cp176

I thought that that was a good trade for short term for sure. How old was Espinoza when he was traded? Everybody has a wealth of young players who look good before the development process is complete. He traded in many instances potential for the real deal. I like that.

I greatly dislike any addition to the number of teams making the playoffs. The talent and as a result the game becomes a diluted version of what it once was. Just making the playoffs becomes the ultimate goal of many ml teams.

I agree, there are many issues with this team that still need to be dealt with. The obvious priority is pitching but being able to field and throw the ball obviously isn't something that can be taken for granted. In our infield, like it or not we have an average catcher and a ss that can make plays, after that is a guessing game. In the outfield, there have been so many different players mentioned that in my mind we are looking at a giant cluster... Throughout the course of this off season and thoughout the course of the '24 spring training, it would seem to me that if you are any good you would be able to make some decisions who your best players are and go with them. We don't need two or three different players at each position expecting playing time.

I still love me some Chris Sale.

They need at least two solid starting pitchers. As much as I like Devers, we have a third baseman who can't field his position - a shortstop that apparently has become a major question mark at the plate - no one at second base and an outfield that likely will be made up of young hopefuls. That I think is a lot to get done in a short period of time. I don't like being negative and I hope that it does get turned around. Obviously I liked Dombrowski for much more than simply spending JH's money. He often seemed like the adult in a room full of children. He worked the phones tirelessly and was very visible. Some of the deals he swung, I did not think could be made. He got the job done. Once again i'll say that it will be interesting to see what type of candidate wants the job in Boston after watching the carnival for the past few seasons. It's not my money for sure but I really do like the approach the owner of the Celtics has taken. It is very simple - do what it takes to win. Mediocrity and a plateful of hopefuls might not be enough. Stay tuned I guess.

You know what - this is so true. I'm reading about all of the things that Dave Dombrowski would or would not have been able to do and how he was great with a big payroll but couldn't build the farm and how he just traded away so much talent. I truly wish that he was our GM today. My guess is that baseball would still be relevant in Boston right now. Looking at what has happened to this franchise since he left, makes me wonder why any accomplished GM would want this job right now. Turning this program around will be a very very difficult job. They are not just a couple of players be they pitchers or hitters away from being any good.

Oh I know you weren't trying to slight anyone from the past. I wasn't really trying to make any specific point but if I was it would have been that any one of those teams could have won a championship with just a little luck on their side and luck is hard to buy these days. Henry gets a great deal of deserved love in Red Sox nations as well he should, but personally I was pretty pleased with many of the efforts made before he came along.

I'll first admit that I haven't been paying much attention lately but I did see this post. Had to make a point. I like our chances in '67 a lot more with Conigliaro on the field instead of down and out. As for '75, not having Rice in the lineup was a back breaker.

Fred Lynn, Dom Dimaggio, JbJ.

On any given day Houck, Crawford, Sale, and Pivetta can look very good. Counting on them to be decent to good every start is just ridiculous . Bello looks good in the 3 hole. We need two dependable starters in those top 2 slots. I'm not at all convinced that so and so should be in the bullpen either. By so and so, obviously I mean Houck, Pivetta, and Crawford. We pick up two solid starters whoever they may be then things get interesting for this pitching staff. I think that the pitching needs to be addressed first but that just begins to get things going. You bring back the same cast of characters and expect different results then once again you define what stupidity is. Going to be a tough redo for the new front office.

It is a confusing picture for sure. Without numerous moves, this team stays the same likely. They aren't very good. Outside of some potential young players whoever the new gm is the job will be a tough one. I get all the talk about the "cliff" now. Over the past few years we were brought to the brink of it and now have been kicked right off the ledge.

rip Tim Wakefield

I like the thinking here. Sad to say but I might move Devers to dh and leave Casas alone. A better fielding (throwing for sure) third baseman yup. Not nuts about Story so far but at least he can field the position. It would be nice to see a legit everyday second baseman. The outfield??? - hitters and fielders should all apply for jobs. And last and most importantly the pitching staff. There really is a long way to go.

So I'm looking at the way this season is ending and wondering what there is to look forward to for next season. We have some decent looking potential in some of our younger players but I don't see enough there to make much of dent with respect to turning what has become a hot mess around anytime soon. When Bloom was hired, I was quite excited for the future, when our new gm is hired, I wish him or her well but I'm afraid it is going to be a very tough turn around. I hope that I live long enough to see this franchise return to the top once again.

The Bloom years to me represent a failure. There is not one player on this roster that I wouldn't consider trading for the right return - some legit star power. Legit proven stars - kind of like we have had in past years. Players who can not only hit but field as well and pitchers who can pitch - really pitch. I really would like to have some good summertime entertainment to watch once again.

It's possible that much like me, when Sale is starting others want to watch as well. I enjoyed watching Bello when he pitched this season and I think he could be a strong middle of the rotation for us going forward. With respect to Chris Sale, I think that it is safe to say that I might be the only one here who was thrilled to see him re-signed. I still feel that way. I don't think too much about JH's supposed budget and I will always believe that you need some greatness to win. To this day when Sale is healthy and on, he is "greatness".

guess I have to disagree - if he was ok with Bloom's time table, he'd still be here don't you think?

Do you think JH knew that it was going to take a half a decade plus to really win again?

You don't think that he deserves at least a B because he has brought in some good potential major leaguers as well as building up the analytics department?

He did stockpile some good looking prospects. His reluctance to use them to improve the team we watch day in day out was a big downfall. As good as some of these look potentially, there will not be room for them all. Not all trades are going to work but the ones you don't make, likely will never amount to anything.

notin I'm prefacing this with I'm just stating my personal opinion which likely doesn't mean much at all. I truly believe that a majority of decent GMs could have done what Bloom did. We have been waiting for him to show us that he could do a few things that DD did. Let's hope the new guy/gal is an all-rounder.

Maybe you are really on to something here - those were some pretty good ballplayers even though a bit stout. I'll bet this list could go on and on.

and yes I do know what comes after your periods of ellipses here. It will depend on what the new boss wants for sure.

hmmm -

I think that many of us including myself have been pro Bloom to some extent. In my personal case that is simply being loyal and very hopeful. thankfully the people that post here are pro Red Sox which does include the GM. I like this site. Most of the frequent posters are really pretty objective about things whether they disagree with an opinion or not.