speaker 2: in a place Boston, where you want to win all 369 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:04,560 Speaker 2: the time and you're spending a lot of money. It's 370 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:08,160 Speaker 2: high stakes, right, so you have highly competitive people that 371 00:18:08,240 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 2: really want to succeed, and so it's always coming from 372 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 2: a good place. It's coming from we want to win. 373 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 2: But you know, you've got to just make sure again 374 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 2: that word alignment is key. You know, you don't always 375 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 2: have agreement, and you don't want to have agreement. I 376 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,439 Speaker 2: think it's healthy to have, you know, good respectful debate 377 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:28,919 Speaker 2: and disagreement, but you want to keep it in house 378 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 2: because it's only going to cause distractions. So I think, 379 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 2: you know, making sure you kind of have those conversations 380 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 2: where you when there is a plan of what you're 381 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,120 Speaker 2: going to do and it's coming from you know where, 382 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 2: if that's the chief Baseball officer or whoever, it's okay, 383 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 2: I respect that you disagree with me, but can I 384 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 2: have your support on this as we move forward. Those 385 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,120 Speaker 2: are the key things that may or may not be happening, 386 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,119 Speaker 2: but you need to have happened, and they need to 387 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:55,959 Speaker 2: mean it when they say yes I do, and not 388 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:59,080 Speaker 2: kind of just go and vent to a media member 389 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:00,640 Speaker 2: or someone else saying like I really want to get 390 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 2: this guy, but so and so does 't, and you 391 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 2: just don't want to have that because it really seems 392 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 2: like there isn't alignment, which could lead to other issues 393 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:10,120 Speaker 2: down the road. 394 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 3: Hey, real nutrition has the power to make a real 395 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:16,160 Speaker 3: difference in people's lives. So let me talk about orgain 396 00:19:16,240 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 3: for a moment, please. The new thirty gram complete protein 397 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 3: shakes really get you set up for pre or post 398 00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,800 Speaker 3: workout crafts. And also it tastes so damn good. 399 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:27,440 Speaker 2: Tastes too good. It tastes too good. 400 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 1: I want to have a second one because there's tons 401 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:33,200 Speaker 1: of protein shakes out there that taste terrible. 402 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 2: This makes me feel like I'm getting a reward for 403 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 2: my workout. 404 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 3: Satisfy those cravings without any added sugar. All nine essential 405 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 3: amino acids part of your ultra filtered protein shake. It's 406 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 3: called or gain. There are no quick fixes when it 407 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 3: comes to your health. If you want more protein, give 408 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 3: or gain thirty grand protein shakes to try a head 409 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,520 Speaker 3: to orgain dot com slash foul thirty. Use code foul 410 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,479 Speaker 3: thirty for thirty percent off your order. That's the best 411 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:01,680 Speaker 3: offer that you're gonna find. It's from the ft fam. 412 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,000 Speaker 3: You've got to use the code f O U L 413 00:20:04,119 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 3: thirty for thirty percent off. Give us a little shake 414 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 3: on the way out, krat so they know, just a 415 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 3: quick shake nice. 416 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: Do you think there's like with that? Do you think 417 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:16,399 Speaker 1: you know, there's always the old phrase, you know it 418 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 1: always success or failure, always trickles from the top. Do 419 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: you think this could be, you know, possibly something with ownership, 420 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,160 Speaker 1: you know, communication from there, or do you think it's 421 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,199 Speaker 1: just really a lot of guys in the front office 422 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: that are you know, just passionate about what they're doing 423 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: and maybe they're just not fully seeing eye eye You know, 424 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:35,640 Speaker 1: where do you think this? You know, I don't say 425 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: I don't say chaos, that's not the right word. But 426 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: you know, you're seeing these disagreements coming out into the public. 