Sox close to deal with Lucroy

[mvp 78]

Bounce back season?

 

Depth signing?

[mvp 78]

Chris Cotillo:

 

Sources: Red Sox close to deal with catcher Jonathan Lucroy.

 

Depth option behind Vazquez, Plawecki. Likely a minor league deal.

[jacksonianmarch]

Lucroy isn’t what he once was, but for a team like to have some young pitching at the end of their rotation or in their pen, it might be beneficial to have a very experienced catcher on the roster. Lucroy, IMO, is a better bet from a development perspective than Plawecki is

[notin]

Unless Lucroy has converted to pitcher, not sure why here?

 

I could see maybe a 2b, but beyond that - pitching, pitching and relief pitching...

[jacksonianmarch]

A veteran catcher can help pitching develop

[oldtimer]

Unless Lucroy has converted to pitcher, not sure why here?

 

I could see maybe a 2b, but beyond that - pitching, pitching and relief pitching...

 

I'm a little confused as well. We should be set at catcher and even have picked up a prospect at that position. We have needs at other positions unless they see Lucroy in some other role.

[mvp 78]

I like the Bloom is finding cheap options and upgrading everywhere he can, even if it's just at backup catcher.

 

I wonder if Bloom just doesn't like the pitchers that are left sitting around in FA.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

A veteran catcher can help pitching develop

 

Sometimes. Javy Lopez and AJ Piersynski were one-time All-Stars with rings who were just brutal in Boston.

 

But going back half a century, Elston Howard -- another negative WAR veteran backstop in Beantown -- was never viewed that way. I was too young then, but do remember watching Lopez and thinking him the worst Red Sox catcher I ever saw (and uncharacteristic of Epstein, a GM who placed great emphasis on defense, getting backups like Pokey Reese and Mientkiewicz). But Lopez caught three Hall of Famers and won many titles in Atlanta; catchers just break down over the years, up and down, foul tips, guarding the plate, wearing the gear etc.

[moonslav59]

Here's a minor league signing we've been waiting for...

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/red-sox-nearing-deal-with-jonathan-lucroy.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

[Slasher9]

pitching please.

thanks.

[mvp 78]

People keep saying "pitching" but there isn't really anything of value left. Maybe Bloom has made a few MiLB offers to pitchers but they are holding out for something better? Maybe Bloom just doesn't like the pitchers left?

[notin]

People keep saying "pitching" but there isn't really anything of value left. Maybe Bloom has made a few MiLB offers to pitchers but they are holding out for something better? Maybe Bloom just doesn't like the pitchers left?

 

At some point, he might have to get beyond the “don’t like that one. Or that one” phase and realize it’s last call...

[notin]

Here's a minor league signing we've been waiting for...

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/red-sox-nearing-deal-with-jonathan-lucroy.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

 

It is a minor league deal. Just not exactly the position the Sox need...

[mvp 78]

At some point, he might have to get beyond the “don’t like that one. Or that one” phase and realize it’s last call...

 

Maybe he likes his current options better?

 

If you guys have faith that Bloom knows what he's doing, you'll have to just agree that he's doing the right thing now.

[notin]

Maybe he likes his current options better?

 

If you guys have faith that Bloom knows what he's doing, you'll have to just agree that he's doing the right thing now.

 

I’m sure he does like the guys he acquired. But then a volume-based approach on MiLB arms never hurt anyone.

 

But more important, at one point he clearly wanted a pitcher in the Betts trade, going so far as to get Minnesota involved. Downs and Wong were, at best, Plan B. So the question is, will Bloom do something to replace Graterol?

[Slasher9]

Maybe he likes his current options better?

 

If you guys have faith that Bloom knows what he's doing, you'll have to just agree that he's doing the right thing now.

 

fair.

and i do have faith in bloom but will still always question every move and every non move whether i agree or disagree with said moves. its what we do here.

#pitchergate

[Elktonnick]

fair.

and i do have faith in bloom but will still always question every move and every non move whether i agree or disagree with said moves. its what we do here.

#pitchergate

I am not criticizing Bloom but so far all we have to evaluate his performance is a highly controversial salary dump.

The salary dump only makes sense if Bloom 1) gets the pitching 2 rebuilds the farm.

 

Supposedly Bloom's expertise is identifying and developing pitching. That's why he was hired and not some other guy. Until he does what he was hired to do, he is just another unproven whiz kid.

 

The difference between Boston and Tampa is in Boston the fans really really care and the media is a voracious watchdog. Bloom will get no free passes from either. So the pressure is building and the clock is ticking. How don't how much time either the fans and the media will give Bloom to show some results but I would say "Its later than you think" Declining attendance won't make his job any easier.

[mvp 78]

Unproven? Bloom had a pretty good track record in TB.

 

I think they are punting this season and trying to build something long term. I agree with others that they could be big sellers at the deadline even if they are above .500.

 

There's no pressure on this season. Nobody is going to be watching. They waved the white flag when they moved Betts.

