A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[notin]

That's a big IF. Henry is a big fanboy of Billy Beane and he was never able to reach the Promised Land.

 

Beane reached the postseason 4 consecutive times, twice getting eliminated by the eventual WS champions in the first round. The A's also won 3 division titles in 4 seasons, with the one team that didn't still winning 102 games. Going 4 straight times and winning 100 games in back-to-back seasons are two things Beane's teams did that the Red Sox have never done.

 

That he never won the World Series sets a pretty high bar for failure. In those 4 seasons, the Oakland A's under Beane were a successful franchise using any other metric.

 

Now, it is a pretty big IF, but again, if they can do it, what is the problem? Would you prefer a low payroll team that makes the post-season 4 years in a row, or a high payroll team that misses the post-season altogether most seasons?

[Bellhorn04]

He was thnking of making 2022 better with Hosmer and 2023 better with Urias. Problem was, neither could pitch...

 

Neither was a difference maker in any sense. Bloom just seemed to be a little too much at home dabbling in the margins...

[notin]

Neither was a difference maker in any sense. Bloom just seemed to be a little too much at home dabbling in the margins...

 

Yes, because he did not commit to one direction or the other.

[Bellhorn04]

Beane reached the postseason 4 consecutive times, twice getting eliminated by the eventual WS champions in the first round. The A's also won 3 division titles in 4 seasons, with the one team that didn't still winning 102 games. Going 4 straight times and winning 100 games in back-to-back seasons are two things Beane's teams did that the Red Sox have never done.

 

That he never won the World Series sets a pretty high bar for failure. In those 4 seasons, the Oakland A's under Beane were a successful franchise using any other metric.

 

Now, it is a pretty big IF, but again, if they can do it, what is the problem? Would you prefer a low payroll team that makes the post-season 4 years in a row, or a high payroll team that misses the post-season altogether most seasons?

 

Oh boy, another meaningless academic debate that should be good for 6 pages of posts...

 

I think we all want the same thing, really. We want to make the postseason about 75% of the time, win the World Series a couple of times each decade, and have some players that are fun to watch...

 

Most of us are skeptical that can be done with a small market payroll...

[Bellhorn04]

Yes, because he did not commit to one direction or the other.

 

That was the true failure, yes.

[moonslav59]

He was thnking of making 2022 better with Hosmer and 2023 better with Urias. Problem was, neither could pitch...

 

He also added McGuire and Pham in '22. Nothing real major, but IMO, it was more of a buy than Urias, and selling Vaz was more significant than "selling" Kike.

 

The Hosmer trade also included 2 prospects, so it was sort of a minor buy and sell in one move, and giving up prospect Groome make it a minor "buy."

[moonslav59]

That was the true failure, yes.

 

I'd have been okay had he chose to BUY, and did is with some real effort.

 

Straddling the line or doing next to nothing rarely works.

[notin]

Oh boy, another meaningless academic debate that should be good for 6 pages of posts...

 

I think we all want the same thing, really. We want to make the postseason about 75% of the time, win the World Series a couple of times each decade, and have some players that are fun to watch...

 

Most of us are skeptical that can be done with a small market payroll...

 

Honestly, isn't "winning the World Series a couple times each decade" a lofty goal in itself? Especially given the crapshoot the MLB postseason can be?

 

If they have a nice, solid run of making the post-season, I will be happy. I don't care if it is with a cheap team or an expensive one. Although there is an advantage to doing it cheaply. Those expensive teams, when they fail, can be very hard to turn around quickly...

[notin]

I'd have been okay had he chose to BUY, and did is with some real effort.

 

Straddling the line or doing next to nothing rarely works.

 

That was my point.

 

I didn't want him to sell either year. I wanted him to try and make a solid push. But if he had sold either or both seasons, I would have understood it and begrudgingly accepted it...

[mvp 78]

Beane reached the postseason 4 consecutive times, twice getting eliminated by the eventual WS champions in the first round. The A's also won 3 division titles in 4 seasons, with the one team that didn't still winning 102 games. Going 4 straight times and winning 100 games in back-to-back seasons are two things Beane's teams did that the Red Sox have never done.

 

That he never won the World Series sets a pretty high bar for failure. In those 4 seasons, the Oakland A's under Beane were a successful franchise using any other metric.

 

Now, it is a pretty big IF, but again, if they can do it, what is the problem? Would you prefer a low payroll team that makes the post-season 4 years in a row, or a high payroll team that misses the post-season altogether most seasons?

 

The IF doesn't matter. Beane couldn't do it. Sox have NEVER done it with a low payroll. Why have a low payroll if you have the means to spend?!?!?

[mvp 78]

Oh boy, another meaningless academic debate that should be good for 6 pages of posts...

 

I think we all want the same thing, really. We want to make the postseason about 75% of the time, win the World Series a couple of times each decade, and have some players that are fun to watch...