427 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: You know, how do you think where? Where? Where do 428 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: you think this is coming from? 429 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 2: I think it comes with pressure, right. The Red Sox 430 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 2: have been disappointing, you know, fairly mediocre for a while now. 431 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 2: There's a lot of frustration within their fan base of 432 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 2: not being aggressive enough. And I'm sure some people wanted 433 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 2: to be aggressive and so if they felt like, well, 434 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 2: I wanted to be aggressive and I don't want to 435 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 2: where this criticism. That's where I think this stuff comes from, 436 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 2: is people trying to separate themselves from maybe other people 437 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:13,159 Speaker 2: that were more conservative and how they wanted to approach things. 438 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:15,199 Speaker 2: You know, they made a lot of public they kind 439 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,399 Speaker 2: of shot themselves in the foot sometimes by making public 440 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 2: statements to set not managing expectations, well, setting expectations really high. Obviously, 441 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:25,640 Speaker 2: the full throttle comment from a couple of off season ago, 442 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,160 Speaker 2: even this off season, say we're going to spend We're 443 00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 2: going to go over the luxury try. There's no real 444 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,560 Speaker 2: upside to saying stuff like that because you can't control how, 445 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,560 Speaker 2: you know, the off season goes. You could offer Wan 446 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:41,960 Speaker 2: Soda seven hundred million dollars and another team can offer 447 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 2: them sixty five million more than that, and you know 448 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 2: you can't control it. It's not fully in your control. 449 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,439 Speaker 2: And that's what makes those jobs difficult, So there's no 450 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 2: reason I think they could do a better job of 451 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 2: managing expectations. I guess that's what I would say to that. 452 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:01,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I completely agree. I want to also touch on 453 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 1: that too, where you know, do you think that there's 454 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 1: been a bit of a switch, a bit of a 455 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: switch flipped this offseason where you know, they kind of 456 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 1: it seems like they've turned the page at least a 457 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:17,439 Speaker 1: little bit when it comes to their aggressiveness. Do you 458 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 1: think that, you know, possibly came from, like you said, 459 00:22:21,560 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: maybe the pressure from the public, or do you feel 460 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:27,280 Speaker 1: like maybe they just like where they're at as an organization, 461 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:29,000 Speaker 1: or maybe a little bit of both. You know, what 462 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 1: do you think caused that switch right there? 463 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 2: Well, I don't know for sure. I would think the 464 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 2: pressure had a lot to do with kind of getting 465 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 2: over the finish line with some of the deals, like 466 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 2: the crochet trade being you know, I think that took 467 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 2: a while. My understanding is that it took a while, 468 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 2: and who knows what kind of forces push it over 469 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 2: the edge. But when you hear the rhetoric that we've 470 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 2: heard in some of the reports of disagreement, like to 471 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 2: me that says there are other voices trying to push 472 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 2: things for you. You also have the dynamic of theo 473 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:00,960 Speaker 2: Epstein being back in the organization and him being very 474 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:04,680 Speaker 2: close with Sam Kennedy, him being someone that I obviously 475 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:08,280 Speaker 2: worked for and would say is on the more aggressive 476 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 2: side of the spectrum, and that probably has something to 477 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:16,479 Speaker 2: do with it too. It's a tough The industry has 478 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 2: changed a lot in my time, and a lot of 479 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,399 Speaker 2: that is maybe someone would say the fault of people 480 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:25,359 Speaker 2: like me with the analytics backgrounds, but a lot of 481 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:28,480 Speaker 2: how decisions are made. There's a lot of analytical tools 482 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 2: that are used to do this. And while I think 483 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:34,879 Speaker 2: that's great because their frameworks to help you make decisions, 484 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 