Fire Bloom .

[mvp 78]

It is, however, 2 seasons of small but close to identical samples.

 

There's something weird going on, man.

 

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see who Cora starts on a game-to-game basis.

 

Right now, it just seems to be a platoon? I agree though. McGuire is "supposed to be" a good defensive catcher.

[mvp 78]

I hate to blame Henry, because he has been following a plan that has worked, although we are due for the next winning cycle, like yesterday, and demanding we trade Betts after he turned down a very fair offer is really nobody’s fault.

The massive budget cut and state of the farm in 2020, and the slow rise in spending until the Story signing makes it hard for me to blame Bloom or Cora. It just is what it is. I hate to blame add, too, because I like what he did, fully knowing a price would be paid, someday, and JH allowed him to do it all.

I guess I’m just not a big blame giving guy, but here is my take:

30% Henry’s budget cuts

25% DD’s residuals

20% Bloom

15% Players

10% Cora

 

Prior to 2020, when had Henry dumped players in their prime like Mookie Betts? He is currently not running this organization the same way it once was. No way.

[mvp 78]

I'd go

 

55% Henry

35% Bloom

10% DD/Sale

 

Henry gets extra weight because he hired Bloom.

 

Henry is only 73, so we can't blame it on senility. Maybe he's lost his fastball though...

[Bellhorn04]

Henry might see last place below the luxury tax as an improvement on '22. And he might tolerate the Red Sox fading into irrelevance compared to other Boston sports teams... as long as tourists still sing Sweet Caroline in Fenway all summer.

 

But Henry can't handle loud, offensive (to him) protests, from fans and media truly offended by his ballclub. By that time the Sox will be perceived as a joke by national media, which will quote or air ridicule from AL rivals that will inevitably lead to a nasty basebrawl on TV. That will be the point of no return. Then he'll clean house.

 

And I think even those fans who were booing weren't expecting the 2023 team to be as bad as they look right now.

[Bellhorn04]

Henry is only 73, so we can't blame it on senility. Maybe he's lost his fastball though...

 

He's been a great owner for the most part. But the revolving door of executives since 2011 doesn't reflect very well on him, and it seems to have finally blown up on him in a big way.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I’d go

 

50% Henry (buck stops at the top) any percentage you can assign to anything else ultimately comes down to Henry e.g. he hired and retains Bloom

 

30% system wide (minors and majors) coaching and scouting. They’ve failed to turn out minor league talent into big leaguers more often in recent years and the pitching….needs no explanation.

 

15% Bloom - needs no explanation

 

5% players - they are what they are which is why it’s so low but they need some part of the blame pie as they’re ultimately the ones who win/lose games.

 

5% each -- Old Red and Moon, who channeled displeasures with Sox management at each other (guys, we're on the same team).

10% MVP -- who tried to be fair, when most longshots went foul

10% notin -- always ready to argue, but who knows better

10% Hugh -- for wanting it to work too much before time runs out

10% Bellhorn -- for becoming a realist

50% 5GGs -- for never trusting the CBO who looked fans in the eyes at Winter Weekend and actually said, "Rebuilding for half a decade. That’s not acceptable."

[MADSTORK]

Did you know that in Dombrowski’s tenure in Philly (2021-22), the Red Sox actually have a better record than the Phillies. And the Phillies are off to a worse start this year. Despite all the complaints on this board about the Sox, I do find it hard to believe the Phillies are excelling at hitting, fielding and pitching on their way to a 4-8 start.

 

Dombrowski inherited a .500 team, and turned it into an 87 win team. They won 5 more games in his second year than before he got there. They had a good postseason run, but they weren’t a great team…

 

 

What’s your point?

[Bellhorn04]

What’s your point?

 

He's not a DD fan.

[moonslav59]

He's not a DD fan.

 

I think it was more about bring down the DD apologists a notch.

[a700hitter]

What’s your point?

it was a very dumb point since DD already brought the Phillies to the World Series.

[dgalehouse]

Under Dombrowski, the Sox played good, exciting baseball. Under Bloom, they do not. All of the B.S. in the world does not change that plain and simple fact.

[notin]

Henry is only 73, so we can't blame it on senility. Maybe he's lost his fastball though...

 

73 is also Kluber’s fastball…

[notin]

Under Dombrowski, the Sox played good, exciting baseball. Under Bloom, they do not. All of the B.S. in the world does not change that plain and simple fact.

 

2019 was good, exciting baseball?

[notin]

Mondesi is fine IF YOU AREN'T RELYING ON HIM TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL INNINGS. Right now, Josh Taylor is in AAA with a 6.75 AAA, so the trade makes sense. The issue is that they still needed another SS option that could be available to actually play.

 

I didn’t get the Mondesi acquisition. I assumed/ hoped it meant he was expected to play immediately or close to it. He didn’t have any setbacks after the deal that I know of.

 

Andrus made more sense, even with his weak start…

[moonslav59]

Under Dombrowski, the Sox played good, exciting baseball. Under Bloom, they do not. All of the B.S. in the world does not change that plain and simple fact.

 

Nobody is denying that, except 2021 was exciting.

 

Adding context is not denying the truth.

[moonslav59]

I didn’t get the Mondesi acquisition. I assumed/ hoped it meant he was expected to play immediately or close to it. He didn’t have any setbacks after the deal that I know of.

 

Andrus made more sense, even with his weak start…

 

Even after we got Mondesi, I wanted Andrus or a trade for Mateo or Rojas or...

[mvp 78]

73 is also Kluber’s fastball…

 

No, it's not.

[mvp 78]

I didn’t get the Mondesi acquisition. I assumed/ hoped it meant he was expected to play immediately or close to it. He didn’t have any setbacks after the deal that I know of.

