Craig Breslow hired as Head Of Baseball Operations

[moonslav59]

2022 was more like "dicking around", I guess. We'll make it 2 separate categories.

 

The result was the same both years - stumbling to a 78-win finish.

 

No doubt, Bloom blew both deadlines.

 

My only point was that the term "dithering" sounds cool, and does fit Bloom's countless times not making decisions and signings, over and over. The act of not acting- not signing or pulling the trigger on trades. I agree- the term fits Bloom, but to me, not at the 2022 deadline. He made 5 trades. I don't see that as dithering.

 

Call it a smokescreen. Call it coming up short or not going far enough, but I don't see the term dithering as fitting that particular time.

[Bellhorn04]

No doubt, Bloom blew both deadlines.

 

My only point was that the term "dithering" sounds cool, and does fit Bloom's countless times not making decisions and signings, over and over. The act of not acting- not signing or pulling the trigger on trades. I agree- the term fits Bloom, but to me, not at the 2022 deadline. He made 5 trades. I don't see that as dithering.

 

Call it a smokescreen. Call it coming up short or not going far enough, but I don't see the term dithering as fitting that particular time.

 

He executed some transactions, but didn't make any significant acquisitions. What were the 2022 WAR's of the guys he acquired?

 

Maybe the word dithering is the wrong one. But whatever the right word is, it's not complimentary.

[Bellhorn04]

He executed some transactions, but didn't make any significant acquisitions. What were the 2022 WAR's of the guys he acquired?

 

Maybe the word dithering is the wrong one. But whatever the right word is, it's not complimentary.

 

To answer my own question, here are the 2022 bWAR's of the 3 "major acquisitions"

 

Hosmer 1.1

McGuire 0.9

Pham 0.3

Total 2.3

Average 0.8

 

3 guys who barely exceeded replacement level last year. That's what Bloom produced at the deadline, while dropping Vaz, whose 2022 bWAR was 2.1. That's as lateral as you can get.

[moonslav59]

 

Maybe the word dithering is the wrong one. But whatever the right word is, it's not complimentary.

 

I've already agreed to this and worse.

 

[moonslav59]

To answer my own question, here are the 2022 bWAR's of the 3 "major acquisitions"

 

Hosmer 1.1

McGuire 0.9

Pham 0.3

Total 2.3

Average 0.8

 

3 guys who barely exceeded replacement level last year. That's what Bloom produced at the deadline, while dropping Vaz, whose 2022 bWAR was 2.1. That's as lateral as you can get.

 

McGuire did give us 0.9 in 2 months, which projects to 2.7/yr.

 

Vaz fell off a cliff, after the trade.

 

Abreu and EValdez may very well out WAR all those traded away, combined.

 

It wasn't a great or meaningful deadline.

[Bellhorn04]

I've already agreed to this and worse.

 

 

Yes, but it's important that we come up with the precise term for what Bloom did in '22!

[moonslav59]

Yes, but it's important that we come up with the precise term for what Bloom did in '22!

 

What has always seemed "off" to me, was that the moves made by Bloom before '22, with the big exception of Story, seemed to work out better than 2020, 2021 and 2023.

 

It's no secret what I wanted done at the deadline. I even argued he should have tried to convince Bogey to waive the no trade clause, so he could be traded to a contender.

 

I'd have been happier had he committed to buying over what he ended up doing. Trying to walk the line and play both angles was a horrible plan and choice. I said it at the time and still think it. I was happy we got something for Vaz. I thought dumping Diekman and getting, who I felt was, a decent defensive catcher looked good, too, but I was assuming the added budget space to 2023 might be helpful.

 

Trading for another LF'er (Pham) was a joke. (Is that a good word?)

Trading for Hosmer was a joke, but maybe Rosier surprises us with a jump, next summer.

The Almonte addition is barely worth mentioning.

 

My choice of words for the 2022 Summer Deadline?

 

Chickenshit (afraid to upset the crybaby fans, as I called them, last summer.)

