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00:00Craig Breslow leaving the door open over the weekend for Raphael Devers to play first base.
00:07They tell Devers yet? We know their communication with Devers hasn't been great in the past.
00:10Well, his manager, Alex Cora, shot it down very quickly.
00:14He said, from my end right now, no, about the idea of Devers playing first base.
00:19We asked him to do something in spring training, and in the beginning, he didn't agree with it.
00:23Oh, he didn't?
00:24No, I noticed that.
00:25And now he's very comfortable doing what he's doing at DH.
00:28So, like I told you guys in spring training, he's my DH.
00:31So, the beginning of that...
00:32Two weeks before that, he also said, he's my third baseman.
00:34Right.
00:35So, the beginning of that statement also leaves a little bit of wiggle room.
00:38He uses the popular phrase, right now.
00:40Right now.
00:41Right here.
00:42Right now.
00:43Right here.
00:44Right now.
00:44So, he's saying right now.
00:45So, I guess he could change his mind.
00:46Maybe an hour after the press conference, maybe they got together and they're like, look,
00:50Costas isn't coming back.
00:51We can't have Roman Gonzalez out there all the time.
00:54It really comes down to...
00:55I just think it's interesting because Breslow is leaving the door open clearly in that clip
00:58we just played.
00:59And Devers won't even meet with the media to talk about it.
01:02As Scotillo pointed, the media requested him three times in 36 hours.
01:05He declined all three.
01:06So, he clearly doesn't want to do it and doesn't want to talk about not wanting to do it.
01:10And Cora's hung up in the middle, which I guess is an awkward spot to be in, but they
01:14pay you well.
01:14That's your job.
01:15Figure it out.
01:16He's siding with the player now, but maybe you're right, Keith.
01:18Maybe he's siding with Devers now to move to first base and replace Tristan Cassis after
01:24the season-ending injury.
01:25Maybe he's siding with Devers now just to soften the blow and ultimately get him out
01:30at first base.
01:30I think it's irrefutable.
01:33The easiest way, and we'll see if he can play it.
01:35I don't know if he can play it.
01:37He might be terrible at it.
01:38He might be terrible at it.
01:38He might be the worst ever at it.
01:39But why wouldn't you give it a shot and try it?
01:43Because if he can play there, even adequately, even a little below average defensively at
01:48first, but he gives you a good stick at first, that's the best way to win games.
01:52That's the best way to compete.
01:54All right.
01:54Why not?
01:55On flip side, why not move Christian Campbell?
01:57Is it a, you're throwing a lot at him as a young guy?
02:01No, I just think, I mean, I think Devers' bat plays at first.
02:05I'm not sure Campbell's does.
02:06I mean, right now, you're coming off nothing at first base.
02:09No, I understand.
02:10It's the same combination of guys, right?
02:11So you'd move Campbell to first, you'd play Meyer at second, and Devers would remain
02:15at DH.
02:15I'd probably tweak that a little bit with Roman Anthony, find a way to get Roman Anthony up.
02:19Not at first base, but as a DH, some days in the outfield, and that's probably how I would
02:24do it, but it's very similar.
02:25You're basically getting the same combination of players out there, but I just think Devers'
02:30bat plays at first.
02:31You're right.
02:31They're getting nothing at first right now.
02:33Campbell, to me, long-term, and this is a bit of a long-term thing.
02:36I don't mean to contradict myself on winning now, but I think Campbell at second and a
02:40little bit of outfield still helps you win now.
02:42He's still in the lineup.
02:42To me, that would be the best way to get the most out of Campbell long-term while also
02:48giving you competent second-base play.
02:50We also don't know that Meyer can play second.
02:52We don't.
02:52We don't know if any of these guys can.
02:53That's the thing.
02:53They don't have a backup first baseman.
02:55They don't.
02:56So that's something that you can look at with Craig Breslow and say, all right, last year
03:00you had a guy playing 60 games because of a rib injury that just never went away.
03:04You also aren't really...
