Fire Bloom .

[Old Red]

Nothing from Old Red yet?

 

None of the above.

[JDavis76]

I guess I just assumed it was all the toxic algae in the Gulf that was making your posts so bad. Now I realize it's just the iguana infestation and nonstop traffic in FTL that's driving you crazy. You're not having iguana's coming out of your toilet are you?

 

Swing and a miss on all accounts, Ken. I live on the beach and I work from home. I deal with very little traffic and almost no iguanas.

 

What is the excuse for the drivel you post on here daily?

[mvp 78]

Swing and a miss on all accounts, Ken. I live on the beach and I work from home. I deal with very little traffic and almost no iguanas.

 

What is the excuse for the drivel you post on here daily?

 

Drivel? I think you need your eyes checked.

 

Even A700 would agree that I'm a must read.

[JDavis76]

Drivel? I think you need your eyes checked.

 

Even A700 would agree that I'm a must read.

 

Ha, maybe like one looks at a car wreck when driving by on the highway.

 

Don't break your arm patting yourself on your back....

[mvp 78]

Ha, maybe like one looks at a car wreck when driving by on the highway.

 

Don't break your arm patting yourself on your back....

 

Hardly, don't break your arm patting yourself on the back.

 

Really big into this joke right now, eh?

[JDavis76]

Really big into this joke right now, eh?

 

Hardly, Ken.

[Bellhorn04]

Really big into this joke right now, eh?

 

He thinks repeating yourself is a skill.

[JDavis76]

He thinks repeating yourself is a skill.

 

That's rich coming from you, bellhop.

[mvp 78]

He thinks repeating yourself is a skill.

 

It's like if you say a joke and nobody laughs the first time, well... maybe they just didn't hear me! I'll use it again!

[Kimmi]

Why, Why, Why Nancy Kerrigan? I don’t get the trust, and admiration he gets from some on here, and has gotten since his hire.

 

I'm a Bloom fan. I 100% agree with his philosophy. Things look terrible at the moment, but two things to remember:

 

1. Things looked really good last year and really good this year up until injuries derailed us. I'm not trying to use that as an excuse. It happens. That said, any team would have a difficult time overcoming the number of injuries that we've had, no matter how well the team is constructed.

2. More importantly, I'm expecting a franchise that will soon turn out contenders year after year.

[Kimmi]

It's because he represents a philosophy that some folks like. Rebuild the farm, don't get locked into a bunch of albatross contracts etc.

 

It's a philosophy that requires patience.

 

A lot of fans do not have that kind of patience, which I understand. It's no fun being in last place, again.

 

I think 2023 is a huge year for Bloom.

 

I also find a lot of enjoyment in the so called "small market" moves. Find me those bargains!

[JDavis76]

I'm a Bloom fan. I 100% agree with his philosophy. Things look terrible at the moment, but two things to remember:

 

1. Things looked really good last year and really good this year up until injuries derailed us. I'm not trying to use that as an excuse. It happens. That said, any team would have a difficult time overcoming the number of injuries that we've had, no matter how well the team is constructed.

2. More importantly, I'm expecting a franchise that will soon turn out contenders year after year.

 

The Yanks have been decimated by injuries many times over the last 10 season but have yet to finish under .500, much less end up in last place.

[Old Red]

I'm a Bloom fan. I 100% agree with his philosophy. Things look terrible at the moment, but two things to remember:

 

1. Things looked really good last year and really good this year up until injuries derailed us. I'm not trying to use that as an excuse. It happens. That said, any team would have a difficult time overcoming the number of injuries that we've had, no matter how well the team is constructed.

2. More importantly, I'm expecting a franchise that will soon turn out contenders year after year.

 

You keep on going to the fantasy that the Red Sox looked good until the injuries hit. The only time the Red Sox have looked good was going against the NL West when Seattle was playing bad, and the Angels were going through a 15 game losing streak. They started 10-19, and the bottom line is they have beat the bad playing teams, and have lost to the good teams.

[JDavis76]

You keep on going to the fantasy that the Red Sox looked good until the injuries hit. The only time the Red Sox have looked good was going against the NL West when Seattle was playing bad, and the Angels were going through a 15 game losing streak. They started 10-19, and the bottom line is they have beat the bad playing teams, and have lost to the good teams.

