moonslav59

When a GM has several conflicting priorities that have changed from 2020 to 2021 and again to 2022, as well as winter spending budgets that ranged from negative going into 2020, to peanuts going into 2021 and then a sudden pivot going into 2022, possible a late winter pivot, at that, it's hard to blame the GM for seeming to not have a clear plan. I do think there have been some clear top priorities that have been consistent: 1. Build the farm- in both quantity and quality 2. Build up the 40 man roster depth to minimize the amount of gaping holes each season 3. Make very few long term commitments (one to date, and even Story's deal is not close to what we gave Price) 4. Keep the budget under the tax line for the first 2 years and maybe limit how much we go over in year 3 (2022) 5. Try to stay competitive, or at least create the perception we will be competitive, so fans buy season tickets and sign up for the cable packages. (I'm probably missing some.) Sometimes, but not always, #5 might conflict with the others.

Okay, I thought someone from the FO and "top brass" were pretty interchangeable, but you are right. There is a clear distinction. I did not intend to change the meaning of your post. I'm sorry. To be totally honest, I was never aware teams always send a member of the FO to every road game. I did not know DD attended every game or sent someone in his place. It does make some sense, I guess, but I don't see it as a significant mistake or something to bring up. I'm not saying I know better than you or others, especially on issues like this, but it's not something I really pay attention to or think it matters all that much. If someone enlightens me on to why it is an essential thing to do, I can be persuaded to think it was a mistake. I will say, I doubt I'll e ver be convinced it was a big enough mistake to bring up. I'd like to see the question posed to Bloom to hear his answer.

2020 was the low point. Not even close. Okay, if not having Cora in 2020 means it wasn't this FO, then it was the killing by the Yanks that was the low point- not a few minor trades made at the deadline. (IMO)

One of the major reasons we turned the franchise around and won in 2004 and 2007 was, at least in part, to the change in philosophy towards looking at OBP, forcing SP'ers to go deep into counts and other "spread sheet" aspects not greatly considered before the first ring.

What words did I put in your mouth? Honestly, I did not know it was standard procedure to always have a member of the top brass at every road game. Plus, even if it is, and I'm not sure it is, I don't think it's a big deal not to do it, especially at the trade deadline, when quick decisions need to be made, and having everyone in close proximity is not an illogical thing to do. I'm just not getting why it's such a big deal. I'm not playing naive. (I don't claim to be an expert on every area of MLb operations. I often defer to others in some areas- like MVP on prospects and players from other teams.) If it's not rocket science, explain to me why it is essential, and maybe show me where it is such a no-no for a MLB team to do this.

Best move: Getting Schreiber off waivers Second best: Signing Refsynder to a minor league deal Third best: Signing Wacha and Strahm, both of whom have already earned their pay. Fourth best: Finding someone to take Diekman's contract and amazingly give us a catcher with 2+ years of team control. 5th, 6th, and 7th are so minor and bunched, I'm not sure it matters where we rank them: Getting Hosmer for min wage. Getting two rising prospects for 2 months of Vaz. DFA'ing JBJ, Robles & Shaw. Signing Danish to peanuts.

Who has made that point? Another prolific poster?

"Everybody?" WOW!!!

I'll always remember JBJ fondly. I don't blame him for signing a bloated deal and being put in the line-up long past his expiration date. I'll never accuse him of not trying hard. Great D- always.

I'm fine with anyone complaining about Bloom waiting too long to find a 1Bman, and even rare May/early June deals do get done from time to time, but I really think the winter/spring plan to have Dalbec and Shaw start the year at 1B with a ML ready and top prospect like Casas waiting in the wings was not a flawed plan. My guess is most GMs would not have touched 1B with so many other pressing holes to be filled over the winter. No doubt, Dalbec's record of extreme droughts and hot streaks were concerning, but IMO, he did seem to be improving on D, last year and came on very strong the final 2-3 months of the season. He also had a decent first year, although the sample was small. With 6-8 gaping holes at other positions, and a limited winter spending budget, what GM looks to replace a player who posted these numbers in his first 156 games (545 PAS)? Some might have expected improvement possible. .244 33 94 (.819 OPS) Yes, the 195 K's are frightening, and a close eye and possible short leash would be understandable, but the guy started off slowly, last year, too, and Cora's patience paid off in spades. BTW, maybe some remember his hot streak being short, but his cold streak was shorter. .595 first 45 games (173 PAs) .709 middle 45 games (145 PAs) 1.114 last 41 games (139 PAs) .684 first 66 games (242 PAs) .914 last 67 games (215 PAs) Cherry-picking sample sizes, I know, but still... .916 his last 280 PAs .847 his last 324 PAs .805 his last 404 PAs The kid deserved a look... a long look in 2022. Travis Shaw had shown serious decline since 2021, but he did look pretty good, back with the Sox, in a tiny 48 PA sample size. The kicker was Casas starting out slowly and then getting hurt. I get the criticism about waiting too long to make a move, but I don't think a move should have been made in early May or maybe even early June or late June, but that was when Casas went on the IL. Pitching depth and RF were and are still open season, IMO.

Did we offer to pay some or most of his contract?

Get what? I've never heard that every team always has a member of the top brass at every road game. Maybe I'm wrong on this. Maybe they had planned on one b eing there, but an emergency came up. I'm sorry, if I come off as naive, but really, I don't care, and don't care that others do or don't. It seems to me that posters are graspin g at anything and everything possible to find wrong with team management.

Good point.

Maybe it reflects conflicting priorities Henry has given Bloom. (Just a possibility.)

Who cares?

If our team culture was going in the toilet, maybe making changes was needed. Shouldn't "great" team leaders have been able to help right the ship and get other players to stop making bone-head plays? I'm not deflecting from Cora. It's on him, too. I don't mean to just single out Bogey and Vaz. Where was JD, Nate and other vets? Maybe just as a wake-up call. Maybe to avoid making a managerial change, they settles on Vaz. Who knows. To be clear, I'm not saying these players deserve to be bashed like Cora and Bloom have been, but why so much praise for being "team leaders" and "great in the clubhouse," while also saying (in so many words) the team is rotten to the core?

Some of us were critical of certain aspects of Vaz's game long before the trade. I'm not sure anyone thought he was a negative net value player over his time with the Sox. The guy had 2 months left, and it seems probable, Sox brass did not view him as someone they wanted in 2023 and beyond- like it or not. Considering where we stood in the standings, it made some business sense to trade him. I get the clubhouse stuff, and I don't mean this as piling on Vaz and Bogey, but I keep hearing some posters bash Cora for not addressing the team's lack of focus, but at the same time continue praising our clubhouse leaders while we are in last place. Yes, the buck stops at the top, but I feel like there is some selective bashing and praising going on. (Not like I don't do it, too.)

I never want to speak for Max. He does a well enough job, as it is, but I'm sure he and other supporters of Bloom or much of what Bloom has done don't think last place is good either. I don't think those critical of Bloom were not upset when we had the 3rd best record in the AL, back in June. Thye season is not over. Context is needed, IMO, but certainly finishing in last place is not a feather in Bloom's cap or legacy.

Bloom did hire him back after his suspension.

Who takes explaining, adding context or defending certain moves by Bloom personally? I can name names on this Q.

Never, for some.

I thought 1B was addressed in the winter. Dalbec and Shaw looked decent and Casas was expected to be ready early, if needed. Now, once the middle of May and June rolled around, how easy was it to acquire a decent 1Bman? How long a leash should Dalbec have been given, after seein g what happened in 2021?

True, but the JBJ deal was a chosen extra "hobble."

Does anyone steal bases, anymore?

fair enough. I’m sticking with 100:1.