How will the Red Sox do?

[mvp 78]

Would it hurt to bring Hamilton up to play SS? He played most of the games at SS for Worcester so far. He might even get on base, and get a steal, or two. If he’s not good enough to come up now with the hole the Red Sox have at SS then he probably never will.

 

Is Dalbec not good enough at SS for you?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Would it hurt to bring Hamilton up to play SS? He played most of the games at SS for Worcester so far. He might even get on base, and get a steal, or two. If he’s not good enough to come up now with the hole the Red Sox have at SS then he probably never will.

 

What's the worst that could happen? The team might suck and come in dead last?

[Hugh2]

Would it hurt to bring Hamilton up to play SS? He played most of the games at SS for Worcester so far. He might even get on base, and get a steal, or two. If he’s not good enough to come up now with the hole the Red Sox have at SS then he probably never will.

 

Supposedly his defense is not very good at all there, they are talking about moving him to the outfield. He got off to a nice start with the bat though, but he did so last year and then was pretty pedestrian most of the season.

 

Still, can he be much worse defensively than Kike and Dalbec? maybe we break even there and Kike moving back to CF improves the outfield defense. But Dalbec was off to a decent start too, and if he's figured something out he can replace the RHH power that Duval gave us. Not that he can replicate his last two weeks, but it would balance the lineup if he hits.

 

The real irony here is it has me anticipating the return of Mondesi, a guy who seems to be destined for the DL several times a year.

[Old Red]

Is Dalbec not good enough at SS for you?

 

Never was, but the best question is why is he good enough for Cora, and Bloom.

[mvp 78]

Never was, but the best question is why is he good enough for Cora, and Bloom.

 

You wanted Dalbec yesterday and now after one error, you're out. What a quitter. That's loser behavior.

[mvp 78]

Supposedly his defense is not very good at all there, they are talking about moving him to the outfield. He got off to a nice start with the bat though, but he did so last year and then was pretty pedestrian most of the season.

 

Still, can he be much worse defensively than Kike and Dalbec? maybe we break even there and Kike moving back to CF improves the outfield defense. But Dalbec was off to a decent start too, and if he's figured something out he can replace the RHH power that Duval gave us. Not that he can replicate his last two weeks, but it would balance the lineup if he hits.

 

The real irony here is it has me anticipating the return of Mondesi, a guy who seems to be destined for the DL several times a year.

 

Mondesi is also still 45 days away. They need a fix long before then. If Hamilton isn't really an option, he should have never been put on the 40 man.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Shake it up now. St. Louis could use some pitching. The Trade Simulator accepted Schreiber and the ghost of Paxton for DeJong and Tyler O'Neill.

 

O'Neill is like a Duvall clone -- power and high K rate -- a former Gold Glove OF who just two seasons ago hit 34 HRs with .912 OPS. He's disgruntled, only 28, and probably available now with the emergence of WBC hero Nootbar and rookie record-breaker Jordan Walker (make a deal, before NL pitchers find a book on him).

[Hugh2]

Mondesi is also still 45 days away. They need a fix long before then. If Hamilton isn't really an option, he should have never been put on the 40 man.

 

Certainly, the Red Sox wouldn't mismanage their 40 man roster at all.

[mvp 78]

Shake it up now. St. Louis could use some pitching. The Trade Simulator accepted Schreiber and the ghost of Paxton for DeJong and Tyler O'Neill.

 

O'Neill is like a Duvall clone -- power and high K rate -- a former Gold Glove OF who just two seasons ago hit 34 HRs with .912 OPS. He's disgruntled, only 28, and probably available now with the emergence of WBC hero Nootbar and rookie record-breaker Jordan Walker (make a deal, before NL pitchers find a book on him).

 

Considering that the manager is bad mouthing O'Neill in the press, you could probably get that package for less.

[Old Red]

You wanted Dalbec yesterday and now after one error, you're out. What a quitter. That's loser behavior.

 

I said Bobby D wasn’t a good option, but couldn’t be any worse than Kike. Bottom line why are the Red Sox even in the mess at SS. Your Hobo Chaim Bloom.

