It’s not remotely the right time to start talking about offseason movement, but there is movement afoot. Two of Craig Breslow’s assistant GMs, Mike Groopman and Taylor Smith, have already conducted preliminary interviews for the big chair in Sacramento after the A’s fired Dave Forst back in August. (Sean McAdam, MassLive)
Here in Boston, though, we’re unlikely to see a search for a new boss in a while. Craig Breslow earned himself quite a bit of rope this season, thanks to a decisive move that paid off big time in firing Alex Cora. “I believed in the players that we had, and I felt it was really important that we acted definitively and decisively when we did, so that we could create an environment around the players that was supportive, that would allow them to thrive, and they responded,” he said. “And, while there may have been some people that questioned what this group was capable of, I think they answered.” (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
And here’ s a look at some of the key moments of the season that got this team where it is today. Remember the ninth inning comeback against the Mets that came after that long-delayed flight? How about Caleb Durbin’s home run off Cam Schlittler? (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
But, strangely enough, when it came time to clinch the playoffs, it wasn’t a Red Sox player who did the dirty work, though it was a Red Sox legacy player. “And the man with the game-winning three-run homer that would, in the end, send both the Braves and the Red Sox to the postseason? Well, baseball is quite sentimental, and it also has a sense of humor, so, obviously, it was Mike Yastrzemski.” (Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru, MLB.com)
But the fact that the Sox clinched on a loss didn’t dampen the celebration. “There was a lot of beer!” said Payton Tolle. “It was a slobberknocker.” (Rob Bradford, WEEI)
But before the slobberknocker could get slobbin’, Chad Tracy addressed his team to sum up the season that was. “I want to express gratitude for everyone in the room,” he said. “I’m so grateful for you guys, for our staff, for everybody. You stared impossible in the face. The position we were in, you beat it back and said, ‘The hell with that, we’re going to the playoffs.’ And you did.” (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
So the Sox are in the dance. But for how long? That’s anyone’s guess, but Red Sox fans are apparently more optimistic than the fans of any other American league team. (Stephen J. Nesbitt, The Athletic)
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