A Realistic View at 2022: Part III

[mvp 78]

Even after 2021, it was much higher than now.

 

I understand they needed someone to carry them to Casas, so I don’t really blame Bloom for the 2022 1B plan.

 

What was the 2022 plan? They brought a short term 1B in? Shaw? When Shaw failed, what was the backup? Shaw had been s*** for a few years so it would have been reasonable to expect him to flame out again.

[moonslav59]

What was the 2022 plan? They brought a short term 1B in? Shaw? When Shaw failed, what was the backup? Shaw had been s*** for a few years so it would have been reasonable to expect him to flame out again.

 

The plan was Dalbec at 1B and Shaw as possible insurance, in case Dalbec started slow, again. By the time we realised neither could do well, Casas would be ready. Let’s not forget that Dalbec had one heck of a hot streak that lasted longer than his slow start to 2021. It’s not like it was known he’d fail. Casas could have been ready in April or May. Hell, some wanted him on the opening day roster.

[mvp 78]

The plan was Dalbec at 1B and Shaw as possible insurance, in case Dalbec started slow, again. By the time we realised neither could do well, Casas would be ready. Let’s not forget that Dalbec had one heck of a hot streak that lasted longer than his slow start to 2021. It’s not like it was known he’d fail. Casas could have been ready in April or May. Hell, some wanted him on the opening day roster.

 

A better plan would have been someone that could have rotated between 1B/OF in a platoon if something failed. Schwarber was apparently too expensive/long term. They were correct in not signing Brad Miller, who seemed like a Bloom guy. Joc got 6M to be a platoon bat, could that have worked at 1b short term?

[moonslav59]

A better plan would have been someone that could have rotated between 1B/OF in a platoon if something failed. Schwarber was apparently too expensive/long term. They were correct in not signing Brad Miller, who seemed like a Bloom guy. Joc got 6M to be a platoon bat, could that have worked at 1b short term?

 

No doubt.

 

I’m not sure exactly how tight the budget was, and in hindsight getting a RF/1B instead of Diekman or even Hill would likely have helped, assuming he chose wisely, but I still think the 1B plan looked fine on opening day.

 

I was more worried about RF and RP than 1B.

[mvp 78]

No doubt.

 

I’m not sure exactly how tight the budget was, and in hindsight getting a RF/1B instead of Diekman or even Hill would likely have helped, assuming he chose wisely, but I still think the 1B plan looked fine on opening day.

 

I was more worried about RF and RP than 1B.

 

Well, you were right to be concerned about those two spots as well.

[Maxbialystock]

A good discussion on here and on the Part II thread. My ranting on this team today has made me lose track of the fact that August 1 is just ten days away. So it is indeed decision-making time at the old hacienda.

 

Almost everyone on this thread and on the Part II thread has better insights than I do about what Bloom's best options might be.

 

One factor, which I tend to downplay, is that the Sox right now are at 48-45, which does in fact put them in the hunt for the playoffs.

 

On the other hand, as I have repeated ad nauseum, I don't think this team is all that competitive right now. The bullpen looks OK, but the the rotation is in disarray, largely because of so many being on or just coming off the IL. I also have my doubts about the fielding, baserunning, and even the hitting.

 

Bottom line: it's easy to be a carping critic and much harder to try to figure out the way ahead.

[moonslav59]

Well, you were right to be concerned about those two spots as well.

 

Maybe Bloom should have spread out the money more evenly and filled 4 roles instead of just 2B: 1B, RH RPer, RF and 2B. Or 3, if we got someone to play RF and 1B

[mvp 78]

A good discussion on here and on the Part II thread. My ranting on this team today has made me lose track of the fact that August 1 is just ten days away. So it is indeed decision-making time at the old hacienda.

 

Almost everyone on this thread and on the Part II thread has better insights than I do about what Bloom's best options might be.

 

One factor, which I tend to downplay, is that the Sox right now are at 48-45, which does in fact put them in the hunt for the playoffs.

 

On the other hand, as I have repeated ad nauseum, I don't think this team is all that competitive right now. The bullpen looks OK, but the the rotation is in disarray, largely because of so many being on or just coming off the IL. I also have my doubts about the fielding, baserunning, and even the hitting.

 

Bottom line: it's easy to be a carping critic and much harder to try to figure out the way ahead.

 

Hard disagree on the bold text.