03:06He's turned down contract extensions.
03:08You know, the play-by-play guy on the radio said he won't be on the team next year.
03:11What is your plan at first base?
03:13Like, what do you have if Kostas either struggles or gets hurt or whatever?
03:17They don't have one.
03:18They have a bunch of second basemen.
03:20They got a bunch of shortstops.
03:21They got a bunch of third basemen.
03:22They got a bunch of outfielders.
03:23They don't have a first baseman.
03:25Even...
03:26Isn't Vaughn Grissom playing first in Worcester?
03:27He's not a first baseman.
03:28Nope.
03:29Romy Gonzalez?
03:30Not a first baseman.
03:31Abraham Toro?
03:32Not...
03:32Like, they don't have anybody that plays first base.
03:35So, I wonder if you ask Cora and Breslow, you know, future aside, hurt feelings aside,
03:42who do they think would be the best defensive first baseman?
03:45Like, I don't even know...
03:46Is that even how you start the question?
03:47Be like, who could play the position?
03:50Who could pick it up the quickest?
03:52And then if the answer is Campbell or Meyer, do you ask them or are you saying,
03:57no, no, no, a young guy's got so much on their plate,
03:59they don't need to be playing a place that they're not familiar with?
04:02Because that's what I would still do.
04:03I would ask Campbell to play first base.
04:05So, you bring up Meyer.
04:07I brought up Anthony.
04:08Neither of us are planning on playing that guy at first.
04:12It doesn't sound like Craig Breslow is either.
04:14He was asked about this on Saturday.
04:15Here's what he had to say about the idea of Meyer or Anthony at first.
04:18Would you ever experiment with Roman or Marcello at first?
04:22It doesn't seem like that's in the plans right now.
04:25I think both of those guys, obviously, are showing the ability to impact both sides of the ball.
04:32But given, I think, the bright futures that they have ahead of them at their respective positions,
04:37introducing additional variables doesn't make a ton of sense right now.
04:40Okay, so that's an annoying way to say it.
04:42That really is.
04:43Introducing extra variables.
04:45Yeah.
04:45That's just an annoying way to say it.
04:46But I do agree with the approach.
04:48I'm not putting Meyer there.
04:49I'm not putting Anthony there.
04:50No, and that's fine.
04:52I don't think those guys have to.
04:53But I just keep – I'm so fixated on Campbell because they are willing to move him.
04:58And he's not even great at the place that you play him.
05:00Well, that's why I was going to say, where you played him defensively, he doesn't look natural at either one.
05:04No.
05:05So if he's not a natural second baseman, they try it in left field for, like, a game.
05:09I don't think he's going to get a lot of run in center field.
05:12So he's a guy who might need a position, to your point.
05:15And Meyer maybe plays second, at least for this season.
05:17And then, who knows, the story is either going to get hurt or he can figure out the future with him.
05:21And then he slides over.
05:22It wouldn't be the first time that happened.
05:24I mean, you look in Baltimore.
05:26Isn't the best shortstop prospect of the last few years, Jackson Holliday?
05:30And he plays second, right?
05:31Like, he has to because you have one of the best players in baseball playing short.
05:35And Meyer talked to us, Bragg, back at Polar Park.
05:39He just wants to play in the majors.
05:40Friend of the show just wants to get up here.
05:41Oh, no, no, no.
05:41Remember, like, hey, are you okay playing a different position?
05:44He's like, are you kidding me?
05:45I bet Meyer or Anthony would do it to get up here.
05:48They'd play first, second, third.
05:49They'd catch.
05:49They don't care.
05:50They just want to play.
05:51Because they both deserve to be up here.
05:52Yes.
05:52I think in a lot of organizations, they would be up here.
05:55And that's a whole other can of worms.
05:56Why aren't they here?
05:58Are they not here because they wouldn't play ball on a contract like Christian Campbell?
06:01Are they not here at minimum because the Red Sox are manipulating service time?
06:05I think it might be that.
