2023 Free Agents

[Old Red]

A last place finish is never acceptable as far as I am concerned. It represents failure. In four years under Dombrowski, there were three first place finishes and then a third place. That got him canned. In the past five seasons without Dombrowski, the Sox have finished last four out of the five years. This is the Boston " freakin" Red Sox. Let's see some major improvement in 2023. No more excuses and no more spin.

 

Well said, and agree 100%.

Edited November 25, 2022 by Old Red

[harmony]

A last place finish is never acceptable as far as I am concerned. It represents failure. In four years under Dombrowski, there were three first place finishes and then a third place. That got him canned. In the past five seasons without Dombrowski, the Sox have finished last four out of the five years. This is the Boston " freakin" Red Sox. Let's see some major improvement in 2023. No more excuses and no more spin.

In the last five seasons the Red Sox have finished first, second, third and twice in last place.

[Old Red]

In the last five seasons the Red Sox have finished first, second, third and twice in last place.

 

How about 2 out of 3, which are last place finishes, and those are under Bloom’s watch.

[Hugh2]

How about 2 out of 3, which are last place finishes, and those are under Bloom’s watch.

 

Are we really counting 2020 as a season though? And if we did, I don’t think anyone would ever blame Bloom for that.

 

1. It was his first year.

2. He was mandated with shedding payroll and told to trade Betts/Benitendi/Price.

3. We played about 1/3 of a season

4. It was a weird Covid year and guys opted out and didn’t play.

 

I think it’s fair to throw that year out and say he’s 1/2. With little budgets, this is the year that should make or break him.

[Bellhorn04]

In the last five seasons the Red Sox have finished first, second, third and twice in last place.

 

He's talking about the years before and after Dombrowski, so he's right.

[dgalehouse]

In the last five seasons the Red Sox have finished first, second, third and twice in last place.

 

Harm, I referred to the past five seasons without Dombrowski. That would be 2014,2015,2020,2021and 2022.

[harmony]

Harm, I referred to the past five seasons without Dombrowski. That would be 2014,2015,2020,2021and 2022.

Thank you for the clarification.

[moonslav59]

The Sox aren’t rebuilding…

 

No, but they were. We have like 5-6 guys on the 40 that were on it in 2019, and some may be gone, soon.

[notin]

No, but they were. We have like 5-6 guys on the 40 that were on it in 2019, and some may be gone, soon.

 

That kind of turnover isn’t that uncommon in MLB

[Hugh2]

Harm, I referred to the past five seasons without Dombrowski. That would be 2014,2015,2020,2021and 2022.

 

Why not so the past 6?

[moonslav59]

That kind of turnover isn’t that uncommon in MLB

 

IMO, it is very uncommon to have 33 new players added to the 40 man roster added after Feb 2020.

 

Maybe no so uncommon to see 29 added after the 2020 season.

 

It was nearly a total rebuild, and I'm not even talking about dozens of players who came and went as bridge players to the next piece in the rebuild.

 

Almost every trade, even many at the deadline, involved us getting prospects. Even the Ottavino trade was made to get German. I still swear the JBJ trade was ab out the prospects. The Beni trade involved 4 prospects. The Betts trade- 2. The deadline deals, this year involved gaining 4 prospects.

 

From the end of 2019 until the Story signing, we were in rebuild mode. Not tear down everything for a 5-6 year rebuild plan, but "rebuild" is the correct term, IMO.

[moonslav59]

Why not so the past 6?

 

Strategic point making.

[moonslav59]

Why not so the past 6?

 

We've won a ring in 21% of the seasons since 2004 (4/19.) We won 25% with DD (1/4,) but if no way we'd have won a ring in 2020 with DD at the helm and a mandates budget cut, so he'd be at 20% (1/5) or worse, if he stayed beyond 2020.

 

I'm not bashing DD. He did great things, here, and I am very happy he was our GM. I just don't see him as the type of GM to take on the challenge of 2020 and the next 2+ years. Just my opinion. I could be wrong.

