Fourthought: On Josh McDaniels, Jayson Tatum, Brad Marchand and the Red Sox

• Jayson Tatum

  

  Jayson Tatum and Onyeka Okongwu tussle over a rebound. (USA Today/Brian Fluharty)

  OK, I admit it: I, like many, would like Jayson Tatum to be demonstrative or, really, assertive. So when Tatum tangled with Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu for a rebound in Saturday’s eventual loss to the Atlanta Hawks, in initially felt like a jolt of lightning. Well after the whistle blew, Tatum wrestled over the ball with Okongwu in what felt like a relatively needless, territorial tussle. Nonetheless, it was good to see.

  What happened next, of course, left one to wonder whether it got Tatum off his game – at least a little. Tatum’s first two shot attempts following the confrontation with Okongwu were both three pointers – and they were both on the heavier side. The first of the two missed the rim entirely and nearly took down the backboard; the second thumped on the back of the rim. You can see them both here:

  

  After the game, Tatum was asked about the confrontation with Gary Washburn and offered this:

  “Honestly, I probably did that for you,” Tatum said. “I thought you’d probably like that, me being angry and sh–. But it was fun, a little tussle, I think the fans enjoyed it.”

  To Tatum’s credit, he has often been quite honest about his disposition. He has noted for instance, that he doesn’t exude the ferocity of someone like Kevin Garnett. If Saturday was an attempt at Tatum showing his fire – and that’s OK – it seemed to have an adverse effect on his play, at least for a spurt. In the end, how he plays on the floor is more important. And if that means being more like Tim Duncan than Garnett, well, so be it. He is who he is.

• Brad Marchand

  

  Aug 26, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) and right wing Chris Wagner (14) react on the bench during the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning in game three of the second round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

  That photo above? It’s from 2020. But in a pinch, it was the most recent, best photo I could find of Brad Marchand sitting on the bench during a game. And it kind of makes sense. Marchand has been a whirling dervish during his NHL career, a player whom you must always keep an eye on anytime he’s on the ice. It’s where he has always done his best most entertaining work.

  But on Saturday, Marchand was the on the bench when the Bruins went to overtime against the Ottawa Senators after blowing a 5-3 lead en route to a 6-5 defeat. And he stayed there. After the game, interimn coach Joe Sacco was asked whether Marchand had a physical problem and answered rather succinctly, as show here:

  To his credit, Marchand said the right things after the game, saying that a player must earn the right to play in overtime. But with the Bruins having just ended a six-game losing streak before the slip-up, Sacco was clearly trying to send a message – to Marchand, to the team, or both. It’s not often that a team captain gets singled by out a coach, so good for Sacco for setting a standard. Marchand is in the final year of his contract and has seemingly been in the midst of everything this year, both bad and good. Bruins team president Cam Neely recently noted that the disappointing Bruins may have to “re-tool” at the trading deadline, which could, theoretically, put Marchand in trade discussions. His departure would put a ceremonial end (if nothing else) to the era defined by Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Zdeno Chara, who backboned the team during three trips to the Stanley Cup finals.

• The Red Sox

   

  

  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – AUGUST 15: Tanner Scott #66 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning at Fenway Park on August 15, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

  So what’s worse: the Red Sox getting outbid for someone like Juan Soto? or the Red Sox never having a chance and losing out on someone like Roki Sasaki?

  In the case of the former, Soto was a true free agent who drew bids from the biggest financial powers in baseball before setting on a $765 million contract from the New York Mets? In the case of the latter, Sasaki cost next to nothing during a controlled bidding process that put all 30 teams in the majors on level ground. In both cases, the Red Sox ended up empty-handed.

  All of that brings us to Tanner Scott, a left-handed reliever who recently signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers after at least one report that the Red Sox offered him more money. The Red Sox have denied this, which should absolutely be noted. But it should also be noted that the Red Sox’ biggest move this season was a trade for left-hander Garrett Crochet, whom the team acquired in a trade. The point is that Crochet didn’t choose the Red Sox, though that could change if and when he agrees to a long-term extension.

  Again, here’s the point: are the Red Sox are appealing as destination as they have been in the past? Indisputably, the answer is no. The Sox’ biggest free-agent signing thus far has been right-hander Walker Buehler on a one-year, $21.05 million contract, an arranged marriage. The Sox and Buehler (who is rebounding from surgery and pitched well in the postseason) are both using each other – the Red Sox’ without any long-term risk and Buehler for the right to get back on the market – which is fine. But if further amplifies the point that the Red Sox have seemingly no interest in signing megadeals, at least to pitchers, which strips them of one major advantage that they have over most teams in baseball: their financial might.

  Can the Sox win any way? Let’s see. They’re definitely better than they were at the end of 2024.

  How much better remains to be seen.