[notin]

I am not criticizing Bloom but so far all we have to evaluate his performance is a highly controversial salary dump.

The salary dump only makes sense if Bloom 1) gets the pitching 2 rebuilds the farm.

 

Supposedly Bloom's expertise is identifying and developing pitching. That's why he was hired and not some other guy. Until he does what he was hired to do, he is just another unproven whiz kid.

 

The difference between Boston and Tampa is in Boston the fans really really care and the media is a voracious watchdog. Bloom will get no free passes from either. So the pressure is building and the clock is ticking. How don't how much time either the fans and the media will give Bloom to show some results but I would say "Its later than you think" Declining attendance won't make his job any easier.

 

He’s run Tampa. Declining attendance is a given.

 

The whole “Boston media is voracious” probably doesn’t have the impact you think it has. Too many Boston sportswriters did nothing but whine about each and every move regardless of how good it is. And for some of them, Chaim Bloom could singlehandedly extinguish a burning kindergarten classroom full of kids using nothing more than the contents of the sandbox, and all they would write about is how he destroyed one of their toys. As the saying goes on sports management, “don’t listen to the fans, or you’ll wind up sitting with them.”

 

The loss of ticket sales is probably expected, but Henry is letting Bloom do the long term thing. We’ll see if Henry learned anything from the way he cut Cherington’s long term vision off in favor of a quick fix..,

[Elktonnick]

He’s run Tampa. Declining attendance is a given.

 

The whole “Boston media is voracious” probably doesn’t have the impact you think it has. Too many Boston sportswriters did nothing but whine about each and every move regardless of how good it is. And for some of them, Chaim Bloom could singlehandedly extinguish a burning kindergarten classroom full of kids using nothing more than the contents of the sandbox, and all they would write about is how he destroyed one of their toys. As the saying goes on sports management, “don’t listen to the fans, or you’ll wind up sitting with them.”

 

The loss of ticket sales is probably expected, but Henry is letting Bloom do the long term thing. We’ll see if Henry learned anything from the way he cut Cherington’s long term vision off in favor of a quick fix..,

 

Baseball is a business. Bloom is unproven at being the Chief of Baseball Operations at a successful team. Tampa Bay is hardly successful, having never won a title, drawing only friends and relatives unless the Red Sox or Yankees are in town, playing in a filthy dump. They have so little community support they want to play half their games in Canada.

Either he builds a winner in Boston or he won't. What many need to recognize is that a decline in attendance can become precipitous and permanent.

When I first came to Baltimore Orioles regularly drew huge crowds. Then Peter Angelis took control of the team and Baltimore saw attendance collapse. Henry knows the same thing can happen in Boston unless Bloom can turn it around.

If the Red Sox get hit with substantial sanctions and loss of draft picks Bloom's job could become far more difficult then it already is. And the media won't be giving him any breaks.

People think the Red Sox will always be the darling of Boston sport fans but fans can be fickle even in Boston.

[a700hitter]

Mods, please update this site to include a vomit emoji.

[moonslav59]

Baseball is a business. Bloom is unproven at being the Chief of Baseball Operations at a successful team. Tampa Bay is hardly successful, having never won a title, drawing only friends and relatives unless the Red Sox or Yankees are in town, playing in a filthy dump. They have so little community support they want to play half their games in Canada.

Either he builds a winner in Boston or he won't. What many need to recognize is that a decline in attendance can become precipitous and permanent.

When I first came to Baltimore Orioles regularly drew huge crowds. Then Peter Angelis took control of the team and Baltimore saw attendance collapse. Henry knows the same thing can happen in Boston unless Bloom can turn it around.

If the Red Sox get hit with substantial sanctions and loss of draft picks Bloom's job could become far more difficult then it already is. And the media won't be giving him any breaks.

People think the Red Sox will always be the darling of Boston sport fans but fans can be fickle even in Boston.

 

You can't expect a GM to win rings with a spending budget of $60-80M. He did a great job with what he was given. To say he was "hardly successful is a gross understatement. One could argue he did better than anyone in MLB within the context of the budgets and situations handed to him.

 

Sure, he still needs to prove himself, here. Dan D. had the same reputation coming to us from Montreal, and he never won a ring, but he did set Theo up nicely.

 

I'm having a hard time understanding all the gloom and doom on Henry on Bloom. I get the sadness of losing Betts, and maybe some here never had to endure decades of frustration following the Sox of old, but I'm damn proud of this team and the owners and managers. We've hit a bump in the road. We all knew it was coming, or should have, and now it's time to look forward to a swift rebuild and return to the top. The quicker the better, for us fans, but we need to be more thoughtful about the long term, so maybe this doesn't happen so often.

[Elktonnick]

You can't expect a GM to win rings with a spending budget of $60-80M. He did a great job with what he was given. To say he was "hardly successful is a gross understatement. One could argue he did better than anyone in MLB within the context of the budgets and situations handed to him.

