HR 2 - Breaking Vrabel news
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The second hour of WEEI Afternoons dives deep into the Boston Red Sox's rocky start to the 2026 season, sparked by a disastrous outing from ace Garrett Crochet in the second inning of a game against the Twins. Hosts Andy Hart, Nick Fitzy Stevens, and Ted Johnson express growing concern over the team’s inconsistent starting pitching, youth-related struggles, and lack of offensive power, despite six wins tied to six starting pitchers going six or more innings. They question whether the team’s reliance on pitching is sustainable, especially with key players like Trevor Story and Jaron Duran underperforming at the plate and defensively. The conversation shifts to manager Alex Cora’s perspective during a live interview, where he acknowledges Crochet’s poor performance but remains confident in his ability to bounce back, citing off-season life changes and early-season velocity dips as contributing factors. Cora also defends the team’s youth movement, emphasizing player development in a compressed timeline, and denies any clubhouse tension over contract disparities. Later, the show pivots to breaking news: NFL reporter Diana Russini resigns from The Athletic after photos surface of her with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, sparking a broader discussion on ethics, credibility, and the role of visual evidence in modern journalism. The hosts debate whether her resignation was inevitable given the erosion of trust and the public nature of the scandal.
The Red Sox’s success hinges on starting pitchers reaching six innings, but recent struggles—especially Garrett Crochet’s collapse—raise serious concerns about long-term sustainability.
Youth in the lineup (Anthony, Durban, Mayer, Nevaez) is both a strength and a liability, with defensive lapses and inconsistent hitting undermining team cohesion.
Alex Cora attributes Crochet’s poor outing to off-season life changes and temporary velocity drops, not long-term decline, and believes the team will adjust.
The Red Sox’s offensive identity lacks power and patience—Trevor Story has 22 strikeouts and just one walk, while Jaron Duran’s OBP is below .300 despite being leadoff.
Cora rejects claims of contract jealousy in the clubhouse, emphasizing that players don’t know each other’s salaries and focus on performance.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Red Sox Rollercoaster: From Hope to Heartbreak
“If the starting pitching can get to inning six, then they'll win. If they can't, they will lose. It's that simple.”
The Pitching Crisis: Crochet’s Collapse and Velocity Concerns
“The same water that softens a potato hardens an egg. Pressure can affect people in different ways.”
Youth, Defense, and the Illusion of Depth
The hosts critique the Red Sox’s overabundance of young players and outfield depth, highlighting defensive lapses from Jaron Duran, Roman Anthony, and Trevor Story. They argue that too many unproven players are being asked to carry the load.
Alex Cora on the Hot Seat: Defense, Development, and the Future
“We have to be very careful. Too much, it's counterproductive.”
The Ethics of Media: Diana Russini’s Resignation
“When the ethics of something you do... become compromised, you need to step away from what you're doing.”
“When the ethics of something you do... become compromised, you need to step away from what you're doing.”
“The same water that softens a potato hardens an egg. Pressure can affect people in different ways.”
“I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”
Hosts
Guest
boston red sox
organization
ted johnson
person
alex cora
person
nick fitzy stevens
person
garrett crochet
person
andy hart
person
diana russini
person
trevor story
person
jaron duran
person
roman anthony
person
Trying to find the bright spots with this 1-3 Red Sox team
WEEI Afternoons • 21m • 3/31/2026
Alex Cora joins the show, brushes off early season struggles
WEEI Afternoons • 15m • 3/31/2026
Three Point Stance - Not your dad's Patriots
WEEI Afternoons • 21m • 3/31/2026
How big is the disconnect between Kraft and Vrabel?
WEEI Afternoons • 19m • 3/31/2026
Is the release of Josh Dobbs a good thing for Drake Maye?
WEEI Afternoons • 10m • 3/31/2026
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