A Realistic View at 2021: Part III

[Kimmi]

They'll have to show it down the stretch. If they don't, then they weren't good enough.

 

That depends on what you mean by 'show it'. If they continue to play like they've played the last month, then maybe not. In that case, however, I don't think getting Rizzo would have made the difference.

[Kimmi]

I think it’s the other way around. Bloom realized that he built a pumpkin and decided not to mortgage the future for a pumpkin. He’s been proven right

 

Stop.

[Kimmi]

Someday there will be a book about how Bloom was able to build such a loyal following despite never having actually won anything . Of course that could change if he does happen to win one. Stay tuned.

 

I am a firm believer in Bloom's philosophy. What's wrong with that?

[moonslav59]

Schwarber does have a bit of a durability issue which is another reason why I think the Red Sox need to kick JD Martinez's aging butt out of here next year and use Schwarber primarily as a DH.

.

 

if you count 2020 as 40% of a season, Schwarber has averaged about 540 PAs a season on NL teams since 2017. While that does show a little problem with durability, it’s not a major red flag number.

 

I do agree letting him play or move towards playing more DH over a long term contract makes the most sense.

[dgalehouse]

I think it’s the other way around. Bloom realized that he built a pumpkin and decided not to mortgage the future for a pumpkin. He’s been proven right

 

That is strictly wishful thinking on your part. This may not be the 2018 Red Sox , but they are fully capable of making the playoffs. And as we know , in the playoffs anything can happen. I think you are more worried than you let on.

[moonslav59]

Sox among MLB OPS Leaders:

 

13. Schwarber .931

16. Devers .906

19. Bogaerts .904

25. Martínez .891

70. Renfroe .800

77. Hernandez .794

99. Verdugo .764

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Interesting that the 2 leaders in RBI are both slumping at the same time. Vlad, Jr. is 15-70 with 4 RBI in his last 18 games counting today. Edited August 21, 2021 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Interesting that the 2 leaders in RBI are both slumping at the same time. Vlad, Jr. is 15-70 with 4 RBI in his last 18 games counting today.

 

Correction: Abreu is now leading in RBI with 92.

[jacksonianmarch]

That is strictly wishful thinking on your part. This may not be the 2018 Red Sox , but they are fully capable of making the playoffs. And as we know , in the playoffs anything can happen. I think you are more worried than you let on.

 

August has been like a weight lifted off my shoulders my friend. The Sox are cooked and the Yanks are rising. I’ve been saying all year that the Sox were a bad team. Heck, I predicted 70-75 wins! I was wrong on that total, but not wrong on the fact that they’re a pumpkin

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

August has been like a weight lifted off my shoulders my friend. The Sox are cooked and the Yanks are rising. I’ve been saying all year that the Sox were a bad team. Heck, I predicted 70-75 wins! I was wrong on that total, but not wrong on the fact that they’re a pumpkin

 

Don't you have a Yankem forum you can bore to tears? You're kind of a worm.

[a700hitter]

Is Ford worth a look as a platoon piece with Dalbec?

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/rays-designate-mike-ford-for-assignment.html

[MADSTORK]

I am a firm believer in Bloom's philosophy. What's wrong with that?

 

Everything if Nothing is Changed!

IF Orlando is going to change the philosophy of the Organization far as Minor League development it starts by Cleaning house at the Minor League Development food change starting with Ben Crockett and Real estate video guy Brian Abraham, Senior scout Romero and every other swinging d!ck in the Organization who has been employed to long with zero results.

How can you have 150 to 200 Players in your Organization and you cannot develop any Pitching year after year? Its mind boggling..

 

Orlando is off to a flawed start. AB trade was a disaster and you gave the third stooge a contract extension mid-season and since has turned into a pumpkin. Trade deadline regardless of asking price was a disaster.

Its only year 1. I'll give the Tampa kid one more off season to rid this Team of bad Pitchers Bad contracts and the Sunday beer league Players that hinder this lineup

[harmony]

The Red Sox are fortunate to have Chaim Bloom at the helm regardless of whether the Sox secure a postseason berth this year.

 

Unadulterated, unquantified opinion.

[moonslav59]

Everything if Nothing is Changed!

IF Orlando is going to change the philosophy of the Organization far as Minor League development it starts by Cleaning house at the Minor League Development food change starting with Ben Crockett and Real estate video guy Brian Abraham, Senior scout Romero and every other swinging d!ck in the Organization who has been employed to long with zero results.

How can you have 150 to 200 Players in your Organization and you cannot develop any Pitching year after year? Its mind boggling..

 

Orlando is off to a flawed start. AB trade was a disaster and you gave the third stooge a contract extension mid-season and since has turned into a pumpkin. Trade deadline regardless of asking price was a disaster.

Its only year 1. I'll give the Tampa kid one more off season to rid this Team of bad Pitchers Bad contracts and the Sunday beer league Players that hinder this lineup

 

Are you serious?