[mvp 78]

I said Bobby D wasn’t a good option, but couldn’t be any worse than Kike. Bottom line why are the Red Sox even in the mess at SS. Your Hobo Chaim Bloom.

 

You wanted Dalbec at SS yesterday. Don't try to cover your tracks and slink out the door the morning after, sir.

[Old Red]

You wanted Dalbec at SS yesterday. Don't try to cover your tracks and slink out the door the morning after, sir.

 

Sorry, but I’m heading for the coast for a few days, so you going to have to break Tampa’s streak without me.

[cp176]

I'm rarely this pessimistic this early. But this team is awful. Shame on Henry and Bloom for this miserable offseason they just pulled off. Time for Henry to sell the team.

 

To date it really does look as though Bloom has made one blunder right after another. There really is nothing that tells me that this is a .500 team at all. I don't find them interesting at all even to watch.

[mvp 78]

Sorry, but I’m heading for the coast for a few days, so you going to have to break Tampa’s streak without me.

 

Yeah, can't get any ballgames when you get near the beach. If my office was directly across from the beach, I certainly wouldn't be able to follow the Sox anymore.

 

Enjoy your break.

 

If the Sox go on a streak while your gone, mojo says you can't come back.

[mvp 78]

To date it really does look as though Bloom has made one blunder right after another. There really is nothing that tells me that this is a .500 team at all. I don't find them interesting at all even to watch.

 

There's been a lot. He makes some good choices, follows it up with a bad choice, then gets shown up a year later.

 

Picks up Springs and then trades him to the Rays. Yikes.

 

Picks up Martin Perez and then lets him go to the Rangers.

 

Attempts (?) to re-sign Xander, but signs Story instead. Xander leaves for the Padres. Story gets injured. Xander hits lots of dingers. Yikes.

 

Trades Vaz to HOU. Vaz wins a ring. Vaz wants to re-sign with the Sox. Bloom says no. Vaz is currently catching a great staff in MN.

 

To fill (?) the hole at SS, Bloom puts Kiké there and signs Duvall (primarily a RFer) to play CF. Duvall gets injured. There is no depth up the middle.

 

Signs oft-injured Paxton for 2 years. Paxton stays injured.

 

Bloom gets his pants pulled down in the Rule 5 draft.

 

Calls up Dalbec to play SS (?) because he can probably fake it. He boots the first ball.

 

He just makes the weirdest most daft decisions. I said he'll probably get fired at the Memorial Day BBQ. We'll see.

[moonslav59]

There's been a lot. He makes some good choices, follows it up with a bad choice, then gets shown up a year later.

 

Picks up Springs and then trades him to the Rays. Yikes.

 

Picks up Martin Perez and then lets him go to the Rangers.

 

Attempts (?) to re-sign Xander, but signs Story instead. Xander leaves for the Padres. Story gets injured. Xander hits lots of dingers. Yikes.

 

Trades Vaz to HOU. Vaz wins a ring. Vaz wants to re-sign with the Sox. Bloom says no. Vaz is currently catching a great staff in MN.

 

To fill (?) the hole at SS, Bloom puts Kiké there and signs Duvall (primarily a RFer) to play CF. Duvall gets injured. There is no depth up the middle.

 

Signs oft-injured Paxton for 2 years. Paxton stays injured.

 

Bloom gets his pants pulled down in the Rule 5 draft.

 

Calls up Dalbec to play SS (?) because he can probably fake it. He boots the first ball.

 

He just makes the weirdest most daft decisions. I said he'll probably get fired at the Memorial Day BBQ. We'll see.

 

There are many more than these, including acquiring Renfroe (great) then trading him for JBJ & prospects (huh?)

 

He also signed Mondesi to "fill the SS hole," and that has been a blank, so far. (Add Diekman, Marwin, Andriese...)

 

In between many of these blunders, he has made some decent, good and even very good moves.

 

Pants pulled up on Rule 5 Whitlock selection.

 

Pivetta trade

 

Kike signing $14M/2 was worth it in 2021

 

Schwarber trade

 

Iggy, TShaw, Robles additions in 2021

 

Not extending ERod like some here wanted done.

