I'm glad to see no structural damage ... would never wish that on a kid
I'm glad to see no structural damage ... would never wish that on a kid
Not a damn thing.And what do you think standing Pat will do to that clubhouse that’s openly advocated recently for an acquisition? Is there not also a risk of losing the clubhouse if nothing is done?
Possibly, yeah. But they can sell it as prices were too high, they’ve got guys coming back. There is a risk to Bloom if they do nothing and the team tanks, I think.And what do you think standing Pat will do to that clubhouse that’s openly advocated recently for an acquisition? Is there not also a risk of losing the clubhouse if nothing is done?
That, too, is a risk. One that may be balanced by "WE think you are good enough." But maybe not. Not "losing the clubhouse," in the sense that they'll do whatever quitting baseball players do, but they might be pissed. However that affects the team's play, who knows?And what do you think standing Pat will do to that clubhouse that’s openly advocated recently for an acquisition? Is there not also a risk of losing the clubhouse if nothing is done?
Well yeah, but Hedges can play defense. That's always been his value.Good lord, they guy they are touting as a trade prospect is hitting even worse than Aquaman.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hedgeau01.shtml
This I agree with.I remember hearing that the clubhouse was demoralized after Vasquez got traded, and then Devers went and resigned for 300 million dollars, and they added a bunch of veterans.
I'm not sure what "losing a clubhouse" even entails? Like, it disappears from under Fenway? The players rebel and refuse to play? They start eaten chicken and beer?
Money talks, at the end of the day.
Players become demotivated, morale sours, guys don't put in as much work between games... Not that hard to fathom.I remember hearing that the clubhouse was demoralized after Vasquez got traded, and then Devers went and resigned for 300 million dollars, and they added a bunch of veterans. (And now Vasquez is slugging .308 with an OBP under .300., btw).
I'm not sure what "losing a clubhouse" even entails? Like, it disappears from under Fenway? The players rebel and refuse to play? They start eaten chicken and beer?
Money talks, at the end of the day.
What risk?There is a risk to Bloom if they do nothing and the team tanks, I think.
There's a risk to getting out of bed. Being criticized as the GM of the Red Sox is not a risk so much as it is an environmental factor that must be considered when taking the job.Possibly, yeah. But they can sell it as prices were too high, they’ve got guys coming back. There is a risk to Bloom if they do nothing and the team tanks, I think.
If you're in the race for the playoffs and you can't get motivated, that's a you problem.Players become demotivated, morale sours, guys don't put in as much work between games... Not that hard to fathom.
The pitch-framing value is off the charts with him but he's slipped a bit in throwing out baserunners. 8 CS in 58 attempts this year.Well yeah, but Hedges can play defense. That's always been his value.
As others have noted, it's difficult to add when you have 3 starting pitchers (or 1 starter and two relievers) and a starting shortstop all returning. I'm not saying all of those guys are guaranteed to come back healthy, but even if 2/3 starters come back, you still have to push someone to the bullpen who's been performing well between Pivetta and Crawford.This I agree with.
However, if the front office doesn't add at the deadline while all the teams around them for the wild card are adding, is that not in fact money talking? Or, I suppose, "no money" talking.
Yeah, and that's precisely what the players will think about the front office: that they aren't treating the team as if they are in a playoff race and weren't motivated to add to it. So why should they be?If you're in the race for the playoffs and you can't get motivated, that's a you problem.
With you on this one. There's been an awful lot of hand-wringing about the demoralized clubhouse... if the Sox don't do anything, or if they trade away a "veteran presence" like Paxton (who has only been with the team really for 2/3 of a season). Most players on the team have probably been traded or signed with new teams over their careers. It's a business, and the idea that you're going to quit on the team or revolt because someone gets moved feels silly.I remember hearing that the clubhouse was demoralized after Vasquez got traded, and then Devers went and resigned for 300 million dollars, and they added a bunch of veterans. (And now Vasquez is slugging .308 with an OBP under .300., btw).
I'm not sure what "losing a clubhouse" even entails? Like, it disappears from under Fenway? The players rebel and refuse to play? They start eaten chicken and beer?
Money talks, at the end of the day.
Players become demotivated, morale sours, guys don't put in as much work between games... Not that hard to fathom.
Just gonna back up Rasputin - these guys are pros. They're still in the race.If you're in the race for the playoffs and you can't get motivated, that's a you problem.
Watching the playoffs is fun. I imagine playing in them is even more so.Yeah, and that's precisely what the players will think about the front office: that they aren't treating the team as if they are in a playoff race and weren't motivated to add to it. So why should they be?
They can think whatever they want. I'm sure baseball players think a lot of things. (Except Johnny Damon). I'm not a pro athlete, but a player who lets that thinking affect his performance is not worth adding to. I think its much more likely that they say "fuck them. we'll show 'em!!".Yeah, and that's precisely what the players will think about the front office: that they aren't treating the team as if they are in a playoff race and weren't motivated to add to it. So why should they be?
I wouldn't be trading Verdugo or Paxton without getting a significant upper minors return. Duvall goes for lottery tickets, I'm maybe okay with that.Just gonna back up Rasputin - these guys are pros. They're still in the race.
Also, I would be really surprised if they just sold off Paxton, Duvall and Verdugo and got a bunch of lottery tickets. They'd be looking for major-league players or players who are top prospects very close to the majors, at least for Paxton, given the returns other teams have been getting.
Sale, Whitlock, and Story. Poster boys for staying healthy. Yup, great if they can make it through the season. I wouldn't bet a lot of money on it.Everyone needs to remember that the Red Sox are soon getting back Chris Sale, Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, and Trevor Story. No team in baseball is adding that much oomph to their major league roster. Nobody.
