moonslav59

I think Casas was widely viewed as being ML ready by June 2022. He would likely have been called up by early June, had he not gotten hurt. I remember many posters bitching about using Schwarber at 1B in 2021. While his D was a negative, nobody was complaining afterwards. I don't think it was a farce to at last try Cordero, then Arroyo t 1B, before looking elsewhere, either. By May 30th, Cordero's OPS was up to .793. His D sucked, but the hope was he'd improve- like Schwarbs did. He DID NOT. I think he even got worse as time went by. Did they go too long? In hindsight, yes. Should they have tried Arroyo at 1B, sooner? Maybe.

No, I never said that. I said why not suggest an actual offer than makes sense to both teams. That's constructive. Saying fire Bloom for not making a trade for a phantom is not constructive, IMO. I'm fine with that being your position. I just have an issue with you calling that constructive. Teams rarely make trades in May and June. It is very rare, and usually it is for a back-up who may have had as much promise as Dalbec/Cordero/Arroyo, but likely would have done better, granted. You can't do any worse than what we got from May 20th to the Hosmer trade.

Then Casas got hurt May 20th- about the time he might have been called up. I'm not sure they knew he'd miss that much time. They also thought maybe Cordero or Arroyo could fill in, until Casas returned or Dalbec turned things around. It didn't work. I realize many, including Red, thought it was not going to work, and they ended up being right. Hurray for them- bad for the Sox. It may certainly be possible, a 1Bman was available for a price Bloom thought was too high, and he can be blamed for that, but before I call him out on that, I'd like to know what was demanded. I am pretty sure, trading away a key prospect for a rental 1Bman was not something Bloom or the longer term plan would be in favor of. Plus, I doubt even getting Josh Bell that early would have been nearly enough to keep us competitive. If it did, it might have created a situation where we would hav ebeen buyers at the deadline- screwing over our future, even more than we did, anyway by not at least trading JD and Nate and re-setting the tax.

No, you are not being asked to be the GM, but just saying get a 1Bman without specifics is not constructive, IMO.

IMO, you don't go all in, until the organizational depth is established and enough role players are in place- mostly at low cost. Bloom has been working on doing just that, while trying to field a somewhat competitive team along the way. IMO, he's done a fine job on rebuilding the depth and farm with mixed results on the "along the way" competitive aspect of the plan. He also has sacrificed some of the here and now by trading for many prospects- some bound to fail, but some likely to help. he got Whitlock, Schreiber, Refsnyder, Arroyo, Kelly and others off the scrap heap or Rule 5. He traded for... German (w Ottavino) for nothing Wong & Downs (w Dugo) for Betts Seabold (w Pivetta) for Workman & Hembree JWallace for Pillar Potts for Moreland CKoss for Aybar de la Rosa, FValdez, GGambrell (w Cordero) for Beni Binelas & Hamilton (w JBJ) for Renfroe EValdez & WAbreu for Vaz MFerguson & Rosier (w Hosmer & cash) for Groome This has some deals that look bad or really bad, right now, but the fact is, the plan was to build the farm, and some of these guys will likely contribute- some sooner than others.

No, simple does not mean true, but it's true to me. I use the word bash because it is unceasing, relentless and for some nearly 100% negative- maybe with a few tid bits of praise sprinkled in. The list of Bloom's bad moves, non moves and bad choices is long, and those who defend Bloom, a lot, often mention that, but his list of good moves, choices and no moves is very long, too, and we barely hear of any of them from a few posters. (You do mention many of the good moves more than most of the other Bloom "constructive critics." By the way, constructive criticism usually involves giving real suggestions of other options or suggested alternative choices and not just things like, "trade for a 1Bman i n May," when none were traded of known to be available. We often ask for specific names or ideas from you and are often left hanging.)

Not yet.

Since August 11th: 16.1 IP 15 H 3 ER 4 BB 18Ks 1.65 ERA 2.02 FIP .558 OPS Against This sample size is getting closer to the 30 IP bad stretch he had. 2017-2020 3.83 ERA 3.30 FIP 1.29 WHIP 13.2 K/9 2.9 K/BB First 46 games 2021 45 IP 25 H 12 ER 11 BB 69K 2.40 ERA 2.35 FIP .497 OPS Against 13.8 K/9 6.3 K/BB Last 14 games of 2021 9.2 IP 16 H 11 ER 9 BB 15 K 10.24 ERA 7.20 FIP 1.095 OPS Against First 23 games of 2022 19.1 IP 18 H 16 ER 14 BB 14 K 7.45 ERA 5.34 FIP .759 OPS A Total end of '21 + '22 29 IP 41 H 27 ER 23 BB 29 K 8.38 ERA Should Barnes really be judged so harshly over less than 30 IP of horrific pitching?