 

+1.......

[Kimmi]

Well said, and when you cobble a team together to try to be barely competitive as you build farm depth you have to pick and choose what areas to address first , and the team will be highly susceptible to ups and downs and the inability to deal with key injuries.

 

Bloom did not have much to spend on filling all our needs, and certainly not enough to address the 7th, 8th and 9th SPee slots, in case 3-4 starters got hurt at the same time. Blaming him for neglecting certain areas is missing the big picture.

 

Yes, this was the first winter he had the ability to sign a large and long contract player. It seems he whiffed on year one of the deal, but when you can only spend $5 and $7M on SPers you get what you pay for.

 

As Bell said, Bloom's philosophy takes patience. It seems like more fans prefer the 'win now' philosophy and the instant gratification of blockbuster moves. There's nothing wrong with that, but we must keep in mind that the team building approach we've seen the past 3 years is in large part due to that win now mentality from a few years ago. You can't have it both ways. Bloom is trying to establish that balance.

[notin]

I never thought for a second that the Dodgers considered Betts a rental when they decided to trade for him.

 

I’m sure they didn’t. But they had to hope he felt that way, too…

[Old Red]

As Bell said, Bloom's philosophy takes patience. It seems like more fans prefer the 'win now' philosophy and the instant gratification of blockbuster moves. There's nothing wrong with that, but we must keep in mind that the team building approach we've seen the past 3 years is in large part due to that win now mentality from a few years ago. You can't have it both ways. Bloom is trying to establish that balance.

 

I don’t think getting an actual 1B who could play 1B, or an RHH OF not named Arroyo who could catch the ball, and hit a little that both have been sorely needed needed a blockbuster move.

[jad]

I also find a lot of enjoyment in the so called "small market" moves. Find me those bargains!

 

To each his own, but, to me, not being into fantasy sports at all, I get absolutely 0 enjoyment from the machinations of a front office. I only care about what happens on the field and the human beings I follow there. I am thus totally deaf to arguments justifying getting rid of Betts, or now Bogey and Devers, Vaz, even JD--players who have been productive and likely will continue to be. So while from a business standpoint, I admire what Bloom did in Tampa Bay, from a sports aspect, I have no interest in it whatsoever, where my view is simply: "Find the best players you can and keep them."

[Old Red]

To each his own, but, to me, not being into fantasy sports at all, I get absolutely 0 enjoyment from the machinations of a front office. I only care about what happens on the field and the human beings I follow there. I am thus totally deaf to arguments justifying getting rid of Betts, or now Bogey and Devers, Vaz, even JD--players who have been productive and likely will continue to be. So while from a business standpoint, I admire what Bloom did in Tampa Bay, from a sports aspect, I have no interest in it whatsoever, where my view is simply: "Find the best players you can and keep them."

We’ll said, and I 100% agree.

[Kimmi]

My biggest problem with Bloom is , and has been, the bullpen. You simply cannot overstate the importance of a bullpen in baseball today. One of the main reasons for the improvement of the Orioles has been their bullpen. No big names , but a group of really good lock down relievers. The Red Sox continue to go with a rag tag ,hit or miss bunch. And it shows. Our saves leader has a total of six saves going into August . The runner up has three. The pen has blown leads again and again. I don't know what Bloom' s philosophy for building a bullpen is , but whatever it is , it' s not working . And that needs to be addressed. I actually feel sorry for Cora as he tries to mix and match and try to get some results out of this crew.

 

The Orioles' BP consists of guys that are still all under team control, if I'm not mistaken. (Hence, the need for rebuilding the farm.) The Orioles didn't spend big on a closer. They didn't sign a "proven" closer. In fact, their primary closer is Jorge Lopez, who posted a 6.07 ERA (5.44 xERA) last season, and prior to this year, had one save.

 

My point is that as much as people want to sign the big name closers to big contracts, that's not a good use of a team's resources, IMO. The best relievers in a season typically come out of nowhere and can be found for relatively little money. I don't think Bloom underestimates the importance of a good bullpen. He just has a different philosophy behind building one than most people do. Acquire as many arms as possible and see what sticks. Sometimes, it works, sometimes it doesn't. But the same can be said about spending big bucks on the bullpen too.

