Path to relevance

[jacksonianmarch]

Wish I could have timed the market as well as I timed this post.

 

Since this post, the sox are 9-3. I looked at the schedule and the softies aren't stopping for awhile

 

You've got 5 at home vs the Orioles. With a DHer in there, the sox SHOULD win 4 of the 5.

You've got 2 at home vs the Reds. You do get their best pitcher and their brightest prospect, but that team is actively trying to suck. Should sweep

Then you go on a west coast trip. 3 in Oakland. 3 at Anaheim. 3 at Seattle. Should go 5-4 at minimum because the M's and A's suck, but Anaheim at home could be tough

Then you get the A's for 3 at home. Should take at least 2 of 3.

You get the Cardinals at home for 3, which will be tough, but should win the series.

Then you play the worst team in baseball at home in the Tigers and then play the s***** Guardians at the mistake on the lake.

 

If the sox play reasonably well, they should win 6 of their next 7, and 19 of their next 28 games.

 

After this stretch, it is a hell run. Jays, Cubs (reprieve), Rays, Yanks, Rays, Yanks, ASB, Jays.

 

In terms of slant, everyone knows I am a Yankee fan. And everyone should know by now that I do NOT want the sox to be cellar dwellers this year in particular. I want the sox to be good enough to contend for a PO spot so Bloom doesn't get the chance to cash in on Bogey, JD, Eovaldi, Kike, etc.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

There's no should in baseball. The only annual guarantee is the Sox will struggle for survival on the Oregon Trail.

[moonslav59]

Wish I could have timed the market as well as I timed this post.

 

Since this post, the sox are 9-3. I looked at the schedule and the softies aren't stopping for awhile

 

You've got 5 at home vs the Orioles. With a DHer in there, the sox SHOULD win 4 of the 5.

You've got 2 at home vs the Reds. You do get their best pitcher and their brightest prospect, but that team is actively trying to suck. Should sweep

Then you go on a west coast trip. 3 in Oakland. 3 at Anaheim. 3 at Seattle. Should go 5-4 at minimum because the M's and A's suck, but Anaheim at home could be tough

Then you get the A's for 3 at home. Should take at least 2 of 3.

You get the Cardinals at home for 3, which will be tough, but should win the series.

Then you play the worst team in baseball at home in the Tigers and then play the s***** Guardians at the mistake on the lake.

 

If the sox play reasonably well, they should win 6 of their next 7, and 19 of their next 28 games.

 

After this stretch, it is a hell run. Jays, Cubs (reprieve), Rays, Yanks, Rays, Yanks, ASB, Jays.

 

In terms of slant, everyone knows I am a Yankee fan. And everyone should know by now that I do NOT want the sox to be cellar dwellers this year in particular. I want the sox to be good enough to contend for a PO spot so Bloom doesn't get the chance to cash in on Bogey, JD, Eovaldi, Kike, etc.

 

The Sox never go 5-4 on west coast trips, no matter how bad those teams are.

[Bellhorn04]

The Sox never go 5-4 on west coast trips, no matter how bad those teams are.

 

Are we talking about a wager?

[moonslav59]

Are we talking about a wager?

 

I don't bet anymore. I quit after some friends and I, who were heavy into betting, went 1-27 one fateful Sunday.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't bet anymore. I quit after some friends and I, who were heavy into betting, went 1-27 one fateful Sunday.

 

I'm just thinking I can probably find a west coast trip where they did okay. But you're right that they're usually a struggle.

[moonslav59]

I'm just thinking I can probably find a west coast trip where they did okay. But you're right that they're usually a struggle.

 

We are hot, right now, and two of the west coast teams we will face are struggling, b ut we've lost more than we've won so many times, out there, I can't get too optimistic.

 

I would not bet on the Sox to go 5-4. I would not want to bet against them either, but gun to my head I bet 4-5 at best.

 

[dgalehouse]

After the terrible start they had , most fans would have been more than happy to reach .500 by Memorial Day. Now , that looks like a certainty. Be happy.

[moonslav59]

Last year, we did not have a 9 game west coast trip, but we had this:

 

We won 6 straight v NYY and KCR, then went 3-3 @ OAK & LAA. Later, we went on a road trip and lost 2/3 to CWS and went 2-1 v SEA. (Total 5-4 on West coast)

 

2020: we played no games vs ALC or ALW.

 

2019:

1-3 @ SEA

1-3 @ OAK

1-2 @ AZ (set the tone for a shock.)

Later...