Incompetent

Woefully inadequate

Sickening

 

I really didn't mean for this "dithering" conversation to go off on its own, but it's just not a word that come to my mind about the summer of '22.

 

The summer of '23? Fine.

 

[Bellhorn04]

What has always seemed "off" to me, was that the moves made by Bloom before '22, with the big exception of Story, seemed to work out better than 2020, 2021 and 2023.

 

It's no secret what I wanted done at the deadline. I even argued he should have tried to convince Bogey to waive the no trade clause, so he could be traded to a contender.

 

I'd have been happier had he committed to buying over what he ended up doing. Trying to walk the line and play both angles was a horrible plan and choice. I said it at the time and still think it. I was happy we got something for Vaz. I thought dumping Diekman and getting, who I felt was, a decent defensive catcher looked good, too, but I was assuming the added budget space to 2023 might be helpful.

 

Trading for another LF'er (Pham) was a joke. (Is that a good word?)

Trading for Hosmer was a joke, but maybe Rosier surprises us with a jump, next summer.

The Almonte addition is barely worth mentioning.

 

My choice of words for the 2022 Summer Deadline?

 

Chickenshit (afraid to upset the crybaby fans, as I called them, last summer.)

Incompetent

Woefully inadequate

Sickening

 

I really didn't mean for this "dithering" conversation to go off on its own, but it's just not a word that come to my mind about the summer of '22.

 

The summer of '23? Fine.

 

 

The reason the word 'dithering' is getting tossed around so much is that in the aftermath of Bloom's firing a picture emerged of him being indecisive, with suggestions that this was one of the main reasons he was terminated.

 

To me the '22 and '23 deadlines were very similar in that the team did not decisively buy or decisively sell. The only difference is that in '22 there was a flurry of minor moves and in '23 there was but one.

[mvp 78]

The reason the word 'dithering' is getting tossed around so much is that in the aftermath of Bloom's firing a picture emerged of him being indecisive, with suggestions that this was one of the main reasons he was terminated.

 

To me the '22 and '23 deadlines were very similar in that the team did not decisively buy or decisively sell. The only difference is that in '22 there was a flurry of minor moves and in '23 there was but one.

 

The moves that were made in '22 (a) didn't get them below the CBT which set them back for '23 and ( didn't help them compete in '22. It was a total waste of a deadline. Like I said, he made a good trade with the Vaz deal, but received flak and then got gun-shy. In '23, he just quit on the team.

[notin]

The moves that were made in '22 (a) didn't get them below the CBT which set them back for '23 and ( didn't help them compete in '22. It was a total waste of a deadline. Like I said, he made a good trade with the Vaz deal, but received flak and then got gun-shy. In '23, he just quit on the team.

 

Supposedly in 2022, he was trying to get something bigger done. He has said he was trying to get Sean Murphy out of Oakland, for example.

 

But 2023? I heard his name attached to two player - Urias and Kolten Wong. And neither rumor surfaced until 5 minutes before the deadline…

[mvp 78]

Supposedly in 2022, he was trying to get something bigger done. He has said he was trying to get Sean Murphy out of Oakland, for example.

 

But 2023? I heard his name attached to two player - Urias and Kolten Wong. And neither rumor surfaced until 5 minutes before the deadline…

 

He wasn't getting Murphy in the JD or Sale deals though. He still could have moved those guys no problem.

[Bellhorn04]

The moves that were made in '22 (a) didn't get them below the CBT which set them back for '23 and ( didn't help them compete in '22. It was a total waste of a deadline. Like I said, he made a good trade with the Vaz deal, but received flak and then got gun-shy. In '23, he just quit on the team.

 

We all have our own personal takes, but the indecision thing makes a lot of sense to me when you look at the history.

[notin]

He wasn't getting Murphy in the JD or Sale deals though. He still could have moved those guys no problem.

