Fire Bloom .

[moonslav59]

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.

 

Not only were they missing an ace in 2022, they lost the 3 guys closest to that role (Nate, Wacha & Hill) and left their replacement slots to Kluber, the returning Sale/Paxton and the converted pen arm in Whitlock.

 

If you want a great rotation, you have to build from the top- not the middle or bottom.

 

The next thing you do is add at the top, again.

 

We added Pedro, but didn't win until we added Schiiling.

 

We had Schilling but didn't win again, until adding Beckett.

 

We had Lester but didn't win until adding Lackey.

 

We added ace Price, but did not win until adding Sale.

 

 

We haven't even added the first ace.

[Bellhorn04]

Maybe Senga was a much more worthwhile risk than Yoshida.

[Hugh2]

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

 

Oh I don’t know, everyone haha.

[Bellhorn04]

With the money Bloom gave Story and Yoshida, we could have had Gausman and Senga.

[notin]

Maybe Senga was a much more worthwhile risk than Yoshida.

 

Not many Japanese starting pitchers seem to have even reasonably long effective careers. There are numerous reasons, like

 

1. Most are pushing 30 when they come over

2. Five man rotations and 162 game seasons are a big change.

 

But probably worth noting, only 16 Japanese pitchers have made as many as MLB 20 starts in their career…

[Hugh2]

Not many Japanese starting pitchers seem to have even reasonably long effective careers. There are numerous reasons, like

 

1. Most are pushing 30 when they come over

2. Five man rotations and 162 game seasons are a big change.

 

But probably worth noting, only 16 Japanese pitchers have made as many as MLB 20 starts in their career…

 

But there’s plenty of them that were good for at least 4-5 years before their production fell off. I think not chasing Senga was a big mistake

[Bellhorn04]

JDM is off to a good start, with an .881 OPS. Could signing Turner instead be another mistake?

[Hugh2]

With the money Bloom gave Story and Yoshida, we could have had Gausman and Senga.

 

I don’t like that, because I still think Yoshida is going to hit. I just think they should have gone after Senga too. They had the money to do it, they could have still had almost the same exact offseason. +Senga -Kluber and you’re still under cap

[Bellhorn04]

I don’t like that, because I still think Yoshida is going to hit. I just think they should have gone after Senga too. They had the money to do it, they could have still had almost the same exact offseason. +Senga -Kluber and you’re still under cap

 

Right, but Henry seems to have given Bloom a really tight budget for whatever reason.

[Hugh2]

Right, but Henry seems to have given Bloom a really tight budget for whatever reason.

 

I don’t think the budget matters in this instance. henry cares more about resetting the cap every 2-3 years rather than a total number. The Sox could have signed Senga and stayed under cap. Take Klubber contract out and you have the flexibility to add this season on top of that.

[jad]

JDM is off to a good start, with an .881 OPS. Could signing Turner instead be another mistake?

 

And Vaz hitting around .375. Maybe because he doesn't have to waste time visiting his parole officer, or working with his therapist.

[Hugh2]

And Vaz hitting around .375. Maybe because he doesn't have to waste time visiting his parole officer, or working with his therapist.

 

Yes god forbid he sees a therapist and starts hitting .391

 

Last time I checked, a higher batting average is generally a good thing

[jad]

Yes god forbid he sees a therapist and starts hitting .391

 

Last time I checked, a higher batting average is generally a good thing

 

Don't be ridiculous! That's the kind of thinking that suggest Bogaerts is better than Story.

 

(But you're right! McG is hitting well; if only he could catch ... I mean on the field of course).

[Hugh2]

Don't be ridiculous! That's the kind of thinking that suggest Bogaerts is better than Story.

 

(But you're right! McG is hitting well; if only he could catch ... I mean on the field of course).

 

Think I missed the joke.

 

 

Last time I checked McGuire is a good catcher who’s had been good offensively since he’s been here. Why not complain about one of the actual black holes in the lineup. Reese is not a problem.

[notin]

But there’s plenty of them that were good for at least 4-5 years before their production fell off. I think not chasing Senga was a big mistake

 

A handful.

