A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[Bellhorn04]

Kind of ironic that Bloom's biggest strength was supposed to be the pitching side of the game.

[moonslav59]

His subsequent failures to being in anyone else have not helped either…

 

Exactly. So what, if Sale, Whitlock and Houck were due back "soon." Two of them are better from the pen, anyway, and we saw last night how much we could have used a long man or two.

 

We had tax line space. We had some prospects bottle-necked on the farm. There is no excuse.

[moonslav59]

Give yourself more credit than that. We ALL knew it was folly to count on ANY guys coming off operations, rehab or the brittle ravages of Father Time. Bloom chose to go into the season with a starting rotation featuring exactly two reliably healthy pitchers: Bello and Pivetta.

 

We basically had 11-12 #3-5 slot pitchers.

 

We did not need 2 more #5's, we needed a real ace or two solid #2 types, and by #2, I don't mean Cah-cah, which I know you were thinking.

[moonslav59]

30 games left and 5.5 out of a WC slot.

 

Talk about backs up against the wall!

 

Do we have one more push left in us? Maybe even one more "tease?"

 

We've been this down, before, a few times and then flipped the script.

 

It almost certainly has to start by taking the next 2 from HOU and sweep the Jays. I guess going 4-1 in those 5 games might work, if we mop up on the rest of our schedule, but hopes are dwindling for the last of us who have not given up, yet.

[moonslav59]

Looking at our rotation, who is the "stopper?"

 

Who can be?

 

(When you figure we need about 4 stoppers, it looks bleak.)

[notin]

30 games left and 5.5 out of a WC slot.

 

Talk about backs up against the wall!

 

Do we have one more push left in us? Maybe even one more "tease?"

 

We've been this down, before, a few times and then flipped the script.

 

It almost certainly has to start by taking the next 2 from HOU and sweep the Jays. I guess going 4-1 in those 5 games might work, if we mop up on the rest of our schedule, but hopes are dwindling for the last of us who have not given up, yet.

 

 

It does help that Texas - a team who made all the types of moves people wanted Bloom to make - isn’t willing to wait for the Sox to climb up the standings and is apparently willing to rush down to meet us…

[moonslav59]

It does help that Texas - a team who made all the types of moves people wanted Bloom to make - isn’t willing to wait for the Sox to climb up the standings and is apparently willing to rush down to meet us…

 

We need one more team to do us that favor, as well.

[Old Red]

30 games left and 5.5 out of a WC slot.

 

Talk about backs up against the wall!

 

Do we have one more push left in us? Maybe even one more "tease?"

 

We've been this down, before, a few times and then flipped the script.

 

It almost certainly has to start by taking the next 2 from HOU and sweep the Jays. I guess going 4-1 in those 5 games might work, if we mop up on the rest of our schedule, but hopes are dwindling for the last of us who have not given up, yet.

 

A WC slot was there for the taking. Before last night the only 2 teams ahead of them who have been playing good ball was Tampa, and Seattle, but going 3-5 just in their last 8 games isn’t going to do it. The Yankees sweep helped them at the moment, but they lost 2out of 3 to Washington before that, so that’s 7-6 the last 13 games. Not good enough, and with the schedule they have left I just don’t see them getting, or being good enough to win enough to get in. Haven’t given up until it mathematically impossible, but the Red Sox have dug themselves a hole all year long.

[moonslav59]

A WC slot was there for the taking. Before last night the only 2 teams ahead of them who have been playing good ball was Tampa, and Seattle, but going 3-5 just in their last 8 games isn’t going to do it. The Yankees sweep helped them at the moment, but they lost 2out of 3 to Washington before that, so that’s 7-6 the last 13 games. Not good enough, and with the schedule they have left I just don’t see them getting, or being good enough to win enough to get in. Haven’t given up until it mathematically impossible, but the Red Sox have dug themselves a hole all year long.

 

The schedule being tough is a double edge sword. Yes, we have to beat some good team, but facing the teams ahead of us gives us the opportunity to insure they lose while we win.

