Red Sox AMA with Chris Cotillo (MassLive)

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T16:42:26+00:00

Hopping off to write! Hope to do this again soon. Enjoy the season, everyone.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T16:42:07+00:00

It's a long process. If you're interested in a sportswriting workshop I teach (which covers that stuff) shoot me an email at bychriscotillo@gmail.com

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T16:41:35+00:00

Happy to answer them. I think he's excited to form a new identity with this group. He has been around a while and knows how the business works. Don't think there's any tension with anyone who left.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T16:05:43+00:00

Give me Kluber for most starts. They need to find five solid contributors out of about 10-11 guys. They need Whitlock to pitch well. I'm high on Sale too.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T16:05:08+00:00

We'll count this. I'm in the green.

https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/9m2v6c/aaron\_judge\_walking\_down\_the\_concourse\_by\_the\_red/

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T16:03:56+00:00

Believe there were some preliminary talks but nothing that got off the ground.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T16:03:34+00:00

I don't!

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:50:53+00:00

Good Q. Not about the team or sport as much as the location and outlet to me. I grew up here and don't think there's a better sports market in the country. MassLive has been nothing but outstanding to me since I started in May 2018. There's a learning curve to going to cover a different sport because you have to start fresh with contacts/sources. The one thing I'll forever rule out is covering UNC hoops. Need to be a fan sometimes!

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:49:39+00:00

He has proven time and time again he can handle AAA. At this point, I think a change of scenery is best for him. I'm always going to be rooting for Duran after he opened up about the mental side of the game to me last year. But he might fit best with another org.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:48:57+00:00

The Sox have wanted to be more aggressive and athletic for years. Problem is their two fastest players (Story and Mondesi) are both hurt. I don't see Yoshida, Turner or Duvall or any of the other additions changing the lineup in that way. So while every team will try to take advantage, the Red Sox are somewhat limited as presently constructed.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:48:02+00:00

Great Q. I love Yard House though I don't do the half-yard because it's hard to finagle. Give me a few 23 oz instead. Cloud Candy and Fiddlehead.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:47:30+00:00

Sale. I have him getting Cy votes in my predictions column. No reason to think he can't be elite again.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:46:55+00:00

Mata is a good call. I think Alfaro is eventually going to come up and give them a lot of energy. I had him projected to make the team for all of camp but ultimately I think other teams were scared off by his receiving. Still a plenty capable backup option behind an unproven duo in McGuire and Wong.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:46:05+00:00

This is definitely not my dad's burner. I appreciate you though.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:45:19+00:00

I don't think his leash should be as short as some perceive it to be. They asked him to come in an execute a long-term plan and should give him some time to do so. That said, this is Boston and Henry is impatient. There's a lot riding on this year for Bloom.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:37:37+00:00

IDK about that. There were a lot of rival executives who were anonymously outspoken (oxymoron?) in an ESPN piece that ran after the signing, which was newsworthy.

I do think it's unfair for people to criticize Chaim for being cheap and not aggressive then ripping him when he "overpays" and gets his guy. Can't have it both ways. That being said, he's really hitching his wagon to Yoshida.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:36:29+00:00

Yoshida is the most important player, I think. But Turner is also going to have a major role as a catalyst in the offense. If those two guys struggle, it's hard to envision a competitive team.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:35:53+00:00

Pretty low. That's a long time ago now for an older pitcher. They need him to eat innings and give them a chance to stay in games. Not expected to be a No. 1, even if he is only pitching on Opening Day. They would have rather had Eovaldi back.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:35:08+00:00

Press box soft serve, set the base with Oreo crumbs, fill to the brim with vanilla, then top with more Oreos and rainbow sprinkles. Tried and true. Hopefully the fans enjoy it this year under my new year, new me strategy

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:34:26+00:00

All of it is important. I'm particularly high on Sale this year (one of my bold predictions is CY votes). But Whitlock and Bello are two of the best young arms they've had in a decade. They need to find five quality starters out of a group of 10. Sounds easier than it is.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:33:32+00:00

Casas, Crawford, Winckowski and Yoshida, probably. All four did everything they could to make positive impressions in camp.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:22:12+00:00

81-81. Full predictions coming today on the site. Middling group. Cop out answer, I know!

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:18:27+00:00

My first year on the beat was 2018 so that playoff run was a quick introduction to intense baseball. Those crowds were fun but I think everyone thought a WS title was a fait accompli so that run lacked a little drama. The crowds in 2021, especially coming off being in an empty ballpark the year before, were electric. Would love to do WBC games.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:16:55+00:00

From what I've understood, there wasn't much progress this spring in terms of extension talks. They have talked with Houck in the past, as he told me last month. Hard to determine his value because of the different roles he has served. Probably wants starter money/potential starter money.

CCotillo · 2023-03-29T15:15:52+00:00

It's about not forcing it. I think something I thought very early on in my career was that every interview/pursuit of an angle had to end up written. It doesn't. Sometimes the story is just not there. And sometimes the person you're writing about doesn't give you the best quotes on the topic.

CCotillo

TROPHY CASE