A Realistic View of 2023: Part II

[moonslav59]

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.

 

You obviously believe what you want to believe. Yesterday, you presented two seemingly opposite quotes and said, "How can we ever know?"

 

I agree, JH is not in on every deal, especially if it is minor one- perhaps like the Urias trade, but I do think they have met and set top priorities, like avoid trading top prospects for a rental.

 

There probably was some talks about the general direction to take at this deadline. I suppose it is possible Bloom was told he could trade some prospects, if he liked the deals, but he chose not to.

 

Again, until I know what those possible deals could have been, I find it hard to blame Bloom for not trading Mayer & Bello for Verlander, as an example.

 

If I knew some deals were available, that I liked, then yes, I'd be all over Bloom.

[mvp 78]

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

 

That's my original point. They should have either added substantially or subtracted. They chose a worse third option that made nobody happy and didn't help the team.

[dgalehouse]

Regarding last night's debacle: If Cora and Bloom are on speaking terms, the bullpen situation should have been discussed before the game. A roster move could have been made to provide a relatively healthy and fresh arm. There seems to be a disconnect in communication here.

[mvp 78]

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.

 

I'm sure someone said that. I don't believe it was me. This morning I saw a post of mine from last winter that was basically "I don't know if Bloom will be fired if the Sox make the playoffs or not, because it all depends on what the internal expectations are with John Henry." That doesn't seem like a "make or break year" to me.

[mvp 78]

Regarding last night's debacle: If Cora and Bloom are on speaking terms, the bullpen situation should have been discussed before the game. A roster move could have been made to provide a relatively healthy and fresh arm. There seems to be a disconnect in communication here.

 

The disconnect was assuming that the Sox could go through the rest of the season with all these bullpen games and not completely wear out the pen and start churning out a lot of clunker performances. Waiting for Houck (typically doesn't pitch long into games) and Whitlock (who was just put into the bullpen anyway) to provide help to the rotation was absolutely stupid. It was the punt of all punts.

[Old Red]

I'm sure someone said that. I don't believe it was me. This morning I saw a post of mine from last winter that was basically "I don't know if Bloom will be fired if the Sox make the playoffs or not, because it all depends on what the internal expectations are with John Henry." That doesn't seem like a "make or break year" to me.

 

No it was not you who said this was Bloom’s make, or break year, but Moon.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

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?

 

You conveniently forgot the SOX were leading after 5 before returning Bear Claw to the mound in the 6th with no one warming up behind him.

[Old Red]

That's my original point. They should have either added substantially or subtracted. They chose a worse third option that made nobody happy and didn't help the team.

 

That damm third option in the fork in the road that Bloom is still looking for again, and you are right it makes no one happy, and doesn’t help the team. Not for 1 year, but two years in a row now.

[Old Red]

You conveniently forgot the SOX were leading after 5 before returning Bear Claw to the mound in the 6th with no one warming up behind him.

 

Yes this cluster f—- was a big, big difference.

[mvp 78]

No it was not you who said this was Bloom’s make, or break year, but Moon.

 

I can't keep track of everything he says. He has that highest post count on the board and the most recent join date of anyone in the top 5 (by over 5 years).

[mvp 78]

That damm third option in the fork in the road that Bloom is still looking for again, and you are right it makes no one happy, and doesn’t help the team. Not for 1 year, but two years in a row now.

 

At least last year he was able to deal off Vaz. He should have done a lot more or at least snuck under the CBT amount.

 

He must have just been passed out from too much Whistle Pig this deadline. Sad!

[moonslav59]

You conveniently forgot the SOX were leading after 5 before returning Bear Claw to the mound in the 6th with no one warming up behind him.

 

I did not forget. I mentioned it.

[Old Red]

You obviously believe what you want to believe. Yesterday, you presented two seemingly opposite quotes and said, "How can we ever know?"

 

I agree, JH is not in on every deal, especially if it is minor one- perhaps like the Urias trade, but I do think they have met and set top priorities, like avoid trading top prospects for a rental.

 

There probably was some talks about the general direction to take at this deadline. I suppose it is possible Bloom was told he could trade some prospects, if he liked the deals, but he chose not to.

 

Again, until I know what those possible deals could have been, I find it hard to blame Bloom for not trading Mayer & Bello for Verlander, as an example.

 

If I knew some deals were available, that I liked, then yes, I'd be all over Bloom.