 

Doing that is another thing, of course.

 

We failed, last night, and we only have 8 more games vs HOU and TOR combined. (O vs SEA)

 

3 v TEX

3 v TOR

2 v HOU

[oldtimer]

Looking at our rotation, who is the "stopper?"

 

Who can be?

 

(When you figure we need about 4 stoppers, it looks bleak.)

 

Only two guys are pitching well as starters for us (Bello and Crawford) and that is not enough to get us into the play offs. We do have a strong offense but not strong enough to overcome the deficit in starting pitching. Might as well bring up our best pitching prospects for a look.

[moonslav59]

Only two guys are pitching well as starters for us (Bello and Crawford) and that is not enough to get us into the play offs. We do have a strong offense but not strong enough to overcome the deficit in starting pitching. Might as well bring up our best pitching prospects for a look.

 

Bello has pitched very well in 3 of his last 4 starts, and I'm not trying to bring him down, but over his last 7 starts, including those 3 good starts, he's at...

 

4.46 with a 5.13 FIP.

 

Can't complain about the team going 5-2 in those 7 starts.

 

When Crawford is your ace, you are in trouble.

 

It's sad to think that despite Crawford's 3.71 ERA since joining the rotation in early June, the team is 7-8 in his starts, including losing 3 of his last 5 starts.

Edited August 29, 2023 by moonslav59

[mvp 78]

Kind of ironic that Bloom's biggest strength was supposed to be the pitching side of the game.

 

I think a lot of assumptions were made.

 

He'd be great on pitching.

 

He'd bring along some Tampa guys.

[Old Red]

To go into a game in the middle of a postseason race against one of the teams you are fighting against with Chris Frail on the mound who if you got lucky might give you five innings with 4 guys in the BP unavailable, and no LHP on top of that, and your first option in the 5th with a 1 run lead is the Claw Man. That is a minor league operation at best, and a bush league operation with the results. Not doing nothing at the trade deadline, or not doing anything weeks before when 3 starters were out, and openers, and BP games were used game after game was waving the white flag. The battle cry of we’ve got three reinforcements coming back, and we’ll be all set was more than blind hope. Sale, and Houck have been on pitch counts, and the BP has been worn out due to the overuses. Bush league operations at best.

[mvp 78]

To go into a game in the middle of a postseason race against one of the teams you are fighting against with Chris Frail on the mound who if you got lucky might give you five innings with 4 guys in the BP unavailable, and no LHP on top of that, and your first option in the 5th with a 1 run lead is the Claw Man. That is a minor league operation at best, and a bush league operation with the results. Not doing nothing at the trade deadline, or not doing anything weeks before when 3 starters were out, and openers, and BP games were used game after game was waving the white flag. The battle cry of we’ve got three reinforcements coming back, and we’ll be all set was more than blind hope. Sale, and Houck have been on pitch counts, and the BP has been worn out due to the overuses. Bush league operations at best.

 

They should have ____ at the ____. But you just thought it was loser baseball. Clearly, you just wanted them to do nothing instead so that you could watch actual loser baseball!

[moonslav59]

About a week ago, the playoff bound Astros left in a pitcher for 11 hits, 2BB and 10.

 

It happens.

 

BTW, who was that against?

[Old Red]

They should have ____ at the ____. But you just thought it was loser baseball. Clearly, you just wanted them to do nothing instead so that you could watch actual loser baseball!

 

I know you have this same reply already to go. It looks like it’s loser baseball no matter which way it went. How many more prospects do you need unless it’s starting pitches? I get it that you just want the Red Sox to keep kicking the can down the road. How is that not loser baseball?

Edited August 29, 2023 by Old Red

[Old Red]

About a week ago, the playoff bound Astros left in a pitcher for 11 hits, 2BB and 10.

 

It happens.

 

BTW, who was that against?

Did Houston do anything at the deadline to try, and improve the team? Seems to me they did.

