A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[Nick]

It's time to play the people that will be with us next year and beyond..

 

That means Duran as an example.

[cp176]

It's time to play the people that will be with us next year and beyond..

 

That means Duran as an example.

 

Interesting - I feel the same way. As far as I am concerned what they are doing at shortstop and the revolving door at second is ridiculous. I at least want something that is a little more entertaining to watch.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Talking heads in Boston now discussing firing Cora, while Tomase just wrote a column speculating "why Bloom may have a job for life."

 

I don't see a scenario where both Bloom and Cora are axed together in sweeping organizational change. Cora has been as subtly outspoken as he can be with his oft-repeated, "the roster is the roster." His oft-criticized moves have all been made with the players he was assigned. Any honest fan still watching knows that the talent is just not there.

 

But Cora will be long gone before next season. Bloom -- who isn't going anywhere because he is doing exactly what he was hired to do -- will finally be allowed to bring in his own man... and it won't be some recycled grizzled vet tasked with firing up wet tinder.

 

The next Red Sox manager will be a young, first-time big league skipper; someone schooled in ivy halls whose MLB resume begins and ends at an analytics department. His main strength is he'll be really good at doing puzzles...

[Bellhorn04]

Some good news: Cora says Kike is done at shortstop and will be moved to a utility role. It'll be Reyes until Chang is ready to return.

[Bellhorn04]

I'm not convinced that John Henry thinks Bloom is doing "exactly what he was hired to do". I think Bloom is doing part of what he was hired to do, reduce payroll and build the farm. But I do not believe Henry was expecting the actual major league team to turn into a dumpster fire while those other things were being done.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm not convinced that John Henry thinks Bloom is doing "exactly what he was hired to do". I think Bloom is doing part of what he was hired to do, reduce payroll and build the farm. But I do not believe Henry was expecting the actual major league team to turn into a dumpster fire while those other things were being done.

 

Henry has so far accepted the rational of a five-year rebuild and pretension of contention, with Bloom and Kennedy as mouthpieces.

 

The in-season promotion of top prospects at various levels of the minors provides promise for the future or at least contrives trade-bait hype for future transactions to fortify the big league roster.

 

Henry has waited this long, and just might have the patience to keep Bloom through 2024 to at least finish his first five-year plan. Yeah, I typed that...

[Bellhorn04]

Henry has so far accepted the rational of a five-year rebuild and pretension of contention, with Bloom and Kennedy as mouthpieces.

 

The in-season promotion of top prospects at various levels of the minors provides promise for the future or at least contrives trade-bait hype for future transactions to fortify the big league roster.

 

Henry has waited this long, and just might have the patience to keep Bloom through 2024 to at least finish his first five-year plan. Yeah, I typed that...

 

No one knows what thoughts lurk behind John Henry's enigmatic smile.

 

I do tend to think now that Bloom has been given 5 years.

 

Meanwhile, the rest of Year 4 promises plenty more suffering for Sox fans.

[Bellhorn04]

Remember the "Black Holes in the Line Up" criticism?

 

Here are some interesting numbers:

 

All slots at .725 or lower are listed.

 

2018: Best Sox team ever!

.607 8th slot

.667 7th slot

.684 6th slot

.704 9th slot

 

2019:

.616 9th

.723 7th

.725 8th

 

2020: Maybe the worst Sox team I have seen live.

.638 8th

.678 9th

.711 7th

 

2021

.671 9th

.674 7th

 

2022:

.570 8th YUK!

.642 9th

.665 1st WOW!

.724 6th

 

2023:

.659 9th

.684 7th

.723 3rd WOW!

 

2021 and 2023 are the only 2 years with 2 slots below .723!

 

Not 2018 or 2019.

 

This has to be one of your most valiant posts ever, moon.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

 

2020: Maybe the worst Sox team I have seen live.

.638 8th

.678 9th

.711 7th

 

 

 

2020 may be the worst Sox team I have seen die.

[moonslav59]

Talking heads in Boston now discussing firing Cora, while Tomase just wrote a column speculating "why Bloom may have a job for life."

 

I don't see a scenario where both Bloom and Cora are axed together in sweeping organizational change. Cora has been as subtly outspoken as he can be with his oft-repeated, "the roster is the roster." His oft-criticized moves have all been made with the players he was assigned. Any honest fan still watching knows that the talent is just not there.

 

But Cora will be long gone before next season. Bloom -- who isn't going anywhere because he is doing exactly what he was hired to do -- will finally be allowed to bring in his own man... and it won't be some recycled grizzled vet tasked with firing up wet tinder.

 

The next Red Sox manager will be a young, first-time big league skipper; someone schooled in ivy halls whose MLB resume begins and ends at an analytics department. His main strength is he'll be really good at doing puzzles...

