A Realistic View at 2024: Part I

[notin]

Yeah. And the chaos of baseball is part of the fun. That said, I think there would be fewer complaints if they realigned to two divisions per league and 4 wildcards. And the idea of a ghost win in the division series is interesting to me.

 

 

Or got rid of divisions altogether and sent the best 6 from each league. Three wild cards has done a lot to mitigate it, but there have been plenty of times throughout MLB history that some lesser team got into the postseason over better team(s) simply because they were the least s***** team in their geographic region…

[sk7326]

I think DD would have done a better job, too.

 

My point was about how the budget and forced trade of Betts, which was almost done during DD's tenure, would have made winning in 2020 and beyond very difficult for any GM, including DD.

 

What is DD's success rate on low budget teams?

 

It went okay with the Expos back in the day. And while he was not around to see the finale, the players he got in the Marlins tear down figured prominently in the 2003 title team.

 

I do think Henry pulled the rug out from under him in 2019. But the "we need to keep trying to win titles" vs "we need to sell this team off" rift could have been a dealbreaker.

[sk7326]

Or got rid of divisions altogether and sent the best 6 from each league. Three wild cards has done a lot to mitigate it, but there have been plenty of times throughout MLB history that some lesser team got into the postseason over better team(s) simply because they were the least s***** team in their geographic region…

 

That could work. But i do think travel reasons can justify divisions. If the league expanded again and went to four 8-team divisions, then I think that would be a solid equlibrium. (10 games in division, 6 games out of division, 3 games against half of interleague, 4 games against rest of interleague)

[Randy Red Sox]

I know Lugo does not have a long history as a SP'er, but he did fine as one, last year:

26 GS (146 IP)

3.57 ERA (115 ERA+)

3.83 FIP

1.20 WHIP

 

 

check his numbers after he was traded. ERA north of 6.50. hardly an upgrade.

[Randy Red Sox]

I think he's worth $30/2 or $40/3.

 

I just hope they don't see him as the best SP'er we get.

 

they are also interested in Gilotta

[moonslav59]

check his numbers after he was traded. ERA north of 6.50. hardly an upgrade.

 

Lugo was not traded.

[notin]

check his numbers after he was traded. ERA north of 6.50. hardly an upgrade.

 

I think you meant to respond to a Giolito post. Seth Lugo has never been traded in his entire career…

[notin]

check his numbers after he was traded. ERA north of 6.50. hardly an upgrade.

 

Giolito, not Lugo, had a 3.79 ERA with the White Sox for 121IP, which is fairly respectable. Then he was traded (and waived) and from his break on, posted a 6.96 ERA over 53.1 IP.

 

In his first start with the Angels and his first SS tart with Cleveland, Giolito combined for 6.2 IP and 18 earned runs! . Who are these idiot managers leaving him in to give up 9 ER in 3IP? Without those two outings, his ERA post-trade would have been 4.89.

[moonslav59]

It went okay with the Expos back in the day. And while he was not around to see the finale, the players he got in the Marlins tear down figured prominently in the 2003 title team.

 

I do think Henry pulled the rug out from under him in 2019. But the "we need to keep trying to win titles" vs "we need to sell this team off" rift could have been a dealbreaker.

 

The Expos went 81-81> 81-81>85-77 to 71-90 his last year in MON. If that is "okay," you should be thrilled with Bloom's record.

 

Montreal, also went from 7th lowest payroll to 12th lowest in his 2nd and third year, which indicates he was allowed to spend more than his first year.

 

With the Marlins, he was allowed to spend a lot.

27th in their first & second years in MLB (1993-5)

17th in his 4th season

7th in the 1997 championship season. He spent big on several FAs.

When the team cut payroll, like the Sox did after 2019, the Marlins went...

54-108

64-98

79-83

76-86

They never reached .500, when he was not allowed to spend.

Okay, he built up the foundation, but nobody wants to hear that about Bloom, now.

 

He, then joined the Tigers. That team was in rebuild mode, as they were 66-96 (20th highest payroll) the year before he took over. The Tigers went...

55-106 in 2002 (19th in payroll)

43-119 in '03 (25th in payroll- showing it's hard for him to win w/o spending, too)

72-90 (23rd in '04)

71-91 (15th in '05) The spending larger had begun, followed by winning...

95-67 (lost WS) 14th in spending is not mega spending, but he did sign a couple FAs)

88-74 (9th in '07) Spent more than '06 and went backwards.

74-88 (3RD IN SPENDING and a losing record.)

86-77 (5th in spending)

81-81 (6th in 2010)

95-67 (lost 1st rd) 10th in spending

88-74 (lost WS) 5th in Spending gets him to the WS.

93-69 (lost 1st rd) 5th

90-72 (lost 1st rd) 5th

74-87 (4th in spending, and he was canned in AUG of 2015.)