[mvp 78]

I know you have this same reply already to go. It looks like it’s loser baseball no matter which way it went. How many more prospects do you need unless it’s starting pitches? I get it that you just want the Red Sox to keep kicking the can down the road. How is that not loser baseball?

 

I'm saying what they should have done at this singular point in time. I'm not saying that they should continue to kick it down the road. I've already said that the Sox have to make the playoffs in 2024 no matter what.

[mvp 78]

About a week ago, the playoff bound Astros left in a pitcher for 11 hits, 2BB and 10.

 

It happens.

 

BTW, who was that against?

 

El Segundo?

[moonslav59]

Did Houston do anything at the deadline to try, and improve the team? Seems to me they did.

 

Why ask me? I wanted us to add not one but 2 SP'ers at the deadline.

 

I'm not defending the Sox on this, despite many thinking I defend everything they do.

[Old Red]

I'm saying what they should have done at this singular point in time. I'm not saying that they should continue to kick it down the road. I've already said that the Sox have to make the playoffs in 2024 no matter what.

 

Seems to me I remember someone saying last year that this year (2023) would be Bloom’s make, or break year. I guess he’s broken.

[Old Red]

Why ask me? I wanted us to add not one but 2 SP'ers at the deadline.

 

I'm not defending the Sox on this, despite many thinking I defend everything they do.

 

I never said you defend everything the Red Sox, or Bloom does, because you don’t, but I think it’s always your first thought.

[moonslav59]

I never said you defend everything the Red Sox, or Bloom does, because you don’t, but I think it’s always your first thought.

 

Well, you are wrong.

 

My point is usually "I don't know who is making the call, so maybe it's not Bloom," but I don't see that as "defending."

 

I'm pretty sure Bloom did not want to trade prospects for pitching, at the deadline, but the whole upper brass might have decided that the farm was a higher priority. Do you think this is possible?

 

If yes, why is your first thought to blame Bloom?

[moonslav59]

I never said you defend everything the Red Sox, or Bloom does, because you don’t, but I think it’s always your first thought.

 

My very first thought on the JBJ trade was WTF and "head scratcher," the term I used and got grief over.

 

My first thought on not spending to the tax line and only adding one SP'er, last winter was WTF and why isn't the rotation a higher priority to Bloom. (This goes beyind farm vs 26 man roster, because Bloom had a lot of money to spend, and he spent it on kike, Mondesi, Braiser and Kluber, instead of better SP'er. That was my first thought and I expressed those thoughts over the winter and spring and through the season.

 

There is a lot of things I disagree on with Bloom, but when people bash him for things I don't think is his fault, I will present the facts.

[Dipre]

People don't like facts.

[Old Red]

Well, you are wrong.

 

My point is usually "I don't know who is making the call, so maybe it's not Bloom," but I don't see that as "defending."

 

I'm pretty sure Bloom did not want to trade prospects for pitching, at the deadline, but the whole upper brass might have decided that the farm was a higher priority. Do you think this is possible?

 

If yes, why is your first thought to blame Bloom?

 

I really don’t think JH is into the day to day operation of the team so much that he is telling Bloom not to trade prospects, and after the report I read the other day that said JH never told Bloom Mookie had to be traded to stay under the dreaded tax line that makes me even more weary about Bloom.

[Dipre]

I really don’t think JH is into the day to day operation of the team so much that he is telling Bloom not to trade prospects, and after the report I read the other day that said JH never told Bloom Mookie had to be traded to stay under the dreaded tax line that makes me even more weary about Bloom.

 

Where is this report?

[Bellhorn04]

They should have ____ at the ____. But you just thought it was loser baseball. Clearly, you just wanted them to do nothing instead so that you could watch actual loser baseball!

 

If they had no intention of adding, they should have subtracted.

[Bellhorn04]

People don't like facts.

 

And a lot of people don't even like other people's opinions!

[Old Red]

And a lot of people don't even like other people's opinions!

 

I’ve never noticed that.🙈