[moonslav59]

Santana signs with Pirates for $6.75M.

 

Bloom asleep at the wheel, again! Geeesh!

 

[a700hitter]

He's talking about the years before and after Dombrowski, so he's right.

The only sustainable success in the last 10 years was during DD’s 4 seasons.

[moonslav59]

True, and also the worst season (2020) by winning % since 1965 was DD's (plus JH's wallet shrinking) creation.

[oldtimer]

True, and also the worst season (2020) by winning % since 1965 was DD's (plus JH's wallet shrinking) creation.

 

We still went over the spending ceiling but got very little return on investment. The situation was not handled wisely.

[Bellhorn04]

True, and also the worst season (2020) by winning % since 1965 was DD's (plus JH's wallet shrinking) creation.

 

Ben C. made an important contribution as well, of course, because the 2018 team wouldn't have gone over the tax threshold without the $54 million dead money of Hanley, Pablo and Pedroia.

[Hugh2]

Ben C. made an important contribution as well, of course, because the 2018 team wouldn't have gone over the tax threshold without the $54 million dead money of Hanley, Pablo and Pedroia.

 

Also the vast majority of those teams that won 2016-2019 were players either acquired, or drafted under Ben C. Not trying to take anything away from Dave who has a proven track record, but he walked into a great situation with a team already built to win.

 

You could also say the 2022 Red Sox wouldn’t have gone over the cap if Dave didn’t sign Sale to an extension.

[Bellhorn04]

Also the vast majority of those teams that won 2016-2019 were players either acquired, or drafted under Ben C. Not trying to take anything away from Dave who has a proven track record, but he walked into a great situation with a team already built to win.

 

You could also say the 2022 Red Sox wouldn’t have gone over the cap if Dave didn’t sign Sale to an extension.

 

All true. The Blame Game is just a game we play to amuse ourselves.

[Old Red]

All true. The Blame Game is just a game we play to amuse ourselves.

 

The Blame Chaim Game. I’m not much into games, but I love this one.

[notin]

The Blame Chaim Game. I’m not much into games, but I love this one.

 

Even when it makes no sense…

[Hugh2]

The Blame Chaim Game. I’m not much into games, but I love this one.

 

We know haha

[notin]

We know haha

 

He’s competing against galehouse in that game. I will say that is definitely the big leagues…

[Hugh2]

The reality is no one is 100% to blame. Every team is combination of current GM, directors, president of operations (whoever) and past executives. Luck is also involved.

 

This past years woes were combination of some bad moves made by Dave at the end of his tenure, a few bone head moves by Bloom, and horrible luck on the injury front.

 

Regardless, it’s 100% on them now. After this offseason, the 2023 Red Sox are going to be much more Blooms team than last years, and significantly more than the year he took over.

[Old Red]

Even when it makes no sense…

 

No sense to some, but sense to many.

[Hugh2]

But then again, everything is relative. If Sale comes back healthy and strong and is a big part of a successful campaign, Dave still deserves partial credit for that success.

[Old Red]

He’s competing against galehouse in that game. I will say that is definitely the big leagues…

 

Maybe on here, but out in the vast reaches of RSN the message is loud, and clear, and that is the Big Leagues.

[notin]

Maybe on here, but out in the vast reaches of RSN the message is loud, and clear, and that is the Big Leagues.

 

No.

 

It turns out that just because a lot of people believe something doesn’t make it true. A lot of people used to think the old was flat - heck some still do. Does that mean it was ever true?

[Hugh2]

No.

 

It turns out that just because a lot of people believe something doesn’t make it true. A lot of people used to think the old was flat - heck some still do. Does that mean it was ever true?

 

It’s amazing what you see and hear when you believe something that is undeniable false to be true.

 

I have vivid memories of hearing Santa Claus, and seeing a glimpse of his sleigh flying off in the distance.