2: sometimes people see them more as formulaic and then it's like, well, 485 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 2: this is the value of this player, and if we 486 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 2: go over that value, then we're doing something bad. And 487 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:46,360 Speaker 2: to me, it's like, well, if you're the Boston Red 488 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:48,119 Speaker 2: Sox or the New York Yankees of New York Mets, 489 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 2: you're not in the business of You're not getting a 490 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 2: trophy for having the most efficient payroll. You don't have 491 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 2: the constraints of a Tampa Bay So by definition, you're 492 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,760 Speaker 2: going to be overpaid for some players. That doesn't mean 493 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 2: there's no limits. It doesn't mean you just go crazy, 494 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,120 Speaker 2: because that's how you could, you know, get yourself into 495 00:24:08,359 --> 00:24:11,239 Speaker 2: a trap like we did before the Daughters build us 496 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 2: out in twenty twelve with Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. 497 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: Me to this day, I still yeah, like I was 498 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:17,720 Speaker 1: like wow. 499 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 2: What Yeah, we were the same way when it was 500 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:24,239 Speaker 2: when they approached us about it. But you know, I 501 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,359 Speaker 2: think you want to maintain flexibility. You have to look 502 00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 2: at your roster and say where are we Are we 503 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,639 Speaker 2: in a place to compete they are? They have still 504 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 2: have three of the best prospects in baseball even after 505 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,960 Speaker 2: that big trade. So you're going to have young talent 506 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 2: integrated coming into your roster that's going to be making 507 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:42,120 Speaker 2: far less money than what they're going to be producing 508 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:43,960 Speaker 2: if they turn out as to be as good as 509 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:46,520 Speaker 2: they you know, people think they are, and so you 510 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 2: can take those bigger risks. We could sign a David 511 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 2: Price to the deal that we signed them to because 512 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 2: we had Mookie Bets and Jackie Bradley and Andrew Ben 513 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:56,400 Speaker 2: and Tandi and Raphael Evers. We had this talent pipeline 514 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,119 Speaker 2: that was going to be quote unquote underpaid right for 515 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,879 Speaker 2: what they're producing because of the system. So, you know, 516 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:05,480 Speaker 2: I think that's kind of the mindset that needs to 517 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:07,440 Speaker 2: be there. I don't think it was always there over 518 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,639 Speaker 2: the last several years. I think it was you know, 519 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 2: sometimes in this happens with a lot of teams, you're 520 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 2: you're kind of you're trying to win deals whatever that 521 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:20,080 Speaker 2: means to you, rather than win games. And so I 522 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 2: think it's important that if you try so Andrew Freeman 523 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:24,640 Speaker 2: has said this publicly, if you try to win every 524 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:26,919 Speaker 2: free agent deal by a dollar, you're never You're going 525 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:28,680 Speaker 2: to finish third all the time. You're never going to 526 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 2: sign the guy. So it's uncomfortable, but you have to 527 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 2: get uncomfortable to get the guys that you need to 528 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 2: make your team better. 529 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:39,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I'm glad they took that step about this offseason. 530 00:25:39,640 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: You know, and when you look back over the years 531 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 1: of John Henry his under the ownership, where this off 532 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:49,920 Speaker 1: season it kind of falls right in line with how 533 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,119 Speaker 1: it's been in the past, where you know, he doesn't 534 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:54,920 Speaker 1: like giving the long or he doesn't like signing off 535 00:25:54,960 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: on the long term deals for guys over thirty Bregman. 536 00:25:58,440 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: That ended up being a good example there where they 537 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 1: went with the higher AAV and then if you go back, 538 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:09,120 Speaker 1: you know, to pass if past with the organizational farm system, 539 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: they've always been in a pretty good place. You know, 540 00:26:11,880 --> 00:26:14,199 Speaker 1: payroll has usually been in a tidy place when they 541 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:17,399 Speaker 1: get aggressive. Do you feel like they followed that blueprint 542 00:26:17,520 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 1: here of this offseason. 