 

The AB trade? Beni would be 10th on this team in OPS- just ahead I’d Dalbec, who might pass him, tonight.

 

If that’s the worst you can up with on Bloom, we’re in for multiple rings.

[illinoisredsox]

Everything if Nothing is Changed!

IF Orlando is going to change the philosophy of the Organization far as Minor League development it starts by Cleaning house at the Minor League Development food change starting with Ben Crockett and Real estate video guy Brian Abraham, Senior scout Romero and every other swinging d!ck in the Organization who has been employed to long with zero results.

How can you have 150 to 200 Players in your Organization and you cannot develop any Pitching year after year? Its mind boggling..

 

Orlando is off to a flawed start. AB trade was a disaster and you gave the third stooge a contract extension mid-season and since has turned into a pumpkin. Trade deadline regardless of asking price was a disaster.

Its only year 1. I'll give the Tampa kid one more off season to rid this Team of bad Pitchers Bad contracts and the Sunday beer league Players that hinder this lineup

 

Or what? What are YOU going to do?

Edited August 22, 2021 by illinoisredsox

[notin]

Is Ford worth a look as a platoon piece with Dalbec?u

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/rays-designate-mike-ford-for-assignment.html

 

No.

 

His OPS vs RHP is worse than Dalbec’s…

[mvp 78]

Or what? What are YOU going to do?

 

Post more.

[moonslav59]

[/b]

Post more.

 

Reason enough for Bloom to meet the demand.

[oldtimer]

Last night thee Sox played very poorly and looked lethargic throughout. This was in front of a large home crowd having been at home for 2 days and with a rest day. We put a team on the field made up of almost all the players Moon identified as next years team that was pretty well set except for a couple of pitchers. Despite what happened, I substantially agree with that assessment. So what went wrong?

 

1. Texas played good crisp defense, while we made 5 fielding errors.

2. Texas hit and ran the bases aggressively while our base running was sloppy and we couldn't string together hits.

3. Texas pitched well while E-Rod was the worst version of himself. I knew he was in trouble i the second inning when he got up in the count 0-2 and then proceeded to throw 3 non-competitive fastballs completely off the plate. (no command). He also failed to run to first on a ground ball to Dalbec. I can't blame Cora for trying to stay with his front line starter but it wasn't working and out relief corp also had an inferior night.

 

So what could cause such a complete team breakdown. Errors, wild pitch. wild throws from the outfield, failure to pickup balls thrown to first, etc.? I don't know, but it certainly doesn't look good for us down the stretch.

 

I wonder what the Rays organization would do when seeing play like this?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Last night thee Sox played very poorly and looked lethargic throughout. This was in front of a large home crowd having been at home for 2 days and with a rest day. We put a team on the field made up of almost all the players Moon identified as next years team that was pretty well set except for a couple of pitchers. Despite what happened, I substantially agree with that assessment. So what went wrong?

 

1. Texas played good crisp defense, while we made 5 fielding errors.

2. Texas hit and ran the bases aggressively while our base running was sloppy and we couldn't string together hits.

3. Texas pitched well while E-Rod was the worst version of himself. I knew he was in trouble i the second inning when he got up in the count 0-2 and then proceeded to throw 3 non-competitive fastballs completely off the plate. (no command). He also failed to run to first on a ground ball to Dalbec. I can't blame Cora for trying to stay with his front line starter but it wasn't working and out relief corp also had an inferior night.

 

So what could cause such a complete team breakdown. Errors, wild pitch. wild throws from the outfield, failure to pickup balls thrown to first, etc.? I don't know, but it certainly doesn't look good for us down the stretch.

 

I wonder what the Rays organization would do when seeing play like this?

 

Defense. If quality D doesn't always win titles, bad D definitely loses them. Anyone who plays, coaches or watches Little League knows that.

 

We know all players are human and will have bad days. They can also be below-average at their level, but not for very long or they'll be gone. This second fact is what needs to be addressed -- certainly, this offseason -- but it's too late this year for any more fixes.

 

For the rest of '21, we've no choice but to live with the left side of the infield where All-Star hitters are stationed (but does a complete overhaul depend on Bloom trading either Devers or Bogaerts?). JD should never play outfield; his swing and miss bat doesn't make up for weakening an already shaky D. Kike's a better outfielder than second baseman, but at least he hustles. Dalbec isn't good at first, though the front office has made sure there's no one better on this year's roster. Maybe Bloom will splurge on Freeman and trade Casas for a top pitching prospect.

 

ERod never covers first on a grounder to the right side. Vazquez has regressed behind the plate -- catching, throwing, even tagging. There's no reason to expect either to improve as they age. So many holes that need to be filled...

[moonslav59]

I didn’t expect us to go undefeated vs the rest or our weakest opponents, but losing that way, last night, at a time when a sense of urgency is clearly upon us is very disheartening.