 

Refsnyder for free

 

Schreiber for free

 

Wacha

 

Hill

 

Strahm

 

McGuire while dumping Diekman (the reverse of deals like getting Springs and trading him away.)

 

Many deals are still pending, including the Beni-Wink trade and Vaz for prospects.

 

[notin]

I will admit I wasn’t big on Springs when he was here.

 

He only pitched 20 IP, but his 7.08 ERA left a lot to be desired. His 4.81 FIP certainly showed him to be unlucky, but it wasn’t exactly dazzling either.

 

When that deal was made, most of the buzz was about giving up Mazza.

 

Perez? He was a middling pitcher for 8 years, came to Boston, pitched as a middling pitcher for 2 more. And has had one good year since. I don’t mind giving up on him. Heck I thought they gave him one year too many as it was…

[moonslav59]

I will admit I wasn’t big on Springs when he was here.

 

He only pitched 20 IP, but his 7.08 ERA left a lot to be desired. His 4.81 FIP certainly showed him to be unlucky, but it wasn’t exactly dazzling either.

 

When that deal was made, most of the buzz was about giving up Mazza.

 

Perez? He was a middling pitcher for 8 years, came to Boston, pitched as a middling pitcher for 2 more. And has had one good year since. I don’t mind giving up on him. Heck I thought they gave him one year too many as it was…

 

Perez is off to a good start in 2023, so maybe 2022 wasn't a fluke.

 

GMs are judged in hindsight. Bllom was supposed to know Story, Duvall and others

[notin]

My biggest Bloom gripes (that mvp omitted, although I clearly don’t agree with his whole list)

 

1. Turning down Graterol

2. Keeping Ort over Ward and German

[moonslav59]

My biggest Bloom gripes (that mvp omitted, although I clearly don’t agree with his whole list)

 

1. Turning down Graterol

2. Keeping Ort over Ward and German

 

The Springs desal sucked, but who here hated the deal, back then? On the Betts trade, I wanted Verdugo and Maeda, but because we dumped Price, and Bloom was told to trade betts, I don't hold the Downs failure against Bloom, all that much.

 

 

My least favorite choices, and I hated them when made were:

 

1. The Bogey negotiations

2. The Renfroe-JBJ trade

2. The Diekman signing (one fo the very few signings for over 1 year, up to March 2022.) Since he ended up dumping most of Diekman's deal, which was only $8M/2 and got McGuire in return, this turned out to be not all that bad.

 

I'd have kept Ward, German, Politi and even Wallace over Ort, but this is not a major thing, to me. It is likely none of these guys do well.

 

His best:

1. Whitlock Rule 5

2. Pivetta trade

3. Wacha, Hill & Strahm for $15M, total

4. Schreiber & Refsnyder for free

[mvp 78]

My biggest Bloom gripes (that mvp omitted, although I clearly don’t agree with his whole list)

 

1. Turning down Graterol

2. Keeping Ort over Ward and German

 

I'm glad you can admit when you're wrong about something.

[mvp 78]

I will admit I wasn’t big on Springs when he was here.

 

He only pitched 20 IP, but his 7.08 ERA left a lot to be desired. His 4.81 FIP certainly showed him to be unlucky, but it wasn’t exactly dazzling either.

 

When that deal was made, most of the buzz was about giving up Mazza.

 

In 2020, NESN went out of their way to talk up Springs as a late inning arm and potential closer. The Sox liked his spin rate and whiff %. I'm still surprised that they gave up on him, but stuck with some of the junk they kept around early on in 2021.

[Hugh2]

My biggest Bloom gripes (that mvp omitted, although I clearly don’t agree with his whole list)

 

1. Turning down Graterol

2. Keeping Ort over Ward and German

 

At the time, wasn’t Downs considered the better prospect and Graterol was slatted for the pen?

 

In a better world, if you hit on Downs he fits into this roster perfect right now. I think I was bothered by the outcome more than the return.