06:06Also, like, it goes back to they don't.
06:08It feels to me like they don't really want to win right now.
06:10If you want to win, you get Devers at first.
06:11If you want to win, you get Anthony up here.
06:14And there's a way to do both of those easy.
06:15Devers at first.
06:16Anthony's at DH.
06:17Mix them in in the outfield.
06:18Boom.
06:19Done.
06:19There's a way to do both.
06:20And the team needs, Keefe, so clearly needs something.
06:24They're flat.
06:25Oh, they are.
06:25And calling up the top prospect in baseball.
06:28Yeah.
06:28Or to a lesser degree.
06:29And trust me, I'd love Meyer here, too.
06:31Bring them both up.
06:32But the team needs something like that.
06:34And why aren't you doing it?
06:35You don't want to win?
06:36You're more worried about manipulating their service time and their contracts instead of
06:40trying to get your best team out on the field?
06:42Because let me tell you, no offense to Romy Gonzalez or great guy David Hamilton.
06:45I don't need to see those guys out there.
06:47They're not helping you win baseball games.
06:49It is funny.
06:49I think it was last week Cora was on with Hart and Fitzy, and he was like, it's a great
06:53time to be a Red Sox.
06:54I think he jinxed everybody.
06:56Because since then, Costas has gotten hurt.
06:58They've lost a bunch of games.
06:59They're now 500.
07:00I don't think it's a great time to be a Red Sox right now.
07:03They don't have a first baseman.
07:04They are blowing leads left and right.
07:07They're going back to not being able to field the position.
07:09David Hamilton, once again, looking at you.
07:12So yeah, it's a little bit of a mess.
07:13And it's funny, when Cora and Breslau have been asked recently or even in the past about
07:19Roman Anthony or Marcel Meyer playing first base, which neither one, you and me aren't
07:24doing that, but that has been a plan that's been tossed out there.
07:27It's a lot different when it's, hey, let's make this guy change positions because Costas
07:33is struggling.
07:33Right.
07:34Versus Costas is done for the year.
07:35We have nobody to play there.
07:37Because then it's like, well, how do you get Costas back on track?
07:39And then like, are you platooning them?
07:41And you're right.
07:42That doesn't make any sense.
07:44But now that that spot is just open, there's a vacancy at the major league level.
07:48Now you really do need to consider all options.
07:50Jones and Keith here on WEI.
07:52Red Sox struggling.
07:52They got to replace Tristan Casas on top of their struggles.
07:55They're 18 and 18 here in early May.
07:58Cinco de Mayo.
07:59So how do you fix the Red Sox?
08:01Cinco de Mayo.
08:01Yeah, big day.
08:02Oh, hell yeah.
08:03They were doing their top nacho destinations in the city.
08:07Okay.
08:07I'm not sure if I texted Greg this, and I don't know if he read it on the air or not.
08:11Sunset Grill.
08:12Is Sunset Grill still open?
08:13Grill and Cantina.
08:14I would.
08:15I'm not sure.
08:16I would throw my hat in the ring.
08:18Your sombrero.
08:19My sombrero into the ring.
08:20See.
08:21On Cinco de Mayo for best nachos in the city.
08:23One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four Mississippi, five Mississippi, five Mississippi.
08:25You got any drinks?
08:26I got a piece.
08:27I have an old margarita video that I can repost.
08:29I got to make something else tonight.
08:30Maybe something else.
08:31Yeah, send me some suggestions.
08:32Yeah, something festive.
08:33If you could.
08:34That'd be great.
08:34By the way, if you're just tuning in, Julian Edelman voted in by fans to the Patriots Hall of Fame.
08:38He'll be joined by Bill Parcells, 37th member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.
08:42He's going in before Adam Vinatieri.
08:44I have a minor gripe about that, though it's hard to kick and scream too much, because I imagine all those guys get in.
08:49Real quick, Keith.
08:50The bullpen.
08:50How concerned are you about their struggles?