6-3 v SDP, COL, LAA

(4-7 @ ALW)

 

2018:

4-2 @LAA/OAK in April

2-2 @SEA in June

(6-4 @ ALW)

 

2017

1-3 @ OAK in May

2-4 @ LAA/OAK in July

(3-7 @ ALW)

 

2016

2-2 @LAA

2-2 @SEA

1-2 @LAD in AUG

Later in SEP:

2-1 @OAK, 1-2 @SDP

(6-5 @ ALW)

 

2015

3-1 OAK, 2-2 SEA in May and 0-4 LAA in July

(5-7 @ ALW)

 

2014

1-3 OAK, 1-2 SEA in June, later 2-1 LAA

(4-6 @ ALW)

 

2013

1-2 LAA, 3-1 SEA, 1-2 OAK

(5-5 @ ALW)

 

I didn't remember there being so many split west coast trips over recent years, and we did better than I remembered.

 

[mvp 78]

After the terrible start they had , most fans would have been more than happy to reach .500 by Memorial Day. Now , that looks like a certainty. Be happy.

 

Not when they had to face the mighty O's.

[jacksonianmarch]

The O’s are scrappy for sure. Hyde has then playing hard. But it’s inexcusable to lose a 5 game set vs one of the worst teams in baseball when you’re trying to get back into the race.

[Bellhorn04]

We're obviously just not that good.

 

The fire sale is still on.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

The O’s are scrappy for sure. Hyde has then playing hard. But it’s inexcusable to lose a 5 game set vs one of the worst teams in baseball when you’re trying to get back into the race.

 

It's totally excusable if you're not good enough.

[Bellhorn04]

Blowing an 8-2 lead in the first game was just ridiculous. That was a "statement game" of the worst kind.

[mvp 78]

Blowing an 8-2 lead in the first game was just ridiculous. That was a "statement game" of the worst kind.

 

The statement was Diekman f***ing sucks, Schreiber is just a guy and Strahm can't really be relied on. The bargain bin shopping that Bloom has done with the bullpen since he came here just hasn't really worked all that well. The list of randos that have walked out of the pen the past 3 years has been ridiculous.

[Old Red]

The statement was Diekman f***ing sucks, Schreiber is just a guy and Strahm can't really be relied on. The bargain bin shopping that Bloom has done with the bullpen since he came here just hasn't really worked all that well. The list of randos that have walked out of the pen the past 3 years has been ridiculous.

 

Where is all the we got Bloom, and we got Cora talk like that gives the Red Sox an advantage over all the other teams? Where is all the Bloom knows what he’s doing, and I trust Bloom, because I don’t trust Bloom, and I don’t think he does know what he’s doing. Boston isn’t Tampa, and what may have worked in Tampa doesn’t mean it will work in Boston. Maybe he can keep reshuffling the Sour Man, and Bra Man, and Valdez over, and over that sounds like a sound strategy.

[mvp 78]

Where is all the we got Bloom, and we got Cora talk like that gives the Red Sox an advantage over all the other teams? Where is all the Bloom knows what he’s doing, and I trust Bloom, because I don’t trust Bloom, and I don’t think he does know what he’s doing. Boston isn’t Tampa, and what may have worked in Tampa doesn’t mean it will work in Boston. Maybe he can keep reshuffling the Sour Man, and Bra Man, and Valdez over, and over that sounds like a sound strategy.

 

Cora can't make a mediocre pitcher throw a better pitch. I don't see how the pen is his fault. He said even said in ST, Frank German looks like someone that could help BOS in 2022 most likely because the guys he has now are horrible.

 

Bloom went the cheap route because he has to strike a financial balance between paying off DD contracts and re-signing guys and working within whatever budget constraints Henry has given him. If he's going cheap just for the sake of going cheap, it's malfeasance. I don't think that's the reason though. I think it's a strategy, but one that isn't really working very well right now.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Where is all the we got Bloom, and we got Cora talk like that gives the Red Sox an advantage over all the other teams? Where is all the Bloom knows what he’s doing, and I trust Bloom, because I don’t trust Bloom, and I don’t think he does know what he’s doing. Boston isn’t Tampa, and what may have worked in Tampa doesn’t mean it will work in Boston. Maybe he can keep reshuffling the Sour Man, and Bra Man, and Valdez over, and over that sounds like a sound strategy.

 

All we are saying, is give Bloom a chance. By this summer's deadline, he will have traded in all his chips -- except, hopefully, not Devers.

 

All Bloom has to do is land one Joe Ryan or one Yordan Alvarez to come out ahead.

 

The only issue in acquiring a guy like Yordan as a teenager is that it will probably take him another three or four years to make it. Some countries change presidents every four years.

[Bellhorn04]

Cora can't make a mediocre pitcher throw a better pitch. I don't see how the pen is his fault. He said even said in ST, Frank German looks like someone that could help BOS in 2022 most likely because the guys he has now are horrible.

 

Bloom went the cheap route because he has to strike a financial balance between paying off DD contracts and re-signing guys and working within whatever budget constraints Henry has given him. If he's going cheap just for the sake of going cheap, it's malfeasance. I don't think that's the reason though. I think it's a strategy, but one that isn't really working very well right now.

