Fire Bloom .

[jad]

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

 

Maybe not. But I could use his tactic as a response, concluding in triumph: "I said 'some people'; I didn't actually say his name!"

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Bloom's shortstop debacle may be the defining issue of his ultimate failure as CBO in Boston. When it comes to the most important non-battery position on the diamond, there can be no plans A-B-C-D when they all turn out to be Fs.

 

If he originally signed Story as an intended half-price replacement for Bogaerts, management must have known the elbow was in doubt. Maybe this was acknowledged by not trading X at the deadline, and then calling him the club's priority last fall. Also, second base looked more suitable for Story's future.

 

But once the Sox lost both Bogie and Story -- many options of actual Major League shortstops were still available, from high-priced stars to inexpensive gloves. Instead, Bloom acquired more damaged goods in Mondesi, and now we have Kike on pace to commit 80 errors at short. Enough with getting guys who aren't ready to help (it only worked with Schwarber because his best position was in the batter's box; we're still waiting on Paxton, two years later.)

 

As Boston fades into summer with this suspect defense, maybe the only way for Bloom to save his job will be to promote Marcelo Mayer and let him Volpe (or Casas) his way through the bigs...

[Bellhorn04]

Bloom's shortstop debacle may be the defining issue of his ultimate failure as CBO in Boston. When it comes to the most important non-battery position on the diamond, there can be no plans A-B-C-D when they all turn out to be Fs.

 

If he originally signed Story as an intended half-price replacement for Bogaerts, management must have known the elbow was in doubt. Maybe this was acknowledged by not trading X at the deadline, and then calling him the club's priority last fall. Also, second base looked more suitable for Story's future.

 

But once the Sox lost both Bogie and Story -- many options of actual Major League shortstops were still available, from high-priced stars to inexpensive gloves. Instead, Bloom acquired more damaged goods in Mondesi, and now we have Kike on pace to commit 80 errors at short. Enough with getting guys who aren't ready to help (it only worked with Schwarber because his best position was in the batter's box; we're still waiting on Paxton, two years later.)

 

As Boston fades into summer with this suspect defense, maybe the only way for Bloom to save his job will be to promote Marcelo Mayer and let him Volpe (or Casas) his way through the bigs...

 

I think it's quite possible Bloom doesn't really know what he's doing. He's made some good moves, absolutely. But way too many head-scratchers and outright blunders.

 

The more I think about it the more pissed I am about swapping Bogey for Story. That's a massive blunder right there.

[mvp 78]

I think it's quite possible Bloom doesn't really know what he's doing. He's made some good moves, absolutely. But way too many head-scratchers and outright blunders.

 

The more I think about it the more pissed I am about swapping Bogey for Story. That's a massive blunder right there.

 

They got Story on a discount because all the other teams knew about his bad elbow just look at the contracts handed out this offseason!

[moonslav59]

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

 

Career, but not even close, recently, and Turner is older!

[moonslav59]

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.

 

I expected more "gems in the rough" than Bloom has acquired- no doubt.

 

I expected better results from his FA signings, even taking into account the low prices he was forced to give out.

 

I think he's done close to what I expected on building the farm, but I would not say he has wow'd me, there, either.

 

Some deals are still pending, but I doubt anything jumps out.

[moonslav59]

Maybe not. But I could use his tactic as a response, concluding in triumph: "I said 'some people'; I didn't actually say his name!"

 

We've spent over $650M since March 2022. Sorry, if that comes across as belligerent, when using facts to support my position that we are no longer acting like a small market team.

 

IMO, we were from the end of 2018 until March 2022.

 

I respect your opinion, and looking at our 2023 budget supports yours, well, actually that we are a mid-market spending team.

[moonslav59]

I think it's quite possible Bloom doesn't really know what he's doing. He's made some good moves, absolutely. But way too many head-scratchers and outright blunders.

 

The more I think about it the more pissed I am about swapping Bogey for Story. That's a massive blunder right there.

 

When you have 15 slots to fill and $20M to do it, what should be expected? (2020)

 

12 slots to fill and $30M to spend? (2021)

 

Can we let the Bogey-Story choice play out more than a couple weeks?