 

We are lucky the A’s are doing everything in their power to keep us relevant, or maybe the A’s and Sox are making the Jays relevant, again.

 

It’s not just the errors, either. This team has made tons of defensive mistakes and non plays that were not called errors.

 

When some of your very best hitters are not good fielders, it makes for some tough winter decisions.

[Kimmi]

That is strictly wishful thinking on your part. This may not be the 2018 Red Sox , but they are fully capable of making the playoffs. And as we know , in the playoffs anything can happen. I think you are more worried than you let on.

 

!!!

[Kimmi]

Everything if Nothing is Changed!

IF Orlando is going to change the philosophy of the Organization far as Minor League development it starts by Cleaning house at the Minor League Development food change starting with Ben Crockett and Real estate video guy Brian Abraham, Senior scout Romero and every other swinging d!ck in the Organization who has been employed to long with zero results.

How can you have 150 to 200 Players in your Organization and you cannot develop any Pitching year after year? Its mind boggling..

 

Orlando is off to a flawed start. AB trade was a disaster and you gave the third stooge a contract extension mid-season and since has turned into a pumpkin. Trade deadline regardless of asking price was a disaster.

Its only year 1. I'll give the Tampa kid one more off season to rid this Team of bad Pitchers Bad contracts and the Sunday beer league Players that hinder this lineup

 

We tend to forget that the Sox are rebuilding. Outside of a handful of posters, no one expected the Sox to even contend. And most people were okay with that as long as Bloom was improving the future outlook of the team.

 

Well, Bloom is improving the future outlook of the team. And amazingly enough, the Sox are contending at the same time.

[Bellhorn04]

!!!

 

Yes, but Denny also said we'd have no trouble sweeping the Rangers. And now we're 1 more game behind the Yanks.

[Kimmi]

The Red Sox are fortunate to have Chaim Bloom at the helm regardless of whether the Sox secure a postseason berth this year.

 

Unadulterated, unquantified opinion.

 

100%

[Bellhorn04]

We tend to forget that the Sox are rebuilding. Outside of a handful of posters, no one expected the Sox to even contend. And most people were okay with that as long as Bloom was improving the future outlook of the team.

 

Well, Bloom is improving the future outlook of the team. And amazingly enough, the Sox are contending at the same time.

 

STORK is a troll.

[Kimmi]

Defense. If quality D doesn't always win titles, bad D definitely loses them. Anyone who plays, coaches or watches Little League knows that.

 

We know all players are human and will have bad days. They can also be below-average at their level, but not for very long or they'll be gone. This second fact is what needs to be addressed -- certainly, this offseason -- but it's too late this year for any more fixes.

 

For the rest of '21, we've no choice but to live with the left side of the infield where All-Star hitters are stationed (but does a complete overhaul depend on Bloom trading either Devers or Bogaerts?). JD should never play outfield; his swing and miss bat doesn't make up for weakening an already shaky D. Kike's a better outfielder than second baseman, but at least he hustles. Dalbec isn't good at first, though the front office has made sure there's no one better on this year's roster. Maybe Bloom will splurge on Freeman and trade Casas for a top pitching prospect.

 

ERod never covers first on a grounder to the right side. Vazquez has regressed behind the plate -- catching, throwing, even tagging. There's no reason to expect either to improve as they age. So many holes that need to be filled...

 

Defense, IMO, is very much underrated. Team defense was my biggest concern entering this season. Our team currently ranks 30th, and by a pretty fair margin, in defensive efficiency.

 

I will say that I am happy that Cora now has Devers batting 2nd. Of course, Devers in now in a bit of a slump.

[Kimmi]

Yes, but Denny also said we'd have no trouble sweeping the Rangers. And now we're 1 more game behind the Yanks.

 

Last night's game was terrible. I don't know that I've ever said this before, but I'm actually glad today's game is rained out. I really don't want to watch Red Sox baseball right now.

 

That said, as bad as things are right now, we really do have a good chance of making the playoffs. Obviously, we'd rather be leading the division, and having such a big negative swing in such a short time has us all a little bitter, even me. But things are never as bad as they seem when things are going bad. Hang in there.

[moonslav59]

We tend to forget that the Sox are rebuilding. Outside of a handful of posters, no one expected the Sox to even contend. And most people were okay with that as long as Bloom was improving the future outlook of the team.

 

Well, Bloom is improving the future outlook of the team. And amazingly enough, the Sox are contending at the same time.

 

And because Bloom raised hopes too quickly, he is being roasted for not abandoning his plan and “doing more.”

[moonslav59]

Defense, IMO, is very much underrated. Team defense was my biggest concern entering this season. Our team currently ranks 30th, and by a pretty fair margin, in defensive efficiency.

 

I will say that I am happy that Cora now has Devers batting 2nd. Of course, Devers in now in a bit of a slump.

 

Our super high BAbip against is no fluke. Our D sucks!