Where do you stand? I went C. I like Schwarber but in my eyes that true first baseman just felt crucial! I know where they came from (an absolute insane market today) but felt like Chaim left something on the table.
I'm optimistic about the pitching staff, despite their trend downwards. I think Sale/Houck/Eovaldi is super solid and the rotation as a whole is going to improve. I'm questioning not getting a first baseman though. Can't imagine it was impossible even at a reasonable price.I like acquiring Schwarber’s bat. He’s going to help. But we don’t have a good first baseman. And I don’t think it was expecting too much to get a pitcher who crack our top 8 - a top 4 starter or reliever. Didn’t have to be Scherzer or Berrios. Just someone you could confidently see as an upgrade. I don’t think Davis or Robles clears that relatively low bar. So overall, I’m mildly disappointed.
But seriously, we have Houck and Sale to work into the staff, plus Duran and a possibly rejuvenated Franchy. And we’re still in first. Plenty of cause to be optimistic….
I get being disappointed but given the success of Bloom’s short tenure, it seems way over the top to be doubting the guy bc of these tradesD.
I know this year is a surprise success and we are ahead of schedule and all that stuff, but the fact is we're in this position now. You never know how things are going to go next year or the year after. There's a really strong argument that the seasons you are in this kind of position at the break, you have a responsibility to go for it. And I just think not getting any help for the rotation (though I do acknowledge they really might feel Houck and Sale are the upgrade they'll need) but most especially at first base is a really bad job by management.
What about Carlos Santana? Even he would have been a significant upgrade? I get paying the price for Bryant or Rizzo, sort of, but I don't get not acquiring a first baseman of any kind when it is such an OBVIOUS problem for the team. So yeah, a D. And I makes me really worried about Bloom as the GM here.
They inquired, he wasn’t availableWhat about Carlos Santana? Even he would have been a significant upgrade? I get paying the price for Bryant or Rizzo, sort of, but I don't get not acquiring a first baseman of any kind when it is such an OBVIOUS problem for the team. So yeah, a D. And I makes me really worried about Bloom as the GM here.
I don't want to get too far in the weeds, but it does make me worried he cares more about being the kind of GM that seems smart and hoards assets than actually tries to...you know...win. I know a lot of people here are probably down on Dave Debrowski for the way he left our farm system in shambles but I'm not at all. Because he got us a championship. That's literally all that matters in this sport. Did you win the World Series. And I'm worried Bloom would rather win the "Having multiple prospects in Baseball America's top 100" championship than the real one.I get being disappointed but given the success of Bloom’s short tenure, it seems way over the top to be doubting the guy bc of these trades
Particularly when citing a guy Bloom should have pursued that by all reports wasn't available. Bloom wasn't able to wrest Ohtani from the Angels either. He could have upgraded the pitching staff AND the lineup. Bloom should be fired for that.I get being disappointed but given the success of Bloom’s short tenure, it seems way over the top to be doubting the guy bc of these trades
Did they say that somewhere?They inquired, he wasn’t available
Yeah the tweet was embedded somewhere in the trade deadline thread this morningDid they say that somewhere?
You have to have a farm system to strip in order to do what Dombrowski did. As much work as Bloom has done to rebuild, it's no where near what Dombrowski had to work with.I don't want to get too far in the weeds, but it does make me worried he cares more about being the kind of GM that seems smart and hoards assets than actually tries to...you know...win. I know a lot of people here are probably down on Dave Debrowski for the way he left our farm system in shambles but I'm not at all. Because he got us a championship. That's literally all that matters in this sport. Did you win the World Series. And I'm worried Bloom would rather win the "Having multiple prospects in Baseball America's top 100" championship than the real one.
Bloom doesn’t want to win and we have the second best record in the AL. Just imagine how awesome they’d be if he actually cared about winning!I don't want to get too far in the weeds, but it does make me worried he cares more about being the kind of GM that seems smart and hoards assets than actually tries to...you know...win. I know a lot of people here are probably down on Dave Debrowski for the way he left our farm system in shambles but I'm not at all. Because he got us a championship. That's literally all that matters in this sport. Did you win the World Series. And I'm worried Bloom would rather win the "Having multiple prospects in Baseball America's top 100" championship than the real one.
