5GoldGlovesOF,75

What could go wrong; does anyone really think a Sale situation could repeat itself? I mean, all we have to find are a couple guys like Carlos Rodon -- healthy and dominant the last two years of his 20s entering free agency... or a mid-20s ace like Julio Urias, who led his league in wins, ERA, closed out a World Series, and is yet to enter his prime...

This is a fair assessment. No matter what a fan wants to complain about re. Eovaldi -- IL stints or his (very equitable market-rate) AAV of $17M in his Boston years -- he was still the #1 overall on some bad teams and one contender. Porcello, after winning his Cy Young, did, in fact lead the greatest team in Red Sox history in wins and innings pitched. Wacha, in his one season in Boston, led the staff in WAR for $7M... Lackey was a bust, until he helped win in one October. His case was similar to Price's, in that it didn't end well, because everyone knew Lackey would never agree to pitch a final season in Boston for the minimum wage injury stipulation on the contract that he signed. Since this is a Cora thread, if AC has any input this winter, bet he has no problem trading some shortstop prospects in package deals for under-30 arms.

In another thread I pointed out how in Bloom's four-year Reign of Error the Red Sox led the MLB in Es. Cora's all-timers in 2018 had the 3rd-fewest. How does a team suddenly go from really good to terrible defense -- unless there are different players on the rosters assembled by a new CBO..

Probably... but instead he committed two other crimes (to ownership): not trade for deadline help with an eye on October, and not trade expiring (ugh) old guys with an eye on future Octobers. Meanwhile, August sucked, as usual, for not doing the first one, and subsequently, so does September...

Amidst the fall-out of Bloom's firing, stories continue to leak about the moves he didn't make, specifically at the past two trade deadlines. Alex Speier is a reputable source, and he reports today that Bloom refused offers to trade Sale, and Jansen, and Paxton, among others... but the one that should hurt the most here: Turner to the Marlins for 25-year old starting pitcher Edward Cabrera -- the exact kind of deal the Red Sox need to expedite their rebuild. The next CBO should make at least three trades this winter for under-30 starting pitchers, and no one in the system should be untouchable (beyond our own young pitchers) except Teel, and a few legitimate power threats like Casas and Anthony. Personally, trading prospects (most never become MLB stars) just looks more logical to a budget-conscious franchise than blowing big bucks in an attempt to generate new fan buzz on the next wave of free agent pitchers who all bring risks: Snell, Nola (inconsistency), Gray (age), Giolito, Flaherty, Lorenzen (mediocrity). The prize is obviously Yamamoto, but who thinks Henry is prepared to outbid any team from New York or California -- or Texas -- at this point?

Fans don't really dislike Bloom the Man. He isn't a bad guy, and his company lies are wrapped up in so much logorrhea that they aren't punchable offenses (like those spewing from Sam Kennedy). The hatred -- or at least dread -- even in the unconscious state, was for Bloom the System, and what he always represented: 1. cutting payroll, which meant "cutting" star players that fans love to root for and want playing for their favorite team; and 2. not investing enough in legitimate MLB replacements to the detriment of the big league W-L record during a multi-year franchise rebuild he could never admit to. The entire Bloom Era was a John Henry Production. But don't feel bad for Chaim, who knew what he was getting into, and was well-paid; he'll be ok. The fans just need to recover. But first, Boston needs to recover the fans...

Did Cora suddenly become a lousy manager of defense, an unsound coach of fielding? Does that even happen to veteran instructors? Or is it the actual players on the roster that lead the league in Es... 2018 Red Sox: tied for 3rd-best, least team Es in AL 2019 Red Sox: 6th in team Es Chaim takes over full seasons 2020: 2nd MOST Es 2021: MOST Es AL 2022: one less E than AL avg (but 2nd worst def. efficiency) 2023: MOST Es, WORST def. efficiency

The oft-repeated company line the past four years about moves the Red Sox didn't make is that they didn't "make sense." Would a Cora/Romero combo at the top the organization make sense? Both have connections or have been active in Latin-America communities beyond just the Caribbean, and would seem to have an edge over others in the recruitment of international prospects -- possibly the deepest pool of baseball talent not controlled by the amateur draft.

