Fire Bloom .

[mvp 78]

In the end, the fans will tell Henry when it is time for Bloom to go. Look at least year’s attendance— a fairly substantial drop from the last 10 years. People will not continue to fill the ballpark for a last place team. Their business model of high payroll and the highest ticket prices is not sustainable by 5 last place finishes in 7 years.

 

It was their worst attendance per game in a "normal" season since 2000. Peak attendance was 08-12 and I think a large part of the attendance issues are fatigue and price point.

[mvp 78]

More fans went to Fenway during the horrible, no good Cherington years than in the amazing Dombrowski years.

 

Cherington: 36,151 per game (3 last place finishes and 1 world series)

Dombrowski: 36,062 per game (back to back to back AL East titles including world series and one third place season)

[moonslav59]

More fans went to Fenway during the horrible, no good Cherington years than in the amazing Dombrowski years.

 

Cherington: 36,151 per game (3 last place finishes and 1 world series)

Dombrowski: 36,062 per game (back to back to back AL East titles including world series and one third place season)

 

Maybe that was why JH made losing a higher priority!'

[mvp 78]

Maybe that was why JH made losing a higher priority!'

 

Then I guess it was smart to be good in a season when the stadium could only be half full.

[Bellhorn04]

More fans went to Fenway during the horrible, no good Cherington years than in the amazing Dombrowski years.

 

Cherington: 36,151 per game (3 last place finishes and 1 world series)

Dombrowski: 36,062 per game (back to back to back AL East titles including world series and one third place season)

 

Next question is how does this decline compare to the numbers across baseball for the same period.

[mvp 78]

Next question is how does this decline compare to the numbers across baseball for the same period.

 

Attendance peaked in 2007 with 79M fans. From 04-17, there were 70+M fans each season.

 

2018: 69.6M

2019: 68.5M

2022: 64.5M

[mvp 78]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/bostons-thad-ward-should-draw-interest-in-the-rule-5-draft/

 

Thad Ward should be of interest to several teams come next month’s Rule 5 draft. Currently no. 15 on our Boston Red Sox prospect rankings with a 40+ FV, the 25-year-old right-hander wasn’t added to the club’s 40-man roster — a decision that left Eric Longenhagen “a tad surprised.” Our lead prospect analyst explained that Ward “looked good in the Arizona Fall League, locating 92-94 mph fastballs while mixing in two above-average breaking balls… [and] looks like a possible bulk relief fit right now.”

 

@redsoxstats

Ryan Fernandez gets a nice write-up in the BA Rule 5 preview. @IanCundall mentioned his breakout and big time pitch metrics this summer. Finished the year out with elbow soreness. Thad Ward also makes the BA list with back-end starter upside.

 

I can't remember the last time 2 prospects were noted as being potential Rule 5 selections. We'll see who can sneak through.

 

Draft is next Monday.

[mvp 78]

@JonHeyman

Jose Abreu was Boston’s No. 1 outside target. The Red Sox met with him as soon as free agency opened.

 

This better not have been the case.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

@JonHeyman

Jose Abreu was Boston’s No. 1 outside target. The Red Sox met with him as soon as free agency opened.

 

This better not have been the case.

 

It happens. At least we know that a year ago, after the long lockout ended, Bloom pounced and outbid 29 other clubs for Diekman and Robles.

[Hugh2]

@JonHeyman

Jose Abreu was Boston’s No. 1 outside target. The Red Sox met with him as soon as free agency opened.

 

This better not have been the case.

 

Better not be the case is in, we failed to sign our top target? or better not be the case in....Why would Abreu be our #1 target?

[mvp 78]

It happens. At least we know that a year ago, after the long lockout ended, Bloom pounced and outbid 29 other clubs for Diekman and Robles.

 

I mean, I hope Abreu wasn't the #1 outside target. It just doesn't make sense that he's the #1 target.