 

I’m not saying his plan was great, only that he was active…

[Bellhorn04]

I’m not saying his plan was great, only that he was active…

 

Right, in the fashion of a guy chasing girls all night but going home alone...

[notin]

Right, in the fashion of a guy chasing girls all night but going home alone...

 

Hey in 2023 I think he spent the entirety of deadline day in the bathroom with a magazine…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Right, in the fashion of a guy chasing girls all night but going home alone...

 

I once knew a guy who, when we entered an establishment, would scope out the best lookers -- and always approach their friends instead. The other men blew a lot of time and money competing for the high-demand elites. But my pal was never lonely...

[moonslav59]

I hope this is not all just talk...

 

Red Sox wrap up 2023 Winter Meetings

WWW.MLB.COM

---

NASHVILLE -- Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow spent these Winter Meetings in hot pursuit of starting pitching. He leaves with that pursuit still on the front burner. At some point, the pitching market will move, and when it does, Breslow will be ready to pounce. “In a perfect

 

Brez:

 

“In a perfect world, we're walking out of here with starting pitching and we feel really good about that. We've tried to advance the ball as much as possible,” Breslow said. “We're probably not alone in being a little bit disappointed on that front. But obviously we were able to make the trade yesterday, get back three arms that we can add to the organization. And we remain active in all paths so my hope is things start to shake free here shortly, but we can only control what we can control.”

 

“I think we have a little bit better clarity in terms of who may be the right fits for us and what the timelines may look like. And the only thing that we can do is remain engaged, remain active and understand where the markets are going and let our interests be known,” Breslow said. “Players and agents are incentivized by a host of reasons to determine their own timelines. I think the most important thing that we can do as I've kind of maintained all along is identify the players that we think are really good fits and be aggressive in pursuing them.”

[mvp 78]

I hope this is not all just talk...

 

Red Sox wrap up 2023 Winter Meetings

WWW.MLB.COM

---

NASHVILLE -- Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow spent these Winter Meetings in hot pursuit of starting pitching. He leaves with that pursuit still on the front burner. At some point, the pitching market will move, and when it does, Breslow will be ready to pounce. “In a perfect

 

Brez:

 

“In a perfect world, we're walking out of here with starting pitching and we feel really good about that. We've tried to advance the ball as much as possible,” Breslow said. “We're probably not alone in being a little bit disappointed on that front. But obviously we were able to make the trade yesterday, get back three arms that we can add to the organization. And we remain active in all paths so my hope is things start to shake free here shortly, but we can only control what we can control.”

 

“I think we have a little bit better clarity in terms of who may be the right fits for us and what the timelines may look like. And the only thing that we can do is remain engaged, remain active and understand where the markets are going and let our interests be known,” Breslow said. “Players and agents are incentivized by a host of reasons to determine their own timelines. I think the most important thing that we can do as I've kind of maintained all along is identify the players that we think are really good fits and be aggressive in pursuing them.”

 

If they get the guys they want, I'm fine with it even if they overpay like they did with Masa.

[moonslav59]

If they get the guys they want, I'm fine with it even if they overpay like they did with Masa.

 

I have to say, Brez seems more believable, but I'll believe it when I see it.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I hope this is not all just talk...

 

Red Sox wrap up 2023 Winter Meetings

WWW.MLB.COM

---

NASHVILLE -- Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow spent these Winter Meetings in hot pursuit of starting pitching. He leaves with that pursuit still on the front burner. At some point, the pitching market will move, and when it does, Breslow will be ready to pounce. “In a perfect

 

Brez:

 

“In a perfect world, we're walking out of here with starting pitching and we feel really good about that. We've tried to advance the ball as much as possible,” Breslow said. “We're probably not alone in being a little bit disappointed on that front. But obviously we were able to make the trade yesterday, get back three arms that we can add to the organization. And we remain active in all paths so my hope is things start to shake free here shortly, but we can only control what we can control.”

