October 25, 2023 - Digital Sports Desk

NEW YORK – (Staff and Wire service Report) – Boston’s newly acquired center Kristaps Porzingis scored nine of his 30 points in the final 2:34 on Wednesday night for the visiting Celtics as they overcame a late six-point deficit to beat the New York Knicks, 108-104, in the season opener for both teams.

Porzingis drained all six of his free throws down the stretch and hit a key three-pointer with 1:29 left that put Boston ahead for good at 104-101. His perfect performance from the foul line highlighted a fourth quarter in which the Celtics made 14 of 15 free throws. They finished the game 22-for-26 from the line.

Porzingis’ 30 points are the most ever by a Celtics player in his first game for the team. The 7-foot-3 center, who spent the first three seasons of his career with the Knicks, was acquired from the Washington Wizards on June 23.

Boston all-star Jayson Tatum (34 points, 11 rebounds) had a double-double for the Celtics, who led by as many as 12 in the third quarter and opened the fourth with a nine-point lead before the Knicks stormed back, rocking Madison Square Garden as though it was 1969-70.

New York’s RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley each had 24 points for the Knicks, who were 18 of 41 from 3-point land but just 14 of 26 from the free-throw line, including 5 of 9 in the fourth quarter.

Knicks’ center Julius Randle (14 points. 11 rebounds) had a double-double while point guard Jalen Brunson scored 15 points but shot just 6-for-21 from the field. NY’s Quentin Grimes added 11 points.

Barrett scored the first seven points of the fourth to begin a 13-2 run for the Knicks, who took their first lead at 86-84 on Josh Hart’s 3-pointer with 8:56 left. New York twice opened up a six-point lead, the last time at 101-95 on Brunson’s floater with 3:39 left, before Jrue Holiday’s layup began the Celtics’ game-ending run.

The Knicks missed their next six shots from the field, a span in which Porzingis scored nine unanswered points. Isaiah Hartenstein converted a putback with 18 seconds left to cut the Celtics’ lead to 106-104, but Payton Pritchard hit a pair of free throws and Brunson missed two 3-point attempts in the waning seconds.

Boston led 51-46 at the break behind 19 points from Tatum. Barrett paced New York with 14.

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official New Release) – The Boston Red Sox named Craig Breslow as the club’s Chief Baseball Officer. In this role, he will be responsible for all of the team’s baseball operations.

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A 2013 World Series champion with Boston, Breslow becomes only the fourth former Red Sox player to lead the club’s baseball operations efforts, the first since Haywood Sullivan served as General Manager from 1978-83.

“Each year, one baseball club emerges with a championship,” said Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry. “Our organization continues to have significantly high standards and expectations with a goal of being able to compete annually for that coveted privilege. After the 2018 World Series, we sought to build a future that would avoid the ups and downs normally associated with winning. That plainly hasn’t happened. Despite the results, over the past few years, substantial efforts have been made and considerable organizational progress has occurred behind the scenes, but not at the major league level. We feel strongly that Craig is the right person at the right time to lead our baseball department. Craig’s understanding of the game is remarkable. What convinced us to bring him aboard in this capacity was his highly strategic philosophy and his grasp of what it takes operationally in today’s evolving game to excel at the highest level in player acquisition, development, and execution at the major league level. We are excited to welcome him back.”

“We met a number of extremely qualified candidates and Craig’s vision for how to bring another World Series Championship to Boston was extremely thoughtful, compelling, and inspiring,” said Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner. “He not only has deep experience as a front office executive, but he’s also a former player who knows the market extremely well. And while his baseball expertise remains the dominant factor, his genuine aspiration to create a better world sets him apart as an extraordinary leader. I’m eager to welcome him to the Red Sox and look forward to the impact he will have on our operation.”

“Craig was a standout candidate,” said Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy. “The praise from fellow baseball executives was impressive, but what truly distinguished him were the resounding character references from former teammates, including David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, David Ross, Brock Holt, and Kevin Youkilis. Craig knows what it takes to be successful in Boston and he’s up for the challenge.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to return to the Boston Red Sox, an organization that means so much to my family and to me,” said Breslow. “I am humbled by the opportunity to lead baseball operations and to work alongside so many talented people. I’d like to thank John Henry, Tom Werner, Mike Gordon, and Sam Kennedy for entrusting me with executing the vision we share for this organization. I know firsthand how special winning in Boston is, and I look forward to once again experiencing that passion and success with our fans.”