Major league players have a much more complicated motivational matrix than that. They're not just playing for the playoffs (although that matters), they're playing for their next contract, for their teammates, to make their father happy, to impress their future wife...Yeah, and that's precisely what the players will think about the front office: that they aren't treating the team as if they are in a playoff race and weren't motivated to add to it. So why should they be?
They aren't, but if they buy something that would bump Cabrera & his 4.79 ERA out of the rotation, I'm sure there are permutations that could work.Why would the Marlins be selling, though? They have a better record than the Sox and are currently in playoff position.
Of course there’s a risk with this approach. But it’s not like standing pat is truly standing pat. They do have significant reinforcements coming.Sale, Whitlock, and Story. Poster boys for staying healthy. Yup, great if they can make it through the season. I wouldn't bet a lot of money on it.
That's a big part of it for me. They are 2 games out and generally playing well. TWO. Not 5 or 6 with a slim chance if only they can do x, y, and z.Just gonna back up Rasputin - these guys are pros. They're still in the race.
Sure, not saying it's the only factor, but it's a factor.Major league players have a much more complicated motivational matrix than that. They're not just playing for the playoffs (although that matters), they're playing for their next contract, for their teammates, to make their father happy, to impress their future wife...
... and quiet quitting because one guy got traded isn't really viable in baseball. If you strike out 50% of the time the rest of the way out of protest, everybody knows. You're on television, after all.
Story's injury history is basically a broken wrist and the UCL. He's been very durable otherwise, but don't let the facts get in the way of your reasoning!Sale, Whitlock, and Story. Poster boys for staying healthy. Yup, great if they can make it through the season. I wouldn't bet a lot of money on it.
Not to mention the fact that there are always dozens of young and hungry players more than willing to take your place. Not always trying to play your absolute best seems like a losing strategy in such a competitive field.Major league players have a much more complicated motivational matrix than that. They're not just playing for the playoffs (although that matters), they're playing for their next contract, for their teammates, to make their father happy, to impress their future wife...
... and quiet quitting because one guy got traded isn't really viable in baseball. If you strike out 50% of the time the rest of the way out of protest, everybody knows. You're on television, after all.
If we trade Paxton for Cabrera we would be the sellers and they would be fools.Why would the Marlins be selling, though? They have a better record than the Sox and are currently in playoff position.
But I don't think anyone can say that it's *more * of a factor than the motivations for not "giving up" (or whatever we can call it). There seem to be a shitload more reasons to keep playing just as hard tomorrow as you did yesterday then there are for not doing so.Sure, not saying it's the only factor, but it's a factor.
More relevantly, I dont think he's had even a single instance of a setback since his surgery? No "delaying the rehab," or "taking a step back" or any of those ominous things.Story's injury history is basically a broken wrist and the UCL. He's been very durable otherwise, but don't let the facts get in the way of your reasoning!
I imagine they could be in a similar boat as us, buying and selling. They really have a lot of young arms and may see Cabrera more as a multi-inning reliever than starter.Why would the Marlins be selling, though? They have a better record than the Sox and are currently in playoff position.
I don't there is a human being on the planet whose performance isn't affected by circumstance and psychology. Not that standing pat would necessarily lead the team to play worse, because players are disgruntled. Though its preferable having happy players rather than disgruntled ones who feel potentially taken for granted by management.They can think whatever they want. I'm sure baseball players think a lot of things. (Except Johnny Damon). I'm not a pro athlete, but a player who lets that thinking affect his performance is not worth adding to. I think its much more likely that they say "fuck them. we'll show 'em!!".
FWIW, I think a 2B is needed…. But I was responding to a post that demanded a deal because the Sox charge a lot for tickets.Because they need external help at 2B, SP, and middle relief beyond who is coming back.
Hah! Thanks for the chuckle.I'm sure baseball players think a lot of things. (Except Johnny Damon).
FWIW, in a business context, I've only used "creative" as a polite way to describe someone whose ideas have been way off target.
The players don’t give a damn that Bloom felt the prices are too high. I can assure you the players don’t care about the prospects anywhere near as much as the fans. Bloom is in a no-win situationPossibly, yeah. But they can sell it as prices were too high, they’ve got guys coming back. There is a risk to Bloom if they do nothing and the team tanks, I think.
No offense, but I can't think of a more famously mercurial group than actors.I don't there is a human being on the planet whose performance isn't affected by circumstance and psychology. Not that standing pat would necessarily lead the team to play worse, because players are disgruntled. Though its preferable having happy players rather than disgruntled ones who feel potentially taken for granted by management.
I just did a pretty nationally high profile acting job on B'way. One actor, in a lead role, left the show, and was replaced by another who was famous but utterly ill equipped for the part. And everyone was FUCKING PISSED. Pissed at the producers - literally felt betrayed. The quality of the show suffered, and, yes, people started actually not caring as much, joking around more, getting sloppier in the work. It was a direct result. Now - the professional thing to do would be to NOT be affected by stuff you can't control. But we're all human. And these were esteemed pros at the top of their profession, so ... it happens.
His comment about not being smart enough to understand the pressure in 2004 was real Art Linkletter moment.They can think whatever they want. I'm sure baseball players think a lot of things. (Except Johnny Damon).
Players aren’t stupid and aren’t robots. They know when they need help. Making a move or two at the deadline shows the players that the FO considers the team worthy to invest in and that they want to win. If they don’t do anything, what does that say? They don’t give a shit about the farm system and the prices on the market. They want to win now.Honestly I don't have much respect for any clubhouse that would be "lost" by almost anything a GM would do at a deadline.
& not because I don't have all the respect in the world for players & what it takes to go out & do their job every day. But it is their job, & it's a pretty cool job, & they should have confidence in their ability to go do their job no matter who the other 25 players are.
"I'm too demoralized to play baseball" should not be a thing.