543 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, I do. I think it's all contextual when you're aggressive, 544 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:28,160 Speaker 2: And you know, it made sense when Higham came aboard. 545 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 2: I was only with him for one year, but it 546 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 2: made sense at that time given the outlook of our 547 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 2: team and the timing of where our prospects were and 548 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 2: where our farm system was, that that wasn't the time 549 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:43,040 Speaker 2: to be aggressive and going into twenty twenty and so, 550 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:45,399 Speaker 2: but at some point it is, and I think, you know, 551 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:48,159 Speaker 2: some one of the things that mixed those plans up 552 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:50,719 Speaker 2: a little was that they had a surprisingly good season 553 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty one and made it almost got to 554 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:55,800 Speaker 2: the World Series. And I think they had a lot 555 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 2: of good fortune. They were like the healthiest team in baseball. 556 00:26:57,720 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 2: A lot of things went right, and that probably was 557 00:26:59,840 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 2: an unrealistic expectation that kind of made ended up leading 558 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,320 Speaker 2: to some of the pressure down the road when they 559 00:27:06,359 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 2: didn't meet those expectations again. So but yeah, I think 560 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,359 Speaker 2: that's definitely part of it. I mean, look, John Henry's 561 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:14,639 Speaker 2: not wrong if he thinks that these long term deals 562 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,640 Speaker 2: are bad. They are. I mean, you're it's the riskiest 563 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 2: part of the market, but you have to construct a 564 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:22,440 Speaker 2: roster that allows you to take those kind of risks. 565 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:25,440 Speaker 2: But yeah, I've I've always said to people that work 566 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 2: with me, you know, it's like a really the free 567 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 2: agency is like a really robust housing market where it's 568 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 2: a bidding you're getting into bidding wars, but you're buying. 569 00:27:33,640 --> 00:27:36,960 Speaker 2: You're buying cars, not houses. You're buying depreciating assets if 570 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:41,520 Speaker 2: you're going to you know, past age thirty three, thirty four, whatever, 571 00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:46,239 Speaker 2: And so they're high risk deals, but sometimes there are 572 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 2: contexts where it makes sense to do it. 573 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure. And I also want to bring up too. 574 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:53,840 Speaker 1: You mentioned Theoebstein earlier, and you know he came back 575 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,200 Speaker 1: to the Red Sox or to the Family Sports Group 576 00:27:56,400 --> 00:28:00,920 Speaker 1: last year, and Sam Kennedy touched on theo Epstein being 577 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:04,160 Speaker 1: a bit of a i'd say a mentor for Craig Breslow. 578 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 1: He actually made these comments. I want to read them 579 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:10,360 Speaker 1: to saying THEO was really really helpful and provided counsel 580 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 1: along the way that helped us think about different deal 581 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:16,320 Speaker 1: structures and also ripping up different deal structures when they 582 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:19,320 Speaker 1: don't work. I really think it helped Brez in terms 583 00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:22,520 Speaker 1: of you're talking about perhaps the best negotiator in the 584 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:25,239 Speaker 1: history of baseball agents in Brez is still a year 585 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 1: and a half, two years on the job, you know, 586 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:30,760 Speaker 1: thinking back to your time with THEO, obviously a highly 587 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: successful executive in the front office with both the Red 588 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 1: Sox and the Cubs. Do you think what do you 589 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 1: think he brought to the table, you know, other than 590 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 1: what we just read here, you know, talking about different 591 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: deal structures and whatnot. How big of a role do 592 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:49,760 Speaker 1: you think he's been with Breslo since coming back to 593 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 1: the Red Sox. I know, obviously you don't know, you 594 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 1: know exactly, but based off of your you know, experience 595 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: with THEO, how do you think he you know, could 596 00:28:57,920 --> 00:28:58,840 Speaker 1: have helped Breslo here. 597 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 2: Well, it's it's amos. He's a tremendous resource to really 598 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 2: anyone there. THEO is a deal maker. He is someone 599 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 2: that's how I always viewed him. He's someone, like I said, 600 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:12,760 Speaker 2: he's on the aggressive side, but he's not. You know, 601 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 2: if I was to kind of look at the four 602 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 2: gms I worked for, Dave Dombraski probably the most aggressive 603 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:20,000 Speaker 2: when it comes to those types of deals, and and 604 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:22,040 Speaker 2: THEO would be kind of closer to the middle, but 605 00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:25,080 Speaker 2: on the aggressive side, and maybe the other guys would 606 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:27,240 Speaker 2: be a little bit more conservative. With how I am 607 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,800 Speaker 2: being farther left on the conservative part of that scale. 