We don't need as much as you think. We will be close to the other teams in the AL east with a few moves like this: Trade for Lopez (Rafaela, Yorke and Wikelman?) Sign Nimmo QO Wacha Sign Bogey or Swanson Sign two from Fulmer, Rogers, Montero, Jansen, Kimbrel or some other solid set-up guy. This is a much better team than 2022: SP: Lopez, Wacha, Pivetta, Bello, Sale/Paxton RP: Whitlock, Houck, Rogers, Fulmer, Schreiber, Barnes, Crawford & one from German, Kelly, Taylor, Danish, Winckowski, bazardo, Ort, or a converted SP'er 1. Kike CF 2. Story 2B 3. Bogey SS 4. Devers 3B 5. Nimmo RF 6. Dugo LF 7. Casas 1B (Hosmer/Dalbec) 8. Arroyo/Dalbec/Hosmer/Pham/EValdez DH 9. McGuire/Wong C Totally realistic.

lmao!

I liked the extension, a lot, and not just based on his first half of 2021. The guy was solid for 3-5 years before 2021. He had a 30 IP rough patch- last 10 in 2021 and first 20 in '22. Almost every RP'er has had rough 30 IP stretches. He's done very well in his last 17 IP, but I'm not totally sold he's turned it around for good. He may still earn that contract total, when all is said and done.

We were also on the hook for $4M on Diekman in 2024. McGuire won't make that much! We saved money! We got our starting catcher and made money on the deal. It's a double win. (Wong also looks like a solid back-up.)

I'm talking best prospect that hs shown something in the bigs, so far. I do think Mayer has a good chance at being the best since Devers. I also like Bello, Mata and Casas with rafaela not far behind. Bleis has a lot of upside, too. This farm has a lot to be optimistic about. (It's deeper than jacko wants to admit, too.)

Zero in the Grand Canyon.

I think he was demoted to A-.

Berrios, LOL! ERA+ 155 Wacha 101 Nate 96 Bello 93 Pivetta 87 Hill 77 Crawford 74 Berrios 73 Winckowski No matter how many times you tell the clown, he sticks to his insane mantra.

Enjoy your brief moment of glory.

Agreed, but until we start adding RP'ers, I give him the inside edge on winning an opening day slot in the pen. We are losing Strahm and may cut Brasier loose. Here is what we have, on paper, for 2023: May end up starting: Houck Whitlock Crawford Winckowski/Seabold Certainly in Pen: Schreiber Barnes Taylor, if healthy Likely: Kelly German Maybe: Danish Brasier Bazardo Ort Not likely: DHern Politi Converted SP'ers? Mata Walter TWard Murphy Santos Drohan

The unrealistic expectations a bound around here. The amazing thing is, that despite only rebuilding the farm for 3 years, we've seen more Bloom prospects than DD/Ben prospects, this year- thanks to trades many poo-poo'd. The Whitlock steal still looks like the best prospect the Sox have had since Devers. Yet, they persist.

BTW, you never answered my question, and who hired Larry?

Yes, I break it down differently than you and others. To me, we still have zero rings without Henry. It's that simple, to me. We might still have one ring without Papi, 4 without Yaz and Williams, and so on... Of course, it's the players that win the games, but the owners and management team make it happen. If not, why do many posters keep bashing JH's stinginess and Bloom & Cora more than the players?

He hit 31 HRs away and 30 at home in 1961.

So, JH hiring Theo and others meant nothing or very little with our ring winnings?

