SEATTLE – Craig Breslow is familiar with celebrating after a big Red Sox win, but Thursday night was special.
The former reliever is now the president of baseball operations for the team he played for the most during his 12-year pitching career. So after the Sox won 6-4 against the Mariners and drenched their new boss in the clubhouse, it was a significant moment. It was also Alex Cora’s first Opening Day win – the Sox had lost the previous five – and potentially his last, as his contract expires after this season. But despite joking before the game about wanting to finally win a season opener, Cora said that Thursday night belonged to Tyler O’Neill, who made history by hitting a home run in his fifth consecutive Opening Day game, starting pitcher Brayan Bello, and Breslow.“It’s great, that’s what it’s all about,” Cora said.
Breslow’s first winter was turbulent from his first day on the job, when team chairman Tom Werner promised a “full throttle” offseason, only to backtrack in January. The Sox didn't sign any of the top free-agent starting pitchers, some of whom were still available late in spring training. “(Breslow) arrived, and it’s been an interesting offseason from the start,” Cora admitted.Nonetheless, he continues to say that he's satisfied with the current situation.
“His vision and his structure, and the way we’re doing things, I think it’s the right thing,” Cora said. “We’re doing things different from Dave (Dombrowski) and from Chaim (Bloom).”
The most significant change has unquestionably been the overhaul of pitching development, with Andrew Bailey returning to the Red Sox as pitching coach. The internal restructuring could have a much greater impact than a major pitching acquisition, and finally turn the Red Sox into an organization capable of consistent pitching development, an area in which they’ve struggled for decades.
“We talk about versatility, athleticism, and that’s where we’re at,” Cora explained. “The pitching structure, the pitching philosophy, is totally different, and we’ve done an outstanding job collecting arms, making adjustments with our pitching staff.”
Results will come in time, but the Breslow era is off to a strong start.
Results take time, but Alex Cora is pleased with the differences in Craig Breslow’s leadership style, especially with the Red Sox’s new pitching philosophy.
The biggest change has undoubtedly been the overhauling of pitching development, headlined by Andrew Bailey returning to the Red Sox as pitching coach. The internal restructuring could have a far greater impact than a blockbuster pitching addition, and finally turn the Red Sox into an organization capable of consistent pitching development, the area in which they’ve struggled most for decades.
“We talk about versatility, athleticism, and that’s where we’re at,” Cora explained. “The pitching structure, the pitching philosophy, is totally different, and we’ve done an outstanding job collecting arms, making adjustments with our pitching staff.”
Results will come in time, but the Breslow era is off to a strong start.
