Bloom fired

[moonslav59]

In another MLBTR report...

 

J.D. Martinez was known to be a Red Sox trade candidate heading into the 2022 deadline, and WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reports that the Dodgers came “very close” to a deal to land the veteran slugger. However, talks fell through when the Sox asked for Evan Phillips to also be included in the trade package. At the time, Phillips was partway through a breakout 2022 season that saw him post a 1.14 ERA over 63 innings, and he went on to another outstanding year as the Dodgers’ first-choice closer in 2023 (2.05 ERA over 61 1/3 frames, with 24 saves). Since the Dodgers pivoted to adding Joey Gallo at that deadline, it’s easy to wonder if Martinez could’ve or would’ve done more to upgrade the lineup, yet it’s hard to fault the team’s logic in wanting to retain Phillips. As it turned out, L.A. got the best of both worlds in 2023, with Phillips closing games and Martinez delivering a big year at the plate after signing with the Dodgers as a free agent last offseason.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR...

 

Yuki Matsui To Explore Signing With MLB Teams

By Mark Polishuk | October 14, 2023 at 11:13pm CDT

 

Star closer Yuki Matsui looks to be interested in a potential move to Major League Baseball, as a Yahoo Japan report (Japanese language link) indicates that Matsui has exercised his international free agent rights, as well as his rights to freely negotiate with other Nippon Professional Baseball clubs.

 

Matsui doesn’t turn 28 until later this month, but he has already accumulated 10 seasons with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. As a result, the left-hander is a full free agent, and can be signed by MLB teams without an additional posting fee to the Eagles. His age and experience also make him exempt from MLB’s international bonus pool structure.

 

It isn’t necessarily a sure thing that Matsui is headed to North America, as the Eagles are reportedly set to offer him a four-year contract worth $1.6 billion yen (roughly $10.7MM in USD) to remain in the fold. However, Matsui has hired WME’s Bryan Minniti as an agent, which could hint that the southpaw is more interested in seeing what Major League teams have to offer. Minniti has recently moved into the representation arena after a long front office career that included stints as an assistant GM with the Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Nationals.

 

At least nine Major League clubs have already scouted Matsui, including the Padres, Red Sox, Cubs, and Yankees. It isn’t surprising that there is significant interest in a pitcher who is hitting the market at such a relatively young age, and who has already amassed such an impressive resume in Nippon Professional Baseball and on the international stage. Matsui was a member of Japan’s championship team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, though he only made one appearance during the tournament, throwing a scoreless inning.

[Old Red]

The issue isn't the losing or the 4 year firings. I think the issue is that there isn't any room for turnover in the FO as I noted earlier. When you take this job, you're stuck with the people already employed. This is JH's vision of a FO, not the the next CBO's. That's why Click and others will either drop out or not interview.

 

Keeping BOH around was a bad idea.

 

Agree, and giving BOH a promotion at that at least in title.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR...

 

Yuki Matsui To Explore Signing With MLB Teams

By Mark Polishuk | October 14, 2023 at 11:13pm CDT

 

Star closer Yuki Matsui looks to be interested in a potential move to Major League Baseball, as a Yahoo Japan report (Japanese language link) indicates that Matsui has exercised his international free agent rights, as well as his rights to freely negotiate with other Nippon Professional Baseball clubs.

 

Matsui doesn’t turn 28 until later this month, but he has already accumulated 10 seasons with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. As a result, the left-hander is a full free agent, and can be signed by MLB teams without an additional posting fee to the Eagles. His age and experience also make him exempt from MLB’s international bonus pool structure.

 

It isn’t necessarily a sure thing that Matsui is headed to North America, as the Eagles are reportedly set to offer him a four-year contract worth $1.6 billion yen (roughly $10.7MM in USD) to remain in the fold. However, Matsui has hired WME’s Bryan Minniti as an agent, which could hint that the southpaw is more interested in seeing what Major League teams have to offer. Minniti has recently moved into the representation arena after a long front office career that included stints as an assistant GM with the Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Nationals.

 

At least nine Major League clubs have already scouted Matsui, including the Padres, Red Sox, Cubs, and Yankees. It isn’t surprising that there is significant interest in a pitcher who is hitting the market at such a relatively young age, and who has already amassed such an impressive resume in Nippon Professional Baseball and on the international stage. Matsui was a member of Japan’s championship team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, though he only made one appearance during the tournament, throwing a scoreless inning.

