This week’s 40-man roster deadline was less eventful than usual (we only had one trade on deadline day), but as always, a number of young players became big leaguers in a certain sense, and teams had no choice but to indicate what they think of lots of fringe prospects who they either did or did not choose to roster. This day of clerical activity is the culmination of the efforts of the players themselves, the people in player development who have helped turn them into big leaguers, and the scouting and decision-making portions of each org that put their stamp of approval on the prospects. Is any one move here as impactful as signing a Yoshinobu Yamamoto or a Matt Chapman? No, but when your favorite team experiences a rash of injuries in June, whether or not they have the depth to scrap and compete is often dictated by the people and processes that surround this day. I’m more focused on analyzing roster depth, fit and flexibility in this space than on scouting players (especially when they’re star prospects you already know well). I’ll have a separate post on the National League. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s tough to defend one of the most unpopular trades of the past 10 years, but when Mookie Betts got traded to the Dodgers in 2020, some people tried. One of the most commonly grasped straws involved the centerpiece of the deal, Alex Verdugo. Nobody worth listening to said Verdugo was as good as Betts, who was at that point an MVP, the best player on the best team of the 2010s, and on a bullet train to Cooperstown. But Verdugo was a good player, of a similar type to Betts. He’s also three and a half years younger than Betts, and at the time of the trade had five seasons of team control left to Betts’ one.

And if you squint hard enough, you can see it. Verdugo, at his best, has the same strengths as Betts: hitting for contact, defense in right field, doubles power. Where the comparison falls apart is that Verdugo is merely good at those things, and an average regular overall, while Betts is among the best in the game at defense and contact hitting. And while Verdugo is good for about a dozen home runs a year, Betts averages 32 home runs and 22 stolen bases per 162 games played. Snatch is a pretty good gangster movie, but anyone who tells you it’s as good as The Godfather is trying to get one over on you.

Now, Verdugo does have something more concrete in common with Betts: He’s one year from free agency, and the Red Sox are shopping him. Read the rest of this entry »

Shintaro Fujinami has a good understanding of how NPB compares to MLB. Prior to signing with the Oakland Athletics in January (and subsequently being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in July), the 29-year-old right-hander spent 10 seasons with the Hanshin Tigers. Along the way he faced many of Japan’s top hitters, with Central League stalwarts such as Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto among the standouts. The latter was the first name Fujinami mentioned when I asked which of his former position-player opponents would best perform stateside.

“I think that Okamoto, the third baseman for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants, would be pretty good here,” replied Fujinama, who went 7-8 with a 7.18 ERA over 79 relief innings in his first MLB season. “He’s a power hitter in Japan, although a power hitter there isn’t the same as here. Power hitters in Japan won’t hit 40 home runs over here like Shohei Ohtani does. But he would do well.”

A 27-year-old right-handed hitter, Okamoto slugged an NPB-best 41 home runs this year while slashing .278/.374/.585. He’s gone deep at least 30 times in each of the last six seasons, a span that includes a .274 batting average and 108 strikeouts annually. Despite the not-low K totals, Fujinami believes that Okamoto possesses the bat-to-ball skills to handle MLB pitching. Moreover, he doesn’t feel that high heaters would bedevil the Yomiuri slugger.

“He has good contact-ability, and he’s also good at hitting fastballs,” Fujinami told me during our September conversation. “The fastball velocity here is higher than it is in Japan, but I feel that Okamoto could make an adjustment to that if he came here. I think that Okamoto can hit a fastball at the top of the zone better than Murakami. If I had to pick one to bring here to the states, I would pick Okamoto.” Read the rest of this entry »

Nick Pivetta had an intriguing and largely successful season. A starter to begin the year, the veteran right-hander was shifted to Boston’s bullpen in mid-May, only to return to the rotation a few months later and finish strong. Save for a smattering of rocky outings — mostly in the early going — he was actually solid throughout. All told, the 30-year-old Victoria, British Columbia native logged a 4.04 ERA and a 3.98 FIP over 142-and-two-thirds innings, the second-highest innings mark on the club.