 

I'm not denying mistakes were made, and we hired Bloom to make good on meager signees, but until Spring 2022, IMO, the restrictions on the budget should be factored into any final judgments made.

 

There have been some god-awful choices (Renfroe>JBJ, Richards and maybe Bogey/Yoshida/Story).

 

We all pretty much agreed, this past winter was going to be Bloom's defining moment. At the risk of sounding belligerent or triumphant, I think it deserves more than 17 games to pass any sort of definitive judgment, but it looks like I might be in a distinct minority.

[mvp 78]

We've spent over $650M since March 2022. Sorry, if that comes across as belligerent, when using facts to support my position that we are no longer acting like a small market team.

 

IMO, we were from the end of 2018 until March 2022.

 

I respect your opinion, and looking at our 2023 budget supports yours, well, actually that we are a mid-market spending team.

 

They are a middle market team. They are the Minnesota Twins.

[Hugh2]

They are a middle market team. They are the Minnesota Twins.

 

8 of the top 10 WAR players on the twins last year for players that came from their organization. For the Sox it was 4.

 

That means they either spend more money to bring players in unlike a mid market team, OR they have not been good lately at developing talent recently.

 

Unless I'm missing something?

[sk7326]

Bloom's shortstop debacle may be the defining issue of his ultimate failure as CBO in Boston. When it comes to the most important non-battery position on the diamond, there can be no plans A-B-C-D when they all turn out to be Fs.

 

If he originally signed Story as an intended half-price replacement for Bogaerts, management must have known the elbow was in doubt. Maybe this was acknowledged by not trading X at the deadline, and then calling him the club's priority last fall. Also, second base looked more suitable for Story's future.

 

But once the Sox lost both Bogie and Story -- many options of actual Major League shortstops were still available, from high-priced stars to inexpensive gloves. Instead, Bloom acquired more damaged goods in Mondesi, and now we have Kike on pace to commit 80 errors at short. Enough with getting guys who aren't ready to help (it only worked with Schwarber because his best position was in the batter's box; we're still waiting on Paxton, two years later.)

 

As Boston fades into summer with this suspect defense, maybe the only way for Bloom to save his job will be to promote Marcelo Mayer and let him Volpe (or Casas) his way through the bigs...

 

I think they thought Bogaerts would come back! Or more to the point - I think they were caught flatfooted by the market for Bogaerts (a 30-year old good not great bat who was not likely to stay at SS through the next contract).

 

One thing that has been true about Bloom in Boston is that considering Tampa has built their machine around run prevention - the Red Sox have seemed remarkably indifferent to their team defense.

[moonslav59]

We could have signed the healthy J Baez or the not so healthy Seeger.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I think they thought Bogaerts would come back! Or more to the point - I think they were caught flatfooted by the market for Bogaerts (a 30-year old good not great bat who was not likely to stay at SS through the next contract).

 

One thing that has been true about Bloom in Boston is that considering Tampa has built their machine around run prevention - the Red Sox have seemed remarkably indifferent to their team defense.

 

Ballclubs that don't stress run-prevention will ultimately cause fan-prevention.

 

Think about all the Red Sox suckitude we've experienced since Bloom took over, and which areas elicit the most uproar? Batters striking out, or pitchers serving dingers? Nope, modern fans are used to those...

 

I'd say it's close between bullpens blowing leads (by-product of not throwing strikes), and fielders making egregious errors. The first usually comes at the end of games, so at least the TV is still on. The second can cause channel-changing whenever there's a game-changing miscue by a Franchy-type playing out of position.

[Bellhorn04]

Career, but not even close, recently, and Turner is older!

 

Yes, I may have to retract my overreact on the Turner/JDM comp.

[Bellhorn04]

Ballclubs that don't stress run-prevention will ultimately cause fan-prevention.

 

Think about all the Red Sox suckitude we've experienced since Bloom took over, and which areas elicit the most uproar? Batters striking out, or pitchers serving dingers? Nope, modern fans are used to those...