 

Andrus made more sense, even with his weak start…

 

The second he got to ST, they should have known how far away he was and acquired someone else.

[jung]

The second he got to ST, they should have known how far away he was and acquired someone else.

 

You mean they were not responsible for knowing before they paid for him? They only have him signed to a 1 year deal. He can't come back now till end May the earliest. What did they actually buy even for the modest price they paid?

 

The question I think we have had is, How many guys that can play SS do you have to let go or have up on the shelf to get down to Kike' and "god help us" Dulbec. Did we REALLY want to know the answer to that question? Is that what they hired Bloom to do, answer questions in real life that we likely only thought we would experience in nightmares? Not sure I wanted to know how Diabetic Duval would handle one of the most difficult CF's in baseball either....but we sorta' know now.

 

Guys who have played CF elsewhere tend to get exposed at Fenway unless they are truly athletic and highly skilled Ofers....same is true for RF. Wall included, LF at Fenway is the easiest of the Fenway OF positions to play.

Edited April 14, 2023 by jung

[mvp 78]

You mean they were not responsible for knowing before they paid for him? They only have him signed to a 1 year deal. He can't come back now till end May the earliest. What did they actually buy even for the modest price they paid?

 

The question I think we have had is, How many guys that can play SS do you have to let go or have up on the shelf to get down to Kike' and "god help us" Dulbec. Did we REALLY want to know the answer to that question? Is that what they hired Bloom to do, answer questions in real life that we likely only thought we would experience in nightmares? Not sure I wanted to know how Diabetic Duval would handle one of the most difficult CF's in baseball either....but we sorta' know now.

 

Guys who have played CF elsewhere tend to get exposed at Fenway unless they are truly athletic and highly skilled Ofers....same is true for RF. Wall included, LF at Fenway is the easiest of the Fenway OF positions to play.

 

I didn't say there was culpability for trading for an oft injured player who ended the previous year with an injury and was currently rehabbing. There is just even more culpability when they realize that he's not close to returning and they don't find a better solution than Dalbec --> SS.

[notin]

No, it's not.

 

Ok but it’s closer than it should be…

[Bellhorn04]

Ok but it’s closer than it should be…

 

Bloom said he was going to acquire a starter who would provide "leadership, innings and upside".

 

Pretty hard to see the upside in a 37 year old whose fastball tops out at 88.

[Hugh2]

You mean they were not responsible for knowing before they paid for him? They only have him signed to a 1 year deal. He can't come back now till end May the earliest. What did they actually buy even for the modest price they paid?

 

The question I think we have had is, How many guys that can play SS do you have to let go or have up on the shelf to get down to Kike' and "god help us" Dulbec. Did we REALLY want to know the answer to that question? Is that what they hired Bloom to do, answer questions in real life that we likely only thought we would experience in nightmares? Not sure I wanted to know how Diabetic Duval would handle one of the most difficult CF's in baseball either....but we sorta' know now.

 

Guys who have played CF elsewhere tend to get exposed at Fenway unless they are truly athletic and highly skilled Ofers....same is true for RF. Wall included, LF at Fenway is the easiest of the Fenway OF positions to play.

 

Everyone knows you can’t dive for a baseball in left field and right field. It’s only allowed in centerfield.

[Hugh2]

Bloom said he was going to acquire a starter who would provide "leadership, innings and upside".

 

Pretty hard to see the upside in a 37 year old whose fastball tops out at 88.

 

I had a huge crush on Senga. That was the guy I wanted the Sox to sign.

[notin]

The second he got to ST, they should have known how far away he was and acquired someone else.

 

I think at that time they hadn’t given up on Goodrum yet.

 

At this point, Dalbec has played 22 innings in his career at SS. A little over two games. Maybe things can pan out somewhat. Or was his one error just too many?

[notin]

Bloom said he was going to acquire a starter who would provide "leadership, innings and upside".

 

Pretty hard to see the upside in a 37 year old whose fastball tops out at 88.

 

“Averages” 88. No need to make it worse.

 

And this is from the guy who said it was 73…

[notin]

You mean they were not responsible for knowing before they paid for him? They only have him signed to a 1 year deal. He can't come back now till end May the earliest. What did they actually buy even for the modest price they paid?

 

The question I think we have had is, How many guys that can play SS do you have to let go or have up on the shelf to get down to Kike' and "god help us" Dulbec. Did we REALLY want to know the answer to that question? Is that what they hired Bloom to do, answer questions in real life that we likely only thought we would experience in nightmares? Not sure I wanted to know how Diabetic Duval would handle one of the most difficult CF's in baseball either....but we sorta' know now.

 

Guys who have played CF elsewhere tend to get exposed at Fenway unless they are truly athletic and highly skilled Ofers....same is true for RF. Wall included, LF at Fenway is the easiest of the Fenway OF positions to play.

 

 

The Sox went to the WS with Tony Armas in CF. Duvall was better than Armas, who was also not a CF…

[Hugh2]

Kluber is fine, he knows how to pitch. Plenty of guys lose velocity and reinvent themselves.

 

The problem with Kluber, is expecting him to be anything more than a middle of the rotation starter at this point in his career.

 

Sox signed a #3 #4 guy when they already had a rotation of those types but no ace.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The Sox went to the WS with Tony Armas in CF. Duvall was better than Armas, who was also not a CF…

 

You're Lyon, Steve...

 

... who I actually passed in the stands in the game that took them to the WS (LCS Gm 7).

[Bellhorn04]

I had a huge crush on Senga. That was the guy I wanted the Sox to sign.

 

And he cost less than Yoshida. But who needs pitchers?