 

“I think we have a little bit better clarity in terms of who may be the right fits for us and what the timelines may look like. And the only thing that we can do is remain engaged, remain active and understand where the markets are going and let our interests be known,” Breslow said. “Players and agents are incentivized by a host of reasons to determine their own timelines. I think the most important thing that we can do as I've kind of maintained all along is identify the players that we think are really good fits and be aggressive in pursuing them.”

 

When asked wtf, all Tom Warner would say was, "VROOM-VROOM!"

 

But Sam Kennedy added, "We're in the business of winning world championships. We hired an ex-reliever to beef up the pitching staff, and Craig has already acquired half a dozen big bullpen arms. And our next CBO will be an ex-hitter, who will then focus on adding OPS guys..."

[Dipre]

We all have our own personal takes, but the indecision thing makes a lot of sense to me when you look at the history.

 

That's what came out in the hit piece they did on him as soon as he was fired.

[mvp 78]

That's what came out in the hit piece they did on him as soon as he was fired.

 

This was said before he was fired as well. You can complain about hit pieces all you want, but his was well deserved. The only thing we didn't learn about until after the firing was the Sale deal that fell through.

[Bellhorn04]

This was said before he was fired as well. You can complain about hit pieces all you want, but his was well deserved. The only thing we didn't learn about until after the firing was the Sale deal that fell through.

 

And the Turner deal with the Marlins, right?

[Dipre]

This was said before he was fired as well. You can complain about hit pieces all you want, but his was well deserved. The only thing we didn't learn about until after the firing was the Sale deal that fell through.

 

I'm not saying this specific comment was wrong, as that's the reason I highlighted it. But the article was definitely a hit piece, a tradition of Red Sox ownership. Both things are not mutually exclusive.

[mvp 78]

And the Turner deal with the Marlins, right?

 

I think I remember that being out during the season?

[Bellhorn04]

I saw a quote, can't find it again, but someone in the Red Sox organization commented that the transition from Bloom to Breslow has been so smooth that it's like nothing has changed at all. It seemed to be intended to sound like a good thing.

[Duran Is The Man]

I saw a quote, can't find it again, but someone in the Red Sox organization commented that the transition from Bloom to Breslow has been so smooth that it's like nothing has changed at all. It seemed to be intended to sound like a good thing.

 

Yeah, nothing is going to change. Henry just fired Bloom to take the heat off himself. And he’ll fire Bres in a few years for finishing last every year. Like I said, it’s time for Henry to sell.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I saw a quote, can't find it again, but someone in the Red Sox organization commented that the transition from Bloom to Breslow has been so smooth that it's like nothing has changed at all. It seemed to be intended to sound like a good thing.

 

Except Werner is on record that we're now going full throttle, and Breslow has more than once mentioned trading prospect capital to improve the team.

 

He couldn't mean victor santos... my keyboard wouldn't even let me use capital letters to type his name.

[cp176]

Except Werner is on record that we're now going full throttle, and Breslow has more than once mentioned trading prospect capital to improve the team.

 

He couldn't mean victor santos... my keyboard wouldn't even let me use capital letters to type his name.

 

Maybe other teams aren't as up on the prospects that we apparently have developed over the past few years. Is it possible that they collectively just aren't as good as advertised?

[moonslav59]

Except Werner is on record that we're now going full throttle, and Breslow has more than once mentioned trading prospect capital to improve the team.

 

He couldn't mean victor santos... my keyboard wouldn't even let me use capital letters to type his name.

 

They have ramped up the lingo.

The sham continues, until we see concrete evidence on the contrary.

The Devers extension got our hopes up, but JH pretty much had to do that to keep the sham going.

Let’s see if he thinks that was enough to keep the sham rolling.

I don’t think Sox fans are that dumb, but we keep buying tickets and cable sports packages.

JH can make a boatload of money without rings.

He knows that.

He has to want a winning team.

 

To those who want him to sell, he will sell to the highest bidder, who may not be someone who will spend more on the budget that he has. Be careful what you wish for.