 

As for the starting rotation:

 

Eovaldi goes tonight and hopefully he can bring back the nastiness.

Pivetta is a cause for concern as he started off the season strong and was a workhorse last year.

Kutter has thrown 3 straight solid starts.

Winckowski has had 5 out of 6 starts be above average per the GameScore metric (currently on COVID IL).

Hill is a who knows??? Do they call up Chris Murphy in an emergency role or go bullpen game with DHern starting?

[mvp 78]

Maybe Bloom should have spread out the money more evenly and filled 4 roles instead of just 2B: 1B, RH RPer, RF and 2B. Or 3, if we got someone to play RF and 1B

 

I wasn't a huge fan of the Story signing to begin with. If he can't be a 100 wRC+ guy, that's a bad contract.

[Tedballgame]

Bloom's biggest mistakes building the 2022 team:

 

1. Not having a good closer. That has cost the Sox at least 10-15 games.

 

2. Lack of a good first baseman.

 

3. Lack of another good outfielder.

[moonslav59]

Bloom's biggest mistakes building the 2022 team:

 

1. Not having a good closer. That has cost the Sox at least 10-15 games.

 

2. Lack of a good first baseman.

 

3. Lack of another good outfielder.

 

A good closer might have turned 45 losses into 30?

 

I don't disagree on those 3 weaknesses, that were noticed from the start and not just in hindsight.

 

In hindsight, it's easy to say we should have used the JBJ money to get a real RF'er or 1B/RF player, used the Strahm, and Hill Diekman money to get just one solid closer type, or to use the Story & JBJ money to spread out over the closer, 1B, RF and 2B positions more evenly. I'm not sure many would disagree, at this moment in time, but the Story deal is just over 1/12th completed, so I'm not sure we can write off the deal as a failure, and one could argue, where would we be without his team leading 58 RBIs?

 

I think, if you weigh the good with the bad and decent moves made, Bloom has done a good to very good job turning around the team, the farm and the long term financial situation.

 

It's easy to point to just the mistakes.

[notin]

Bloom's biggest mistakes building the 2022 team:

 

1. Not having a good closer. That has cost the Sox at least 10-15 games.

 

2. Lack of a good first baseman.

 

3. Lack of another good outfielder.

 

A good closer cost the Sox 15 games?

 

That can’t be! This team is not capable of playing even equal to the other 4 AL East teams and must sell sell sell!! Not acquire a singular piece that levels the playing field!

[notin]

A good closer might have turned 45 losses into 30?

 

I don't disagree on those 3 weaknesses, that were noticed from the start and not just in hindsight.

 

In hindsight, it's easy to say we should have used the JBJ money to get a real RF'er or 1B/RF player, used the Strahm, and Hill Diekman money to get just one solid closer type, or to use the Story & JBJ money to spread out over the closer, 1B, RF and 2B positions more evenly. I'm not sure many would disagree, at this moment in time, but the Story deal is just over 1/12th completed, so I'm not sure we can write off the deal as a failure, and one could argue, where would we be without his team leading 58 RBIs?

 

I think, if you weigh the good with the bad and decent moves made, Bloom has done a good to very good job turning around the team, the farm and the long term financial situation.

 

It's easy to point to just the mistakes.

 

I am pretty sure the Sox planned to use Houck/Whitlock in the closer/setup roles until injuries to the rotation changed everything…

[mvp 78]

A good closer cost the Sox 15 games?

 

That can’t be! This team is not capable of playing even equal to the other 4 AL East teams and must sell sell sell!! Not acquire a singular piece that levels the playing field!

 

[mvp 78]

@chadjennings22

No roster moves announced, but Brayan Bello and Yolmer Sanchez are in the Red Sox clubhouse.

[Maxbialystock]

Bloom's biggest mistakes building the 2022 team:

 

1. Not having a good closer. That has cost the Sox at least 10-15 games.

 

2. Lack of a good first baseman.

 

3. Lack of another good outfielder.

 

He had two closers at the start of the season, Barnes and Robles, neither of whom worked out. He currently has three decent closers in Schreiber, Whitlock, and the actual closer, Houck.

 

Dalbec/Shaw were supposed to give Cora good options at 1b, and both bombed. Last fall I campaigned for Schwarber, but apparently he was unaffordable.

 

Kike Hernandez was/is that other outfielder and has been on the IL forever.