608 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:34,120 Speaker 2: But you know, THEO is a deal maker, so that's 609 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 2: the perspective he's bringing, but he's also very smart. He's 610 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:39,479 Speaker 2: not just going to make deals to get deals done. 611 00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 2: It's going to be very targeted. But he you know, 612 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 2: there's a ton of experience there obviously negotiating deals. And 613 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 2: like you said, Craig's you know, relatively new to front 614 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:51,040 Speaker 2: offices in general, right, Like he went pretty he rose 615 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:53,720 Speaker 2: pretty quickly after his playing career. Good for him. But 616 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:56,800 Speaker 2: you know, there's a database there in Theo's mind of 617 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 2: all the experience he's had. And he's also very creat 618 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 2: to help think through things, so that he's a great 619 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:04,960 Speaker 2: resource to have. And and I'd say overall, you know, 620 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 2: there's still some relative inexperience at the top of baseball 621 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:11,920 Speaker 2: operations there. So I think having him there as someone 622 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 2: who's obviously very seasoned is just great for a lot 623 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 2: of people. 624 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure. And it kind of the what I've 625 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 1: been thinking with Craig, because he's so new, it's you know, 626 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:25,440 Speaker 1: I've seen people say, oh, he's not doing enough for 627 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: you know, whatever it may be. But I've been kind 628 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:30,239 Speaker 1: of thinking here, you know, going back the last year 629 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 1: or so. You know, obviously, you know, it depends on 630 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:35,560 Speaker 1: where they're at aggressiveness wise, you know, when it comes 631 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:38,360 Speaker 1: to pursuing these guys. But it kind of feels like, 632 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:42,320 Speaker 1: you know, THEO coming back into the fold, it almost 633 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:45,000 Speaker 1: like it feels like he's you know, kind of nudged 634 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:48,840 Speaker 1: him a little bit. Would you say, you know, THEO 635 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:51,920 Speaker 1: could have possibly give him, you know, gave him that 636 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 1: insight to where, you know, maybe don't hold back so much. 637 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 1: Or do you think he was you know a guy 638 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:01,520 Speaker 1: that say, you know, could say to him like, hey, 639 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,960 Speaker 1: it's okay to be a little aggressive here. Yeah, I 640 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:07,320 Speaker 1: think he'd probably won't be more the latter right to 641 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:10,239 Speaker 1: push a little bit and say, hey, you know, you 642 00:31:10,280 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: can start getting into these three four player trades and 643 00:31:14,120 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 1: really start persevering on player number three in that deal, 644 00:31:18,600 --> 00:31:22,720 Speaker 1: and really what a lot of experienced GMS like THEO, 645 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:26,160 Speaker 1: like Dave Debreski will say, like, you know, most of 646 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: those a lot of the players aren't going to work out, 647 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 1: but there's going to be probably you know, who are 648 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:32,960 Speaker 1: the players that potentially impact stars and focus on that 649 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,440 Speaker 1: and then in the context of your current team and 650 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:38,479 Speaker 1: the farm system that you have, kind of look at 651 00:31:38,480 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: it that way because the Red Sox, when you have 652 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:43,080 Speaker 1: a top farm system and you have so many prospects, 653 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 1: there's a surplus there. 