Red Sox name Wren VP of baseball operations

[Spudboy]

Lol. This is getting funny.

 

How many bosses does this team need?

 

http://www.csnne.com/boston-red-sox/red-sox-name-wren-vp-baseball-operations

[Kimmi]

This move is starting to make me think that the "promotion" of Hazen to GM was just a ceremonial move to give a false impression.

[a700hitter]

This move is for the birds.

[VA Sox Fan]

This move is for the birds.

 

Nice. Poop on a dude who just got a new position. Can always count on you..... Whooo Hoooo!

[a700hitter]

Nice. Poop on a dude who just got a new position. Can always count on you..... Whooo Hoooo!

 

That was over your head?

[Spudboy]

I got it. And I don't pay too much attention!

[mvp 78]

So much middle management!

[SoxHop]

How much money does the Sox industry make in a year??????

 

The company I work for makes a couple billion a year, and you never heard of them.

 

I can't confirm this, but I've heard that that town Vegas pulls in about 6 billion a year.

 

How much does the Sox organization make in a year???????

[Bellhorn04]

How much money does the Sox industry make in a year??????

 

The company I work for makes a couple billion a year, and you never heard of them.

 

I can't confirm this, but I've heard that that town Vegas pulls in about 6 billion a year.

 

How much does the Sox organization make in a year???????

 

According to Forbes Magazine the Red Sox gross income last year was 370 million.

 

The team's market value or projected selling price was 2.1 billion.

 

http://www.forbes.com/mlb-valuations

[Kimmi]

Dombrowski stated earlier that he values continuity, which IMO, is the only reason he "promoted" Hazen to GM. To me, it feels like a move for show more than anything else right now. Wren will no doubt be Dombrowski's right hand man.

 

Apparently, Dombrowski is making a lot of changes within the scouting and player evaluation areas. That doesn't sound like much "continuity" to me.

[Spudboy]

Dombrowski has the potential to become a real dud in Boston.

 

Yes, the Sox have some broken and missing pieces. But overall, the team and it's affiliates are in decent shape. If he f***s up he will be gone very quickly, I suspect.

 

Being buddy buddy with the boss only goes so far. Money is money.

[jacksonianmarch]

Spud, he's going to get a long leash. While the system is deep, the crap on the field in the Fens is putrid and the contracts handed out last offseason wont be easily removed. Dombrowski is in the bean to do what Cherington could not. Deal from a position of strength and build a winner. Cherington dismantled a winner and has a bunch of shiny parts that don't fit together. Dombrowski has proven to be a VERY effective trader and when he inherits a loaded farm system, he should be able to make a lot of moves.

[Kimmi]

Despite what most people think, Cherington left this francise in very good shape for years to come. If Dombrowski makes the right moves this offseason to acquire the pitching that we need, while not dismantling the farm, we will be contending for a title next season and for years to come.

 

Most fans just don't have the patience to wait for a long term process to pan out. Not to mention that during that long term process, we won a World Series ring.

[a700hitter]

Despite what most people think, Cherington left this francise in very good shape for years to come. If Dombrowski makes the right moves this offseason to acquire the pitching that we need, while not dismantling the farm, we will be contending for a title next season and for years to come.

 

Most fans just don't have the patience to wait for a long term process to pan out. Not to mention that during that long term process, we won a World Series ring.

The team Ben left behind needs a complete pitching overhaul. He also left the wreckage of three last place teams. Other than that, good job, Ben! Kudos! We will give you a recommendation.

[Kimmi]

The team Ben left behind needs a complete pitching overhaul. He also left the wreckage of three last place teams. Other than that, good job, Ben! Kudos! We will give you a recommendation.

 

A complete pitching overhaul is not needed. A #1 pitcher is needed. That does not constitute a complete pitching overhaul. The BP does need a near complete overhaul, that I will grant you.

 

Regardless, this team is set up in good shape for the next several years. You have to be able to see past the short term of the past 2 years to realize that Ben is not the boob that many think he is.

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe the rotation only needs a #1 to be added. Maybe not. I wouldn't bet the farm on Porcello/Kelly/Buchholz/whoever.

[Kimmi]

Maybe the rotation only needs a #1 to be added. Maybe not. I wouldn't bet the farm on Porcello/Kelly/Buchholz/whoever.

 

I would prefer that we add 2 starting pitchers myself, but I think we'd be okay adding just a #1. #1/Buchholz/Porcello/Rodriguez/whoever really doesn't look bad at all. That said, there must be enough quality depth to step up in the case of injury/underperformance.

[reYoukilis]

Despite what most people think, Cherington left this francise in very good shape for years to come. If Dombrowski makes the right moves this offseason to acquire the pitching that we need, while not dismantling the farm, we will be contending for a title next season and for years to come.