Did his time in DET prove he can win without spending large?

 

Please, don't take this as dissing DD. I love the job he did with the Sox and have zero regrets. He gave us the best 3 years in a row in my lifetime. I am just not convinced he could have done wonders with the 2020 team and budget. Better than Bloom? Sure/maybe. Better in 2021? Maybe. Better in 2022 and 2023? Probably.

[moonslav59]

If we sign Giolito, I'll lose some faith in Brez.

[Larry Cook]

If we sign Giolito, I'll lose some faith in Brez.

 

I agree 100 percent

 

Bres-slow is making me nervous

[notin]

If we sign Giolito, I'll lose some faith in Brez.

 

For anything longer than one year, I’d probably prefer Giolito over Lugo…

[Randy Red Sox]

Giolito, not Lugo, had a 3.79 ERA with the White Sox for 121IP, which is fairly respectable. Then he was traded (and waived) and from his break on, posted a 6.96 ERA over 53.1 IP.

 

In his first start with the Angels and his first SS tart with Cleveland, Giolito combined for 6.2 IP and 18 earned runs! . Who are these idiot managers leaving him in to give up 9 ER in 3IP? Without those two outings, his ERA post-trade would have been 4.89.

 

nonetheless these are hardly the pickups we need to bolster our rotation to where it needs to be. In all due respect these are Bloom signings types

[moonslav59]

For anything longer than one year, I’d probably prefer Giolito over Lugo…

 

I'm fine with Lugo for 2 years. If ends up back in the pen, he should be fine at age 34 and 35.

 

Giolito is young enough to think a bounce back is possible. He turns 30 in July.

[Randy Red Sox]

Alex Verdugo traded to the Yankees for prospects. Is Bloom still here??

[moonslav59]

nonetheless these are hardly the pickups we need to bolster our rotation to where it needs to be. In all due respect these are Bloom signings types

 

Yamo & Lugo would please me.

 

Monty, Stroman (or ERod/Imanaga) & Lugo would, too.

[Randy Red Sox]

I'm fine with Lugo for 2 years. If ends up back in the pen, he should be fine at age 34 and 35.

 

Giolito is young enough to think a bounce back is possible. He turns 30 in July.

 

If these are the two pitching additions Breslow makes you can say hello to last place again in 2024

[Randy Red Sox]

Yamo & Lugo would please me.

 

Monty, Stroman (or ERod/Imanaga) & Lugo would, too.

 

Stroman and Lugo still leaves the Sox in the basement IMO

[moonslav59]

Stroman and Lugo still leaves the Sox in the basement IMO

 

Monty, Stroman and Lugo.

[Larry Cook]

Our 2024 outfield is currently Duran, rafeala and abreau. With refsnyder! Assuming yoshida is the full time DH.

[harmony]

I'm fine with Lugo for 2 years. If ends up back in the pen, he should be fine at age 34 and 35.

 

Giolito is young enough to think a bounce back is possible. He turns 30 in July.

Lucas Giolito could be the steal of the offseason.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Lucas Giolito could be the steal of the offseason.

 

I don't how many steals he allowed last year, but Giolito gave up the most home runs in the American League.

 

No thanks.

[moonslav59]

MLBTR reports...

 

The Red Sox are considering a number of position player targets, including a pair of outfielders. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reports that the Sox are interested in Lourdes Gurriel Jr., KPRC’s Ari Alexander reports that Michael A. Taylor is another player of interest, and Boston is also looking at help behind the plate in Martin Maldonado, according to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome. (

[moonslav59]

Lucas Giolito could be the steal of the offseason.

 

Agreed. He could also be the next Kluber or Richards- only on a longer and more costly deal.

[Randy Red Sox]

Agreed. He could also be the next Kluber or Richards- only on a longer and more costly deal.

 

he is a perfect Bloom type signing

[cp176]

C’mon all of you Bobby D haters. How about Coach Cora’s comments about his future. Looks like any fuss over a right handed hitting backup first baseman can be put to rest

[moonslav59]

he is a perfect Bloom type signing

 

He's actually too good and too expensive for Bloom to ever sign.

[notin]

Agreed. He could also be the next Kluber or Richards- only on a longer and more costly deal.

 

He also might work out.

 

But so far, it’s one article on MLBTR connecting him to the Red Sox. Not like we are already pending a physical…

[Bellhorn04]

He's actually too good and too expensive for Bloom to ever sign.

 

Don't forget the "almost-signings" of Eovaldi and Eflin...

[Bellhorn04]

He also might work out.

 

But so far, it’s one article on MLBTR connecting him to the Red Sox. Not like we are already pending a physical…

 

OTOH it's at least as close to being a reality as all the BTV-sanctioned trade ideas that get posted here...