654 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:46,840 Speaker 2: Right. It's not just looking at each player in a vacuum, 655 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 2: it's looking at it in context. And I think to 656 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:51,280 Speaker 2: be able to have someone there that can kind of 657 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:53,680 Speaker 2: give you that perspective to say it's okay to be 658 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 2: aggressive in this situation and not let you know, the 659 00:31:56,960 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 2: third player and a deal be the thing that holds 660 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 2: it up. I don't know if that's what happened, but 661 00:32:01,160 --> 00:32:03,160 Speaker 2: I've said that's an example of what I could see 662 00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:05,360 Speaker 2: him doing, is to kind of give you that confidence 663 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:08,680 Speaker 2: to move forward. These are hard decisions. It's it's you know, 664 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:11,480 Speaker 2: it's not like you're working in the accounting department at 665 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:13,960 Speaker 2: the Boston Red Sox, where the team performance has really 666 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 2: nothing to do with your job security. You know, other 667 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 2: than theo Epstein maybe some other Hall of Fame executives, 668 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:24,080 Speaker 2: you know how your job ends. When you're in that seat, 669 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:26,400 Speaker 2: you know you're going to lose it. Even Dave Dombrowski 670 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:28,040 Speaker 2: has been fired multiple times and he will be a 671 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:31,880 Speaker 2: Hall of Fame executive. So you can't be afraid. And 672 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:33,880 Speaker 2: you know, THEO has always talked about the advice his 673 00:32:33,960 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 2: father gave him when he got the job at age 674 00:32:35,440 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 2: twenty eight was to be bold, and that is always 675 00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:41,080 Speaker 2: something that's always stuck with me. It doesn't mean to 676 00:32:41,160 --> 00:32:45,800 Speaker 2: be reckless. It means to be unafraid to do what 677 00:32:45,840 --> 00:32:48,000 Speaker 2: you think is best for the organization and not to 678 00:32:48,120 --> 00:32:50,440 Speaker 2: care about how what risk you put yourself into. You're 679 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:52,600 Speaker 2: always trying to do what's best for the organization, and 680 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 2: sometimes you got to make some tough decisions. 681 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:57,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think with Craig, you know, I'll give 682 00:32:57,840 --> 00:33:00,560 Speaker 1: him a lot of props because you know, he came 683 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:04,720 Speaker 1: to run the show in Boston after being you know, 684 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: when people think back prior to that him coming back 685 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:09,600 Speaker 1: to Boston. You know, they had good memories of him, 686 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:12,000 Speaker 1: you know, helping win the World Series in twenty thirteen, 687 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 1: and you know, people were like, oh, cool Craig. You know, 688 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:16,960 Speaker 1: he's run the show now, and but then you have 689 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:19,920 Speaker 1: the pressure cooker side of things, and you know, I 690 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:22,640 Speaker 1: give him a lot of props to coming back into 691 00:33:22,680 --> 00:33:26,640 Speaker 1: this fire, I would say, And uh, you know, and 692 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:29,560 Speaker 1: I'd say overall, had a pretty good off season and 693 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:33,040 Speaker 1: I think THEO definitely helped there. But one more question 694 00:33:33,080 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 1: before we wrap things up here. You know, based off 695 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: kind of what you've seen this past offseason, you know, 696 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:43,280 Speaker 1: getting the Bregban deal done, making the big Crochet trade, 697 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:45,760 Speaker 1: you know, and also along with kind of seeing what's 698 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:48,120 Speaker 1: happening so far in spring training, you know, kind of 699 00:33:48,120 --> 00:33:50,640 Speaker 1: what are your thoughts on the Red Sox moving forward? 700 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 1: Would you say they're in a much better place now, 701 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:57,200 Speaker 1: you know kind of where you're where are you at 702 00:33:57,200 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: now with the Red Sox? 703 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:00,520 Speaker 2: I do think they're in a much better I think 704 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:02,160 Speaker 2: the challenge for them, I think they should compete for 705 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 2: a playoff spot. You know, can they win the division? 706 00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:09,320 Speaker 2: That's gonna be tough, but Baltimore and New York are tough, 707 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:12,440 Speaker 2: although Baltimore hasn't really added a whole lot this offseason, 708 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:15,320 Speaker 2: and the Yankees obviously Los Soto but added some other pieces. 709 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:18,080 Speaker 2: So it's gonna be tough, but there's no they can 710 00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:20,560 Speaker 2: compete for the division. I just think, you know, given 711 00:34:20,600 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 2: the playoff structure and how it's changed over the last 712 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:25,000 Speaker 2: few years, they have a good shot to make the postseason. 