 

I'd say it's close between bullpens blowing leads (by-product of not throwing strikes), and fielders making egregious errors. The first usually comes at the end of games, so at least the TV is still on. The second can cause channel-changing whenever there's a game-changing miscue by a Franchy-type playing out of position.

 

Chaim may have fixed the bullpen. But man, he sure didn't do much about the fielding.

[Bellhorn04]

I think they thought Bogaerts would come back! Or more to the point - I think they were caught flatfooted by the market for Bogaerts (a 30-year old good not great bat who was not likely to stay at SS through the next contract).

 

They had a chance to retain him before he got to that market. But they signed Story and lowballed Bogey instead. Pure idiocy, frankly.

 

Not sure what qualifies as good not great, but here are his OPS+ since 2018:

 

135

139

128

129

131

179

Edited April 18, 2023 by Bellhorn04

[mvp 78]

We could have signed the healthy J Baez or the not so healthy Seeger.

 

We could have just extended Xander!

[mvp 78]

I think they thought Bogaerts would come back! Or more to the point - I think they were caught flatfooted by the market for Bogaerts (a 30-year old good not great bat who was not likely to stay at SS through the next contract).

 

One thing that has been true about Bloom in Boston is that considering Tampa has built their machine around run prevention - the Red Sox have seemed remarkably indifferent to their team defense.

 

He didn't bring the Tampa playbook with him. He heard all of the criticisms about Tampa North and decided he shouldn't do that.

[moonslav59]

We could have just extended Xander!

 

It seems that way, but again, we don't really know what he would have accepted, or what JH would have approved.

 

We also don't know if he will earn it.

[mvp 78]

It seems that way, but again, we don't really know what he would have accepted, or what JH would have approved.

 

We also don't know if he will earn it.

 

Well, we know Story isn't earning his!

[moonslav59]

Well, we know Story isn't earning his!

 

So far, no and a big no.

 

I guess the injury was to be expected.

[Bellhorn04]

So far, no and a big no.

 

I guess the injury was to be expected.

 

To be expected, maybe not. Warning signs, absolutely.

[moonslav59]

To be expected, maybe not. Warning signs, absolutely.

 

No doubt, and looking at today's FA values, is paying Story $140M/5 an overpay (counting out 1 year for injury during his 6 year deal?)

[Bellhorn04]

No doubt, and looking at today's FA values, is paying Story $140M/5 an overpay (counting out 1 year for injury during his 6 year deal?)

 

TBD, who knows if his elbow will be a continuing issue.

[moonslav59]

TBD, who knows if his elbow will be a continuing issue.

 

It very well could be.

 

I'm not defending the signing, but he still has 4+ years left to go, and Bogey has 10.5+ to go.

[Bellhorn04]

It very well could be.

 

I'm not defending the signing, but he still has 4+ years left to go, and Bogey has 10.5+ to go.

 

The contract San Diego gave Bogey was nutty, I'm not defending that by any means.

[notin]

He didn't bring the Tampa playbook with him. He heard all of the criticisms about Tampa North and decided he shouldn't do that.

 

So it’s all 5Gold’s fault!!!

[mvp 78]

So it’s all 5Gold’s fault!!!

 

Seems like it to me!

[moonslav59]

The contract San Diego gave Bogey was nutty, I'm not defending that by any means.

 

I know that, and I do agree with others that we could have had Bogey for less, had we acted earlier. I'm just not so sure about the numbers some seem to think he'd have taken.

 

I'm fully on board with the $160M/6 type suggestions and am even okay with $200M/8, but nobody is certain he'd have taken either of those, so I'm finding it hard to just assume, we could have gotten him at a deal that ends up working, in hindsight (6-8 years from now.)

 

The Story injury sure slams the point/choice in our faces.

 

The Kike defense at SS created a double slam, and his O has not helped, either.

 

Now with Duvall gone, and Kike needed in CF, the hole at middle IF and near total failure by Chang and Arroyo is killing us.

 

We have become the masters of one year deals, but missed the boat, here. I was all aboard the Andrus train, even after the sketchy Mondesi trade. I was fine giving up Taylor for Mondesi, but he should not have been our only depth at SS.

[Randy Red Sox]

And Yoshida has 5 years to go