 

Darvish, Nomo, Tanaka, Maeda (when healthy) Maybe another.

 

Senga might join that list. Or he might be another Daisuke, Kikuchi or Ohka. Certainly Daisuke and Ohka had good careers, but neither was really irreplaceable…

[jad]

Think I missed the joke.

 

 

Last time I checked McGuire is a good catcher who’s had been good offensively since he’s been here. Why not complain about one of the actual black holes in the lineup. Reese is not a problem.

 

I complain because getting rid of a popular player to get an unknown player of no particular distinction (other than his rap sheet) doesn't seem to me to be a good idea from a PR standpoint. Wasn't McG caatching when ... was it Baltimore? ... ran wild on basepaths? Seems that Wong is better defensively but can't hit. But you're clearly right. I'm basically complaining about the color schemes on the Titanic.

[Hugh2]

I complain because getting rid of a popular player to get an unknown player of no particular distinction (other than his rap sheet) doesn't seem to me to be a good idea from a PR standpoint. Wasn't McG caatching when ... was it Baltimore? ... ran wild on basepaths? Seems that Wong is better defensively but can't hit. But you're clearly right. I'm basically complaining about the color schemes on the Titanic.

 

But Reese is clearly not the problem. And he comes with multiple years of control where CV was a pending free agent at the end of the year. Hypothetically he could have been resigned and McGuire could be backing him up.

 

Of all the criticisms of Blooms, the most fair (after bad top FA signings) an abundant one is return on his trades. His good ones have been just ok, and most of them have either been bust or not looking good.

 

So far, this looks like one of the good ones. I don’t think it’s fair to complain about Reese who’s actually playing well (I think his defense is going to be even better than early on this year as it had been). But hey, to each their own. I get the frustration is real with this team.

[moonslav59]

JDM is off to a good start, with an .881 OPS. Could signing Turner instead be another mistake?

 

Turner is notorious for late season hitting.

 

Career

.746 April

.781 May

over .841 in every month after April, all but August ov er .860.

 

SEP is his best month (.870)

 

.808 first half

.857 second half (.858 after May 16th in 2023)

 

Last year, Turner was one of MLB's hottest hitters after June 17th (.940) and June 30th (.968). He hit .986 over his last 139 PAs.)

 

JD hit .672 over his last 76 games in 2022 (316 PAs)

.893 career 1st half

.864 career 2nd half

 

[jad]

But Reese is clearly not the problem. And he comes with multiple years of control where CV was a pending free agent at the end of the year. Hypothetically he could have been resigned and McGuire could be backing him up.

 

Of all the criticisms of Blooms, the most fair (after bad top FA signings) an abundant one is return on his trades. His good ones have been just ok, and most of them have either been bust or not looking good.

 

So far, this looks like one of the good ones. I don’t think it’s fair to complain about Reese who’s actually playing well (I think his defense is going to be even better than early on this year as it had been). But hey, to each their own. I get the frustration is real with this team.

 

To say that the McGuire acquisition is one of highlights of Bloom's wheeling and dealings says about all we need to know about this team. It's just going to be a long dismal season until we are done with the Henry/Bloom Axis of Horse-Pucky.

Edited April 15, 2023 by jad

[Hugh2]

To say that the McGuire acquisition is one of highlights of Bloom's wheeling and dealings says about all we need to know about this team. It's just going to be a long dismal season until we are done with the Henry/Bloom Axis of Horse-Pucky.

 

Fair.

[moonslav59]

Fair.

 

You said it looks "like a good one." You did not say "one of the highlights?"

[Hugh2]

You said it looks "like a good one." You did not say "one of the highlights?"

 

I’m not going to argue semantics with him, in the spirit of the argument he brought up a good point that I agree with.

 

Bloom has made good deals, bloom has made bad deals. But of all his good deals none of them have been great, and some of the bad ones have been really bad.

 

The only constantly good thing happening in the Bloom era is (at first glance at least) the drafting.

