Fire Bloom .

[Elktonnick]

Sustaining excellence doesn't happen overnight. It takes roughly 5 years. We are getting there.

Really How is one to know?

[Tedballgame]

If Barnes had pitched this well at the start of the year, the "no closer" thing wouldn't been the issue that it became.

 

Sure it's frustrating, but such is life.

 

The problem with Barnes has been that he can't handle the pressure of the 9th for an extended period. Now he is pitching in non-save spots.

[notin]

The problem with Barnes has been that he can't handle the pressure of the 9th for an extended period. Now he is pitching in non-save spots.

 

He was amazing in that role well over half of a season. And since then he’s been awful and almost never pitched the 9th…

[moonslav59]

Obviously if Bloom had traded away more expiring contracts he could have acquired more prospects, but IMO, Bloom did what he should have done. He improved this year's team and improved the long term outlook at the same time. Not significantly in either case, but improvement nonetheless. Whether the Sox are going anywhere this year or not remains to be seen.

 

How many GMs can say, after a deadline, can say they improved the now and the future at the same time?

 

Yes, it wasn't by much, but it seemed he walked the fine line and did both.

 

I'm thinking he improved the future by more than the now.

 

Hosmer for free for 2.3 years was a likely boost to the future, even if just as depth.

 

Adding Pham, who has an option might help more next year than this season.

 

The McGuire deal can only be a break even or winner, as Diekman was DFA material.

 

We gave up Groome, but the prospects we ended up getting E Valdez and W Abreu, which to me, have much more promise. Valdez might be our starting 2Bman or DH, next season.

[Larry Cook]

Anybody got an update on Paxton?

[redsoxrules]

Anybody got an update on Paxton?

 

James Paxton, whom the Sox signed to a one-year deal last December, is finally on his way and throwing hard. The 33-year-old lefty underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2021 and has been on the 60-Day Injured List since spring training. On Friday, he threw his second sim game in Fort Myers, and the radar gun clocked his top velocity at 95 mph. Alex Speier reported that Paxton threw “his entire pitch mix” during the sim.

 

While the velocity and facing live hitters are two encouraging updates, Paxton still has a ways to go before joining the big-league club. This was his second sim game this week, but he’ll have to make at least one rehab appearance before the club determines he’s ready to be back in the show.

[redsoxrules]

I'd be surprised if he pitches this year but it looks somewhat promising with the velo

[moonslav59]

I'd be surprised if he pitches this year but it looks somewhat promising with the velo

 

With the club option for 2023, don't we want to see if he's got something left?

 

The way I read the option is that Paxton can take $4M or the Sox have to give him $13M x 2 for '23 and '24. We need to know a bit more, right?

[notin]

Anybody got an update on Paxton?

 

Still alive…

[Old Red]

Last place in Div, and last Wild Card spot standings up date. 4 games back in the L column in the Div, and 5 games back in the L column for last Wild Card spot. 1 game at a time, and Let’s Go Sox!

[Hugh2]

Anybody got an update on Paxton?

 

Prepare to be surprised.

 

I suppose we should be prepared for another injury as well.

[moonslav59]

Prepare to be surprised.

 

I suppose we should be prepared for another injury as well.

 

Maybe, the bad luck trend has run dry.

[notin]

Maybe, the bad luck trend has run dry.

 

That would be a direct violation of Murphy’s Law…

[Maxbialystock]

The problem with Barnes has been that he can't handle the pressure of the 9th for an extended period. Now he is pitching in non-save spots.

 

I'm not sure I agree. He was going great guns for a big chunk of last year, and I thought the reason was obvious. He had that great knuckle curve and a high 90's fastball, which is almost exactly when made Kimbrel so successful. When Barnes fell off, I thought it was because the knuckle curve wasn't as sharp as it had been.

 

I do not disagree that for whatever reason pitching the 9th in close game does put a lot of pressure on the closer. What stunned me about Uehara was that he had a freaking slow fastball (88-89 mph) and a splitter, period. What made him so good was he had terrific command and just tons of guts.

 

I think Houck, Whitlock, and Schreiber all have the tools to be good closers, but I'm less sure about their self-confidence on the mound with everything on the line.

[moonslav59]

That would be a direct violation of Murphy’s Law…

 

Isn't going from bad to worse kind of like a double negative that turns it into a positive?

 

Am I reaching with Murphy?

 

When things can't get any worse or chaotic, isn't there just one way to go?

 

If anything, Murphy preaches there is not constants.

[Old Red]

Detroit has a GM opening. How about a Bloom for PROSPECTS trade? Just asking.

[dgalehouse]

Detroit has a GM opening. How about a Bloom for PROSPECTS trade? Just asking.

 

I'm in , if it helps to build the farm.

[Old Red]

I'm in , if it helps to build the farm.

 

JH make the call.

[Bobe2]

JH make the call.

