Dave Dombrowski

[Bellhorn04]

My opinion of Mitch Moreland is that Steve Pearce was an amazing acquisition for the Red Sox.

 

Moreland did have that nasty second half fade again.

 

But he turned out to be a nice bit player in the postseason to Pearce's lead role. A very small sample of only 19 PA's, but the line was 294/368/529 for an 898 OPS, with a very timely home run.

[notin]

Honestly i agree with kimmi. Theo built and then rebuilt the team, and unlike Ben hasn't yet had to pay the piper and try to Rebuild.

 

DD is good but Theo is one heck of an act to follow

 

And timing is a lot of it.

 

Epstein ended an 86 year drought. Dombrowski ended a 5 year hiatus...

[Bellhorn04]

Oh yes, Dave has budged quite a bit.

 

The gap between Ben and Dave is much smaller than it was.

 

I can't see any difference at all.

[notin]

I can't see any difference at all.

 

DD is a little taller...

[Bellhorn04]

And timing is a lot of it.

 

Epstein ended an 86 year drought. Dombrowski ended a 5 year hiatus...

 

Dombrowski didn't just end a 5 year hiatus though, he had the dream season.

 

108-54

8 up on the Yankees for the division, even though the Yankees won 100 games themselves.

Beat the Yankees in the playoffs.

Go 11-3 in the postseason with no opponent winning more than one game (The 1998 Yankees were taken to 6 games by Cleveland in the ALCS.)

 

That's the dream.

[Hitch]

DD was wise to go all in this year. He made some great moves which were augmented by some good fortune.

 

Only the Nats and Sox were over the tax this year. I suspect 2018 will look like a rare year that the NYY and LAD put dollars over rings. Their fiscal choices were multifactorial, and great for the Sox. Great time for DD to pounce.

 

The $250m 2019 NYY will be a much harder foe.

 

Another bit of luck was that JD had no other destination. Hence the below expectations contract.

 

DD is a Sox legend now for life, and deserves massive plaudits. That said a bit of good fortune never hurts.

I

 

This is a good summation of situation. What part of the UK, you from Tom?

[Bellhorn04]

DD is a little taller...

 

Internet clarification: I was just talking about her little diagram with the greater than signs.

[Hitch]

I am happy to say that I have been a fan of the Kelly trade and of the Porcello signing since day one.

 

I was also a fan of the Castillo signing, which doesn't look like it has any chance of turning around for us.

 

I was happy with both trades. I didn't feel too strongly on either until the facts were in. And now they are they were very much great trades for us. Good ole Ben.

[notin]

Dombrowski didn't just end a 5 year hiatus though, he had the dream season.

 

108-54

8 up on the Yankees for the division, even though the Yankees won 100 games themselves.

Beat the Yankees in the playoffs.

Go 11-3 in the postseason with no opponent winning more than one game (The 1998 Yankees were taken to 6 games by Cleveland in the ALCS.)

 

That's the dream.

 

Hopefully the follow up to 2018 is better than the follow up to 1918...

[notin]

Dombrowski didn't just end a 5 year hiatus though, he had the dream season.

 

108-54

8 up on the Yankees for the division, even though the Yankees won 100 games themselves.

Beat the Yankees in the playoffs.

Go 11-3 in the postseason with no opponent winning more than one game (The 1998 Yankees were taken to 6 games by Cleveland in the ALCS.)

 

That's the dream.

 

The 2004 Red Sox also went 11-3 in the postseason. But their 3 losses set up the most exciting comeback in MLB history and did so against the Yankees. THAT was a dream...

[Bellhorn04]

The 2004 Red Sox also went 11-3 in the postseason. But their 3 losses set up the most exciting comeback in MLB history and did so against the Yankees. THAT was a dream...

 

That was a miracle.

[moonslav59]

I am happy to say that I have been a fan of the Kelly trade and of the Porcello signing since day one.

 

I was also a fan of the Castillo signing, which doesn't look like it has any chance of turning around for us.

 

Agreed.

 

Once they bungled the Lester negotiations, I liked the idea of the fire sale.

 

I was puzzled by the Cespedes return, but when we got Porcello and extended him, I was fully on board.

 

I loved the Miller for ERod deal, but I had hoped we could re-sign Miller.

 

I loved the 1 year of Lackey for 5 years of Kelly, and I also thought maybe Craig could be our solution to the 1B issue.

 

I liked the Peavy for Hembree & Escobar trade and Doubront for Marco Hernandez.

 

I called the Dodger dump one of the greatest Red Sox trades in history.

 

I even liked the Miley trade.

 

It's Ben's signings that sucked. Even the ones that worked, like Vic and Dempster were at least a year too long.

[Hitch]

Moreland did have that nasty second half fade again.

 

But he turned out to be a nice bit player in the postseason to Pearce's lead role. A very small sample of only 19 PA's, but the line was 294/368/529 for an 898 OPS, with a very timely home run.