He was often overpowering. Opposing hitters had a .207 BA and a .221 xBA versus his array of offerings, while his 31.2% strikeout rate ranked in the 93rd percentile among big league hurlers per Baseball Savant. An in-season addition to the Red Sox righty’s repertoire was especially effective: Pivetta posted a 44.4% whiff rate and allowed just a .114 BA and a .127 xBA on his sweeper.

Pivetta, who ended up making 16 starts and 22 relief appearances on the season, discussed his 2023 performance on the final week of September.

———

David Laurila: How would you assess your season as a whole?

Nick Pivetta: “I’d say it was good. I mean, I think I’ve handled the situation well. I’ve gone out and given my best effort — I’ve competed and put everything on the line for the organization — and that’s all I really focus on. I’m always making sure that I’m doing the best I can for the team.” Read the rest of this entry »

Direct Links (Please see full job postings below):

2024 Amateur Scouting Development Associate
2024 Complex Development Coach Associate
Hitting Coach, Complex
Infield Coordinator
Minor League Assistant Athletic Trainer
Korean-Language Translator

2024 Amateur Scouting Development Associate

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS /BASEBALL OPERATIONS /ASSOCIATE/CO-OP/INTERN/ ON-SITE

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
The Amateur Domestic Scouting department is primarily responsible for improving organizational talent through the Rule IV Draft and UDFA signing process. The Amateur Domestic Scouting department should be optimized for being best in class at identifying, evaluating, and ultimately valuing amateur baseball talent. This includes, but is not limited to creating well-grounded scouting practices, building relationships for intelligence background gathering, leveraging R&D for process support, developing strong staff education frameworks, and establishing sound decision-making processes.

POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Boston Red Sox Amateur Scouting Development Associate is one of the most unique entry-level positions in the industry. It provides the opportunity to hone your skills as an evaluator; directly assisting area scouts and cross checkers with coverage while concurrently supporting the front office staff with video and data collection. In the role, this person will spend most of their time tracking down specific targets, writing reports, and meeting with members of the department to expedite personal and professional growth. The Associate will also get the opportunity to present at draft meetings and gain insight to draft strategy to further development. Cultivating impact evaluators that eventually fit into future openings within the scouting departments of the Boston Red Sox is a priority. These Associate roles hopefully serve as a key step towards achieving that goal.

California’s Pay Transparency laws require disclosure of salary ranges in job advertisements and the base salary is commensurate with experience, ranging from $40,000-$50,000.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assisting local area scouts with coverage
• Writing scouting reports
• Learning to navigate the landscape of internal systems
• Understanding the ancillary job responsibilities of area scouts
• Collecting video
• Building a foundation of understanding baseball technologies
• Developing relationships with the local baseball community
• Assist in on-field player workouts
• Participate in weekly meetings with front office personnel

CHARACTERISTICS / QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong passion for scouting and talent evaluation
• Evident open-mindedness with a high willingness to learn & receive feedback
• Excellent time management skills
• Sound communication skills
• Admirable attention to detail
• Flexible hours including nights & weekends
• Willingness to relocate to either Southern California or Northern Florida

Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, disability, military/veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or protected genetic information.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

2024 Complex Development Coach Associate

FORT MYERS, FL, UNITED STATES /BASEBALL OPERATIONS /ASSOCIATE/CO-OP/INTERN/ ON-SITE

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
The Player Development Staff is dedicated to cultivating impact talent from around the globe utilizing best-in-class practices for mental, physical, and fundamental progression. Utilizing innovative technology, dynamic training, and modern facilities, we provide our staff with growth opportunities throughout various industry paths.

POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Complex Development Coach Associate will work within the Player Development department to ensure information is leveraged to advance development goals of minor league players at the Florida Complex. The position will work closely with Roving Coordinators, Affiliate Staff, and Baseball Analytics, to help inform decision-making related to player plan goals. The role will have a dual-reporting relationship with the Assistant Director, Player Development and Coordinator, Baseball Development.