 

You know the Sox had a pretty good farm a few years back, it got depleted when they ended up on the 2017, 2018, 2019 teams Bogaerts, Vasquez, JBJ, Betts, Benintendi, Devers, those 6 of the starting 8 all came through the Red Sox system, shame that they are gone. So yes definitely give Detroit a call

[moonslav59]

You know the Sox had a pretty good farm a few years back, it got depleted when they ended up on the 2017, 2018, 2019 teams Bogaerts, Vasquez, JBJ, Betts, Benintendi, Devers, those 6 of the starting 8 all came through the Red Sox system, shame that they are gone. So yes definitely give Detroit a call

 

Devers and Bogey are gone? Did I miss something?

 

BTW, I really liked DD but part of the reason we got where we are today was the depletion of the farm by 2019. Should Bloom have emptied the farm to win now?

 

BRW

[Bobe2]

Devers and Bogey are gone? Did I miss something?

 

BTW, I really liked DD but part of the reason we got where we are today was the depletion of the farm by 2019. Should Bloom have emptied the farm to win now?

 

BRW

 

I didn’t say they were all gone, how do you mean emptied traded away or brought up

[moonslav59]

I didn’t say they were all gone, how do you mean emptied traded away or brought up

 

You named 6 and said "They are gone." That implies all of them.

 

DD traded away about 20 prospects that were once ranked in the top 20 on soxprospects.com. I'm not complaining. I loved winning the division 3 years in a row and watching the great 2018 season, but those trades that helped us win, are part of the reason Bloom was hired to rebuild the farm as a higher priority than winning in 2020, 2021 and to some extent 2022.

[moonslav59]

You know the Sox had a pretty good farm a few years back, it got depleted when they ended up on the 2017, 2018, 2019 teams Bogaerts, Vasquez, JBJ, Betts, Benintendi, Devers, those 6 of the starting 8 all came through the Red Sox system, shame that they are gone. So yes definitely give Detroit a call

 

Actually, it was 7 out of 8, counting Pedey who played 2B in 2017. He's gone, too.

[Bobe2]

Actually, it was 7 out of 8, counting Pedey who played 2B in 2017. He's gone, too.

 

It just seems wrong to trade away all stars and some very good players to get prospects that you hope will turn into major leaguers to do what the players you traded were already doing, I think they jumped the gun breaking up the 2019 team

[moonslav59]

It just seems wrong to trade away all stars and some very good players to get prospects that you hope will turn into major leaguers to do what the players you traded were already doing, I think they jumped the gun breaking up the 2019 team

 

That's understandable, but it was not really Bloom's choice to cut the budget by so much, he was forced to trade big salary.

[moonslav59]

C: McGuire, Plawecki (Wong, RHern, Cottam, Hickey)

1B: Hosmer, Dalbec (Casas)

2B: Story, Arroyo (EValdez, Paulino)

3B: Devers (Jordan, Fitzy, Binelas)

SS: Bogey, Downs (Mayer)

LF: Pham, Duran (Abreu)

CF: Kike (Rafaela, Bleis)

RF: Verdugo, Refsnyder (Almonte)

DH: JD, Cordero (Kavadas)

 

SP1: Sale/Paxton

SP2: Eovaldi (Bello)

SP3: Wacha (Crawford)

SP4: Pivetta (Winckowski)

SP5: Hill (Murphy/Mata/Seabold/Song)

 

Closer: Houck (German)

RP2: Whitlock (Ward)

RP3: Schreiber (Wallace)

RP4: Strahm/Taylor

RP5: Barnes (Thompson)

RP5: Brasier/Danish (Santos)

RP6: Sawamura (Feltman)

RP7: Davis/Familia/Ort/DHern (Uberstine)

Edited August 17, 2022 by moonslav59

[oldtimer]

Give Bloom a plus for picking up Tommy Pham. He has filled the roll of lead off hitter better than any other this year, at least in the brief look we have gotten. He is okay in left field as well and he brings some spirit to the team.

[Old Red]

Last place in the Div, and last wild card spot standing up date. O’s are holding tough, so 4 games back in the L column for the Div, and 5 games back in the L column for the last wild card spot. Lots of traffic to get through, but 1 game at a time, and Let’s Go Sox!

[Old Red]

The Braves locked up more young talent, and now have their nucleus locked up for some time. How come the Red Sox didn’t do that with Raffy? You should’ve been able to tell say 4 years ago that he was going to be a good player, and the fact that the Red Sox wasn’t pro active like the Braves is now going to cost them lots more money if they sign him at all.

[sk7326]

Give Bloom a plus for picking up Tommy Pham. He has filled the roll of lead off hitter better than any other this year, at least in the brief look we have gotten. He is okay in left field as well and he brings some spirit to the team.

 

Pham and Hosmer have helped raise "complete garbage" production to "functional major league player" ... and that has really shown.