A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[Nick]

I don't think hitters are more patient and forcing more pitches per inning by starters.

 

The Rays have used 12 starting pitchers - 7 with more than 4 starts.

Most IP (7 or more IP)

19 Hill (traded): 8.0, no 7's

17 Yarbrough: 9.0 & one 7.0

17 McClanahan: one 7.0 (his last start)

15 Wacha: only 2 as high as 6.0

14 Glasnow (out all year): 8.0. 7.2, 7.0, 7.0, 7.0

11 Fleming: one 7.0

8 Patino: nothing higher than 6.0

 

You're saying Rays have only had 5 starts of 7 IP or more? I guess they have great bullpen. Or is it 10 when you add in Glasnow? I'm little confused with(out all year). You mean he's now out for the year?

[illinoisredsox]

Hmmm, sounds a little like the clutch/choke thing to me. Purely intangible, anecdotal and unprovable, but accepted as real.

 

“If you believe you're playing well because you're getting laid, or because you're not getting laid, or because you wear women's underwear, then you are! And you should know that!” - Crash Davis

[mvp 78]

You're saying Rays have only had 5 starts of 7 IP or more? I guess they have great bullpen.

 

10?

[Fan_since_Boggs]

I couldn't disagree more with that video... "Maybe, Cashman had to give up more because the other teams paid the salaries..."

 

"Maybe?" LOL!

 

I liked the other points: The Red Sox needed a starting 1b and instead Bloom acquired an injured DH/Outfielder. The Red Sox needed a starting pitcher and instead Bloom acquired two lousy relievers.

 

Actually, as far as the second point goes, I'm not in full agreement. The goal should have been to acquire a quality starter and/or a quality reliever. The problem with Bloom is that he did neither, the Red Sox didn't upgrade the pitching staff at all and decided that players like Dalbec, Cordero, and Gonzalez should continue to receive playing time in the immediate post-trade deadline period even though the Red Sox's main competitors vastly improved themselves, while the Red Sox did not.

 

Bloom blew it, and maybe Cora is responsible too. GMs make mistake, even the best ones like Theo made blunders. We just have to hope that Bloom learns from this, he is a young GM.

Edited August 13, 2021 by Fan_since_Boggs

[illinoisredsox]

I liked the other points: The Red Sox needed a starting 1b and instead Bloom acquired an injured DH/Outfielder. The Red Sox needed a starting pitcher and instead Bloom acquired two lousy relievers.

 

Actually, as far as the second point goes, I'm not in full agreement. The goal should have been to acquire a quality starter and/or a quality reliever. The problem with Bloom is that he did neither, the Red Sox didn't upgrade the pitching staff at all and decided that players like Dalbec, Cordero, and Gonzalez should continue to receive playing time in the immediate post-trade deadline period even though the Red Sox's main competitors vastly improved themselves, while the Red Sox did not.

 

Bloom blew it, and maybe Cora is responsible too. GMs make mistake, even the best ones like Theo made blunders. We just have to hope that Bloom learns from this....

 

In a vacuum, all true. However, none of us knows what constraints John Henry put on him. If the edict was to stay under the cap, then I don’t see there was much Bloom could do. Now if said constraints weren’t there, then Bloom deserves all the criticism we can muster.

[mvp 78]

In a vacuum, all true. However, none of us knows what constraints John Henry put on him. If the edict was to stay under the cap, then I don’t see there was much Bloom could do. Now if said constraints weren’t there, then Bloom deserves all the criticism we can muster.

 

And what was with all the talk about ownership pushing for Max at the deadline? Wouldn't that put them over the lux tax?

 

I don't understand.

[mvp 78]

And what was with all the talk about ownership pushing for Max at the deadline? Wouldn't that put them over the lux tax?

 

I don't understand.

 

And yes, Bloom said that was false on that bad, terrible, no good podcast I listened too. However, how does a story like that get out? Isn't that a problem?

