DD Curse

[SinceYaz]

The sins or shortcomings of Detroit follow to the sorrows of Beantown...

 

DD built a powerhouse in Detroit that fell on its face time and time again. The Red Sox even helped derail the teams that had top shelf starting pitching and power hitting batters. DD traded and traded and traded ... but he never seemed to build a bull pen that mattered.

 

I am not googling nor am I claiming to have an encyclopedic memory, but the black hole in Detroit seemed to be the bull pen. It may have been some issues with defense. But the overwhelming thought at the beginning was it could throw and hit their way past any eventual element in its way.

 

I thought last season saw DD trying his best to overcome that black hole that swallowed the Tigers over and over again. Kimbrell and Smith were good steps. Who knew Smith would be lost to TJS? He tried again to bring in Thornburg but again an injury brought him low. Never mind the loss of players in the trades ... that is an area I cannot address at this time. All I know is that it appears like this is a place that is biting us again. The bullpen is a collection of Christmas presents that opposing batters are eager to receive over and over again. I am not throwing them all out, but are we sure there - wasn't there - isn't a better choice than Abad? I sometimes think Farrell is willing to sacrifice certain games ... like when he throws Abad. My head hurts too much right now to pull up other choices to dog, but my goodness, we have had a long time to avert disaster in this situation.

 

We might be getting our value out of Pomeranz.

 

I loved Sales arrival. I hope we start making him happy with something more than a run a game. He's been incredible.

 

I think overall, a lot of good things have happened. I think missing out on EE was a mistake.

 

But I am finally putting it out there that the one thing DD cannot seem to do is put together a quality bullpen. It's not for the lack of effort, but it almost seems a curse. I hope I survive this defeatist attitude. I hope the Red Sox overcome this deadly weakness.

 

Carson Smith, I long for your return! Tyler Thornburg, may your impingement un-impinge. ... DD, whatever you did to tick off the bullpen gods, please find a way to assuage the offense! You have already sacrificed much to them. I stop now before I drift off into complete gibbersih ... gibbershi... gbbbbeer

[Spudboy]

lulz

[Jasonbay44]

The Red Sox bullpen has actually been pretty good this season...

[Bellhorn04]

The Red Sox bullpen has actually been pretty good this season...

 

Kimbrel has been outstanding. Barnes, Hembree and Kelly have very good - but I'm not sure they can keep it up.

[Kimmi]

I think you're on to something Yaz. It's not just the bullpen though. Dombrowski has cursed this team by trading away all of our prized prospects.

 

How silly of me to be concerned about the approaching cliff. We have an 86 year curse facing us!

[Station 13]

We got Chris Sale. I would make that trade again and again.

[Kimmi]

The Red Sox bullpen has actually been pretty good this season...

 

They have been pretty good. Also, I posted elsewhere that Dombrowski can't be blamed for the injuries to Smith and Thornburg. I thought those were actually pretty good trades. Dombrowski can't be held accountable for injuries and/or underperformances.

 

I have been critical of Dombrowski's overall approach to building our team, but this year's team should be a division winning team. If they by some chance don't make the playoffs (and I'm in no way suggesting that they won't), it won't be Dombrowski's fault.

[Kimmi]

We got Chris Sale. I would make that trade again and again.

 

As a stand alone trade, I can agree with that.

[Bellhorn04]

Copying this from the game thread:

 

Dombrowski is accountable for the pen, especially if it turns out to seriously cost us.

 

I agree you can't normally blame the GM for guys getting injured. But when you acquire not one but two guys who are injured before they even play for you, you have to wonder.

 

Koji would have been a relatively inexpensive get. Theo made a smart move getting him.

[Kimmi]

Copying this from the game thread:

 

Dombrowski is accountable for the pen, especially if it turns out to seriously cost us.

 

I agree you can't normally blame the GM for guys getting injured. But when you acquire not one but two guys who are injured before they even play for you, you have to wonder.

 

Koji would have been a relatively inexpensive get. Theo made a smart move getting him.

 

LOL I just responded to you in the game thread.

 

I do agree about Koji. I wish we had re-signed him. That Theo is a smart dude.

[mvp 78]

Clutch is real. Curses are not.

[Bellhorn04]

Clutch is real. Curses are not.

 

Curses aren't real, but having the same kind of problems over and over certainly can be.

[notin]

We got Chris Sale. I would make that trade again and again.

 

Sale, yes. Thornburg, yes.

 

Kimbrel and Pomeranz are another matter.

 

Hesitant on Smith. I like him as a pitcher but I think the Sox greatly undervalued Miley...

Edited April 30, 2017 by notin

[SinceYaz]

In all fairness (but when are fanatics ever accused of that?) the bull pen has been pretty good. Two or three have not been. I am a Kimbrel fan and I am more than happy to see Barnes mature. I even think the enigmatic Joe Kelly has been mostly fun to watch. I pull for the guy all the time and hope some day he becomes the beast he has the makings of. I know DD cannot be held accountable for the injuries to Smith and Thornburg, hence a sense of "curse" follows. I am a man of faith and don't believe in curses but I do understand, for the lack of a better phrase but one Red Sox fans of pre-2004 fully understand, long suffering. It is quite possible that nothing has anything to do with the other, not when we have a rich, young talent core that looks to be a boon for several years and then, from the depths of a long stagnant Bronx Bomber farm system that left some of us sure that NYC would suffer in mediocrity for some years to come, that wizard of a GM they have pulled off a series of trades that sold off old talent for new and all of a sudden there is a Judge and Sanchez among others that appear to be resurrecting the dead giants of old days.