Found this pre-trade info about E Valdez we got for Vaz from Houston: Enmauel Valdez is now ranked 29th in the Astros' system before the outlets post-draft update which would likely move the utility man into the top-15. The lefty entered Saturday slashing .328/.411/.603 on the year between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land. After winning Texas League Player of the Month for May and posting a 1.112 OPS for the Hooks, the 23-year-old received his first promotion to Triple-A in his career. Since he landed with the Space Cowboys on June 7, Valdez has an .898 OPS and nine home runs in 36 games. Post trade quotes Both these guys are fast risers in the Houston system,” chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said on Monday night. “I don’t just mean in terms of the levels they’re at, but just in terms of the progression of their skills. Really good hitters.” Valdez ranked as the Astros’ No. 12 prospect, according to Baseball America’s midseason rankings, while Abreu ranked No. 21. The Athletic’s Keith Law ranked Abreu as No. 19 in his Astros’ preseason rankings while Valdez remained unranked. “The better of the two, by far, is outfielder Wilyer Abreu,” Law wrote Monday following the trade. -The Athletic Enmanuel Valdez, 2B Age: 23 Singed out of the Dominican Republic in 2015, Valdez has developed into one of the best hitters in the Astros system over the last two seasons. Valdez changed his approach coming out of the 2020 pandemic, and a more patient and power-driven hitter emerged. Valdez saw a sharp increase in his line drive and flyball rates in 2021 as he transformed from an aggressive contact hitter to a well-rounded offensive threat. This season Valdez has taken his production to new heights, hitting .327/.410/.606 with 21 home runs across Double-A and Triple-A. He balances aggression, contact and power well at the plate and could carve out a role as a bat-first utility player. The biggest question is around his future defensive home as he’s been rated as well below-average at his natural position of second base. Whether or not Valdez will hit enough to overcome his lack of defensive value remains to be seen. Wilyer Abreu, OF Age: 23 An unusually built athlete, Abreu has the ability to play all three outfield positions but is best suited for a corner role long term. He traded contact for power coming out of the pandemic but maintained his low chase rate. In 2022 Abreu has found a more balanced approach at the plate making more consistent contact while still hitting for power. In games Abreu has shown the ability to do damage, hitting 15 home runs through 89 games for Double-A Corpus Christi. He’s continued to hit the ball harder with each passing season, as his 2022 90th percentile exit velocity of 105 mph ranks above major league average. He’s also an excellent basestealer, having been caught just once on 24 attempts this season. Abreu is a tooled-up outfielder with some questions around his ability to hit long term. -Baseball America Valdez, 23, was the Astros’ No. 12 prospect, according to Baseball America. The Dominican Republic native is a left-handed hitter who absolutely mashed at Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, totaling 21 home runs and 77 RBIs along with a .327/.410/.606 slash line in 82 games (378 plate appearances) across the two levels in 2022. Valdez, who’s capable of playing both the infield and outfield, is one of just four minor leaguers this season with at least a .300 batting average, a .400 on-base percentage and 20 home runs. “Valdez plays a lot of different positions, but the bat is really the calling card,” Bloom told reporters Monday, one day before the Major League Baseball trade deadline. “It’s come on very well and very quickly. Really, when you go under the hood, there’s a lot of things he does that make him a very complete hitter. He makes contact. He manages at-bats. He drives the ball. He covers all different pitch types. Covers the strike zone really well and has really come on this year, making nice progress offensively.” -NESN Enmanuel Valdez Valdez, a 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic, started the 2022 season at Double-A Corpus Christi where he batted .357 with a .463 on-base percentage, .649 slugging percentage, 1.112 OPS, 11 homers, 16 doubles, 40 runs, 45 RBIs, 34 walks and 47 strikeouts in 44 games (205 plate appearances). The 5-foot-9, 191-pound left-handed hitter then earned a promotion to Triple-A Sugar Land where he batted .296 with a .347 on-base percentage, .560 slugging percentage, .907 OPS, 10 homers, 10 doubles, one triple, 26 runs, 32 RBIs, 11 walks and 29 strikeouts in 38 games (173 plate appearances). Valdez — who has a 20.1% strikeout percentage and 11.9% walk percentage — has started games at second base, third base, first base and both corner outfield positions this year. His Baseball America scouting report notes, “Over the last two seasons, Valdez has progressed from an aggressive contact hitter with bat speed-driven raw power to a complete hitter at the plate. He now makes contact at an above-average rate, rarely expands the zone and shows exit velocity data that would rank above-average in the major leagues. He’s a tough out that grinds out at-bats, can hit for contact and punish mistakes. While he’s progressed into a legitimate offensive prospect there are questions around his long-term defensive home.” Valdez’s MLB Pipeline scouting report notes, “Valdez has done a better job of managing the strike zone since losing a season to the pandemic, and the added discipline has helped him tap more into his power. He’s making more consistent and harder contact with his quick left-handed swing. He’s more of a power-over-hit type but could provide 20 or more homers per season. Most of Valdez’s value will come from his bat because his speed, arm strength and defense are all fringy.” Wilyer Abreu Abreu, a 23-year-old left-handed hitter from Venezuela, batted .249 with a .399 on-base percentage, .459 slugging percentage, .858 OPS, 15 homers, 24 doubles, 81 runs, 54 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, 78 walks and 108 strikeouts in 89 games (411 plate appearances) for Double-A Corpus Christi this season. The 6-foot, 217-pounder has started 44 games in center field, 22 games in left field and 17 games in right field this season. Abreu’s Baseball America scouting reports notes: “After trading contact for power coming out of the 2020 pandemic, Abreu has found a happy medium this season, showing better bat-to-ball skills allowing him to more consistently access his power in game. He’s an extremely patient hitter with a discerning eye at the plate, leading to high walk totals and some strikeouts due to passivity. Overall it’s high level swing decisions with above-average game power. He has enough bat-to-ball skills to avoid the three-true-outcome label, but his average will fluctuate due to his flyball heavy approach. Defensively he can handle centerfield and tests highly on the Astros internal athleticism measurements. He has an unusual build as he’s a bigger bodied player for centerfield, but he has the ability to hit and provide versatility in the outfield.” His MLB Pipeline scouting report notes, “While he produces some of the better exit velocities among Houston farmhands, he also struck out at a 29 percent clip in 2021 and will have to prove he can make enough contact against more advanced pitching.” -Masslive 2022 Minor League Stats Wilyer Abreu .247 19 73 (579 PAs) .399 OBP/.435 SLG/.834 OPS 114 BBs leads the minors 106 runs is 5th 31 SB/3 CS is one of the best SB%s in the minors Enmanuel Valdez .297 28 107 (560 PAs) .377 OBP/.549 SLG/.927 OPS 107 RBI (T5th in minors) 65 XBHs 91 runs

He should have been one of Bloom's rare 2 year deals.