 

I think I can claim to have griped about this team as much as anyone, but I also remind everyone of the absolute decimation of the rotation from injuries to Sale, Eovaldi, Whitlock, Wacha, and Hill.

 

I hope you know that Chaim Bloom has done this job with an interesting handicap: in his 3 years as GM his payroll has included pricey guys like Price and Sale who have done almost nothing for the Sox while at the same time not having the no longer affordable services of the Sox only AL MVP in the past 43 years (since Jim Rice in 1978).

 

I like Chaim Bloom, who I think has been given a herculean task--which I hasten to add can be no more difficult than that of the Washington Nationals GM, who recently offered Juan Soto $420M and was promptly rebuffed for being a cheapskate.

Edited July 22, 2022 by Maxbialystock

[moonslav59]

I am pretty sure the Sox planned to use Houck/Whitlock in the closer/setup roles until injuries to the rotation changed everything…

 

Agreed, so do you think there was no mistakes concerning the pen (not closer role) going into the season?

 

(I for one, do not. I thought we had the horses to get to Sale, Paxton, Taylor & the deadline.)

[jad]

He had two closers at the start of the season, Barnes and Robles, neither of whom worked out. He currently has three decent closers in Schreiber, Whitlock, and the actual closer, Houck.

 

Dalbec/Shaw were supposed to give Cora good options at 1b, and both bombed. Last fall I campaigned for Schwarber, but apparently he was unaffordable.

 

Kike Hernandez was/is that other outfielder and has been on the IL forever.

 

I think I can claim to have griped about this team as much as anyone, but I also remind everyone of the absolute decimation of the rotation from injuries to Sale, Eovaldi, Whitlock, Wacha, and Hill.

 

I hope you know that Chaim Bloom has done this job with an interesting handicap: in his 3 years as GM his payroll has included pricey guys like Price and Sale who have done almost nothing for the Sox while at the same time not having the no longer affordable services of the Sox only AL MVP in the past 43 years (since Jim Rice in 1978).

 

I like Chaim Bloom, who I think has been given a herculean task--which I hasten to add can be no more difficult than that of the Washington Nationals GM, who recently offered Juan Soto $420M and was promptly rebuffed for being a cheapskate.

 

So you're arguing that Bloom was 'handicapped' with the Price contract, but also 'handicapped' by not having Mookie? You must realize this makes no sense.

[mvp 78]

Plawecki DFA

[Tedballgame]

Take Ort out and let a position player pitch. This guy is horrible.

[Elktonnick]

So you're arguing that Bloom was 'handicapped' with the Price contract, but also 'handicapped' by not having Mookie? You must realize this makes no sense.

 

Bloom put himself in this mess. He knew the parameters before he accepted the job.

[MADSTORK]

I see you pink hats are finally coming around with 59 saying Dalbec should have been traded and others questioning Orlando’s moves.

 

The bigger problem at the moment within Redsox Nation is crystal clear, Ownership is to blame. Ownership is a roller coaster. They run the Team for a few years like drunken sailors handing out contracts to stiffs. A few years later they shift philosophy back to the minor league development system with so called budget constraints

 

Despite the roller coaster ride and Henry’s questionable statements on such they always had a competent GM who could ride the Coaster to success. Not every GM since 03 was perfect, each made their fair share of mistakes but the Team always succeeded even after down years. Epstein 2 titles arguably should have won a third if it wasn’t for a Hot David Price. Cherington who was a pretty good scouting and development guy and of course DD who built one of the Best MLB Teams in recent history in 18

 

Now Gentlemen and Ladies, Henry switches philosophy and He doesn’t have the GM to keep the train rolling

 

Bloom has successfully blown this Team up with his incompetent Roster Management and questionable trades that have brought back zero return

 

I’ll quote the “greatest manager”in Sox history Terry Francona “good luck with that “

[Maxbialystock]

So you're arguing that Bloom was 'handicapped' with the Price contract, but also 'handicapped' by not having Mookie? You must realize this makes no sense.

 

Well, it makes sense to me. I'm a firm believer that big contracts are fraught with peril and to be avoided. Mookie was terrific while he was with the Sox, but he simply became unaffordable. DD had no hesitation in paying big bucks for Price and Sale, and they did help in the truly great 2018 season--but at a fearsome price.