 

Well stated.

[mvp 78]

All we are saying, is give Bloom a chance. By this summer's deadline, he will have traded in all his chips -- except, hopefully, not Devers.

 

All Bloom has to do is land one Joe Ryan or one Yordan Alvarez to come out ahead.

 

The only issue in acquiring a guy like Yordan as a teenager is that it will probably take him another three or four years to make it. Some countries change presidents every four years.

 

Will Henry give Bloom a long enough leash? He didn't stick with Ben for a long time.

[Old Red]

Cora can't make a mediocre pitcher throw a better pitch. I don't see how the pen is his fault. He said even said in ST, Frank German looks like someone that could help BOS in 2022 most likely because the guys he has now are horrible.

 

Bloom went the cheap route because he has to strike a financial balance between paying off DD contracts and re-signing guys and working within whatever budget constraints Henry has given him. If he's going cheap just for the sake of going cheap, it's malfeasance. I don't think that's the reason though. I think it's a strategy, but one that isn't really working very well right now.

 

Someone on here said Cora was a magician with the bullpen, but that magic act has been canceled. It’s true that Cora can’t make a mediocre pitcher pitch better, but he can make better use of what little value he does, or should have in the bullpen namely Houck, and Whitlock. Leading the league in blown saves, and Friday night being the last to me is on both Bloom, and Cora.

[Old Red]

Will Henry give Bloom a long enough leash? He didn't stick with Ben for a long time.

 

A longer enough leash? Does Bloom deserve one? The Mookie trade looks worse, and worse every day.

[mvp 78]

Someone on here said Cora was a magician with the bullpen, but that magic act has been canceled. It’s true that Cora can’t make a mediocre pitcher pitch better, but he can make better use of what little value he does, or should have in the bullpen namely Houck, and Whitlock. Leading the league in blown saves, and Friday night being the last to me is on both Bloom, and Cora.

 

Cora clearly pulled a quarter out of their ears at some point.

 

I think the easy fix is put Houck in the closers role and no longer use him as a piggy back. I think they also need to dump 2-3 guys out of their bullpen rotation and add 3 new names. What they are using now just isn't working. That 2 year deal for Diekman looks horrible right now.

[mvp 78]

A longer enough leash? Does Bloom deserve one? The Mookie trade looks worse, and worse every day.

 

If the plan to bring Bloom in is long term development, you need to stick with the plan for a long term. You can't vacillate to DD part 2 in a few years just because Henry gets ants in his pants.

[Old Red]

Cora clearly pulled a quarter out of their ears at some point.

 

I think the easy fix is put Houck in the closers role and no longer use him as a piggy back. I think they also need to dump 2-3 guys out of their bullpen rotation and add 3 new names. What they are using now just isn't working. That 2 year deal for Diekman looks horrible right now.

 

The Red Sox continue to blow games by the BP, but still no change, so the big question is why? Why does Cora continue to not give Houck at shot as closer? My stance is well known that I think Whitlock should be the closer, but to not give Houck a shot as a second option is a head scratcher.

[Old Red]

If the plan to bring Bloom in is long term development, you need to stick with the plan for a long term. You can't vacillate to DD part 2 in a few years just because Henry gets ants in his pants.

 

Red Sox Nation is not patient enough for any long term development plan, and especially if you see the Mookie, Bogey, and possibly Raffy leave in the process.

[notin]

A longer enough leash? Does Bloom deserve one? The Mookie trade looks worse, and worse every day.

 

If he didn’t trade Mookie, we would have had him for one more 60 game season on a team that had Ryan Weber as the #3 starter…

[Old Red]

If he didn’t trade Mookie, we would have had him for one more 60 game season on a team that had Ryan Weber as the #3 starter…

 

The trade wasn’t the problem to me, because I think Mookie wanted out of town, but what Bloom got back in return is.

[moonslav59]

If he didn’t trade Mookie, we would have had him for one more 60 game season on a team that had Ryan Weber as the #3 starter…

 

He's more upset about what we got for Mookie than actually trading him.

 

I'm not sure what other offers were out there, except to get Graterol or maybe Maeda, instead of Downs.

[notin]

He's more upset about what we got for Mookie than actually trading him.

 

I'm not sure what other offers were out there, except to get Graterol or maybe Maeda, instead of Downs.

 

I’ve been pretty vocal about my preference for Graterol over Downs and Wong. But then that Minnesota got involved just shows how hard it can be to pry pitching prospects from Andrew Friedman.

 

As for Downs and Wong, it’s still too early to give up on them. Wong has a low ceiling, but Downs does not and his numbers/play took a huge hit with COVID and the Sox subsequent plan for him…