Fire Bloom .

[Old Red]

Song did throw a bullpen session Sat, so at least he’s throwing a ball again.

[mvp 78]

It’s amazing that the Navy is getting all the blame when Song should share some of the blame too if not more. Song could have gotten out of the Academy after two years, but decided to stay in.

 

How aside from repaying for his schooling? He asked for multiple exemptions. He was denied each time until this time.

[Old Red]

How aside from repaying for his schooling? He asked for multiple exemptions. He was denied each time until this time.

 

I’m just saying he could have gotten out of the Academy after 2 years with no more obligations. I’m not sure about the money part.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Wrong! It goes back to 1892. The various rules around it have slightly changed over the years.

 

Cecil Cooper was taken in the 1970 Rule 5 draft by the Cardinals but was sent back to the Sox.

 

Clemente hit .255 in 1955, but the Pirates didn't send him back to the Dodgers. Pitt carried him to the end of the '50s, before he finally made his first All-Star team in 1960.

 

In his first three years, Roberto totaled only 3.3 WAR. He finished his career with 94.8 WAR.

[mvp 78]

I’m just saying he could have gotten out of the Academy after 2 years with no more obligations. I’m not sure about the money part.

 

If he left early, he would have to pay back all his financial obligations. That's why he was filing for the the exemption.

[Old Red]

If he left early, he would have to pay back all his financial obligations. That's why he was filing for the the exemption.

 

If you leave before 2 for 7 night there is no financial obligations. He wasn’t filing for any exemptions until after he got out of the Academy.

[mvp 78]

If you leave before 2 for 7 night there is no financial obligations. He wasn’t filing for any exemptions until after he got out of the Academy.

 

Oh, you're referring to before he even graduated? I don't know anything about that. I thought you were talking about flight school.

[Old Red]

Oh, you're referring to before he even graduated? I don't know anything about that. I thought you were talking about flight school.

 

No, before he graduated. After that you’re at the mercy of the military. You have 2 years to decide if you want to stay at the Academy, or not.

[Hugh2]

I can really see both sides of the argument here.

 

I think it would be nice of the military to make exceptions for players who have a chance of having an extraordinary career. On the other hand, its' not the United States Armed forces to be concerned with our entertainment but rather protect us. I can totally understand and respect that making an exception for someone to leave their commitment isn't a top priority for them. I have no complaints either way.

[moonslav59]

I can really see both sides of the argument here.

 

I think it would be nice of the military to make exceptions for players who have a chance of having an extraordinary career. On the other hand, its' not the United States Armed forces to be concerned with our entertainment but rather protect us. I can totally understand and respect that making an exception for someone to leave their commitment isn't a top priority for them. I have no complaints either way.

 

It just seems rather arbitrary who and when they let guys out of their commitment for sports-related reasons.

[jad]

The military already has a sordid enough relation to pro and amateur sports: the giant flags, the pointless playing of the national anthem, the demand of obeisance by fans. Their relationship with the NFL was exposed a few years ago, but I don't see that anything came of it. Why should anyone's sports career or even fandom depend on mindless genuflection before a flag? or why should you be asked to stand for playing some idiotic ditty, with no official status at all, like God bless Amurika? What's next: school kids marching with white robes changing "Onward Christian Soldiers?" or maybe exempting athletes from service entirely and providing them Veterans benefits? Check the XFL: any player who doesn't obey the mandate to stand at attention for the anthem is fired. (Likely soon coming to a workplace near you!) Edited April 3, 2023 by jad

[mvp 78]

The military already has a sordid enough relation to pro and amateur sports: the giant flags, the pointless playing of the national anthem, the demand of obeisance by fans. Their relationship with the NFL was exposed a few years ago, but I don't see that anything came of it. Why should anyone's sports career or even fandom depend on mindless genuflection before a flag? or why should you be asked to stand for playing some idiotic ditty, with no official status at all, like God bless Amurika? What's next: school kids marching with white robes changing "Onward Christian Soldiers?" or maybe exempting athletes from service entirely and providing them Veterans benefits? Check the XFL: any player who doesn't obey the mandate to stand at attention for the anthem is fired. (Likely soon coming to a workplace near you!)

 

You weren't impressed with the big jets that flew over Fenway on Opening Day?!??! Sir, you need to hand over your Sox Nation papers for shredding!

 

@TimBritton

The Brewers' home opener included a flyover of the stadium. The roof was closed.

Edited April 3, 2023 by mvp 78

[notin]

I can really see both sides of the argument here.

 

I think it would be nice of the military to make exceptions for players who have a chance of having an extraordinary career. On the other hand, its' not the United States Armed forces to be concerned with our entertainment but rather protect us. I can totally understand and respect that making an exception for someone to leave their commitment isn't a top priority for them. I have no complaints either way.