[mvp 78]

Agree, and giving BOH a promotion at that at least in title.

 

The EVP is not a promotion.

[harmony]

MLBTR...

 

Yuki Matsui To Explore Signing With MLB Teams

By Mark Polishuk | October 14, 2023 at 11:13pm CDT

 

Star closer Yuki Matsui looks to be interested in a potential move to Major League Baseball, as a Yahoo Japan report (Japanese language link) indicates that Matsui has exercised his international free agent rights, as well as his rights to freely negotiate with other Nippon Professional Baseball clubs.

 

Matsui doesn’t turn 28 until later this month, but he has already accumulated 10 seasons with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. As a result, the left-hander is a full free agent, and can be signed by MLB teams without an additional posting fee to the Eagles. His age and experience also make him exempt from MLB’s international bonus pool structure.

 

It isn’t necessarily a sure thing that Matsui is headed to North America, as the Eagles are reportedly set to offer him a four-year contract worth $1.6 billion yen (roughly $10.7MM in USD) to remain in the fold. However, Matsui has hired WME’s Bryan Minniti as an agent, which could hint that the southpaw is more interested in seeing what Major League teams have to offer. Minniti has recently moved into the representation arena after a long front office career that included stints as an assistant GM with the Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Nationals.

 

At least nine Major League clubs have already scouted Matsui, including the Padres, Red Sox, Cubs, and Yankees. It isn’t surprising that there is significant interest in a pitcher who is hitting the market at such a relatively young age, and who has already amassed such an impressive resume in Nippon Professional Baseball and on the international stage. Matsui was a member of Japan’s championship team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, though he only made one appearance during the tournament, throwing a scoreless inning.

This poster already has Yuki Matsui (and Yoshinobu Yamamoto) on his keeper fantasy team.

[notin]

The EVP is not a promotion.

 

I think he meant they gave him a promotional coupon for a free chips and soda with a purchase of a large sub at Jersey Mike’s. Limited time offer.

 

But his phone battery died mid—sentence..

[cp176]

I'm not specifically calling you out, but there are several posters on here who group other posters into the Bloom Squad or Kimmi's Gang or whatever. Then when you ask who's part of it, you never get a response. I will quote tweet those posters and they never ever respond.

 

I never made a post complaining about Bloom Bashers. To me, it's the same thing as complaining about Pink Hats. We're all here because we want the Red Sox to win (maybe too obsessively). I don't think there was anyone who was so down on Bloom that would have trashed him if he actually made a slam dunk great move. For a long time, A700 HATED Theo and called him every name in the book. Did that mean he wrote him off, didn't want him to succeed and would never be excited about him? No! He even changed his avatar to "Super Theo" after the AGon/Crawford moves. I believe the half of the board that didn't like Bloom would have changed their minds if he just did moves that they liked, so why group people into some negative subgroupings that are relatively meaningless?

 

I also like this post. The labelling and pigeon holing is ridiculous but kind of goes along with the trends of the day. I guess that I should be lumped in there somewhere but I have to say that I welcomed bloom's hiring. I will likely always be a fan of the current GM. I am an obvious Dombrowski fan for sure but I would not bring his name up at all if the comparisons just ended but they don't seem to. But - hey - once again, a nice post.

[Old Red]

Breslow in advance discussions now for the new boss man. Front runner? JH likes Yale guys.

[mvp 78]

Breslow in advance discussions now for the new boss man. Front runner? JH likes Yale guys.

 

It’s whoever is willing to work with BOH and Wormtongue without complaining.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Breslow in advance discussions now for the new boss man. Front runner? JH likes Yale guys.

 

Breslow, 43, is also from Connecticut. While never running a big league club, he has experience as a valued member of the Cubs' front office.

 

Now let's stop the comparisons there with any other "up-and-coming" (or down-and-leaving) execs.

 

Breslow played in the majors for a dozen years. He was a good enough pitcher to be recruited for new teams 10 times. He understands Boston, having played parts of five seasons there -- as a member of both last place clubs and World Series champs.

 

Lately, Breslow has been busy totally rebuilding the Cubs' pitching and developmental infrastructure. He was hired by Theo Epstein.