[JDavis76]

To each his own, but, to me, not being into fantasy sports at all, I get absolutely 0 enjoyment from the machinations of a front office. I only care about what happens on the field and the human beings I follow there. I am thus totally deaf to arguments justifying getting rid of Betts, or now Bogey and Devers, Vaz, even JD--players who have been productive and likely will continue to be. So while from a business standpoint, I admire what Bloom did in Tampa Bay, from a sports aspect, I have no interest in it whatsoever, where my view is simply: "Find the best players you can and keep them."

 

Hang 'em chaim was never the top dog in tampa, so how can we be sure what was his doing?

[moonslav59]

Doesn’t matter if they’d play a big role.

 

They just had to make minimum wage.

 

But as you asked, who would you prefer in RF? JBJ or te still cheaper Manny Margot? How about 2b? Jeter Downs, Yolmer Sanchez, or 2022 All Star Sergio Espinal? How about choosing between Kopech or Brayan Bello? Heck, what about Kopech vs Rich Hill?

 

These deals all helped win a ring, but they also helped create the situation the team had today…

 

Stop making sense.

 

I’m glad we made almost all of the deals DD made. The 2018 season and 3 division titles was worth the sacrifice, IMO.

[Old Red]

Stop making sense.

 

I’m glad we made almost all of the deals DD made. The 2018 season and 3 division titles was worth the sacrifice, IMO.

 

I don’t think there was any sacrifice.

[notin]

I don’t think there was any sacrifice.

 

There was. That’s why the team is what it is now…

[Kimmi]

The Yanks have been decimated by injuries many times over the last 10 season but have yet to finish under .500, much less end up in last place.

 

Well obviously, no other team is as great as the Yankees are.

 

Remind me again how many titles the great Yankees have won in the past 10 seasons?

[mvp 78]

The Orioles' BP consists of guys that are still all under team control, if I'm not mistaken. (Hence, the need for rebuilding the farm.) The Orioles didn't spend big on a closer. They didn't sign a "proven" closer. In fact, their primary closer is Jorge Lopez, who posted a 6.07 ERA (5.44 xERA) last season, and prior to this year, had one save.

 

My point is that as much as people want to sign the big name closers to big contracts, that's not a good use of a team's resources, IMO. The best relievers in a season typically come out of nowhere and can be found for relatively little money. I don't think Bloom underestimates the importance of a good bullpen. He just has a different philosophy behind building one than most people do. Acquire as many arms as possible and see what sticks. Sometimes, it works, sometimes it doesn't. But the same can be said about spending big bucks on the bullpen too.

 

The biggest bullpen piece he acquired this offseason was Diekman and that really didn't work out. I think another big mistake was bringing in Hill/Paxton/Wacha rather than finding guys that can actually take the ball every 5th day. This caused them to mess around with Houck and Whitlock which caused further bullpen issues.

[mvp 78]

Well obviously, no other team is as great as the Yankees are.

 

Remind me again how many titles the great Yankees have won in the past 10 seasons?

 

Past 20?

[moonslav59]

The biggest bullpen piece he acquired this offseason was Diekman and that really didn't work out. I think another big mistake was bringing in Hill/Paxton/Wacha rather than finding guys that can actually take the ball every 5th day. This caused them to mess around with Houck and Whitlock which caused further bullpen issues.

 

Biggest in terms of money.

 

Bloom also added Strahm and Schreiber.

[Old Red]

There was. That’s why the team is what it is now…

 

That’s your opinion, and I beg to differ. All the expiring contracts, and Raffy, and Bogey being out there in limbo is on Bloom. He’s had 3 years to not have the mess he has to day, and yet here we are a last place team that looks like a three ring circus.

[vegasbob]

We’ll said, and I 100% agree.

 

I'll go 90% agree with the caveat that most of the over 30 players do have "expiration dates" , and declining overall productivity. If you can move one 30+ specialty player each year, like a sole DH, and reload 1 or 2 AA/AAA prospects with upside, then that's part of the business. A competitive , winning team every year. A very good goal. It does not have to be done on the cheap though.