Well we did have people here calling certain posters truthers and QAnon so you gotta expect a little bit of dunking.
Perhaps it is not so much a refutation of intent to sell as an apt description of Ceviche John Henry.
Of course. You're not wrong, some spoils are expected and fine. Venting is OK. It's not an evening for hearts and flowers. Not for wild celebration in general all around, either IMO. Right or wrong, it's not what most of us wanted to hear. If I valued being right it's only because it was a better outcome.
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My thought and hope was that they were taking this approach to prepare to sell the team. Of all the quotes and anecdotes, this sort of outcome was kind of the worst.
Not for nothing but the QAnon/ "payroll truther" stuff coming at the gaggle of reporters reporting a fairly believable thing was on the shortlist of the dumbest things I've ever read here. The media literacy in this group used to be really strong; that was like taking that strength and oddly perverting it.
I've been fairly supportive of ownership/management during the Bloom years. I was hopeful that the Breslow hire signified the need for improvement on Bloom's shortcomings with the full support of ownership to field a team that could compete for a playoff spot. In my mind a large part of that meant doing what it takes to land two pitchers that would slot ahead of Bello. I fully understand that other parties have a say in that and I don't hold Yamamoto against them as I think that outcome was predetermined. ATM it's now looking like (possibly) one year of Lucas Giolito will be the major addition to this year's rotation. I love the moves that have been made regarding Sale and Verdugo. I think O'Neill fills a need in that the OF was too left handed and he can play all over the OF. Good moves, good start toward acquiring promising young players while addressing some needs at the Major League level and now we're pumping the brakes on '24. Like many here have noted, this team might be a Montgomery and one more power RH bat away from being a team that is going to generate interest. AND all of that can happen while still making moves (Jansen, Martin, Duran, Rafaela, perhaps one of the triplets) that can move the team forward without sacrificing this season. I still feel that there are plenty of reasons for me to watch this year, but I must say my enthusiasm for the coming season has been dialed down a couple of notches.
The apologies should be to the journalists who were called out for being "click bait" and similar when those guys have sources and were right all along. There is also a segment of folks here who think they are smarter fans because they could not fathom the team would go cheap and they knew there was a higher level plan in place... but here we are.
Just for the record I begrudge no one for feeling this way, and didn't before this actual news. The decision to jerk us all around for the last couple of months only amplifies my belief that people make the loudest statements with their wallets.
I think this a bit of an interesting question, but certainly the two aren't mutually exclusive in my mind. Once the season begins, it's the players we're watching and rooting for after all. That's where the love of the game is directed. So yea, if our guys take big leaps forward and they make a playoff run, we're all going to be thrilled and we're all going to be cheering them on.
Yes. Because a team that wins 88 with a $200 million payroll could have won more by spending up to the tax. They don’t owe us a number of wins. They owe us the most competitive team possible and are explicitly reneging on that obligation.
There's also the possibility that "full throttle" was the intended direction to start with, then when Yamamoto fell through and FA/trade prices for top starters remained unreasonable they pivoted, but that pivot also should have been directly communicated.
I don't mind an overpay if you get a player you want, if the perception of other teams' GM's is that they need to overpay in salary for a player they want to give less back or get a subsidy. Salaries are so high now I think there are a ton over "overpays" for talent. That is the new price of playing poker.
That's a very reasonable plan and a very reasonable take. The only money I spend on the Sox these days is NESN, haven't ventured to the park since 2018, and I've upped my Celtics gear rather than add to my Sox and Pats. I can't lie, I won't turn away from the team on the field, not at this point, but beyond Breslow, there's no one I have the least bit of faith left in. It's a bitter pill.
Maybe I'm naive, but I do think it was about championships when they first bought the team. They were in their mid-50s, full of piss and vinegar, and ready to tussle with the SiaS and everyone else.
You know what, that's as reasonable as any take I've seen. Slayed the dragon. Grabbed the ring(s), reached the mountaintop four times, and the novelty is long gone.
The full throttle comment never bothered me other than the fact that I thought it was a stupid statement to make. If you're going to use a phrase like that then be specific with a follow up and don't leave things open to interpretation. While I never want to hear anyone associated with the organization to utter that phrase again, I hope that Breslow goes full throttle as he continues to move assets to provide a solid young core.
NBA salaries are double MLB ones and it costs about 5x as much to go to a Celtics game as a Red Sox. Baseball is a comparative bargain in the live sports world. It will be especially so when people unload their tickets for pennies on the dollar this summer at Fenway. Too bad the game on the field probably won't be particularly interesting.
Yeah, priorities change over life. Some businesses want to be forever growth. Others are fine with just maintaining. It appears the Red Sox are now in the latter group. Having a burning desire to win doesn’t always work. We’ve seen the Mets. But it’s hard to not be disappointed about this direction, especially after losing the heart and soul of the team.
Oh yeah, my only point was my wallet is rewarding effort and success. I can't afford going to a Celtics game, but man, the team is fun. And I like green, so that's where my gear dollars are going.
Yes, I think we may be seeing some of this with the issues that some teams are having with their local broadcast partners.
Agreed. But I’ve been saying for a long time that it’s not the “cook” that matters, if the recipe is building a starting rotation on the fly each year of guys that will take one year deals and those are the only additions made, you’re going to stink. Doesn’t matter if it’s Bloom, Breslow or me picking them, it’s going to fail.
I do as well. I mean we sort of have to believe in something if we're going to choose to continue our fandom. One thing that I wonder about in all of this is what questions Breslow had for ownership when he was interviewed and how those questions were answered.
As @CR67dream said it feels like the “bubble” is the RSN.
That is my reaction too -- Werner doesn't mind being the bad cop so Breslow can poor-mouth more credibly in the negotiating room.
People just don’t want to accept that the ownership has been a complete joke since 2019. It’s tough. I get it. I’m currently trying to talk myself into the 2024 season.
Just replying again to clarify that my disgust with the economic end is over the spectrum of professional sports, not just baseball. It's just easier for me to take and support when my team is a powerhouse. Or at least trying to be.
I think this is completely delusional.
The question is who is going to pay him? It’s going to be wildly frustrating if Montgomery and/or Snell need to settle for below market deals and we aren’t bidding on them.