[jad]

I havent' been following this closely, but did Kim Ng decline an interview? or does she have no interest in the 'shared-power-who-the-hell-is-in-charge' atmosphere around Fenway?

[Elktonnick]

Breslow, 43, is also from Connecticut. While never running a big league club, he has experience as a valued member of the Cubs' front office.

 

Now let's stop the comparisons there with any other "up-and-coming" (or down-and-leaving) execs.

 

Breslow played in the majors for a dozen years. He was a good enough pitcher to be recruited for new teams 10 times. He understands Boston, having played parts of five seasons there -- as a member of both last place clubs and World Series champs.

 

Lately, Breslow has been busy totally rebuilding the Cubs' pitching and developmental infrastructure. He was hired by Theo Epstein.

Breslow was once called the smartest player in the majors. I believe his degree from Yale is in molecular biology.

[moonslav59]

It's hard to know how any person we pick will work out or not, especially those with very little or no experience being a GM.

 

I just hope the pick the right guy- someone who takes a balanced approach, but I guess that part comes from the top.

 

The budget will be a major component of how well the next GM can do out of the gates and going forward.

 

If there was some sort of moratorium on trading top prospects, I wonder how long that goes on, too.

 

IMO, whoever comes in may have to deal with some dysfunction or micromanaging from above, but the person will have a decent 26 and 40 man roster foundation (minus 3 SPers needed) and a well-regarded farm (minus many promising pitching prospects.)

 

It's not the task handed to Bloom, but it will have a share of major challenges to overcome. Let's hope this one meets and exceeds those challenges.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Breslow was once called the smartest player in the majors. I believe his degree from Yale is in molecular biology.

 

Correct: biophysics and biochemistry.

 

More important are his experiences with chemistry as a player and pitcher on big league diamonds, and in dugouts, bullpens and clubhouses.

 

That background cannot be undervalued, especially for a candidate replacing a CBO who had none.

[notin]

Correct: biophysics and biochemistry.

 

More important are his experiences with chemistry as a player and pitcher on big league diamonds, and in dugouts, bullpens and clubhouses.

 

That background cannot be undervalued, especially for a candidate replacing a CBO who had none.

 

There was a time when most GMs were former players (and that was the only title fans cared about). But nowadays most of them are not. There are still a few. But what team was the last one to win a World Series with a former MLB player heading up the front office?

Edited October 19, 2023 by notin

[Hugh2]

Red Sox are going to lose out due to family considerations.

 

I believe that a vast majority of candidates are going to be uninterested because they do not want to uproot their families and love where they are now.

 

I also believe an easy excuse and way to let someone down is to use your family as an excuse.

 

I'd expect many people to not want to uproot their families, most of them are probably telling the truth. But I'm sure someone is lying.

 

WHich is which?????? IDK.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

There was a time when most GMs were former players (and that was the only title fans cared about). But nowadays most of them are not. There are still a few. But what team was the last one to win a World Series with a former MLB player heading up the front office?

 

Don't know. Just like the ex-CBO, when it came to understanding the vibe of his players and heeding their pleas for improvement -- a collection he insufficiently changed or left unchanged -- much to their chafrowns.

 

Uniformed personnel said as much the last two trade deadlines (when you said Bloom quit on his club). Their W-L records after that were maybe not coincidence.

[moonslav59]

I believe that a vast majority of candidates are going to be uninterested because they do not want to uproot their families and love where they are now.

 

I also believe an easy excuse and way to let someone down is to use your family as an excuse.

 

I'd expect many people to not want to uproot their families, most of them are probably telling the truth. But I'm sure someone is lying.

 

WHich is which?????? IDK.

 

GMs are let go, all the time. It's nothing new. It comes with the territory.

 

No doubt, the Sox have had more turnover in the last 12 years than most other teams, and in some cases 3 more changes. I'm sure thinking you may be uprooting your family in 4 years might play a part in your choice, and does seem to be the "easy excuse" for saying no, but I'm not sure it's the number one factor for most of the "no's" we've gotten, so far.

 

For all we know, some who have backed away might have asked about the plan on spending over the next few years and not liked the answer. You can't exactly tell the media, "I didn't take the job/interview because they said they were not going to spend."

 

They also cannot say, "I wanted to hire my own manager, and JH wouldn't let me."

