The Boston Red Sox were off on Thursday, sitting at 27–39. They’re 13.5 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League East. They’re six games back of the Rangers for the final spot in the American League wild card standings.
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Key News & Notes
Sam Kennedy was on WEEI today, and he said a lot. He addressed Craig Breslow’s job security, the state of the team, and the trade deadline.
First, on Craig Breslow, Kennedy said this about the CBO’s job security.
“Look, I fully understand and appreciate questions regarding Craig Breslow and his job security and all that, but the issue of a change there, just to be clear, it’s not even on the table. He is working as hard as anybody in terms of getting things back on track, but again, words are hollow right now”
Then, Sam Kennedy had this to say about the team
“Nobody is free and clear of blame, having been here 25 years, we’ve had some incredible high highs and some very low lows, but I don’t remember a period really feeling it as viscerally as we feel it right now. It’s been awful.”
Finally, the trade deadline.
“At the current moment, there are a lot of discussions going on in terms of improvement and how we get this thing back on track… but look, let’s be honest, unless things change dramatically, we may have to pivot here from what our initial planning was. It just wouldn’t be responsible to do otherwise.”
Let’s start with Breslow. It looks like this will be a make-or-break trade deadline for Craig Breslow, but it’s going to be his. Back in 2023, during Chaim Bloom’s last trade deadline, the only move he made was acquiring Luis Urias from the Brewers. Breslow has a tough test ahead of him with pieces he can move, such as Aroldis Chapman. Based on Kennedy’s last comments, if things don’t change by the All-Star break, that’s the route this team will be going. They have 28 games between now and then, and then they have to go, dare I say, 20-8 in that stretch to get back into it.
Patrick Sandoval also made another rehab start today, going 1.2 innings, allowing a run on a hit; he walked one and struck out three. The Red Sox also released minor league pitchers Jacob Webb and TJ Sikkema. Webb, in 16 games at Worcester, had a 6.35 ERA. Sikkema pitched in two games for Worcester before having a left ankle sprain and heading to the injured list.
Farm Report
- Worcester Red Sox (AAA): Matt Thaiss went 1-2 with a three-run home run in a 6-4 loss in the first game of the doubleheader. Game two was rained out.
- Portland Sea Dogs (AA): Will Turner went 2-5 with an RBI and two runs scored in a 5-3 loss to the Fightin Phils.
- Greenville Drive (A+): Jojo Ingrassia got the start, going three scoreless innings, allowing a run, along with a walk, and he struck out four in a 9-1 loss to the Dash.
- Salem RidgeYaks (A): D’Angelo Ortiz stayed hot, going 1-4 with two RBI in a 12-5 loss to the Woodpeckers.
- FCL Red Sox (ROK): Franklin Primera went 3-4 with three RBI and three runs scored in a 22-3 win over the FCL Braves.
- DSL Red Sox Red (ROK): Eliezer Alfonzo went 1-1 with an RBI double and a walk in an 11-4 loss to DSL Padres Gold.
- DSL Red Sox Blue (ROK): Anderson Gonzalez drove in their lone run in a 2-1 loss to DSL Royals Fortuna.
