* Craig Breslow majored in molecular biophysics and biochemistry at Yale, but surely, somewhere along the way, he learned some Latin, too.
And if the new Red Sox chief baseball officer is as smart as he seems, he’ll take this advice: Carpe diem, or, in its English translation, “seize the day.”
Think about some of the best moves made by Red Sox executives in the last 20 years: Hiring Terry Francona. Trading for Curt Schilling. Unloading Nomar Garciaparra. Shifting Jonathan Papelbon from rotation to closer. Moving Mookie Betts to the outfield.
Each was fraught with some risk. Some were unpopular or, at the very least, unorthodox. But each one ultimately worked because there was conviction behind the decision, and those in charge thought it was the right things to do — and damn the consequences.
As he takes over the Red Sox, Breslow needs to bring that risk-taking, that willingness to think big, back to the organization. Maybe that will take the form of a huge free agent signing or two. Or perhaps it might involve trading a prospect thought to be untouchable.
But whatever it is, Breslow needs to be bold. The Red Sox have qualified for the postseason just once in the last four years. That’s an unacceptable track record for a team with these resources.
In his introductory press conference Thursday, Breslow signaled a willingness to be audacious.
“I have the willingness and conviction to make the tough decisions necessary in this role,” he stated flatly.
Here’s what makes me think that’s true: Breslow was a major leaguer for a dozen seasons. Pro athletes are, by their very nature, competitive people. There’s no gray area on the field — you win or you lose, and most will do almost anything to do the former.
Some of that competitive zeal would be most welcome about now on Jersey Street.
* Here it is, just two weeks into the NBA season and already, Jaylen Brown has identified the Celtics’ biggest hurdle: themselves. “It’s tough being talented,” Brown said, “because it invites laziness, it invites complacency. But that’s going to be our enemy this season. It’s going to be us vs. us.”
On one hand, that might seem a little presumptuous for a team that hasn’t won anything. But I suppose a certain amount of self-awareness is a good thing to have at the outset of a rather tedious 82-game slog.
* For years, we’ve heard how the prospect cupboard is bare for the Bruins. Any ranking of NHL systems had the Bruins lodged at or near the bottom, in part because of the exodus of No. 1 picks that have been sacrificed in deadline deals. But one-eighth of the way through the season, it doesn’t look quite so barren. Matt Poitras looks to be a star in the making, John Beecher isn’t out of place as a bottom-six center and while it was just one game, Mason Lohrei was terrific in his debut.
* I read a lot of tributes to Bobby Knight this week, almost all of which included the word “complicated,’’ in describing him. Not here. Knight was a wonderful college basketball coach who, as a human being, was frequently insufferable. Both things can be true. Now, that wasn’t very complicated, was it?
* Who knows what the circumstances behind it were, but John Henry’s late arrival to Breslow’s introductory press conference earlier this week represented poor optics. We keep hearing that Henry cares deeply about his team, and yet he keeps doing things that suggest otherwise.
* I’m behind on this one, but Harlan Coben’s latest — I Will Find You — is a typically top-notch thriller from the master. As a bonus, much of it is set throughout New England.
* At what point do the majority of Patriots fans begin actively rooting for losses? Put aside questions about what the rest of the season may determine for Mac Jones and Bill Belichick and ask yourself: What’s the benefit of finishing, say, 6-11, over 3-14? It would appear there’s little chance of escaping the ignominy of the AFC East basement, so a better draft position should become the focus.
But what form will that take? Booing touchdowns? Cheering for turnovers? This much seems certain: Gillette will be a very different environment the next two months.
* There’s been some speculation that the Marlins have some interest in hiring Chaim Bloom. Just a guess, but I bet Bloom is too smart to reciprocate their interest. After dealing with mixed messaging from Red Sox ownership, it would seem the last person for whom he’d want to work for is Miami’s Bruce Sherman.
* Pay no attention to the cynics — the final Beatles’ single, “Now and Then,” is very much worthy of their unmatched legacy. The song is bittersweet to be sure, but there’s nothing exploitive about it. It’s worth it just to hear Lennon and McCartney harmonize one last time.
* It seems that it isn’t actually true that Mark Davis fired Josh McDaniels via fortune cookie. But let’s face it: it could have been. And that tells you everything you need to know about the current state of the Raidahs, who’ve gone from innovative iconoclasts to predictable ineptitude. Al, no doubt, weeps.
* Admittedly, I’m far from the target audience. But in regard to the new “in-season” NBA tournament, I have only two questions: How? And why?
I’ve read plenty about the format and still don’t understand it. As for the why, I guess the proper answer is: to break up the tedium of a long regular season and accrue additional inventory for TV. But none of that makes me want to watch it.