[mvp 78]

Better not be the case is in, we failed to sign our top target? or better not be the case in....Why would Abreu be our #1 target?

 

Option 2. Why Abreu???

[moonslav59]

Option 2. Why Abreu???

 

Only if the plan was to trade Casas, and even then, I'm not sure Abreu would be the guy I look at first.

[Hugh2]

Only if the plan was to trade Casas, and even then, I'm not sure Abreu would be the guy I look at first.

 

Given his age and his sharp decline on defense last year, one has to view him as a DH going forward. But he can still rake so that’s going to work out great for him. But given the way the roster is currently constructed I’d rather spend my beans on a position player who can hit

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Given his age and his sharp decline on defense last year, one has to view him as a DH going forward. But he can still rake so that’s going to work out great for him. But given the way the roster is currently constructed I’d rather spend my beans on a position player who can hit

 

... and run -- with no shift and 85.5-foot baselines.

[Hugh2]

... and run -- with no shift and 85.5-foot baselines.

 

Without a doubt Jose Abreu is going to steal two times the amount of bases in 2023 as he did in 2022.

[moonslav59]

Given his age and his sharp decline on defense last year, one has to view him as a DH going forward. But he can still rake so that’s going to work out great for him. But given the way the roster is currently constructed I’d rather spend my beans on a position player who can hit

 

As much of a gamble it is to count on Casas (Dalbec/Hosmer) at 1B and Dalbec/Hosmer/Refsnyder/Arroyo at DH (maybe EValdez, later), I think SS and RF are much higher need areas, and I'm not sure we'll have enough money to upgrade every weaker area. I also see catcher as a higher need than DH/1B.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

As much of a gamble it is to count on Casas (Dalbec/Hosmer) at 1B and Dalbec/Hosmer/Refsnyder/Arroyo at DH (maybe EValdez, later), I think SS and RF are much higher need areas, and I'm not sure we'll have enough money to upgrade every weaker area. I also see catcher as a higher need than DH/1B.

 

Keep it in perspective. If you're Bloom with at least 10 positions to upgrade on the big league roster, then Casas is anything but a gamble. He will get paid MLB minimum wage...

[mvp 78]

@redsoxpayroll

Duquette 94-02 (no WS)

Theo 03-11 (04,07 WS)

Cherrington 11-15 (13 WS)

Dombro 15-19 (18 WS)

Bloom 19-present (no WS)

 

Prior to Bloom, the last 3 won a WS in their first 3 years. Duquette didn't in 9 years.

 

Not defending, just think the impatient vitriol is interesting right now.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

 

Not defending, just think the impatient vitriol is interesting right now.

 

I dunno if this is vitriol, but here are headlines from the past week from columns by two writers who cover Boston:

 

Red Sox sure seem to be taking their fans for granted

 

If the Red Sox don't want to pay big, they'll be left out this winter

 

[moonslav59]

Keep it in perspective. If you're Bloom with at least 10 positions to upgrade on the big league roster, then Casas is anything but a gamble. He will get paid MLB minimum wage...

 

That is why I do not see us adding a 1Bman, unless casas is traded.

 

I also think Dalbec-Hosmer at 1B by themselves, would not be a top 4-5 high need area, either- maybe #5.

[Bellhorn04]

@redsoxpayroll

Duquette 94-02 (no WS)

Theo 03-11 (04,07 WS)

Cherrington 11-15 (13 WS)

Dombro 15-19 (18 WS)

Bloom 19-present (no WS)

 

Prior to Bloom, the last 3 won a WS in their first 3 years. Duquette didn't in 9 years.

 

Not defending, just think the impatient vitriol is interesting right now.

 

Duquette's Red Sox and Theo's Red Sox never finished last. One of the things driving Sox fans batty right now is the 5 last place finishes since 2012.

 

Bloom is somewhat the victim of much higher expectations that Sox fans have now too, no question about that.