 

I think the sum adds up to less than the parts when it comes to Blooms to datezz

[moonslav59]

In 2020, NESN went out of their way to talk up Springs as a late inning arm and potential closer. The Sox liked his spin rate and whiff %. I'm still surprised that they gave up on him, but stuck with some of the junk they kept around early on in 2021.

 

It does look like a blunder, and it was. It's hard for me to fault him, except in hindsight, but your point is well-taken.

[moonslav59]

At the time, wasn’t Downs considered the better prospect and Graterol was slatted for the pen?

 

In a better world, if you hit on Downs he fits into this roster perfect right now. I think I was bothered by the outcome more than the return.

 

I think the sum adds up to less than the parts when it comes to Blooms to datezz

 

True, but GMs are, for right or wrong, judged in hindsight, and Downs sucked.

 

My opinion on the trade was that we also dumped Price. It was one year of Betts plus Price, and I really don't think there were many offers being made for both.

 

The padres offer does not look great, either, so what were Bloom's choices?

 

It is easy to just say, he should have done better, and certainly Graterol is better than Downs, but it's not like missing out on Graterol is a major blunder, to me.

 

Verdugo has done pretty well and still has another year after this.

 

The fact that Bloom was forced to make a trade makes me not list that trade as a major blunder.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I can't regret losing guys who sucked here and developed into good players elsewhere. But the bottom line is that Bloom has continually let impact players leave Boston -- Betts, Bogie, Schwarber, Renfroe -- and never added one yet.

 

Whitlock was nearly an All-Star set-up reliever for half a season, and Pivetta delivered some clutch innings in the postseason, but Bloom has yet to replace the difference-makers. Star players are not Story, an infielder who had one good month with the bat in Boston so far, or Duvall, who had one good week before getting injured playing out of position.

 

If you want to call Wacha an impact pitcher, then so was Eovaldi, and both were replaced, along with Hill, with one Kluber...

Edited April 13, 2023 by 5GoldGloves:OF,75

[mvp 78]

I can't regret losing guys who sucked here and developed into good players elsewhere. But the bottom line is that Bloom has continually let impact players leave Boston -- Betts, Bogie, Schwarber, Renfroe -- and never added one yet.

 

Whitlock was nearly an All-Star set-up reliever for half a season, and Pivetta delivered some clutch innings in the postseason, but Bloom has yet to replace the difference-makers. Star players are not Story, an infielder who had one good month with the bat in Boston so far, or Duvall, who had one good week before getting injured playing out of position.

 

If you want to call Wacha an impact pitcher, then so was Eovaldi, and both were replaced, along with Hill, with one Kluber...

 

To be fair, Bloom added Schwarber and Renfroe, but just let them leave. Duvall looked like he could have replaced Renfroe's production. Duvall didn't get injured because he was out of position. He could have been hurt running in on that same ball in LF or RF. He's a former GG winner. He's not some schlub. It's not like he was injured playing 3B or something.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

To be fair, Bloom added Schwarber and Renfroe, but just let them leave. Duvall looked like he could have replaced Renfroe's production. Duvall didn't get injured because he was out of position. He could have been hurt running in on that same ball in LF or RF. He's a former GG winner. He's not some schlub. It's not like he was injured playing 3B or something.

 

Did you watch the first 10 games? Duvall did not play like a good centerfielder. And letting good finds like Schwarber and Renfroe leave is part of the problem in the Bloom Era.

 

As for Bloom's guys who look good but get hurt, or who haven't been good because they're hurt when acquired -- does anyone think this is all bad luck and coincidence? Or maybe a pattern?

[Bellhorn04]

Did you watch the first 10 games? Duvall did not play like a good centerfielder. And letting good finds like Schwarber and Renfroe leave is part of the problem in the Bloom Era.

 

As for Bloom's guys who look good but get hurt, or who haven't been good because they're hurt when acquired -- does anyone think this is all bad luck and coincidence? Or maybe a pattern?

 

Peter Abraham was talking about Story in his column today and suggesting other teams steered away from him because of the elbow issue.

[mvp 78]

Peter Abraham was talking about Story in his column today and suggesting other teams steered away from him because of the elbow issue.

 

His arm was a known issue...