 

Most fans just don't have the patience to wait for a long term process to pan out. Not to mention that during that long term process, we won a World Series ring.

I think the WS slowed the process down ironically. I'd never trade that win but may be the truth nevertheless. What I get yanked about is not taking that into consideration. It was supposed to be a rebuild that we won the whole thing year one. Was JBJ, XB and all the pitching prospects supposed to just keep that going? Too much pressure. If I have one complaint about BC is that...ok...two, is that it seems he gave up on his plan too by signing big contracts. The other complaint is the total lack of attention on pitching, bullpen especially.

[Dojji]

Dombrowski stated earlier that he values continuity, which IMO, is the only reason he "promoted" Hazen to GM. To me, it feels like a move for show more than anything else right now. Wren will no doubt be Dombrowski's right hand man.

 

Apparently, Dombrowski is making a lot of changes within the scouting and player evaluation areas. That doesn't sound like much "continuity" to me.

 

I think we can all agree that scouting has handed us some real lemons recently. It's as good a time as any to do some house cleaning in that respect.

[Dojji]

A complete pitching overhaul is not needed. A #1 pitcher is needed. That does not constitute a complete pitching overhaul. The BP does need a near complete overhaul, that I will grant you.

 

Regardless, this team is set up in good shape for the next several years. You have to be able to see past the short term of the past 2 years to realize that Ben is not the boob that many think he is.

 

I wouldn't say we were in good shape. We're not in terrible shape however. The big league product is the worst part of the team right now but we are in a position that a few decent moves could seriously reduce the likelihood of an extended playoff drought, and we have players ready to potentially mature in the positions where we need them the most. The potential development for Rodriguez, Bogaerts, Betts and Swihart next year is exciting and could put us back on track faster than we'd hoped for. But we have a lot of dead money right now and the team leadership has some work to do. Our upper minors is also pretty empty of impending talent which is not the end of the world but is something to look out for.

[Behindenemylines]

Despite what most people think, Cherington left this francise in very good shape for years to come. If Dombrowski makes the right moves this offseason to acquire the pitching that we need, while not dismantling the farm, we will be contending for a title next season and for years to come.

 

Most fans just don't have the patience to wait for a long term process to pan out. Not to mention that during that long term process, we won a World Series ring.

I agree. BC didn't leave the cupboard empty. Fix the pitching this off season and the Sox will be competitive next year. At minimum a number one starter and three or four arms for the bullpen. Hopefully, the Porcello and others better showing means they have figures things out.

[Kimmi]

I think the WS slowed the process down ironically. I'd never trade that win but may be the truth nevertheless. What I get yanked about is not taking that into consideration. It was supposed to be a rebuild that we won the whole thing year one. Was JBJ, XB and all the pitching prospects supposed to just keep that going? Too much pressure. If I have one complaint about BC is that...ok...two, is that it seems he gave up on his plan too by signing big contracts. The other complaint is the total lack of attention on pitching, bullpen especially.

 

Well, the philosophy they used in 2013 worked, and it worked extremely well. The FO probably went into 2014 with a mostly "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude. Where I think they went wrong that season was in depending on too many youngsters in key positions with no viable back up plan in case they faltered, which they did.

 

I would have preferred more focus on pitching for this season, but the FO opted to focus on strengthening the offense instead. There was a premium on offense last offseason, so I can understand why they went in the direction that they did. While they did not sign an ace for this season, the pitching, in theory, should have been good enough. If you don't believe that, look at the way the starters have pitched the past two months.

[a700hitter]

A complete pitching overhaul is not needed. A #1 pitcher is needed. That does not constitute a complete pitching overhaul. The BP does need a near complete overhaul, that I will grant you.

 

Regardless, this team is set up in good shape for the next several years. You have to be able to see past the short term of the past 2 years to realize that Ben is not the boob that many think he is.

 

The bullpen needs a top to bottom overhaul. You have said that you would prefer to get 2 top starters. That is the heart of the staff that needs to be filled. We have plenty of #4 and 5 types, but they are more filler than anything else. You say that we will keep Buch and you want them to keep Miley. Porcello is going nowhere because of his ridiculous contract. ER has earned a spot. What about Kelly? Some of these guys have to go or there will be no room for 2 new top starters. Which guys do you want to keep and which should go? We can't keep them all or there is no room for 2 new top starters.

[Kimmi]

I think we can all agree that scouting has handed us some real lemons recently. It's as good a time as any to do some house cleaning in that respect.

 

I agree that some changes in the FO were necessary. What I don't want to see happen is for Dombrowski to take the team's philosphy to the other extreme. I don't want him trading away the farm. I don't want him signing massive contracts left and right. I don't want him going old school on us and shunning analytics.

