4/17 Angels @ SOX 11:10AM ET

[redsoxrules]

At the end of that it's all on Bloom. It doesn't matter if the scouts underneath him doesn't do a good job. It's like me for example. I'm a manager at my work and have a team. If something happens it's ALL on me as I'm handling the team. I work with them to ensure we're on the same page. It's Bloom responsibility to work with his team to ensure they have the best product on the team. If not then he needs to make changes and get better scouts. I'm sure it wasn't the scouts that told him last year to trade for JBJ for Renfroe. It makes me laugh defending Bloom on this. Fact is, if this team doesn't do well this year, ITS ON HIM

[Maxbialystock]

Which makes me think the issue runs deeper than just Bloom. It's easy to have a guy to blame, but I'm interested in fixing actual problems.

 

For example.

 

Lets say Yoshida is a complete bust. That's on Bloom, and that's fine, I love "the buck stops here" mentality. But true accountability recognizes that Bloom isn't a scout. The Sox have a scouting department that is going to Bloom and telling him we think this player is going to be this. Bloom is only as good as the information he's getting fed. If that personal sucks within your organization then it doesn't matter who your G.M. or director of baseball operations are. Much like a team isn't defined by one player, neither is the organization.

 

If this team misses the playoffs this year, they need to take a good long hard look at their internal processes. If it's the end of Bloom so be it, but they can't just bring in a new guy who brings in a guy or two and expect that to fix everything. Henry has a lot of work to do.

 

What a great post!!! Absolutely dead on. I am inclined to defend Bloom, but I do recognize GM's/VP's are hired to be fired and that JH has never hesitated to do that in the past.

 

But my concern this season, more so than in past seasons, is that the Sox system is the problem. They have mostly relied on buying talent developed by other teams, and this has been especially true of pitching.

 

And right now it sure looks as though John Henry hired Chaim Bloom because he doesn't want to spend big every year and would prefer a system like the one the Rays have. In those 4 games in the Trop last week the Rays were thoroughly professional in every phase of the game, and the Sox were not.

 

It's going to take time to develop a good system for identifying, acquiring, and developing talent.

[Maxbialystock]

At the end of that it's all on Bloom. It doesn't matter if the scouts underneath him doesn't do a good job. It's like me for example. I'm a manager at my work and have a team. If something happens it's ALL on me as I'm handling the team. I work with them to ensure we're on the same page. It's Bloom responsibility to work with his team to ensure they have the best product on the team. If not then he needs to make changes and get better scouts. I'm sure it wasn't the scouts that told him last year to trade for JBJ for Renfroe. It makes me laugh defending Bloom on this. Fact is, if this team doesn't do well this year, ITS ON HIM

 

Fair enough. I'm a Bloom supporter, but don't think he's perfect. JBJ for Renfroe was dumb--anyone could see that. I seriously doubt that idea originated with Bloom, but on the other hand it's on him for agreeing with it and making it happen. Same goes for letting Schwarber go and now paying almost as much (and for as long) for Yoshida--although we can't at all be sure we have seen the real Yoshida after such a short time and never having played MLB before.

[vegasbob]

On the field , in the FO and RS MiLB systems, Bloom has had since October 2019 to revamp both areas , and deal with JH's CBT directives. That's 4 off seasons including the odd 2020 Covid year. IMO, the results should be showing up on the field this year, a competitive team, not necessarily a championship . Go up and down that roster and point out where the MLB team got significantly better at any position over those 4 years, except for Devers maturing into your one A-S caliber hitter. Rafi was already in the system

 

Check the on field product results in mid May, another 30 games . Then check the growth of Bello, Casas and even Yoshida to see if the trend is improving or wallowing . One thing for certain, Chris Sale needs to improve his side sessions.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

If the Sox don't become consistently respectable -- s00n -- not only does Bloom and his staff need to go, but the axe needs to fall on anyone and everyone in management -- including those in uniform, in board rooms, and roving the planet in search of talent.

 

It's bad enough an entire system can't develop more than one good homegrown starting pitcher per decade, but for as far as I can remember, they can't even teach pitchers how to throw accurately to a freaking base.

It's uncanny, since anyone who has ever played since childhood knows that the best Little Leaguers are always pitchers; they're also the best hitters and fielders... and athletes. So why does Boston draft, sign or taint only the ones who gag, once they wear Red Sox uniforms?

[a700hitter]

What a great post!!! Absolutely dead on. I am inclined to defend Bloom, but I do recognize GM's/VP's are hired to be fired and that JH has never hesitated to do that in the past. …

What makes you inclined to defend Bloom?

[moonslav59]

People point to the days of Lester, Buch and masterson, like we used to be really great at finding and developing great pitchers.

 

We never were. The only really great pitcher we ever did that wth was Clemens, and we drafted him in 1983!

 

Okay-okay, having another Lester or two, right now wouldn't help, but we have won 4 rings with a system that excels at finding and developing enough everyday players and promising pitching prospects to build a team and have enough left-over for trading for guys like Pedro, Schilling, Beckett and Sale.

 

So we overhaul the whole system and end up with what?

 

Of course, the answer is easy, but making it happen is not.

 

We might want to be careful what we wish for.

 

I will add that the current system recognized Whitlock, and guys like Houck, Bello and Mata might be the best looking top 3 pitching prospects we've had in a long time. Maybe we should give the new regime time to change over a system that has been structured a certain way for decades.

[Maxbialystock]

What makes you inclined to defend Bloom?

 

Ivy Leaguer who helped build the Rays system, which dollar for dollar is the best in MLB. Also, it's clear that JH has provided guidance to spend less.

 

Bloom replaced DD, who was given a free hand to buy whatever was needed--starters, a DH, a closer, you name it. Plus, when DD arrived in 2015 the Sox already had some good young players like Mookie, Raffie, Bogey, and Beni--either in Boston or on the way up. JBJ was still hitting (which he barely could in 2014, his first year starting in CF). In 2018 the Sox were the best Sox ever, and the very next season they stunk while JH was still paying a king's ransom for them. So out went DD, and in came Bloom with new guidance. Do more with less. Easier said than done.

 

I cannot refute criticisms of specific trades/deals Bloom has made. Chapter 5 for Whitlock was brilliant. Others not so much. I'd definitely rather have Schwarber than Yoshida. Letting Renfroe go and bringing in JBJ was mindless. The new contract with Barnes in midseason 2021 was ill-advised.