 

Which after the first pick probably has little to nothing to do with Bloom

[Hugh2]

Now the book isn’t closed on all his deals. But we have a whole lotta “well maybe this guy will be on”

 

Gotta rip your cap to wink tonight though”

[moonslav59]

Now the book isn’t closed on all his deals. But we have a whole lotta “well maybe this guy will be on”

 

Gotta rip your cap to wink tonight though”

 

More than just tonight.

 

Maybe the best part of the McGuire deal was dumping Diekman without having to pay anything, but then we ended up going over the line, anyway.

 

The jury is still out on several deal, but many do not have much promise, left over.

 

I'd say these guy still have significant promise:

 

McGuire (Diekman)

Winckowski (Beni)

Wong

EValdez & WAbreu (Vaz)

Hamilton (Renfroe)

 

Slight hopes...

de la Rosa (Beni)

Max Ferguson & C Rosier (Groome)

 

Not much hope left...

Koss (Aybar)

Binelas (Renfroe)

R Hernandez (Springs & Mazza)

 

Many are no long in the system, including Downs.

 

[moonslav59]

More than just tonight.

 

Maybe the best part of the McGuire deal was dumping Diekman without having to pay anything, but then we ended up going over the line, anyway.

 

The jury is still out on several deal, but many do not have much promise, left over.

 

I'd say these guy still have significant promise:

 

McGuire (Diekman)

Winckowski (Beni)

Wong

EValdez & WAbreu (Vaz)

Hamilton (Renfroe)

 

Slight hopes...

de la Rosa (Beni)

Max Ferguson & C Rosier (Groome)

 

Not much hope left...

Koss (Aybar)

Binelas (Renfroe)

R Hernandez (Springs & Mazza)

 

Many are no long in the system, including Downs.

 

 

Plus Pivetta

 

Rule 5: Whitlock

 

Waivers: Schreiber and Arroyo

 

Minor League FA: Refsnyder

 

[Hugh2]

Plus Pivetta

 

Rule 5: Whitlock

 

Waivers: Schreiber and Arroyo

 

Minor League FA: Refsnyder

 

 

But that is just the thing. The best return Bloom has got so far is under the “well let’s see what these guys might become” because most of them haven't shown much yet.

 

Look, most prospects are going to fall short of their 90% best outcome, but you’re going to hit sometimes too. Even a bad GM is going to hit on a player here and there the same way a broken clock is correct twice a day.

 

Bloom might not just be a subpar director of operations….he might be very unlucky too.

[Bellhorn04]

More than just tonight.

 

Maybe the best part of the McGuire deal was dumping Diekman without having to pay anything, but then we ended up going over the line, anyway.

 

And maybe the worst part is that it persuaded Bloom he could replace Vaz with McGuire.

[Bellhorn04]

Turner is notorious for late season hitting.

 

Career

.746 April

.781 May

over .841 in every month after April, all but August ov er .860.

 

SEP is his best month (.870)

 

.808 first half

.857 second half (.858 after May 16th in 2023)

 

Last year, Turner was one of MLB's hottest hitters after June 17th (.940) and June 30th (.968). He hit .986 over his last 139 PAs.)

 

JD hit .672 over his last 76 games in 2022 (316 PAs)

.893 career 1st half

.864 career 2nd half

 

 

Both of JD's half-numbers look bigger to me.

[jad]

I’m not going to argue semantics with him, in the spirit of the argument he brought up a good point that I agree with.

 

Bloom has made good deals, bloom has made bad deals. But of all his good deals none of them have been great, and some of the bad ones have been really bad.

 

The only constantly good thing happening in the Bloom era is (at first glance at least) the drafting.

 

Which after the first pick probably has little to nothing to do with Bloom

 

Alas, Hugh, some humans are so belligerent, they can't stand the idea that two people agree, as we just did, even on small matters. They thus feel compelled (by some obscure and unfathomable process in their minds) to prove that only they can have the last word.

[Bellhorn04]

Alas, Hugh, some humans are so belligerent, they can't stand the idea that two people agree, as we just did, even on small matters. They thus feel compelled (by some obscure and unfathomable process in their minds) to prove that only they can have the last word.

 

As a semi-objective onlooker, moon wasn't being belligerent at all IMHO.