 

I hardly ever agree with Tomase. I'm not sure what to make of this.

[moonslav59]

Some good news: Cora says Kike is done at shortstop and will be moved to a utility role. It'll be Reyes until Chang is ready to return.

 

So, he's saying at 2B:

 

Arroyo> KIke

[moonslav59]

This has to be one of your most valiant posts ever, moon.

 

It just goes to show how complex fixing a baseball team can be.

 

It looks like we "fixed" the black hole problem, but got worse.

[moonslav59]

I'm not convinced that John Henry thinks Bloom is doing "exactly what he was hired to do". I think Bloom is doing part of what he was hired to do, reduce payroll and build the farm. But I do not believe Henry was expecting the actual major league team to turn into a dumpster fire while those other things were being done.

 

As the song says, "two out of three ain't bad."

 

(We did compete in 1 of the 3 years that should count, too.)

[mvp 78]

It's time to play the people that will be with us next year and beyond..

 

That means Duran as an example.

 

Since 5/5:

575 OPS

53 wRC+

30.8 K%

 

He'll be 27 in September.

[mvp 78]

Some good news: Cora says Kike is done at shortstop and will be moved to a utility role. It'll be Reyes until Chang is ready to return.

 

It took 45 days too long to make this call.

[Dipre]

.658 OPS last 14 days

.764 OPS last 7 days

 

He's been looking better of late.

[Maxbialystock]

Interesting - I feel the same way. As far as I am concerned what they are doing at shortstop and the revolving door at second is ridiculous. I at least want something that is a little more entertaining to watch.

 

SS machinations are largely the result of injuries plus the awareness of the phenom currently at AA Portland.

[vegasbob]

Some good news: Cora says Kike is done at shortstop and will be moved to a utility role. It'll be Reyes until Chang is ready to return.

 

The excitement level at awaiting Chang to step in for Reyes is boundless. Kike was at least an amusing SS

[vegasbob]

It's time to play the people that will be with us next year and beyond..

 

That means Duran as an example.

 

Agreed, let them prove themselves or wash themselves out at this level . Not giving the season away quite yet, but come July every "suspect" of a prospect should be shopped . At a minimum, Bloom will get an honest 3rd party evaluation of the value of some of the younger guys.

[Old Red]

The excitement level at awaiting Chang to step in for Reyes is boundless. Kike was at least an amusing SS

 

Dr Jeckel, and Mr Hyde. One minute Kike would make an outstanding play, and the next minute he would throw the ball away.

[Old Red]

Lineup shakeup again tonight.

 

Ref LF

 

Turner 3B

 

Kike CF

 

Duvall DH

 

I guess Raffy needs a night off tonight after hitting 2 HR last night.

[Nick]

Dr Jeckel, and Mr Hyde. One minute Kike would make an outstanding play, and the next minute he would throw the ball away.

 

He's a hotdog and I hate hotdogs.

[Nick]

Lineup shakeup again tonight.

 

Ref LF

 

Turner 3B

 

Kike CF

 

Duvall DH

 

I guess Raffy needs a night off tonight after hitting 2 HR last night.

 

It's timely done as you know. Thursday is an off day, so he'll get much needed two days rest. I hate Cora sometimes.

[Nick]

No one knows what thoughts lurk behind John Henry's enigmatic smile.

 

I do tend to think now that Bloom has been given 5 years.

 

Meanwhile, the rest of Year 4 promises plenty more suffering for Sox fans.

 

You have to look HARD for good things. Such as our three youngsters doing what they did over the weekend versus the Yankees.

[Nick]

It took 45 days too long to make this call.

 

Kike told Cora he loves playing shortstop. You've got to take care of your son.

 

Have you ever watched a team coached by a player's dad?

[Old Red]

He's a hotdog and I hate hotdogs.

 

Kike with your shoes so bright won’t you lead my team tonight? Just not in errors.

[Nick]

Games Played so far.

 

65 Devers Age 26

65 Turner Age 38

 

Yeah, one's a DH and the other 3B.

 

Why not DH Devers?

 

Why do we baby these athletes? Is it so hard to swing a bat? What are your thoughts on this Mr. Robinson? Mr. Gehrig?

[Dipre]

Games Played so far.

 

65 Devers Age 26

65 Turner Age 38

 

Yeah, one's a DH and the other 3B.

 

Why not DH Devers?

 

Why do we baby these athletes? Is it so hard to swing a bat? What are your thoughts on this Mr. Robinson? Mr. Gehrig?

 

Do you know the reason why they gave him the day off?

[mvp 78]

Do you know the reason why they gave him the day off?

 

Cora bad

[Old Red]

Do you know the reason why they gave him the day off?

 

To do a commercial?