“I’d also like to thank Tom Ricketts, Crane Kenney, Jed Hoyer, Carter Hawkins, and the Chicago Cubs for giving me my first opportunity in a Major League front office,” added Breslow.

Breslow, 43, spent the past five seasons in the Chicago Cubs organization, most recently as Assistant General Manager/Senior Vice President, Pitching in 2023. His front office career began in 2019 with the Cubs as Director of Strategic Initiatives, evaluating and implementing data-based processes throughout all facets of Baseball Operations while also supporting the pitching infrastructure in the farm system. In 2020 he was named Director of Pitching/Special Assistant to the President and General Manager, then spent the 2021-22 seasons as Assistant General Manager/Vice President, Pitching.

Selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 26^th round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Breslow pitched 12 Major League seasons and recorded a 3.45 ERA over 576 appearances for San Diego (2005), Boston (2006, ’12-15), Cleveland (2008, ’17), Minnesota (2008-09, ’17), Oakland (2009-11), Arizona (2012), and Miami (2016). He appeared in 202 games for the Red Sox, notably posting a 1.81 ERA in 61 outings in the 2013 regular season to help Boston capture the American League East title en route to a World Series championship. Breslow allowed zero earned runs in nine of his 10 Postseason outings in 2013, earning the win in Boston’s ALDS-clinching victory over the Rays before securing a hold in the club’s ALCS-clinching win over the Tigers.

Breslow graduated in 2002 from Yale University with a degree in molecular biophysics and biochemistry. He was named the “Smartest Man in Baseball” by The Wall Street Journal in 2009, and in 2010 he ranked No. 1 on The Sporting News list of Top 20 Smartest Athletes.

In 2008, Breslow founded the Strike 3 Foundation, which aims to heighten awareness, mobilize support, and raise funding for childhood cancer research. In 2013, he earned the Red Sox’ Tim Wakefield Community Service Award and was named the BoSox Club’s “Man of the Year.” Breslow was nominated for Major League Baseball’s prestigious Roberto Clemente Award three times, including in 2010 with the Oakland A’s and in 2013 and 2014 with the Red Sox.

Born in New Haven, CT, Breslow resides in Newton, MA, with his wife, Kelly; daughter, Livia; and twin boys, Mason and Carter.

OVER THE YEARS AT FENWAY

RED SOX BASEBALL OPERATIONS LEADERSHIP

1933-47: Eddie Collins*

1948-58: Joe Cronin*^

1959-60: Bucky Harris*

1961-62: Dick O’Connell (1)

1963-65: Mike Higgins^ (2)

1965-77: Dick O’Connell* (3)

1978-83: Haywood Sullivan*^

1984-93: Lou Gorman*

1994-2002: Dan Duquette*

2002: Mike Port* (4)

2002-05: Theo Epstein*

2005-06: Ben Cherington/Jed Hoyer* (5)

2006-11: Theo Epstein*

2011-15: Ben Cherington*

2015-19: Dave Dombrowski (6)

2019-23: Chaim Bloom (7)

2023-present: Craig Breslow^ (8)

^Played for the Red Sox

*Held title of General Manager

(1) The General Manager position was eliminated for the 1961-62 seasons; Executive Vice President of Business and Baseball Operations Dick O’Connell assumed the role.

(2) Mike Higgins was Executive Vice President in charge of baseball operations while Dick O’Connell maintained oversight of business operations.

(3) Dick O’Connell was named General Manager on September 16, 1965 when Mike Higgins resigned.

(4) Mike Port was named interim General Manager on February 28, 2002.

(5) Theo Epstein left the Red Sox from October 21, 2005-January 19, 2006. Ben Cherington and Jed Hoyer were named co-General Managers on December 12, 2005 and served in that capacity until Epstein’s return.

(6) Dave Dombrowski was hired as President of Baseball Operations on August 18, 2015.

(7) Chaim Bloom was hired as Chief Baseball Officer on October 28, 2019.

(8) Craig Breslow was hired as Chief Baseball Officer on October 25, 2023.

Archives for October 25, 2023

Porzingis Leads Celtics Over Knicks

NBA All-Star ’24: Back to Basics

Red Sox: Breslow is the One