Andrew Bailey and Craig Breslow talked about working together back during their playing days; 'Life’s too short to turn down opportunities like this'
The Red Sox introduced new pitching coach Andrew Bailey on Tuesday night to the media on Zoom. The 39-year-old covered multiple topics, one of which was highlighting his friendship with chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.
“Life’s too short to turn down opportunities like this. I think sitting in the bullpen with Craig over parts of five seasons (three with Oakland and two in Boston) together as teammates, and talking about how he was going to be a GM. I’m like, ‘Well, I’ll be a bullpen coach, pitching coach, manager, whatever you want’.”
The game of baseball takes a lot of twists and turns on and off the field, and for these two to meet up again was far from a guarantee. It shows their drive and vision, and ultimately the success they both had.
“I think we’ve kind of grown separately in other avenues of the game of baseball and have learned differently. But to be able to joke around like that with a former teammate and a true friend and now be able to see that path kind of laid out and be able to compete together in another capacity is special,” Bailey explained to a reporter on Tuesday night.
Bailey, while close friends with Breslow, won’t be afraid to challenge his his new boss as they strive towards the same goal of putting the Red Sox closer towards contention.
“I’m looking forward to working with him (Breslow) professionally and being able to kind of hold each other accountable in a different way, but absolutely looking (forward) to complete with him,” said Bailey.
Bailey and Breslow was part of the 2013 Red Sox World Series championship team, along with playing together in Oakland. Prior to his new role with the Red Sox, Bailey served as the Giants pitching coach the last four seasons.
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