I still stick to what I said there are so many differing reports out there you don’t know who to believe, but every one is believing something. All I’m saying it was taken for granted these past 4 years that it was all JH to say to trade Mookie, and now I’m just not all that sure.

[moonslav59]

No it was not you who said this was Bloom’s make, or break year, but Moon.

 

Yes, I did and I meant it and still do.

 

It looks like JH does not think the same way, and I have seen improvement in several areas, including farm infusion and the promise or more steady farm infusion.

 

I would not be upset, if they fired Bloom, this winter. I do not think they will.

 

I wrongly assumed we'd spend right up to the line. I hoped we left room for deadline deals for pitching, but I was wrong.

[Old Red]

At least last year he was able to deal off Vaz. He should have done a lot more or at least snuck under the CBT amount.

 

He must have just been passed out from too much Whistle Pig this deadline. Sad!

 

Yes the Vaz trade did turn out to be good, but is Bloom just to Indecisive to do anything else one way, or the other?

[moonslav59]

I still stick to what I said there are so many differing reports out there you don’t know who to believe, but every one is believing something. All I’m saying it was taken for granted these past 4 years that it was all JH to say to trade Mookie, and now I’m just not all that sure.

 

Most believe we don't know enough to throw blame on anyone but the top brass.

[moonslav59]

Yes the Vaz trade did turn out to be good, but is Bloom just to Indecisive to do anything else one way, or the other?

 

And you roasted Bloom for the Vaz deal- though mostly about how they handled telling him he was traded..

[Old Red]

Yes, I did and I meant it and still do.

 

It looks like JH does not think the same way, and I have seen improvement in several areas, including farm infusion and the promise or more steady farm infusion.

 

I would not be upset, if they fired Bloom, this winter. I do not think they will.

 

I wrongly assumed we'd spend right up to the line. I hoped we left room for deadline deals for pitching, but I was wrong.

I know I asked the question last offseason who said the Red Sox would spend up to the tax line, because I was under I’ll believe it when I see it mode, and I’m still in that mode when it comes to starting pitching.

[Old Red]

And you roasted Bloom for the Vaz deal- though mostly about how they handled telling him he was traded..

 

At the time yes I did, but it wasn’t just me, but players alike.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

And you roasted Bloom for the Vaz deal- though mostly about how they handled telling him he was traded..

 

VAZ bled SOX blood and Bloom handled his trade as if VAZ was a used car.

[Dipre]

VAZ bled SOX blood and Bloom handled his trade as if VAZ was a used car.

 

Wat?

[Dipre]

At the time yes I did, but it wasn’t just me, but players alike.

 

So what Sox players did you talk to?

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

So what Sox players did you talk to?

 

Do you have to critique every post with your snide shite?

[Bellhorn04]

Regarding last night's debacle: If Cora and Bloom are on speaking terms, the bullpen situation should have been discussed before the game. A roster move could have been made to provide a relatively healthy and fresh arm. There seems to be a disconnect in communication here.

 

Barraclough was that healthy and fresh arm.

[mvp 78]

VAZ bled SOX blood and Bloom handled his trade as if VAZ was a used car.

 

Posts like this are wild.

[Dipre]

Do you have to critique every post with your snide shite?

 

There's always the ignore feature. And it's a valid question, so you can f*** right off. It's easy to spout a bunch of stuff without evidence. Nothing wrong with trying to make sense of what's being said.

[Dipre]

Posts like this are wild.

 

Careful, you might get called out for your snide shite.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Reyes placed on 10 day IL with inflamed elbow and will be replaced by the awesome David Hamilton.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Posts like this are wild.

 

So you believe VAZ's notification of the trade was handled well? Short memories are a bitch.

Edited August 29, 2023 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[moonslav59]

I know I asked the question last offseason who said the Red Sox would spend up to the tax line, because I was under I’ll believe it when I see it mode, and I’m still in that mode when it comes to starting pitching.

 

It looked like we tried to spend right up to the line, last year and missed on the upsida. I thought that was stupid, but since they never planned on going over, this year, I guess is was no big deal.

 

We still spent a lot, and the Devers extension kicks in next year, so there does seem to be a movement towards longer and bigger deals.

 

Story March '22.

Yoshida '23

Devers '24

 

You were right to question the "up to the line" beliefs many of us had. I'm not sure another $6-9M, depending on what budget source you use would have made a big difference.

 

Even Eflin over Kluber, despite his injury, would have made us a stronger contender.