 

The 2018 team, built by DD and others and paid for by JH, was probably the best team in Sox history. Then they bombed in 2019, out went DD, and in came Chaim Bloom, probably with instructions from JH not to do it the DD way.

 

Thus the departure of Mookie Betts--and David Price, but with the requirement to continue paying some of Price's salary. Retained, no doubt because of the elbow and need for tommy john surgery, was Chris Sale, who barely pitched in 2019 (DD's last season in Boston), couldn't pitch in 2020, barely pitched in 2021, and now will barely pitch in 2022 despite that $30M/year contract that continues after this year.

 

Last year was Bloom's 2d year--or 1st year if you believe 2020 was a non-season--and the Sox were missing Mookie, Price, and Sale, but they still won 92 games, beat the Yankees in the Wild Card, beat the 100 regular season wins Rays in the ALCS, and then lost, 4 games to 2, to a very good Astros team in the ALCS. To me that demonstrated Bloom's acumen.

 

This year is beyond question a disaster, despite the fact that the Sox right now are 2 games above .500. Like everyone else, I'm mad at the players, the manager, the GM (or whatever Chaim Bloom's title is), and anyone else hired by JH. But I can't be mad at John Henry because he's brought four freaking World Series titles to Boston after that 86 year drought.

 

Last night was shameful--and in front of a sizable (36,796) home crowd. The past 2-3 weeks have been awful (except for splitting with the Yankees July 7-10, which gave us false hope). The chickens are coming home to roost.

 

And yet.

 

The rotation has been decimated, which actually started before the season did. Thus were both Whitlock and Houck initially used as starters, which in turn did real damage to the bullpen. No less than six bonafide Sox starters--Sale, Whitlock, Eovaldi, Wacha, Hill, and Winckowski (covid)--have been on the IL. Eovaldi is back, but clearly ain't the same guy who pitched 5 innings on June 8 and 6 innings on June 3 while giving up 0 runs before going on the IL. Sale was great for 5 freaking innings and will now likely not return until September, if then. Wacha and Hill are pending and could well return as badly as Eovaldi has. Whitlock is in the bullpen, as is Houck. Pivetta, the one uninjured starter who still has the second best WAR (+1.7) on the entire freaking pitching staff, has had a disastrous July (3 starts, 13.1 innings, 20 earned runs).

 

If you are still reading, you might realize that ace of this team right now is probably the rookie with covid, Winckowski.

 

So, yeah, let's grant there have been extenuating/mitigating factors in this cesspool of a season.

 

Nevertheless, I'm still pissed at those lineup players who can't run the bases, play defense, or get timely hits the way, for example, the Tampa Bay Rays do.

[Maxbialystock]

I see you pink hats are finally coming around with 59 saying Dalbec should have been traded and others questioning Orlando’s moves.

 

The bigger problem at the moment within Redsox Nation is crystal clear, Ownership is to blame. Ownership is a roller coaster. They run the Team for a few years like drunken sailors handing out contracts to stiffs. A few years later they shift philosophy back to the minor league development system with so called budget constraints

 

Despite the roller coaster ride and Henry’s questionable statements on such they always had a competent GM who could ride the Coaster to success. Not every GM since 03 was perfect, each made their fair share of mistakes but the Team always succeeded even after down years. Epstein 2 titles arguably should have won a third if it wasn’t for a Hot David Price. Cherington who was a pretty good scouting and development guy and of course DD who built one of the Best MLB Teams in recent history in 18

 

Now Gentlemen and Ladies, Henry switches philosophy and He doesn’t have the GM to keep the train rolling

 

Bloom has successfully blown this Team up with his incompetent Roster Management and questionable trades that have brought back zero return

 

I’ll quote the “greatest manager”in Sox history Terry Francona “good luck with that “

 

I almost never agree with you and I'm not about to start now. But I absolutely grant you the right to point fingers at whoever you think is responsible for this cesspool of a season.

 

That said, I'm inclined to defend Bloom for three reasons:

 

1. Last year the Sox were very competitive despite the departure of Betts and Price and the nonseason of Chris Sale. They also had no real closer, and Cora managed--and boy is that the right word--to keep that from killing them in the postseason.