 

Most of us are skeptical that can be done with a small market payroll...

 

I want to make it to the postseason 100% of the time.

[mvp 78]

Garrett Cooper DFA'd. 1B option?

[Nick]

We're big market club and budget should be near the tax line....

 

 

HOWEVER, we've done very poorly lately with significant amount of the money sitting on the sidelines or having maybe too many non productive contracts.

 

How to fix it? THAT, is above my pay grade.

 

Sale, Story and Giolito.....not to mention what is beginning to look really bad for the Yoshida contract.

 

Hopefully Breslow can turn this around.

[Old Red]

I want to make it to the postseason 100% of the time.

 

Agree 100%.

[mvp 78]

Agree 100%.

 

Stop being negative all the time!

[mvp 78]

We're big market club and budget should be near the tax line....

 

 

HOWEVER, we've done very poorly lately with significant amount of the money sitting on the sidelines or having maybe too many non productive contracts.

 

How to fix it? THAT, is above my pay grade.

 

Sale, Story and Giolito.....not to mention what is beginning to look really bad for the Yoshida contract.

 

Hopefully Breslow can turn this around.

 

I mean, they just extended Rafaela for 8 years and he can't hit a lick. If they went year to year with him, they'd most likely pay him less. There's a whole bunch of ways to waste money.

[Nick]

I mean, they just extended Rafaela for 8 years and he can't hit a lick. If they went year to year with him, they'd most likely pay him less. There's a whole bunch of ways to waste money.

 

let's hope that 'inflation' will outrun his contract....lol (jk)

[Bellhorn04]

Honestly, isn't "winning the World Series a couple times each decade" a lofty goal in itself?

 

Absolutely. I was a bit facetious with that.

[Bellhorn04]

Casas has a fractured rib. They're going to need to get a first baseman.

[Bellhorn04]

I want to make it to the postseason 100% of the time.

 

Me too. I also want Jessica Alba to move in next door and crave me sexually.

[Old Red]

Garrett Cooper DFA'd. 1B option?

 

CJ Cron? At least should be better than Bobby D. Now we’ll see if Brez does more than Bloom did about 1B.

Edited April 23, 2024 by Old Red

[Duran Is The Man]

Casas has a fractured rib. They're going to need to get a first baseman.

 

I swear to gawd these guys are made of glass. Out til next year I’m sure.

[vegasbob]

I swear to gawd these guys are made of glass. Out til next year I’m sure.

 

I'd guess 8-9 weeks plus 20 days rehab, say late June, early July.

 

As Red says, it is time to see what Breslow will do in this case. Dalbec regrettably is not the answer for 2 months. Where is Swihart nowadays?

[Nick]

For the second straight game, Ceddanne Rafaela — and not Jarren Duran — is leading off for the Red Sox. He’s at shortstop with Bobby Dalbec at first base and Pablo Reyes playing third. Duran is the center fielder.

 

I really didn't understand why Dalbec was on 3rd and Reyes on 1st the last game. I do think size matters a little bit playing 1st base.

[Old Red]

For the second straight game, Ceddanne Rafaela — and not Jarren Duran — is leading off for the Red Sox. He’s at shortstop with Bobby Dalbec at first base and Pablo Reyes playing third. Duran is the center fielder.

 

I really didn't understand why Dalbec was on 3rd and Reyes on 1st the last game. I do think size matters a little bit playing 1st base.

 

Bobby D hasn’t used his bat this year, but at least he’s made the routine plays at 3B.

[vegasbob]

I swear to gawd these guys are made of glass. Out til next year I’m sure.

 

Now I see Moonlight Graham Heineman makes 2 plate appearances, gets hit by pitch , scores a run and immediately goes on the 10 day IL with a hamstring strain. That just maybe a convenience move to get Tyler O'Neill back for a quick checkout.

[notin]

Garrett Cooper DFA'd. 1B option?

 

My first choice.

 

Walsh hasn’t been the same since his TOS. Is Cron playing anywhere?

 

Brandon Belt is available but can he just step in? Not to mention he’s not the ideal guy if your issue is injuries…

[Duran Is The Man]

Now I see Moonlight Graham Heineman makes 2 plate appearances, gets hit by pitch , scores a run and immediately goes on the 10 day IL with a hamstring strain. That just maybe a convenience move to get Tyler O'Neill back for a quick checkout.

 

if Cal Ripken Jr. had played for the Sox, he would have spent most of career on the IL.

[Randy Red Sox]

Casas has a fractured rib. They're going to need to get a first baseman.

 

Why?? Dalbec is hitting a robust .031

[Hugh2]

Now I see Moonlight Graham Heineman makes 2 plate appearances, gets hit by pitch , scores a run and immediately goes on the 10 day IL with a hamstring strain. That just maybe a convenience move to get Tyler O'Neill back for a quick checkout.

 

He has options. There would be no need to do that, they could of just sent him back down.