[oldtimer]

I usually agree with Merloni, but not in this case.

 

There was a reason why Bloom was hired, and it was not to go all out to win in any single year.

But why didn't he at least go partway?

[Fan_since_Boggs]

YES WE'VE SEEN ENOUGH OF MARWIN, CORA'S FAVORITE. Yes, I've seen enough of Dalbec. His whiff rate is hurting the team.

 

IF THEY DO BRING BACK SANTANA THEN I WILL QUESTION EVERYONE'S INTELLIGENCE OF BASEBALL OPS.

 

Free Agent Misses

 

Richards

Perez

Marwin

Santana

Two jokers at trade deadline

 

I'm willing to give Bloom a pass on Richards. Clearly, Richards was a cheater and the Red Sox got stuck with a pitcher who couldn't pitch effectively without cheating with the sticky stuff. Maybe the same is true of Perez.....

 

The Gonzalez signing was a total waste of 3 million, the Red Sox could have gone with Munoz and saved $$$. Cora seems to have some kind of love affair with Gonzalez, it is touching really, maybe they send each other cards on Valentine's Day.

 

Gonzalez is a terrible hitter, watching him at the plate is enough to make you want to puke. The Red Sox should have known better.

[illinoisredsox]

And what was with all the talk about ownership pushing for Max at the deadline? Wouldn't that put them over the lux tax?

 

I don't understand.

 

“The talk was.” We don’t actually know.

 

Which still leaves out the possibility that the Sox couldn’t match what other teams offered. I don’t follow the farm like some here do; I’m not going to pretend I know.

[Bellhorn04]

And what was with all the talk about ownership pushing for Max at the deadline? Wouldn't that put them over the lux tax?

 

I don't understand.

 

I thought we agreed that had to be fiction.

 

Of course, it's hypothetically possible they said if you can get Scherzer we'll go over, otherwise no.

[Bellhorn04]

“The talk was.” We don’t actually know.

 

Which still leaves out the possibility that the Sox couldn’t match what other teams offered. I don’t follow the farm like some here do; I’m not going to pretend I know.

 

The Dodgers blew away anyone else's possible offers. They also got Trea Turner, of course.

[oldtimer]

I've never been one to buy into the third time through the line-up rants, and sometimes I wonder if pitchers read about it so much, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, but with Houck, he might be better as our long man- taking Whitlock's role.

 

We need a FA SP'er, and Sale, Eovaldi and Pivetta look like they have slots for 2022. I'm fine with giving Houck a shot, but I like Whitlock better as a starter and Houck better as a RP'er, next year.

 

I'll wait to judge Brasier after we see what he does over the next 6+ weeks.

 

Brasier is unlikely to return until early Sept.

[mvp 78]

I thought we agreed that had to be fiction.

 

Of course, it's hypothetically possible they said if you can get Scherzer we'll go over, otherwise no.

 

I just wonder how that story got out. That FO needs some Flex Seal to stop all the leaks.

[mvp 78]

Brasier is unlikely to return until early Sept.

 

Why? He's already thrown a few rehab innings.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

The Dodgers blew away anyone else's possible offers. They also got Trea Turner, of course.

 

This is true. Even if the Red Sox ownership gave the go-ahead to acquire Max S., I don't see how the Red Sox top that Dodgers offer. The Nats kicked ass in that trade, acquiring two guys who were 1 and 2 in the Dodgers farm system? If they weren't 1 & 2, they were both close to the top. The Red Sox couldn't do better than that.

 

Once the Dodgers made that offer, there was no way for the Nats to turn them down. It was an offer that the Nats couldn't refuse. Even if the Nats wanted to trade Turner and Max S. in separate deals, they couldn't turn down the Dodgers offer.

Edited August 13, 2021 by Fan_since_Boggs

[dgalehouse]

The Dodgers blew away anyone else's possible offers. They also got Trea Turner, of course.