Sham Kennedy did cryptically mention there were two openings -- maybe because they renamed O'Halloran's title. Scam Kennedy also refused to answer a reporter's query on whether Cora was a candidate... the only thing he did for sure was rule out Theo. But since the speaker lies for a living, maybe we can't rule out an Epstein return.

Ceddanne getting doubled off second on a line-drive is an organizational sign.

You Caps Locked MAJOR so forum members would know you're referring to the Red Sox' major league team WL record.

Ceddanne taking a full-count sweeper off the rightfield wall for a double is a good sign.

... because he may be a candidate to fill the new opening? He has been quoted lately that it's time for a change, can't manage for as long as Tito, but loves Boston...

Bloom came over from a franchise renown for legendary pitching staff construction. Boston has seen none of that in his four years here. In fact, the Red Sox have had one of the oldest collections of arms in average age (top three, always pushing 30). The Rays' pitching staffs during that time have always been younger than league average... one might even say that is by design, as Tampa always seems to add one fresh arm after another we've never heard of, throwing 100 with a change-up. Maybe the expert pitching recruiter was someone else in their office.

Except in Neil Diamond's museum, where the announced attendance is 30K+ per night...

Best AL franchise the past decade, no doubt, but I'm not familiar with the economics of the fanbase. Do Astros' games cost as much for tickets, parking and concessions as Red Sox games... and can the average working fan afford to bring his family? A better question may also be: if so, did the fans attend games and support the club when it tanked, especially in a state that eats, drinks and sleeps football (even in the spring and summer)?

Ref's not going anywhere. They re-upped him midseason because he's the perfect guy to fill out a roster: really cheap and really useful with at least one specialty -- hitting lefties -- and willing to platoon/pinch-hit/play some OF and be a big leaguer.

Great first line. You're also right that lots of tanking is intolerable to this fanbase -- however, those qualities are what makes forums like these even exist. Is it possible a franchise that gets away with lots of tanking doesn't generate quite as much interest, as far as generations of diehard baseball fans (many of whom post daily 12 months a year about their favorite team, regardless if it's good or bad)?

If Bloom is still here, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to expect a change in course. So: no way they'll sign any big money free agent pitchers and no way they'll trade any top prospects for young arms. There will be additions to the pitching staff -- like a Flaherty on a one-year/$10 mil showcase contract. But just wait til we get those injured guys back! Might as well accept this: if the Sox keep Bloom, that means they are committing to him, and seeing through his vision.

JugularKnots

It should be easy to win 15 of the last 17 because all the starting position players have been rested all season to save up their energy for just this stretch run. The only snag is that the rookies are the ones going all out, so we're not really sure who the regulars are... ... but for those who fear the bullpen could be cooked -- since relievers have thrown as many innings as starters the past month -- that was another strategy. From now, starters will go seven... or maybe even be stretched out to six... frames... in every remaining outing (yes, frames; right up Mookie's alley... just roll strikes!)

Nate would definitely give up more earned runs in Boston, because every Fenway ground ball that bounced over or under a Red Sox infielder's glove this year was ruled a base hit.

Tra- what, and risk losing that 8th round compensation draft pick?!?

Not disagreeing with that in any way. Nobody here was a huge JD fan, as if he would still be the missing link in the heart of the order like when he first signed. No one thought JD would be able to hop over the second base bag to preserve his ankles long enough to hit the Sox into the postseason. As for starting pitching -- does anyone think Bloom can actually force himself to commit the large amounts of longterm dollars it will take to land more than one legitimate arm it will take to make this sports franchise relevant again? But what if meant his very job? Imagine how hard it will be for him to even trade away one of his actual prospects... Would you trade Mayer for Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff? Baseball Trade Values accepted that swap (though Brewers wouldn't). It also accepted Burnes and Devin Williams. The point is that Mayer's value is so high as a prospect that dealing him -- not promoting him -- just may be the fastest way to improve the Sox.

There were zealots who thought that rotation was so deep and loaded -- with Cy Young arms like it was still 2017. There were others who knew from Day One that plan was a backfire waiting to happen -- just like when the actually better aging, injury-prone rotation from '22 inevitably broke down.