Red Sox Interim Manager Chad Tracy Faces Player Dissatisfaction
Chad Tracy, the interim manager for the Red Sox, hasn’t quite earned the affection of his players since stepping in for Alex Cora.
The situation hit a low point when Tracy removed starting pitcher Brayan Bello in the fourth inning after he had thrown just 62 pitches during Wednesday’s 8-1 defeat against the Blue Jays. Bello visibly expressed his frustration as he watched Tracy approach the mound.
Things escalated when Bello walked the number nine hitter with two outs and a runner on base in a tight 3-1 game. Shortly after, reliever Greg Weissert gave up a two-run homer to Ernie Clement on his third pitch.
Bello couldn’t hide his disappointment, stating, “I haven’t pitched well in my last few starts. I want to go deeper in games, and today I wasn’t given that chance,” as translated by Carlos Viloria Benitez. He admitted that coming out of the game left him upset.
While Bello’s frustration might be justified, it’s clear he hasn’t yet built enough rapport with either Tracy or Cora to gain their full trust.
His performance has been concerning, with a dismal 9.12 ERA over 25 2/3 innings across six starts, ranking among the worst in the league recently.
Pitching coach Andrew Bailey defended the decision to take Bello out, emphasizing the need to keep the game competitive through a fresh bullpen.
“We wanted to remain in a good position,” Bailey explained. “We believed that with our well-rested relievers, this was the best choice for the team.” He added that after discussions with Tracy, they felt confident it was the right move.
Adding to the team’s troubles, ace Garrett Crochet is currently on the injured list due to shoulder issues, leaving the Red Sox scrambling.
Since Cora’s dismissal, several players have voiced their displeasure, particularly noting that the front office, including John Henry, did not engage with them directly about the coaching changes.
As Tracy takes the helm, the situation could deteriorate further if the team continues to struggle.
The last-place Red Sox (12-19) are set to begin a series against the Astros this Friday in Boston.