 

Indeed, I challenge you to compare 2021 to 2019, DD's last season as GM when he still had Betts, Devers, Bogey, JDM, Benintendi, JBJ (when his OPS was .738), Moreland, Sale, Price, ERod (his best season ever), Porcello, Eovaldi, et al. The 2019 team finished 84-78 and had no postseason. The 2021 Sox won 92 games, beat the Yankees in the wild card, beat the 100 win Rays in the ALDS, and finally lost to the Astros, 4 games to 2, in the ALCS.

 

2. This year the rotation, which actually has some pretty good arms, has been decimated by injuries. To wit, 7 freaking starters--Sale, Whitlock, Eovaldi, Wacha, Hill, Houck (moved back to bullpen, plus no covid vacc), and Winckowski (covid)--and right now absolutely none of those seven is back the way they were when they were pitching well. Sale hasn't been Sale since 2018. Whitlock is back in the bullpen. Wacha and Hill are still on the IL. Eovaldi is back, but ain't himself. Oh, and the presumptive ace Pivetta has had a disastrous July (ERA over 13).

 

3. Despite the above and other malfeasances (which I find infuriating) like lousy defense, lousy baserunning, and weak hitting with RISP, this Sox team is still 2 games above .500. Oh, I also forgot that the Sox rbi leader and best defender--Story--is also on the IL.

Edited July 23, 2022 by Maxbialystock

[Bellhorn04]

I see you pink hats are finally coming around with 59 saying Dalbec should have been traded and others questioning Orlando’s moves.

 

The bigger problem at the moment within Redsox Nation is crystal clear, Ownership is to blame. Ownership is a roller coaster. They run the Team for a few years like drunken sailors handing out contracts to stiffs. A few years later they shift philosophy back to the minor league development system with so called budget constraints

 

Despite the roller coaster ride and Henry’s questionable statements on such they always had a competent GM who could ride the Coaster to success. Not every GM since 03 was perfect, each made their fair share of mistakes but the Team always succeeded even after down years. Epstein 2 titles arguably should have won a third if it wasn’t for a Hot David Price. Cherington who was a pretty good scouting and development guy and of course DD who built one of the Best MLB Teams in recent history in 18

 

Now Gentlemen and Ladies, Henry switches philosophy and He doesn’t have the GM to keep the train rolling

 

Bloom has successfully blown this Team up with his incompetent Roster Management and questionable trades that have brought back zero return

 

I’ll quote the “greatest manager”in Sox history Terry Francona “good luck with that “

 

The bottom line is that this ownership has delivered 4 championships.

 

And you're still an idiot.

[Maxbialystock]

The bottom line is that this ownership has delivered 4 championships.

 

And you're still an idiot.

 

There you go again. Always with the shorter and better response.

[notin]

The bottom line is that this ownership has delivered 4 championships.

 

And you're still an idiot.

 

Current Yankee ownership = 0 titles…

[JDavis76]

Current Yankee ownership = 0 titles…

 

Incorrect, Yankee Global Enterprises, LLC (formerly YankeeNets, LLC), the current owners, have owned the team since 1999.

[MADSTORK]

Ownership is to blame but like I said the bigger problem is Orlando

 

Zero return on Betts AB Renfro

If AB trade was about money why would you deal renfro and acquire a bad contract in JBJ? Zero sense

 

Story ? Career .200 hitter after 8th inning and with RISP, u had Arroyo plus zero average vs 95 mph pitching

 

No Closer ? Jansen should have been target over Story

 

Paxson ? Cash tied up with an injured pitcher that money could have gone towards Jansen or elsewhere

 

Needed a 1B but I’ll give him a pass here since Casas was injured

 

By all reports Duran could have been traded for Berrios

 

Incompetence and terrible Roster management have gotten you here

[Bellhorn04]

Ownership is to blame but like I said the bigger problem is Orlando

 

Zero return on Betts AB Renfro

If AB trade was about money why would you deal renfro and acquire a bad contract in JBJ? Zero sense

 

Story ? Career .200 hitter after 8th inning and with RISP, u had Arroyo plus zero average vs 95 mph pitching

 

No Closer ? Jansen should have been target over Story

 

Paxson ? Cash tied up with an injured pitcher that money could have gone towards Jansen or elsewhere

 

Needed a 1B but I’ll give him a pass here since Casas was injured

 

By all reports Duran could have been traded for Berrios

 

Incompetence and terrible Roster management have gotten you here

 

How many titles does your team have in the last 20 years?

 

MADSTORK = MADCRICKETS on that one!