 

That's not insignificant. Trea Turner is a very good ballplayer.

[Bellhorn04]

I just wonder how that story got out. That FO needs some Flex Seal to stop all the leaks.

 

It was just an enticing rumor.

[mvp 78]

The Dodgers blew away anyone else's possible offers. They also got Trea Turner, of course.

 

Which I understand. Sox weren't going to compete with those offers.

 

That's where it leads to what do you do? Do you find some half measures? Do you just go with what you have? Do you see the high prices and think that for the greater good you could deal off ERod or Ottavino?

 

If the mandate is to stay under lux tax, how does a story get out that ownership wants Max? That totally undercuts Bloom. Very unfair!

[mvp 78]

That's not insignificant. Trea Turner is a very good ballplayer.

 

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1425295987619336192

[Bellhorn04]

That's not insignificant. Trea Turner is a very good ballplayer.

 

Yes he is. Dodgers went all in for sure.

 

Personally I'm rather tickled they're 5 games behind the Giants.

[dgalehouse]

In a vacuum, all true. However, none of us knows what constraints John Henry put on him. If the edict was to stay under the cap, then I don’t see there was much Bloom could do. Now if said constraints weren’t there, then Bloom deserves all the criticism we can muster.

 

Has there been a John Henry sighting lately? is he in Boston? Is he in the country?

[dgalehouse]

Yes he is. Dodgers went all in for sure.

 

Personally I'm rather tickled they're 5 games behind the Giants.

 

The Giants have been perhaps the biggest surprise of the year.

[mvp 78]

Yes he is. Dodgers went all in for sure.

 

Personally I'm rather tickled they're 5 games behind the Giants.

 

I enjoyed vaguely rooting for the Dodgers while I lived in LA. I couldn't care less about them right now. I didn't like the Giants when I lived in SF, so I'm not exactly pulling for them.

 

A Dodgers Padres WC game could be one of the few non Sox playoff games I'll watch.

[mvp 78]

Has there been a John Henry sighting lately? is he in Boston? Is he in the country?

 

He's in his coffin under the Bleacher Bar. They dig him out once the sun goes down.

[mvp 78]

The Giants have been perhaps the biggest surprise of the year.

 

They have 10 guys above 110 WRC+. Should Posey win the MVP if the Giants have the best record this year?

 

People were surprised about the Gausman QO. Giants were on the money with that one.

[oldtimer]

It is, but unless you are doing great, you may not get to the 5th by the time the 19th batter comes up, and I think Whitlock is better suited to go 5+, next year.

 

Plus, we'll need an Ottavino replacement.

 

I'm fine with Houck starting, but I like Whitlock better, and I think we'll sign a better SP'er, this winter. (if not, then both Houck & Whitlock start.)

 

It would be reasonable to talk about plans and suggestions for 2022 under a separate string where those comments could be collected together while 2021 comments made under this string.

[notin]

And what was with all the talk about ownership pushing for Max at the deadline? Wouldn't that put them over the lux tax?

 

I don't understand.

 

Depends.

 

Maybe the problem was Bloom didn’t have the prospects to get Scherzer with Washington paying for some/all. Probably why, in the words of Mike Rizzo, talks “didn’t get very far.”

[notin]

Yes he is. Dodgers went all in for sure.

 

Personally I'm rather tickled they're 5 games behind the Giants.

 

Turner leads the NL in fWAR for all players not out for the season, tied with teammate Max Muncy, and 0.1 ahead of - and this shocked me - Pittsburgh outfielder Bryan Reynolds…

[notin]

Turner leads the NL in fWAR for all players not out for the season, tied with teammate Max Muncy, and 0.1 ahead of - and this shocked me - Pittsburgh outfielder Bryan Reynolds…

 

Technically I was incorrect. Zack Wheeler and Corbin Burnes are tied for the NL lead in fWAR with 5.6.

 

Both actually have a decent chance to do the Cy Young/MVP dual award thing…