 

In total honesty, the new wave of talent in the big leagues is refreshing and amazing to me.

 

But knowing we really only have a three season window before things may spin out of control here is not lost to me. If we don't secure the B's in some fashion, if we don't extend Sale, if we don't refurbish the farm ....

 

But the areas mentioned are far more than one thread ...

[notin]

I have nothing against Kimbrel, who is very talented, but I do think fans and some teams (but not all) greatly overvalued closers...

[SinceYaz]

I think you're on to something Yaz. It's not just the bullpen though. Dombrowski has cursed this team by trading away all of our prized prospects.

 

How silly of me to be concerned about the approaching cliff. We have an 86 year curse facing us!

 

Amen and amen. Maybe not the 86 year run, because free agency has altered the longest part of that 86 year drought. (My humble estimate is @ 52 years were held in place, pre-free agency. But then a few years later, Steinbrenner turned that into the farce we now see.)

 

Good drafting is definitely essential .... Theo drafted Xander, Mookie, JBJ, Vaz (?), and others we are enjoying presently.

[SinceYaz]

We got Chris Sale. I would make that trade again and again.

 

True. IF DD didn't get some things right, he wouldn't be where he is. I gave up on the Sale trade last year. Much to my pleasure, I am made aware again that I an not aware again of much that is really going on.

 

I miss the hype behind the young man we let go, but I am enjoying the reality of Sale. REMEMBER, DD had the starting studs in Detroit, too.

[SinceYaz]

I have nothing against Kimbrel, who is very talented, but I do think fans and some teams (but not all) greatly overvalued closers...

 

They are certainly overvalued when they underperform. And/or are injured (see Melancon, Hanrahan, et al.)

[SinceYaz]

Clutch is real. Curses are not.

 

We better pray for more clutch.

[SoxHop]

I'm so close to freak out mode about this team.......... can you all keep me in check

[cp176]

For what it is worth (maybe not much) the only player last year who looked close to being physically ready to compete at the ml level was Moncada. To Benintendi's credit - he has always been able to hit- he did what he could do to get stronger, but the question i have is where are the legit power guys? There must be some of them out there and somebody must be drafting them.

[notin]

They are certainly overvalued when they underperform. And/or are injured (see Melancon, Hanrahan, et al.)

 

Or when healthy...

[notin]

Clutch is real. Curses are not.

 

I don't believe in curses but I at least have a definition. ..

[Bellhorn04]

I have nothing against Kimbrel, who is very talented, but I do think fans and some teams (but not all) greatly overvalued closers...

 

So do we put Theo in this category? He gave up quite a bit to get Chapman on a rental and then Davis...

[Bellhorn04]

I'm so close to freak out mode about this team.......... can you all keep me in check

 

LOL what you have to realize, my friend, is that it doesn't matter whether you are cool as a cucumber or in full-on freakout mode. Your personal reactions don't impact anything and in fact don't matter at all.

 

I hope that helps.

[SinceYaz]

I'm so close to freak out mode about this team.......... can you all keep me in check

 

We hear you, brah! That is why I came on, to blow off some steam. It helps.

 

Kimmi is right, the hitting will come around. Not sure about the power as in years past but the hitting is still going to get better.

 

The starters will keep up their good work. Stephen will come around, Drew already has, Rick will, too and Sale is already on the (laser) beam. I am most concerned about Price but am hopeful he and (reliever) Carson Smith will be in full swing by June. Thornburg seems a mystery.

 

But the ALE is still a dadgum dog pound ... the Birds are doing the usual early hot stuff - I look for them to fade some. The NYYs are in a dream land and I hope it isn't a nightmare awakening for us. The Jays will stop stumbling soon. The Rays? I think they will be respectable but 4th or 5th. What some might have thought was gonna be a run away season for us will likely be a high run between Boston, the Bronx and Ballymore. I am still of the mind we will be 1st or 1st WC.

[SinceYaz]

For what it is worth (maybe not much) the only player last year who looked close to being physically ready to compete at the ml level was Moncada. To Benintendi's credit - he has always been able to hit- he did what he could do to get stronger, but the question i have is where are the legit power guys? There must be some of them out there and somebody must be drafting them.

 

We have a couple good possibilities coming up out of the farm. Bobby Dalbec, Sam Travis, Josh Ockimey ... with Travis being the heir apparent at first base and the main reason we didn't sign EE, if I understand things properly. Really, Travis is first to arrive, then Dalbec, then Ockimey ... again, if I understand things right. There is also Michael Chavis.

[dgalehouse]

So do we put Theo in this category? He gave up quite a bit to get Chapman on a rental and then Davis...

 

A lights out closer is critical to success. There has to be much value in that. As for D.D. ; after back to back dismal seasons , Ben was shown the door. The Sox won the division last year and are generally favored to repeat this year. Spin it any way you want, but the bottom line is winning.

[Bellhorn04]

A lights out closer is critical to success. There has to be much value in that. As for D.D. ; after back to back dismal seasons , Ben was shown the door. The Sox won the division last year and are generally favored to repeat this year. Spin it any way you want, but the bottom line is winning.

 

You're right, and if the Sox don't make the playoffs this year, D.D. is going to come under fire. That's just the way she goes.

[Wade Boggs]

I have nothing against Kimbrel, who is very talented, but I do think fans and some teams (but not all) greatly overvalued closers...

 

Grady Little , might disagree with you. He left Pedro in there because he didn't trust the pen, even though it was pitching good at the time. He still didn't trust it. It cost him his job.

 

Next year Mr. Faulke.... End of curse