 

Despite the lack of success the team has had the past two seasons, I completely agree with Ben's general philosophy behind building a team. We'll see what happens this offseason.

[a700hitter]

I agree that some changes in the FO were necessary. What I don't want to see happen is for Dombrowski to take the team's philosphy to the other extreme. I don't want him trading away the farm. I don't want him signing massive contracts left and right. I don't want him going old school on us and shunning analytics.

 

Despite the lack of success the team has had the past two seasons, I completely agree with Ben's general philosophy behind building a team. We'll see what happens this offseason.

 

I want to see DD take the team from the extreme of teams being out of the race by August 1st to teams being competitive year in and year out.

[Kimmi]

I wouldn't say we were in good shape. We're not in terrible shape however. The big league product is the worst part of the team right now but we are in a position that a few decent moves could seriously reduce the likelihood of an extended playoff drought, and we have players ready to potentially mature in the positions where we need them the most. The potential development for Rodriguez, Bogaerts, Betts and Swihart next year is exciting and could put us back on track faster than we'd hoped for. But we have a lot of dead money right now and the team leadership has some work to do. Our upper minors is also pretty empty of impending talent which is not the end of the world but is something to look out for.

 

I think we're in good shape. Our position players should be set for several years, including Hanley and/or Pablo at 1st and/or 3rd. They might not be worth their contracts, but they won't play for a combined -2.2 WAR either. I look for both to rebound to decent levels next season.

 

There might not be any impending talent in the minors, but with the number of youngsters already on the big league roster, impending talent is not needed. We do have some very good talent 2-3 years away.

 

Fix the pitching and the team should contend. That is doable this offseason.

[Kimmi]

I agree. BC didn't leave the cupboard empty. Fix the pitching this off season and the Sox will be competitive next year. At minimum a number one starter and three or four arms for the bullpen. Hopefully, the Porcello and others better showing means they have figures things out.

 

Exactly. I'm guessing the better pitching performance the last 2 months is a combination of adjustments the pitchers have made, improved leadership behind the plate, and improved defense.

 

We'll never know the full impact on the pitching staff of losing Vazquez and Hanigan, but judging by the way the starters have pitched recently, I'm thinking it was pretty big.

[Kimmi]

The bullpen needs a top to bottom overhaul. You have said that you would prefer to get 2 top starters. That is the heart of the staff that needs to be filled. We have plenty of #4 and 5 types, but they are more filler than anything else. You say that we will keep Buch and you want them to keep Miley. Porcello is going nowhere because of his ridiculous contract. ER has earned a spot. What about Kelly? Some of these guys have to go or there will be no room for 2 new top starters. Which guys do you want to keep and which should go? We can't keep them all or there is no room for 2 new top starters.

 

Personally, if Dombrowski signs 2 pitchers, I would start Rodriguez and Owens in AAA and keep the others for depth. I know that that is not a popular opinion, but the more options and flexibility you have, the better. Start the season with newly acquired #1, newly acquired #2/3, Buchholz, Porcello, and Miley. Kelly goes to the BP, which gives the team one less BP position to fill. How nice would it be to have someone as good as Rodriguez as depth to fill in when one of the starters gets injured or underperforms? If Dombrowski only adds one starter this offseason, Rodriguez starts the season with the big club.

 

Koji and Tazawa should be fine next season after resting this offseason. Add Kelly as a possible late inning reliever.

 

I have a feeling that one of Kelly or Miley will be traded as part of a package this offseason.

 

Regardless of how the pitching shakes out, the fact remains that Ben has left the team in great shape. Fix the pitching with a couple of key moves, and we're good to go.

[Kimmi]

I want to see DD take the team from the extreme of teams being out of the race by August 1st to teams being competitive year in and year out.

 

That can be done without going to the other extreme in team philosophy. See Theo.

 

The team, as currently constituted, without a #1 starter and with a crappy bullpen, has been 28-22 in August and September. That's a .560 winning %, which would work out to 91 wins over a full season. Think of how many wins the BP has cost us over that span.

 

Say what you want about the team playing with no pressure, blah, blah, blah, but this team is not that far off people.

[a700hitter]

That can be done without going to the other extreme in team philosophy. See Theo.

 

The team, as currently constituted, without a #1 starter and with a crappy bullpen, has been 28-22 in August and September. That's a .560 winning %, which would work out to 91 wins over a full season. Think of how many wins the BP has cost us over that span.

 

Say what you want about the team playing with no pressure, blah, blah, blah, but this team is not that far off people.

August and September mean nothing. This team needs a whole re-tooled bullpen and a couple of top starters. I don't think you need to worry that DD will have to sacrifice the future to accomplish what he needs to do. He should have no problem creating sustainable winning for several years. With the resources at his disposal there is no reason to be finishing last 3 out of seasons. And success can be maintained without stripping the farm bare.