 

Worth pointing out that Moreland's awesome first half was part of the reason we got off to such a great start. It was another very good move to re-sign him.

[tom-uk]

This is a good summation of situation. What part of the UK, you from Tom?

Thanks Hitch. I am in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I had some late nights this post-season.

[Hitch]

Thanks Hitch. I am in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I had some late nights this post-season.

 

Haha I bet! I've been there my friend, all worth it though. I like Newcastle. Great city and people.

[moonslav59]

Worth pointing out that Moreland's awesome first half was part of the reason we got off to such a great start. It was another very good move to re-sign him.

 

While true, HRam was pretty much FT at 1B/DH until May 24rd.he played in 44 of those 50 games (195 PAs)- 25 starts at 1B and 19 starts at DH. We were 29-15 in his games.

 

Moreland played in 34 of our first 50 games, but 8 of those games saw him get 0-1 PAs. We were 22-12 in his games. He started just 26 of our first 50 games.

Edited October 30, 2018 by moonslav59

[notin]

I think I’d be fine with 8 positions not changing, but if the Sox do want to improve, do so at 1b.

 

And as of now, I’m assuming Nunez and Holt handle 2b...

[moonslav59]

I think I’d be fine with 8 positions not changing, but if the Sox do want to improve, do so at 1b.

 

And as of now, I’m assuming Nunez and Holt handle 2b...

 

I don't disagree, but we need a closer, a set up man, and a 5/6 starter. What will we have left over to get a solid 1Bman?

 

My guess is we punt for another year and try to keep Pearce to platoon with Moreland or give Chavis/Ockimey a chance and go looking mid season, if they fail.

 

 

 

 

 

[notin]

I don't disagree, but we need a closer, a set up man, and a 5/6 starter. What will we have left over to get a solid 1Bman?

 

My guess is we punt for another year and try to keep Pearce to platoon with Moreland or give Chavis/Ockimey a chance and go looking mid season, if they fail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s possible. Or the Sox make some sort of trade...

[sk7326]

I don't disagree, but we need a closer, a set up man, and a 5/6 starter. What will we have left over to get a solid 1Bman?

 

My guess is we punt for another year and try to keep Pearce to platoon with Moreland or give Chavis/Ockimey a chance and go looking mid season, if they fail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The best available first base option for the price is likely Goldschmidt - and the Sox clearly don't have enough to do something there. (I'm not saying ARI will deal, but Hazen is a smart guy - and he will fetch a serious price this offseason if he is shopped)

 

Looking at FA options - really just going 1 year at a time makes sense. Whether that means Steve Pearce as a platoon partner - or give someone like Carlos Gonzalez a first base mitt and take your chances I don't know. If you wanted to be creative - see if Adrian Beltre wants to give it one more go.

[Tedballgame]

Sox need to bring back Pearce to platoon with Moreland for one more year. Sign Andrew Miller to close. Resign Kelly and Eovaldi. Kimbrel is gone, hopefully to the National League. Pomeranz is gone. Kinsler is gone. Trade Leon for whatever they can get. Pedroia is the 2B with Holt and Nunez the backups. Devers is full time 3B. Vaz and Swihart platoon at C.

Hope Wright, Thornburg and Smith can come back healthy. This team will keep the Sox in contention all year, if not in first place, and DD can add to the team like he did this year. If the core stays healthy, they could repeat. But for now, lets all enjoy this year's team! What a ride. What a season. As Sox fans, we live and die with each game. Everyone felt so bad on opening day when they blew a 4-0 lead to TB. It is a journey and a marathon. Cora managed a great season. It all feels so good now. Can't wait for the parade.

[moonslav59]

Sox need to bring back Pearce to platoon with Moreland for one more year. Sign Andrew Miller to close. Resign Kelly and Eovaldi. Kimbrel is gone, hopefully to the National League. Pomeranz is gone. Kinsler is gone. Trade Leon for whatever they can get. Pedroia is the 2B with Holt and Nunez the backups. Devers is full time 3B. Vaz and Swihart platoon at C.

Hope Wright, Thornburg and Smith can come back healthy. This team will keep the Sox in contention all year, if not in first place, and DD can add to the team like he did this year. If the core stays healthy, they could repeat. But for now, lets all enjoy this year's team! What a ride. What a season. As Sox fans, we live and die with each game. Everyone felt so bad on opening day when they blew a 4-0 lead to TB. It is a journey and a marathon. Cora managed a great season. It all feels so good now. Can't wait for the parade.

 

I'm not saying it can't happen, but signing those 4 would blow us by the max tax line.

 

I'd want to know more on Miller's health before going large and long there.

[oldtimer]

I'm not saying it can't happen, but signing those 4 would blow us by the max tax line.

 

I'd want to know more on Miller's health before going large and long there.