TIMELINE: January 2024-October 2024

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Aid in the implementation of new technology, to collect information and improve player performance
• Assist with the integration of information from the Baseball Analytics department
• Ensure that on-field coordinators, coaches, Baseball Analytics, and are aligned with goals for each individual player
• Provide daily communication and periodic feedback reports to players, coaches, coordinators, and front-office
• Perform important quality control functions related to data recorded and information delivered to players and staff members
• Assist with daily upkeep of player development and advance scouting materials

CHARACTERISTICS / QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong administrative skills
• Organized, proactive, and strong communicative skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Willing to relocate
• Willing to work nights, weekends, and holidays
• Willing to travel with the team
• Prior experience in baseball/softball is preferred – College baseball team, summer team, training facility
• Prior video experience (BATS, Synergy, Edgertronic) is preferred
• Prior baseball technology experience (Trackman, Blast, Rapsodo) is preferred

Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, disability, military/veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or protected genetic information.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

Hitting Coach, Complex

FORT MYERS, FL, UNITED STATES /BASEBALL OPERATIONS /FULL-TIME/ ON-SITE

POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Hitting Coach, Complex will work closely with the Director, Hitting Development and Program Design and necessary auxiliary staff to implement, execute, and track evidence-based offensive development. It is a uniformed position that will assist in the daily fulfillment of individual player plans.

ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coach hitters during practice and games.
• Collaborate with hitting staff to design and implement daily practice plans.
• Execute individual player plans as advised by the Director, Hitting Development and Program Design.
• Introduce Advance Reports and Game Planning to complex hitters using available data.
• Utilize and operate various baseball technologies including Blast Motion, HitTrax, and K-Vest.
• Report on athlete results on a consistent basis to Coordinator, Hitting Development.
• Educate athletes in various settings, including a classroom.
• Assist the FCL Manager and staff in daily on-field practice.
• Work with hitters rehabbing at the complex.
• Work with the Sports Science team on research initiatives.

Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, disability, military/veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or protected genetic information.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

Infield Coordinator

FORT MYERS, FL, UNITED STATES /BASEBALL OPERATIONS /FULL-TIME/ ON-SITE

DESCRIPTION:
The Infield Coordinator is primarily responsible for overseeing the development of all minor league infielders in the Boston Red Sox organization. The candidate will play a key role in evaluating current programming, as well as introducing and developing new programming. This includes, but is not limited to, scaling programming effectively across the Red Sox infielder pool, creating well established systems, and forming effective frameworks for experimentation and learning. As part of the responsibilities, the Infield Coordinator will educate and collaborate with players and staff to maximize departmental buy-in.

Additionally, with a focus on the intersection of Research & Development, Skill Acquisition, Analytics, Sport Science, and biomechanical data gathering, the Infield Coordinator will ensure that the programming is evidence-based and effective in the pursuit of building championship caliber Major League Infielders.

With oversight of the skill positions at each affiliate, the position will also interface with the Major League staff, Minor League coordinators/coaches/staff, and PD leadership. The ideal candidate must be inquisitive, intellectually curious, data-driven, open-minded, and must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills.

ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Through a commitment to our core values of communication, empowerment, and accountability, lead our group of infield coaches and players in the pursuit of establishing programming that will drive the facilitation of best-in-class development for our infielders.
• Work with the Field Coordinator and the other defensive coordinators in creating and upholding an identity as a defensive department.
• Work with the leadership from other departments in the development and execution of individual player plans, as well as follow through with maintaining emphasis on priority goals during the season.
• Build and execute staff development, evaluation, and education systems for the skill coaches under their charge. This includes in-season and off-season development systems for staff growth, with an expectation building relationships while investing in the development of their staff with clear, candid, and actionable feedback.
• Oversee the INF training environments at each affiliate.  This includes, but is not limited to, establishing expectations and systems to carry out world class training environments throughout the season.

TRAVEL:

• Representation at any events and meetings deemed appropriate by the Club. Rove to the Player Development Complex, DR Academy, and all affiliates to support & develop staff and evaluate processes. Visits to the Major League club are also included for the purpose of evaluating continuity between Major League and Minor League operations.

Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, disability, military/veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or protected genetic information.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

Minor League Assistant Athletic Trainer

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS /BASEBALL OPERATIONS /SEASONAL/ ON-SITE

POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Boston Red Sox are hiring Minor League Seasonal Assistant Athletic Trainers for the 2024 season. Positions will be located at the minor league affiliates pending availability (Portland, ME, Greenville, SC, Salem, VA, Fort Myers, FL, and Dominican Republic Academy). Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to Spring Training, coverage of the assigned Minor League Affiliate Season, and post-season camps. The report date would be Spring Training 2024 (Fort Myers, FL) through the completion of the assigned Minor League Affiliate Season. Chosen candidates should expect a great learning opportunity in an advancing field of evidence-based practice while gaining valuable experience working within a professional sports medicine team.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide care and management of injuries and illnesses including: prevention, evaluation, management and rehabilitation protocols
• Scheduling and execution of athlete monitoring assessments and data collection for Strength and Conditioning, Health & Performance, Sports Science and other baseball initiatives
• Learn and aid in the proper documentation within the MLB EMR system
• Assist in the various administrative duties/reporting procedures
• Coordinate and administer infection control duties

EXPECTATIONS:

• Adhere to Boston Red Sox Organization policies and procedures
• Act as a role model within and outside the Boston Red Sox Organization
• Performs duties as workload necessitates
• Demonstrate flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Interested applicants should be a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) or be enrolled in a CAATE accredited program and eligible to sit for BOC exam prior to the position start date
• Eligible for state athletic training licensure in affiliated state
• Applicants are expected to fulfill the duration of the position
• High level of interpersonal skills and be able to effectively communicate with wide range of departments, seniority levels and personalities
• Preferable if applicants have prior experience and/or additional certification in strength & conditioning
• Prior baseball experience and bilingual are a plus but not required

Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, disability, military/veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or protected genetic information.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

Korean-Language Translator

FORT MYERS, FL, UNITED STATES /BASEBALL OPERATIONS /SEASONAL/ ON-SITE

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
The Player Development Staff is dedicated to cultivating impact talent from around the globe utilizing best-in-class practices for mental, physical, and fundamental progression. Utilizing innovative technology, dynamic training, and modern facilities, we provide our staff with growth opportunities throughout various industry paths.

POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Korean Language Translator will assist the Red Sox Player Development department with Korean-language translation for all uniformed Red Sox players, staff, and personnel, as well as for media interviews.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assignment to a player who requires translation assistance
• Attend all workouts, games, team meetings, appointments with training and/or medical staff, and any other activities where Korean-language translation is needed
• Attend Spring Training in Fort Myers, FL as well as any other offseason player development programs where Korean-language translation is needed
• Assist with cultural immersion, English-language learning, and translation for matters not related to baseball when appropriate
• Assist Player Development personnel with the completion of administrative tasks as needed

CHARACTERISTICS / QUALIFICATIONS:

• Korean fluency is required
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Korean
• Working knowledge of baseball and related statistics
• Ability to work long hours including nights, holidays and weekends and to travel both domestically and internationally

Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, disability, military/veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or protected genetic information.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Boston Red Sox.

Caleb Ferguson is far from the biggest name on a Los Angeles Dodgers team that won 100 games during the regular season. Much for that reason, people who don’t closely follow the perennial NL West powerhouse probably don’t know how effective he’s been. To little fanfare, the 27-year-old southpaw made 68 appearances and went 7-4 with three saves while posting a 3.43 ERA and a 3.34 FIP over 60-and-a-third innings. Moreover, his numbers were even better if you discount the seven times he served as an opener. As a reliever, Ferguson won seven of nine decisions with a 3.02 ERA and a 3.07 FIP. His K-rate out of the pen was a tasty 27.5%.

Home cooking has been to his liking. Pitching at Chavez Ravine — Dodger Stadium if you will — the Columbus, Ohio native logged a sparkling 1.10 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a paltry .190/.258/.267 slash line.

Those things said, Ferguson is a square peg in a round hole when it comes to one of the organization’s well-known strengths. Analytics aren’t his thing.

“I guess it has the characteristics of a high-spin fastball,” Ferguson replied when I asked about the movement profile of his mid-90s four-seamer, a pitch he relied on 66.5% of the time this year. “But I don’t really look at the metrics, to be honest. I just come in and try to make good pitches. More than anything, I try to throw the ball in the safest spot to each guy. When I look at scouting reports, it’s basically just the safe zones and the danger zones.”