Whatever. I know I'm a little over-the-top. But I honestly can't believe you guys are happy about the first base position on this team.Bloom doesn’t want to win and we have the second best record in the AL. Just imagine how awesome they’d be if he actually cared about winning!
Who is saying they're happy? One can be dissatisfied with the 1B situation and not think Chaim Bloom is doing a terrible job.Whatever. I know I'm a little over-the-top. But I honestly can't believe you guys are happy about the first base position on this team.
I don’t think a single poster here has said that. That’s an entirely different question than whether Bloom did the right thing at the deadline.Whatever. I know I'm a little over-the-top. But I honestly can't believe you guys are happy about the first base position on this team.
The roster is better today than it was yesterday at this time. Schwarber upgrades them offensively, and provides depth and some versatility when he's back. We're all probably too hung up on position. The pen has a couple more pieces to play around with, and possibly provide more depth. This market rapidly developed into a sellers advantage, and this club is not yet in the best position to capitalize on that. Taken as a whole, I voted B.Whatever. I know I'm a little over-the-top. But I honestly can't believe you guys are happy about the first base position on this team.
Bryant would have been a good get for the reasons you mentioned. He also pretty much would have made Gonzalez expendable. Arroyo and Schwarber rotating between the flexibility of this roster (Santana gone and Dalbec only here if Cora goes four man bench) would have left a couple of dependable bats on the bench no matter who was in the starting lineup. I trust that Bloom did what he could given the parameters that he was working in.Cross posting from the other thread, I actually like the grading options in this one better:
I get why Chaim did what he did, but man this deadline has a wiff of 2011 around it.
Realistically, with Devers now out, I think they had a chance to top SF for Bryant, who would realistically be able to cover 3B with Devers out and then slide over to 1B easier than Schwarber, who has basically no experience there.
I suspect this deadline would feel a little better if Scwharber wasn't injured and could actually play right away...
Bryant would have been a good get for the reasons you mentioned. He also pretty much would have made Gonzalez expendable. Arroyo and Schwarber rotating between the flexibility of this roster (Santana gone and Dalbec only here if Cora goes four man bench) would have left a couple of dependable bats on the bench no matter who was in the starting lineup. I trust that Bloom did what he could given the parameters that he was working in.Cross posting from the other thread, I actually like the grading options in this one better:
I get why Chaim did what he did, but man this deadline has a wiff of 2011 around it.
Realistically, with Devers now out, I think they had a chance to top SF for Bryant, who would realistically be able to cover 3B with Devers out and then slide over to 1B easier than Schwarber, who has basically no experience there.
I suspect this deadline would feel a little better if Scwharber wasn't injured and could actually play right away...
It did not. Nor will the two pitchers they got today (Robles came with cash).Only addition of any value is
1) injured and not even available for another 2 weeks ( at the cost of the 8th rated prospect), which makes him a 6 week rental.
2) Is an experiment at the position they are desperate to upgrade
3) Not entirely sure of this point, but if true is the final nail in the coffin. His acquisition put them over luxury tax.
Grade= F
Thanks. That would raise my grade to somewhere between a C and a D.It did not. Nor will the two pitchers they got today (Robles came with cash).
There is every reason TO GFIN this year and trade for reinforcements (in first place, high percentage to make post season, all-star central core will begin breaking up after the season and then more radically after 2022, relatively healthy, and with clear clear weaknesses). No better set of justifying circumstances than those.I’m worried about our starters, but I guess the brain trust is not. I’m pretty stoked about adding Schwarber. I think he kicks butt and hopes he sticks around. I think Cora will find a 1B platoon (he did in 18 and dumped Hanley). I think the plan is a good one - This isn’t the year to GFIN, as much as every fiber in me wanted it.
B-
Not according to Globe resident genius Ben Volin. Some of the GMs he ranks ahead of BB are complete jokes, as is Ben himself.After seeing what Sweeney, Brad and Chaim have done in the last few weeks, it is time to start giving BB some respect as a GM. He is far and away the best GM in this town.
Just my thoughts.