 

Who determines if you have a chance for an “extraordinary career”? Or, for that matter, who defines it?

[jad]

You weren't impressed with the big jets that flew over Fenway on Opening Day?!??! Sir, you need to hand over your Sox Nation papers for shredding!

 

@TimBritton

The Brewers' home opener included a flyover of the stadium. The roof was closed.

 

Ha. Missed it. Still in LA, where generally we get a bunch of B-1 bombers or stealth fighters.

[moonslav59]

Who determines if you have a chance for an “extraordinary career”? Or, for that matter, who defines it?

 

I think the long snapper answered that Q.

[mvp 78]

Ha. Missed it. Still in LA, where generally we get a bunch of B-1 bombers or stealth fighters.

 

I’m down in God’s Country and could see it on MLB.tv. Unfortunately, Youk and DO couldn’t see it from the pressbox. Sad!

[Bellhorn04]

If our 2023 run prevention is as bad as it looks so far, Bloom has failed disastrously and should be gone.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If our 2023 run prevention is as bad as it looks so far, Bloom has failed disastrously and should be gone.

 

Something that is already pushing up like early tulips on the first warm day: the Defense. Kike already has two Es in four games, and if we're holding our breath every time a high fly is hit to center, imagine how the professional pitchers feel.

 

Inserting a fully-healed Mondesi at shortstop and moving Kike back to CF can't come soon enough (and therein exposes another Bloom flaw: acquiring injured players because the price is right, then waiting helplessly while they mend, to the detriment of the team). I love Duvall's hot streak at the plate, but in order to ride it out and keep his bat in the line-up, he may have to occasionally DH or replace a lefty bat in a corner outfield spot vs. tough southpaws.

[Hugh2]

All the Red Sox had to do was score 9 runs last night, and they would be 4-2

[Bellhorn04]

All the Red Sox had to do was score 9 runs last night, and they would be 4-2

 

Yep, all we have to do is score 9 per game and things should be fine.

[mvp 78]

If our 2023 run prevention is as bad as it looks so far, Bloom has failed disastrously and should be gone.

 

I think it will get better, but the early results are f***ing bad!

[mvp 78]

NL East Standings:

Braves 3-1

Mets 3-2

Nats 1-3

Marlins 1-4

Phillies 0-4

[moonslav59]

NL East Standings:

Braves 3-1

Mets 3-2

Nats 1-3

Marlins 1-4

Phillies 0-4

 

Bring back DD, and Schwarber (.118 OPS) back too, NOW!

[Maxbialystock]

Since this is the "fire Bloom" thread, I will advance my theory one more time.

 

The Sox payroll this season is 14th highest/biggest in MLB, which is unprecedented in the John Henry era. It's just silly not to believe that John Henry is the driver on what gets spent. He decided to keep Devers and let Bogey go.

 

More than that, I think John Henry has decided to stop spending big on pitchers and wants Bloom to build a system for finding and developing good pitchers, which is what Bloom did at Tampa. To remind: as recently as last season John Henry was paying big bucks for David Price and Chris Sale, neither of whom did squat for the Sox.

 

All that said, I also think Klubar, Sale, and Crawford simply failed to use spring training to prepare for the regular season.

Specifically, Houck, who I think does not have a good repertoire for a starter, pitched 5 innings and gave up 3 runs--compared to Kluber's 3.1 innings and 5 runs, Sale's 3 innings and 7 runs, and Crawford's 4 innings and 7 runs.

 

It gets worse. Ort has pitched 4 innings and given up 2 ER's, Kelly 3.2 innings and 1 ER, Martin 3 innings and 0 runs, Winckowski 3 innings and 0 runs, and Schreiber 2 innings and 0 runs. So my thought is you can't blame the catchers for the failures of Klubar, Sale, and Crawford.

 

I think it is beyond question the starters wasted spring training--and the bullpen didn't.

 

Irony of ironies is that Ryan Brasier, universally regarded as the absolutely pit in relief pitchers, has given up 3 runs in 2 innings. So his abysmal ERA of 13.50 is no worse than Kluber's 13.50 and better than Crawford's 15.75 and Sale's 21.00.

 

Of course, we're just talking about 4 games in a 162 game season, but, still, those 4 games tend to confirm what we were afraid would happen.

Edited April 4, 2023 by Maxbialystock

[mvp 78]

Since this is the "fire Bloom" thread, I will advance my theory one more time.

 

The Sox payroll this season is 14th highest/biggest in MLB, which is unprecedented in the John Henry era. It's just silly not to believe that John Henry is the driver on what gets spent. He decided to keep Devers and let Bogey go.