[moonslav59]

@redsoxpayroll

Duquette 94-02 (no WS)

Theo 03-11 (04,07 WS)

Cherrington 11-15 (13 WS)

Dombro 15-19 (18 WS)

Bloom 19-present (no WS)

 

Prior to Bloom, the last 3 won a WS in their first 3 years. Duquette didn't in 9 years.

 

Not defending, just think the impatient vitriol is interesting right now.

 

It's like a broken record, but none of those 3 GMs had a farm that produced just Houck in 5 years and 3 tight winter budgets in a row like Bloom has had.

 

They all had deadwood and issues to fix, but IMO, not like Bloom.

[mvp 78]

Duquette's Red Sox and Theo's Red Sox never finished last. One of the things driving Sox fans batty right now is the 5 last place finishes since 2012.

 

Bloom is somewhat the victim of much higher expectations that Sox fans have now too, no question about that.

 

Under Duke, they did have a 78-84 record in 97 and a .470 winning % in 94. They weren't a consistently good team until Pedro showed up.

[mvp 78]

It's like a broken record, but none of those 3 GMs had a farm that produced just Houck in 5 years and 3 tight winter budgets in a row like Bloom has had.

 

They all had deadwood and issues to fix, but IMO, not like Bloom.

 

What are you trying to say about what the previous GM did to the farm, moon?

[moonslav59]

What are you trying to say about what the previous GM did to the farm, moon?

 

I don't think I need to say it again, and I never have said he "decimated it" like other said.

 

DD actually did better with the farm than I thought, but because he dealt away all but Devers of the ML ready or near ML ready prospects, going 5 years with just Houck is an insurmountable obstacle, alone, for any GM to be given high expectations to.

 

Add the budget constraints and the forced trade of our best player, I think this speaks for itself, but obviously not to many, here.

[moonslav59]

Bloom is somewhat the victim of much higher expectations that Sox fans have now too, no question about that.

 

This is the part I think is unfair to Bloom. No GM in the last 3 or 4 have been handed a farm that added only one semi-key player in 5 years, 3 tight winter budgets in a row with too many open holes on the 40 to possibly fill with high quality players, while having to start your time as GM by trading away your best player (Betts) and up to that point, a solid SP'er (Price.)

 

I get why success leads to higher expectations, but within the context of what Bloom was handed, was a ring within 3 years even close to a realistic goal?

 

2018 was so spectacular, and some of the core of that team was still around when Bloom took over, but the 2019 team sans Betts and Price was more of a hint at what Bloom was handed than 2018.

[Bellhorn04]

This is the part I think is unfair to Bloom. No GM in the last 3 or 4 have been handed a farm that added only one semi-key player in 5 years, 3 tight winter budgets in a row with too many open holes on the 40 to possibly fill with high quality players, while having to start your time as GM by trading away your best player (Betts) and up to that point, a solid SP'er (Price.)

 

I get why success leads to higher expectations, but within the context of what Bloom was handed, was a ring within 3 years even close to a realistic goal?

 

2018 was so spectacular, and some of the core of that team was still around when Bloom took over, but the 2019 team sans Betts and Price was more of a hint at what Bloom was handed than 2018.

 

It's the last place finish this year that really has the knives out for Bloom.

[mvp 78]

I don't think I need to say it again, and I never have said he "decimated it" like other said.

 

DD actually did better with the farm than I thought, but because he dealt away all but Devers of the ML ready or near ML ready prospects, going 5 years with just Houck is an insurmountable obstacle, alone, for any GM to be given high expectations to.

 

Add the budget constraints and the forced trade of our best player, I think this speaks for itself, but obviously not to many, here.

 

What budget constraints? They went over the luxury tax threshold last season.

[mvp 78]

It's the last place finish this year that really has the knives out for Bloom.

 

It's the last place finish while going over the luxury tax threshold and letting your franchise SS walk out the door just a few years after the future HOF RFer was shipped to LA because he was too expensive even though the cost to take your family to a game is 2 car payments.