 

[notin]

I believe that a vast majority of candidates are going to be uninterested because they do not want to uproot their families and love where they are now.

 

I also believe an easy excuse and way to let someone down is to use your family as an excuse.

 

I'd expect many people to not want to uproot their families, most of them are probably telling the truth. But I'm sure someone is lying.

 

WHich is which?????? IDK.

 

Jon Daniels is lying…

[mvp 78]

I havent' been following this closely, but did Kim Ng decline an interview? or does she have no interest in the 'shared-power-who-the-hell-is-in-charge' atmosphere around Fenway?

 

Kim Ng hasn't been mentioned as receiving or declining an interview.

[mvp 78]

Breslow, 43, is also from Connecticut. While never running a big league club, he has experience as a valued member of the Cubs' front office.

 

Now let's stop the comparisons there with any other "up-and-coming" (or down-and-leaving) execs.

 

Breslow played in the majors for a dozen years. He was a good enough pitcher to be recruited for new teams 10 times. He understands Boston, having played parts of five seasons there -- as a member of both last place clubs and World Series champs.

 

Lately, Breslow has been busy totally rebuilding the Cubs' pitching and developmental infrastructure. He was hired by Theo Epstein.

 

The only issue with Breslow is that he worked remotely. He wasn't actually working along side the Cubs FO on a day to day basis the way he would need to here.

[mvp 78]

Breslow was once called the smartest player in the majors. I believe his degree from Yale is in molecular biology.

 

I don't think that really matters. Chaim Bloom is most likely smarter than DD, but DD is a better GM.

[mvp 78]

I believe that a vast majority of candidates are going to be uninterested because they do not want to uproot their families and love where they are now.

 

I also believe an easy excuse and way to let someone down is to use your family as an excuse.

 

I'd expect many people to not want to uproot their families, most of them are probably telling the truth. But I'm sure someone is lying.

 

WHich is which?????? IDK.

 

And Breslow already lives in Newton, MA.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

One quick search named only three ex-players as recent GMs: Billy Beane, Kenny Williams, and sitcom legend Ruben Amaro Jr.

 

Dal Maxvill might have been the last to win the World Series as both player and GM ('67 Cardinals/'70s A's; '85 Cardinals).

 

John Schuerholz made the Hall of Fame as the architect of last century's Braves division dynasty... but never made the Show (Earl Weaver's autobiography noted his smarts when they were minor league teammates).

 

Maybe smarts broke the mold. Billyball took Weaver's analytics approach and created an entire department of just guys. After Epstein broke the curse, and the mold, everyone wanted their own Ivy League Boy Wonder to do the same. Baseball is full of patterns.

[moonslav59]

And Breslow already lives in Newton, MA.

 

So, no "disrupt family" excuse is readily available for him.

 

I'm assuming he'll have no excuses, because he'd jump at any GM opportunity in MLB.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I don't think that really matters. Chaim Bloom is most likely smarter than DD, but DD is a better GM.

 

That's hilarious -- you know you just posted a challenge to a few bitter rivals here to spend the rest of the day yelling about Schwarber, Strahm and best of all, Noah Song!

[harmony]

There was a time when most GMs were former players (and that was the only title fans cared about). But nowadays most of them are not. There are still a few. But what team was the last one to win a World Series with a former MLB player heading up the front office?

Ken Williams and the 2005 Chicago White Sox.

[Hugh2]

So, no "disrupt family" excuse is readily available for him.

 

I'm assuming he'll have no excuses, because he'd jump at any GM opportunity in MLB.

 

At this point we already know no matter WHO the Sox hire he has to be the wrong guy because nobody wanted the job. The narrative has already been set in stone.

 

Also, if he's replacing BOH, which I don't know if that is true, you still need a POBO

[Elktonnick]

I don't think that really matters. Chaim Bloom is most likely smarter than DD, but DD is a better GM.

I do not think you can assume Bloom was smarter than Dombrowski just because Bloom graduated from Yale and Dombrowski did not. One the reasons that Dombrowski is better at his job than Bloom is that Dombrowski could make a decision whereas Bloom dithered. Blooms educational background was in classical literature. I do not think classicists are taught how to make good decisions under pressure. Although the founding President and Grand Poo Bah of the Legion of Bloom, Moon may disagree.