 

More than that, I think John Henry has decided to stop spending big on pitchers and wants Bloom to build a system for finding and developing good pitchers, which is what Bloom did at Tampa. To remind: as recently as last season John Henry was paying big bucks for David Price and Chris Sale, neither of whom did squat for the Sox.

 

If this is a directive from Henry, why have the most recent Sox drafts been hitter focused at the top of the draft?

 

2022: Romero, Coffey, Anthony

2021: Mayer, Fabian, McDonough

2020: Yorke, Jordan

[moonslav59]

Since this is the "fire Bloom" thread, I will advance my theory one more time.

 

The Sox payroll this season is 14th highest/biggest in MLB, which is unprecedented in the John Henry era. It's just silly not to believe that John Henry is the driver on what gets spent. He decided to keep Devers and let Bogey go.

 

More than that, I think John Henry has decided to stop spending big on pitchers and wants Bloom to build a system for finding and developing good pitchers, which is what Bloom did at Tampa. To remind: as recently as last season John Henry was paying big bucks for David Price and Chris Sale, neither of whom did squat for the Sox.

 

All that said, I also think Klubar, Sale, and Crawford simply failed to use spring training to prepare for the regular season.

Specifically, Houck, who I think does not have a good repertoire for a starter, pitched 5 innings and gave up 3 runs--compared to Kluber's 3.1 innings and 5 runs, Sale's 3 innings and 7 runs, and Crawford's 4 innings and 7 runs.

 

It gets worse. Ort has pitched 4 innings and given up 2 ER's, Kelly 3.2 innings and 1 ER, Martin 3 innings and 0 runs, Winckowski 3 innings and 0 runs, and Schreiber 2 innings and 0 runs. So my thought is you can't blame the catchers for the failures of Klubar, Sale, and Crawford.

 

I think it is beyond question the starters wasted spring training--and the bullpen didn't.

 

Irony of ironies is that Ryan Brasier, universally regarded as the absolutely pit in relief pitchers, has given up 3 runs in 2 innings. So his abysmal ERA of 13.50 is no worse than Kluber's 13.50 and better than Crawford's 15.75 and Sale's 21.00.

 

Of course, we're just talking about 4 games in a 162 game season, but, still, those 4 games tend to confirm what we were afraid would happen.

 

I will say, I do think Henry's pattern, if we want to attribute it to him and not his GMs, is to wait until we look close to being highly competitive for a ring, and then spend big on an ace type pitcher via free agency or by trade.

 

Pedro came before Henry, but the Schilling trade put us over the top and made us a top 2-3 contender.

 

When things dipped a little, we traded HRam and A Sanchez for Beckett (and salary dump Mike Lowell.)

 

When things dipped again, we signed Lackey to pair with Lester.

 

A couple last place finishes led to the Price signing and to some extent the Porcello trade (Cespedes via Lester trade.)

 

When this did not seem like enough, we traded for Sale before the 2017 season.

 

I'm not sure Henry has felt like we have been "close enough" to splurge on a top pitcher since 2018, and in all honesty, I do not think we have been an ace away from being a top contender since '18.

 

Is the idea to build up a supporting cast, and then pounce?

 

Who knows?

[moonslav59]

If this is a directive from Henry, why have the most recent Sox drafts been hitter focused at the top of the draft?

 

2022: Romero, Coffey, Anthony

2021: Mayer, Fabian, McDonough

2020: Yorke, Jordan

 

Add to this, the IFA signing bonuses:

$M

 

2023:

1.4 Cespedes SS

.525 Arias SS

.500 Ruiz SS

.175 Salazar C

.130 Garcia P

.125 Garcia SS

 

2022:

1.2 De Leon SS

1.1 Encarnacion SS

.850 Garcia C

.600 Santana SS

.400 Yuten CF

.265 Paniagua SS

.125 Colmenares P

2021:

1.5 Bleis CF

.850 Lira C

.545 Ravelo SS

.450 Liendo 2B

.450 Paez P

.300 Mejias P

.195 Reyes P

.150 Sierra OF, Castillo SS, A Lopez P

.140 Castro OF

.125 Burnet P

 

 

 

 

[mvp 78]

Who would they realistically sign this offseason to put them over the top?