713 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:28,479 Speaker 2: I expect them to be in it all year. Long term, 714 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:30,680 Speaker 2: the challenge for them will be, you know, on the 715 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:33,799 Speaker 2: one hand, you know, long term deals are risky, but 716 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 2: when you have some short term situations, like you know, 717 00:34:37,480 --> 00:34:39,759 Speaker 2: Crochet is only a couple of years. Bregman could opt 718 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:42,839 Speaker 2: out after if he has a good year. Now you're 719 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:46,839 Speaker 2: looking at, you know, potential roster churn, and that may 720 00:34:46,840 --> 00:34:49,160 Speaker 2: be fine for the Bregman situation because of someone like 721 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:52,320 Speaker 2: Campbell ready to be an everyday guy at that point perhaps, 722 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:55,680 Speaker 2: but maybe a little tougher with some other guys. So 723 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 2: that can be tough, like kind of rebuilding your team 724 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 2: every year can be tricky, but you you know, it 725 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:02,799 Speaker 2: gives them a lot of flexibility. So there's pros and cons, 726 00:35:02,840 --> 00:35:04,520 Speaker 2: there's trade offs there. But I think they're in a 727 00:35:04,560 --> 00:35:07,560 Speaker 2: good spot. They obviously still have three really good young 728 00:35:07,640 --> 00:35:11,360 Speaker 2: prospects that are getting closer to being ready. I assume 729 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:15,120 Speaker 2: Roman Anthony will be probably getting significant bats by the 730 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:17,800 Speaker 2: end of the season. He should be on that path 731 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:21,120 Speaker 2: if they need it, and then you know, a couple 732 00:35:21,160 --> 00:35:24,520 Speaker 2: other guys, obviously Campbell and Mayor there's they're in a 733 00:35:24,520 --> 00:35:26,560 Speaker 2: good spot. I think they're in a very good spot 734 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:30,399 Speaker 2: going forward. And they haven't spent all their dollars long term, 735 00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:32,359 Speaker 2: so they still have financial flexibility. 736 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:34,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, that is definitely a good thing, you know, I 737 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,520 Speaker 1: you know, the goal from you know what I've seen, 738 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:39,719 Speaker 1: you know and have heard, you know, people in the 739 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 1: front office says they want to be like the Dodgers. 740 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:44,080 Speaker 1: Well that's that might be a hard goal at this 741 00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:47,080 Speaker 1: point because they're just doing so many good things. But yeah, 742 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:50,080 Speaker 1: I agree, I think they're definitely in a good spot 743 00:35:50,120 --> 00:35:54,680 Speaker 1: moving forward. Hopefully there's no guerrilla suits or anything moving 744 00:35:54,719 --> 00:35:57,640 Speaker 1: forward that'd be that'd be pretty nice. But zach Man, 745 00:35:57,680 --> 00:36:00,359 Speaker 1: I want to thank you for joining today. Has been 746 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:03,160 Speaker 1: a great conversation. It's cool to hear the kind of 747 00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:06,040 Speaker 1: the front office side of things, especially with stuff like this. 748 00:36:06,840 --> 00:36:09,399 Speaker 1: Let the listeners know at home. What do you got 749 00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:12,320 Speaker 1: going on? I believe you have a podcast going on now, 750 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:14,719 Speaker 1: what can you tell the viewers at home? 751 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:17,680 Speaker 2: Well, the podcast has been on an extended hiatus, but 752 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:21,360 Speaker 2: I I did start one last year called Deconstructing Champions 753 00:36:21,880 --> 00:36:24,239 Speaker 2: the Art and Science of Winning, and I am going 754 00:36:24,239 --> 00:36:26,480 Speaker 2: to get back to that. I'm actually working on kind 755 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:29,319 Speaker 2: of a bigger content strategy right now. But you can 756 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:32,480 Speaker 2: find me on all social media at at Zach Scott's 757 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 2: Sports really across every channel. And you know, other than that, 758 00:36:38,239 --> 00:36:40,640 Speaker 2: I'm doing a lot of consulting at for my company 759 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:43,440 Speaker 2: for RINGS Sports, and I'm also I've been recently started 760 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:46,520 Speaker 2: to do a lot of leadership coaching as well. Awesome. 761 00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:49,319 Speaker 1: Well, hey man, appreciate you coming on and let's have 762 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:51,879 Speaker 1: some fun this season. Hopefully we can have some good 763 00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 1: things to talk. 764 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:55,759 Speaker 2: About, and yeah, it should be a fun one. 765 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:58,760 Speaker 1: But Zach, thank you so much. Appreciate your time. But everyone, 766 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:01,840 Speaker 1: thanks for joining today for this episode. Hit the subscribe 767 00:37:01,880 --> 00:37:04,000 Speaker 1: button if you're here on YouTube and if you're listening 768 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:07,279 Speaker 1: on podcasts format, give us a five star review. Helps 769 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:09,239 Speaker 1: out with the algorithm. But everyone, cover yourself a good 770 00:37:09,280 --> 00:37:11,120 Speaker 1: rest of your day and I'll talk to you next time.