08:52They blow more leads over the weekend, back-to-back games against the Twins.
08:56Yeah, hard not to be concerned.
08:57At one point early in the year, it felt like a strength of the team.
09:03The starting pitching wasn't great.
09:04The offense was pretty inconsistent.
09:06But it felt like if you got into the pen with the lead, you were going to win.
09:10Now I do not feel that way.
09:12Now I don't feel that way.
09:13And I know Cora has this commitment to Whitlock, throwing two innings every time he's out there.
09:18At one point, Slayton felt like a guy that was nails.
09:22Now, yeah, I'm definitely concerned.
09:24It seems like they're all struggling at the same time.
09:26Well, Slayton just hasn't pitched that great, to be honest.
09:29He's had a couple of blow-up outings now consecutively.
09:32Chapman's been awesome, but the bullpen ERA is 4-11 on the year, which is underwhelming.
09:36I've seen this criticism on social media.
09:38I think it's a good one.
09:39Why does Cora have to keep running Whitlock back out for second innings?
09:42He loves a second inning Whitlock.
09:43I know he's a former starter, but maybe, maybe you're asking a little too much out of Whitlock
09:49because he keeps falling apart the deeper into these outings he goes.
09:52So that would be a criticism.
09:53I'd also keep an eye on, and I think, well, number one, you dodged a major bullet.
09:58You could have lost Cassis over the weekend in Crochet with that ball lying back at him
10:01yesterday, which just grazed his nose.
10:03I don't even know.
10:03I've never seen that.
10:04I don't even know how that's possible.
10:06Yeah.
10:07That's scary.
10:07Grazed his beak on the way by and, you know, barely even left a mark.
10:11But coming out of that start, and Crochet was asked about it after the game, and he
10:15didn't seem concerned, neither did Cora, but watch it.
10:18Crochet's velocity is down.
10:20Yeah.
10:20For a guy that has a year of two, he's had a lot of games where afterwards were like,
10:25I didn't have his best stuff today.
10:26Well, like how often do you not have your best stuff?
10:28And he's gone the deepest he has into games in April in his career.
10:32He's thrown the most pitches he has in games in April in his career.
10:35I'm talking about individual games.
10:36I don't know about the totality of the month.
10:38Probably.
10:38But, yeah, honestly, I would imagine.
10:40So, I don't know the answer, but is his dip in velocity related to workload, and is
10:45that something to watch?
10:46I would just say monitor that.
10:47I'm not saying freak out about it, but let's see if that continues to be a thing in his
10:51next start and the start after that.
10:52Well, and it was brutal, too, just because, you know, he kind of had to be a gamer to get
10:58through five, right?
10:59It looked like at one point, like, oh, man, like, he might have to come out early, but
11:02he got through five.
11:03He was at least in line for the win, and it is one thing where I guess at least the
11:08bullpen has been bad for everybody.
11:10Usually there's like one pitcher that has like the worst luck, but no, they've treated
11:14him equally.
11:14Tanner Houck got a game blown for him.
11:16Lucas Giolito got a game blown for him.
11:18Garrett Crochet got a game blown for him.
11:19They are.
11:20They're equal opportunists when it comes to that.
11:21Those guys were all lined up for wins, and the team, you know, they also, like, their
11:27offense kind of runs out of gas late, but I'm still pointing more towards the bullpen
11:31because you were up.
11:32Like, the starter was out.
11:33You needed to get either nine outs, or I guess in the case yesterday, you needed to get 12
11:37outs and weren't able to do it.
11:39So the Red Sox are 500.
11:41What's wrong with them?
11:41They dodged a bullet with Crochet yesterday.
11:43That could have been a lot worse because they have no margin for error after him, and they
11:48got to figure out how to replace Tristan Cassis.
11:49Keith, his solution is Christian Campbell.
11:51Move him to first.
11:52Get Marcelo Meyer up.
11:54Play him at second.
11:54I play Devers there and get Roman Anthony up here and mix him in at DH along with the
11:59outfield.