 

Starting Pitchers

 

Matthew Boyd (33)

Carlos Carrasco (37)

Mike Clevinger (33)

Alex Cobb (36) – $10MM club option with a $2MM buyout*

Johnny Cueto (38) – $10.5MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout

Zach Davies (31)

Jack Flaherty (28)

Chris Flexen (29)

Kyle Gibson (36)

Lucas Giolito (29)

Sonny Gray (34)

Zack Greinke (40)

Andrew Heaney (33) – $13MM+ player option with a $500K buyout

Kyle Hendricks (34) – $16MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout

Rich Hill (44)

Jakob Junis (31)

Brad Keller (28)

Corey Kluber (38) – $11MM club option

Clayton Kershaw (36)

Michael Lorenzen (32)

Seth Lugo (34) – $7.5MM player option

Lance Lynn (37) – $18MM club option with a $1MM buyout*

Kenta Maeda (35)

Tyler Mahle (29)

Sean Manaea (32) – can opt out of remaining one year and $12.5MM

German Marquez (29) – $16MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout

Nick Martinez (33) – two-year, $32MM club option; if declined, two-year, $16MM player option

Wade Miley (37) – $10MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout

Frankie Montas (31)

Jordan Montgomery (31)

Charlie Morton (40) – $20MM club option (no buyout)

Aaron Nola (31)

Jake Odorizzi (34)*

Shohei Ohtani (29)

James Paxton (34)

Martin Perez (33)*

Eduardo Rodriguez (31) – can opt out of remaining three years and $49MM*

Hyun-Jin Ryu (37)*

Luis Severino (30)

Max Scherzer (39) – can opt out of remaining one year, $43,333,334*

Blake Snell (31)

Ross Stripling (34) – can opt out of remaining one year, $12.5MM

Marcus Stroman (33) – can opt out of remaining one year, $21MM*

Noah Syndergaard (31)*

Jose Ureña (32) – $4.5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Julio Urias (27)

Vince Velasquez (32)

Michael Wacha (32) – two-year, $32MM club option; if team declines, Wacha has $6.5MM player option (contract also contains $6MM player options in 2025-26)

Luke Weaver (30)

Alex Wood (33)

 

I don't see them getting Nola out of Philly, outbidding everyone on Ohtani, or the Dodgers on Urias. Maybe they can get Giolito? He's still the #2 IMO and not a true ace like Pedro, Roger, early Sale.

[moonslav59]

Who would they realistically sign this offseason to put them over the top?

 

Starting Pitchers

 

Matthew Boyd (33)

Carlos Carrasco (37)

Mike Clevinger (33)

Alex Cobb (36) – $10MM club option with a $2MM buyout*

Johnny Cueto (38) – $10.5MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout

Zach Davies (31)

Jack Flaherty (28)

Chris Flexen (29)

Kyle Gibson (36)

Lucas Giolito (29)

Sonny Gray (34)

Zack Greinke (40)

Andrew Heaney (33) – $13MM+ player option with a $500K buyout

Kyle Hendricks (34) – $16MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout

Rich Hill (44)

Jakob Junis (31)

Brad Keller (28)

Corey Kluber (38) – $11MM club option

Clayton Kershaw (36)

Michael Lorenzen (32)

Seth Lugo (34) – $7.5MM player option

Lance Lynn (37) – $18MM club option with a $1MM buyout*

Kenta Maeda (35)

Tyler Mahle (29)

Sean Manaea (32) – can opt out of remaining one year and $12.5MM

German Marquez (29) – $16MM club option with a $2.5MM buyout

Nick Martinez (33) – two-year, $32MM club option; if declined, two-year, $16MM player option

Wade Miley (37) – $10MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout

Frankie Montas (31)

Jordan Montgomery (31)

Charlie Morton (40) – $20MM club option (no buyout)

Aaron Nola (31)

Jake Odorizzi (34)*

Shohei Ohtani (29)

James Paxton (34)

Martin Perez (33)*

Eduardo Rodriguez (31) – can opt out of remaining three years and $49MM*

Hyun-Jin Ryu (37)*

Luis Severino (30)

Max Scherzer (39) – can opt out of remaining one year, $43,333,334*

Blake Snell (31)

Ross Stripling (34) – can opt out of remaining one year, $12.5MM

Marcus Stroman (33) – can opt out of remaining one year, $21MM*

Noah Syndergaard (31)*

Jose Ureña (32) – $4.5MM club option with a $500K buyout

Julio Urias (27)

Vince Velasquez (32)

Michael Wacha (32) – two-year, $32MM club option; if team declines, Wacha has $6.5MM player option (contract also contains $6MM player options in 2025-26)

Luke Weaver (30)

Alex Wood (33)

 

I don't see them getting Nola out of Philly, outbidding everyone on Ohtani, or the Dodgers on Urias. Maybe they can get Giolito? He's still the #2 IMO and not a true ace like Pedro, Roger, early Sale.

 

20-20 hindsight, what pitchers could we have signed instead of Story, last winter?

 

Instead of Yoshida, this past winter?

[Bellhorn04]

20-20 hindsight, what pitchers could we have signed instead of Story, last winter?

 

Instead of Yoshida, this past winter?

 

Gausman and McHugh instead of Story.