 

I's stay away from Miller. A kelly resign would be a better bet. The hope his WS performance will give him the confidence to be consistent in 2019.

[jacksonianmarch]

Ben is one flash in the pan, lucky as hell 2013 season away from being a total flop on the field as a GM. This 2018 team had two consecutive ALE titles under their belts coming into the season then rattled off 108 wins and a 12-3 postseason record. That’s 120-57. Ben got lucky on the field. DD built a damn juggernaut. Ben was paralyzed as to when to go for it. When he did go for it, he rushed it and got Fas that weren’t top tier. He was afraid to deal from his surplus of minor league talent. DD took over and essentially said, “Hey kid, this is how you go for it.” I said early in his tenure that Dave’s tenure will be punctuated by a big rise and a huge fall, butnif he takes a title, he’ll be immortalized and his plan will have worked. 2018 did that for him

[Bellhorn04]

I think it's pretty incredible that since 2004 we have won 4 titles with 3 different GM-manager tandems.

 

The one constant is the pale fellow with the large bank account.

[mvp 78]

I think it's pretty incredible that since 2004 we have won 4 titles with 3 different GM-manager tandems.

 

The one constant is the pale fellow with the large bank account.

 

Vlad Dracul. Don't let him anywhere near the mic.

[Dojji]

I think it's pretty incredible that since 2004 we have won 4 titles with 3 different GM-manager tandems.

 

The one constant is the pale fellow with the large bank account.

 

One thing Henry has been very good at, is finding the right skipper to run the ship. His first pick, Epstein, did a great job. When Theo left he gave his protegee some space, but moved in quickly when Ben proved inadequate to handling the demands of a big market team, and moved to hire probably the single most experienced GM on the market to try to turn the ship in the right direction, and promising him all the financial support he needed. And he kept that promise.

 

Henry deserves a lot of credit for DD's success. It seems clear in retrospect that not being able to close the deal in Detroit simply came down to DD not having the money to put the team over the top. Illich did his best, but the difference between the Tigers and the Red Sox as financial engines is obvious, and DD was able to exploit that extra financial power to put a juggernaut together that has been highly competitive since the year he joined us and finally finished the deal this year.

[Nick]

Ben is one flash in the pan, lucky as hell 2013 season away from being a total flop on the field as a GM. This 2018 team had two consecutive ALE titles under their belts coming into the season then rattled off 108 wins and a 12-3 postseason record. That’s 120-57. Ben got lucky on the field. DD built a damn juggernaut. Ben was paralyzed as to when to go for it. When he did go for it, he rushed it and got Fas that weren’t top tier. He was afraid to deal from his surplus of minor league talent. DD took over and essentially said, “Hey kid, this is how you go for it.” I said early in his tenure that Dave’s tenure will be punctuated by a big rise and a huge fall, butnif he takes a title, he’ll be immortalized and his plan will have worked. 2018 did that for him

 

Great synopsis.

 

My thought was when DD was hired, we finally had an adult running the show. Sox fans forget that we finished dead last three out of four years around the world championship year.

 

We have two more years of Betts/JBJ along with Beni/Devers. We have the starting rotation coming back for 2019 (except for Pom). Our pen needs work. Xander, Nunez, JD (opt year coming up for 2020) and Moreland are back for one more year.

 

I'd say we're in pretty good shape for at least two more years on the heels of three straight division championships. In today's era, five good years is pretty much what you can hope.

Edited October 31, 2018 by Nick

[SoxnCycles]

Ben is one flash in the pan, lucky as hell 2013 season away from being a total flop on the field as a GM. This 2018 team had two consecutive ALE titles under their belts coming into the season then rattled off 108 wins and a 12-3 postseason record. That’s 120-57. Ben got lucky on the field. DD built a damn juggernaut. Ben was paralyzed as to when to go for it. When he did go for it, he rushed it and got Fas that weren’t top tier. He was afraid to deal from his surplus of minor league talent. DD took over and essentially said, “Hey kid, this is how you go for it.” I said early in his tenure that Dave’s tenure will be punctuated by a big rise and a huge fall, butnif he takes a title, he’ll be immortalized and his plan will have worked. 2018 did that for him

 

If DD was truly "going for it" he would have gotten Cora a little bullpen help at the deadline.

I think the starters, Porcello and Eovaldi in particular, and Cora should get the lion's share of credit for keeping the bullpen afloat during the playoffs.

[Dojji]

If DD was truly "going for it" he would have gotten Cora a little bullpen help at the deadline.

 

Our bullpen really wasn't in that bad of shape at the deadline. Kimbrel was fluctuating all year, but the setup innings were actually very solid and our bullpen was overall above average. So DD looked to shore up positions weakened by injury, especially 2B. I think it's great that he made the move he needed to make regardless of what the media and fans were saying about the "weak" (read: merely above average while everything else was elite) bullpen.