Ferguson likewise claimed not to know the metrics on his 33.5 percent-usage slider (Baseball Savant classifies the pitch as a cutter). Nor is he interested in knowing. Read the rest of this entry »

Back in August, my colleague Ben Clemens crafted an article titled Wait, Zack Littell is a Starter Now?! It was an apt headline. Not only had the 27-year-old right-hander been DFA’d by the Red Sox a few months earlier — Boston having been his third organization in as many years, and his sixth overall — he’d logged a 4.08 ERA over 145 big-league appearances, all but four out of the bullpen, with just three saves. As Clemens pointed out, Littell “wasn’t even a dominant reliever.”

Of course, this was the Tampa Bay Rays who’d moved him into their rotation. Much for that reason, Clemens qualified his skepticism by saying, “What else can we do but wait and see the results?”

The results have remained largely positive. Littell has a not-so-great 6.75 ERA in 14 appearances out of the bullpen this year, but in the same number of outings as a starter his ERA is 3.41. Moreover, he’s consistently gone five-plus innings. As Rays beat writer Marc Topkin told me for an article that ran here at FanGraphs on Friday. the under-the-radar righty “has basically saved the starting rotation.”

How did the opportunity come about? Read the rest of this entry »

2024 Baseball Operations Associate

Location: Boston, MA
Department: Baseball Operations

Position Overview:
The Baseball Operations Associate will support all areas of the Baseball Operations Department, while primarily focusing on one or two areas (Amateur Scouting, International Scouting, Professional Scouting, Major League Strategic Information, Baseball Strategy & Personnel) with day-to-day administrative and office management duties.

Timeline: January 2024 – December 2024

Responsibilities:

• Assist with day-to-day operations for assigned department.
• Assist with research projects.
• Creatively pursue ways to improve internal processes.
• Organize and maintain information from non-office personnel.
• Manage video database including tagging & editing.
• Prepare information and logistics for meetings.
• Assist with various administrative and research projects.
• Operate various technology during home games.

Characteristics / Qualifications:

• Strong administrative skills.
• Ability to multitask in stressful situations.
• Strategic thinking & planning.
• Organized, proactive, and strong communicative skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Experience with SQL, R, Python is a plus, not required.
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus, but not required.
• Willing to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Prior softball or baseball experience is preferred.
• Valid Driver’s License.

Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, disability, military/veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or protected genetic information.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

2024 Player Development Associate

Location: Fort Myers, FL
Department: Baseball Operations

Department Overview:
The Player Development Staff is dedicated to cultivating impact talent from around the globe utilizing best-in-class practices for mental, physical, and fundamental progression. Utilizing innovative technology, dynamic training, and modern facilities, we provide our staff with growth opportunities throughout various industry paths.

Position Overview:
The Player Development Associate will be a member of the Player Development team, and is responsible for assisting with baseball operations at our complex in Fort Myers, FL. This individual will collaborate closely with Player Development front office personnel, coordinators, and coaches.

Timeline: February 2024-October 2024

Responsibilities:

• Assist with day-to-day logistics for Minor League Spring Training, Extended Spring Training, Florida Complex League, and Instructional League.
• Assist with daily administrative operations.
• Organize and distribute game video in a timely and quality manner.
• Manage video database to ensure it is readily available for staff and players to view.
• Collect non-game video proactively and at the request of staff.
• Operate and maintain various technology such as Blast, Rapsodo, Trackman, and Edgertronic cameras.
• Distribute analytical information to PD staff in collaboration our Analytics department.
• Assist with various administrative projects as assigned by coaching staff and Front Office.

Characteristics / Qualifications:

• Strong administrative skills.
• Organized, proactive, and strong communicative skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Willing to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Prior softball or baseball experience.
• Prior video experience (BATS, Synergy, Edgertronic).
• Prior technology experience with one or more of the following: Trackman, Blast, Rapsodo, HitTrax.
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus, but not required.

Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, disability, military/veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or protected genetic information.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

2024 Minor League Video & Technology Associate

Location: Multiple Locations
Department: Baseball Operations

Department Overview:
Members of the Baseball Systems Team at the Boston Red Sox are focused on designing, building, and refining the software and data pipelines used within Baseball Operations. These tools and applications are an integral part of the decision-making process, are directly integrated in the workflows of all departments within Baseball Operations, and provide an efficient, consistent, and accessible experience when interacting with our internal data sources and applications.

Position Overview:
The Minor League Video & Technology Associate will be a member of the Player Development team, and is responsible for managing video and data collection at their assigned affiliate. This individual will collaborate closely with the coaching staff, coordinators, Player Development, Baseball Systems, and Analytics front office members.

Timeline: February 2024 – October 2024

Responsibilities:

• Collect video by setting up multiple cameras and using BATS video software.
• Organize and distribute game video in a timely and quality manner.
• Manage video database to ensure it is readily available for staff and players to view.
• Manage all video equipment and computers making sure it is properly cared for and working effectively.
• Collect non-game video proactively and at the request of staff.
• Operate and maintain various technology used at affiliate such as Blast, Rapsodo, Trackman, Hawkeye, Kinatrax, and Edgertronic cameras.
• Distribute analytical information to coaching staff produced by our Analytics department.
• Assist with various administrative projects as assigned by coaching staff and Front Office.
• Assist in video collection and technology implementation during Spring Training.

Prospective employees will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, religious creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, disability, military/veteran status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or protected genetic information.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Boston Red Sox.

Gavin Williams came as advertised when I saw him pitch earlier this month. The 24-year-old rookie right-hander’s fastball topped out at 99.3 mph, while his slider sat in the mid-80s and occasionally topped 90. Allowing one hit and a lone run over five rain-delayed innings against the Minnesota Twins, Williams was all about power.

He also came as advertised when I spoke to him on the day preceding his outing. I was told that the 6-foot-6, 255-pound Cleveland Guardians hurler is a man of few words, and that was pretty much the case. While accommodating, Williams was anything but verbose. No matter. I largely got what I was looking for: a self-appraisal of what he brings to the table.

“Most people know me for my fastball, really,” the righty replied when I asked for a self scouting report. “That’s the main thing people know me as, and it’s what I know myself as.”

The Fayetteville, North Carolina native first hit triple digits during his freshman year at East Carolina University, and as meaningful as that milestone was to his identity on the mound, he recognizes that retiring big-league hitters takes more than pure velocity.

“I don’t think 96 to 100 is that big of a difference,” Williams said. “If it’s down the middle it can get hit. Putting it where you want to is a bigger thing. It also matters how it moves.” Read the rest of this entry »

Imagine trading Mookie Betts. Chaim Bloom must have done that, must have considered all of the angles and potential outcomes of such a move, including the possibility that he would be saddled with it as his legacy — then sold principal owner John Henry on a vision of the Red Sox without the superstar right fielder in order to be hired as the team’s chief baseball officer in October 2019. That trade has not worked out well for the Red Sox, who have made the playoffs just once since winning the 2018 World Series, behaving more like a mid-market franchise than the league’s third-most valuable one. And while Bloom had put something of a stamp on the post-Betts roster, the rest of his vision will not be realized. On Thursday, the Red Sox fired him, kicking off a search for new leadership of their baseball operations department for the fourth time since Theo Epstein departed for the Cubs in October 2011.

Unlike predecessors Ben Cherington (2011–15) and Dave Dombrowski (2015–19), Bloom didn’t win a championship during his run to offset the team’s disappointing seasons. On his watch, the Red Sox went just 267–262 from the start of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season to the point of his dismissal, becoming more notable for their belt-tightening than for their on-field success. They made the playoffs only in 2021, when they went 92–70, finishing second in the AL East, then beating the Yankees in the Wild Card Game and the Rays in the Division Series before losing to the Astros in the ALCS. They finished last in the division in both 2020 (24–36) and ’22 (78–84) and fired Bloom while tied for fourth with the Yankees at 73–72, with just a 0.3% chance of making the playoffs. Read the rest of this entry »