 

Sure, he still needs to prove himself, here. Dan D. had the same reputation coming to us from Montreal, and he never won a ring, but he did set Theo up nicely.

 

I'm having a hard time understanding all the gloom and doom on Henry on Bloom. I get the sadness of losing Betts, and maybe some here never had to endure decades of frustration following the Sox of old, but I'm damn proud of this team and the owners and managers. We've hit a bump in the road. We all knew it was coming, or should have, and now it's time to look forward to a swift rebuild and return to the top. The quicker the better, for us fans, but we need to be more thoughtful about the long term, so maybe this doesn't happen so often.

 

First of all it isn' t doom and gloom all I am saying is the stakes are high and Bloom has yet to produce. The success in Tampa was largely Andrew Freidman not Chain Bloom's.. Moreover it is far easier to operate in Tampa because you have the luxury of being able to make mistakes without being crucified in the media since no one in Tampa Bay cares about the Rays any how. If they did the team wouldn't be wanting to play in Montreal.

[Bellhorn04]

First of all it isn' t doom and gloom all I am saying is the stakes are high and Bloom has yet to produce. The success in Tampa was largely Andrew Freidman not Chain Bloom's.. Moreover it is far easier to operate in Tampa because you have the luxury of being able to make mistakes without being crucified in the media since no one in Tampa Bay cares about the Rays any how. If they did the team wouldn't be wanting to play in Montreal.

 

Friedman departed after 2014, so that's 5 whole seasons he's been gone.

 

It's the Rays success in 2018 and 2019 that Bloom has been a lot of the credit for.

[moonslav59]

First of all it isn' t doom and gloom all I am saying is the stakes are high and Bloom has yet to produce. The success in Tampa was largely Andrew Freidman not Chain Bloom's.. Moreover it is far easier to operate in Tampa because you have the luxury of being able to make mistakes without being crucified in the media since no one in Tampa Bay cares about the Rays any how. If they did the team wouldn't be wanting to play in Montreal.

 

Yes, it's been near total gloom and doom from you and others. Total.

 

Bloom has yet to produce- NO s***!

 

He should be fired for not winning us ring by now.

[oldmaninthevegasdesert]

First of all it isn' t doom and gloom all I am saying is the stakes are high and Bloom has yet to produce. The success in Tampa was largely Andrew Freidman not Chain Bloom's.. Moreover it is far easier to operate in Tampa because you have the luxury of being able to make mistakes without being crucified in the media since no one in Tampa Bay cares about the Rays any how. If they did the team wouldn't be wanting to play in Montreal.

 

please explain what he could have done to 'produce', has the guy had the job six months yet? Trying to compare the current situation in Baltimore and that ownership, to the one in Boston that has produced FOUR Titles, is just insane, give it a rest

[jacksonianmarch]

You cannot produce when your boss publicly blabs about your intentions and everyone waited you out, knowing you wouldn’t be able to dabble in the FA market. Bloom has been the consummate professional and got great value in his first major move. He came into extraordinary circumstances

[notin]

Baseball is a business. Bloom is unproven at being the Chief of Baseball Operations at a successful team. Tampa Bay is hardly successful, having never won a title, drawing only friends and relatives unless the Red Sox or Yankees are in town, playing in a filthy dump. They have so little community support they want to play half their games in Canada.

Either he builds a winner in Boston or he won't. What many need to recognize is that a decline in attendance can become precipitous and permanent.

When I first came to Baltimore Orioles regularly drew huge crowds. Then Peter Angelis took control of the team and Baltimore saw attendance collapse. Henry knows the same thing can happen in Boston unless Bloom can turn it around.

If the Red Sox get hit with substantial sanctions and loss of draft picks Bloom's job could become far more difficult then it already is. And the media won't be giving him any breaks.

People think the Red Sox will always be the darling of Boston sport fans but fans can be fickle even in Boston.

 

 

Thee will likely be a decline in attendance if the team does not win immediately. But Mookie was not the difference between winning and not winning this year. The Sox had Mookie last year and it equaled 85 wins.

 

Fans will come back when the team wins. And some will stick throughout. Most of us started following this ballclub at some point between 1918 and 2004. A rough season or two is not exactly a novelty for us...

[jung]

People keep saying "pitching" but there isn't really anything of value left. Maybe Bloom has made a few MiLB offers to pitchers but they are holding out for something better? Maybe Bloom just doesn't like the pitchers left?

 

Well I guess that is just too bad for us in 2020.

[moonslav59]

You cannot produce when your boss publicly blabs about your intentions and everyone waited you out, knowing you wouldn’t be able to dabble in the FA market. Bloom has been the consummate professional and got great value in his first major move. He came into extraordinary circumstances

 

I seriously doubt anything said by Henry meant we got less in trade.

 

Everyone knew we were not going for a 2020 ring, when we didn't bid on anyone special and replaced Porcello with Perez.