I’m sure I won’t get credit for this, and that is 100% fair because who the hell remembers specific points other posters have made eons ago? Or at least the vast majority of them.
But this firing could be in line with my theme all along. Bloom was brought in to build the team up into a sustainable winner. Rebuild the farm and the younger part of the organization. I had theorized that while he may be the guy for that job, he may lack the fortitude or ability to take them over that hump and when the Sox feel they’re in a better position to build a better team now they will switch directions and move on from Bloom.
It was the same thing with Charington to Dave. Ben lacked that ability a young team and a strong farm and go for it by bringing in pieces to build a winner.
Bloom kept the right guys (minus maybe Betts) and built up the farm. Now we are seeing those guys reach the majors with the next crop right there behind them.
Maybe others aren’t as optimistic but I truly feel this club is only a few pieces, albeit big pieces away from being a very good team.
Bloom will deserve partial credit if the Sox spring back into a first place team next year. But he obviously lacks the balls to go out and make the big time moves that the Sox need right now.
Perhaps this my own self delusion, perhaps I’m completely wrong. But I take his firing as a sign that Henry is ready to take this team to another level. He wants a guy in that position who is going to come in and add a big time pitcher, maybe even a big RHH bat. Bloom wasn’t that guy. I hope his firing means Henry is ready to go in that direction and make a big splash.
This team is just a few pieces away from adding around Bello/Whitlock/Houck/Casas/Wong/Duran/Mayer to be a very good team.
I defended Bloom more than the average man, but I’d be the first to admit he came without fault and made some sizable blunders. I hope my prediction is correct, in that Henry has finally regrown his balls and he wants to invest in this team and restore them to greatness.
We shall see.
Regardless, a change was needed. Whether you hated, disliked, liked, or were neutral on Bloom it was apparent some kind of change was needed. A change of direction, and for better or worse this change signifies a HOPE that this organization is about to get better.