Trevor Story had surgery on his right UCL and is expected to miss time

8slim

has trust issues
SoSH Member
Nov 6, 2001
24,829
Unreal America
Yup. That's most definitely true. That 1992 roster was bad though and I doubt that the 23 roster will match it for its ineptitude. But this is shaping up to be a not-so-great year.

At this point, they should just punt and trade anything not nailed down at the deadline.
I'm going to try to be optimistic - mostly because I get sad thinking about another summer of largely meaningless baseball as we had last year and 2020 - but I thought the O was at least 1 big bat short even with Story returning to his pre-2022 form. Now... I just don't know. Really need Cassas and Turner to mash, because the rest of the likely lineup could be rough.
 

JM3

often quoted
SoSH Member
Dec 14, 2019
14,285
I would like Andrus for a limited time at short and Duvall for a year in the outfield. Duvall could give the outfield a little pop that seems lacking. He may be done but it’s worth a shot imo.
Not really sure that Duvall brings anything to the table that Refsnyder doesn't already bring to the table better.
 

gibreel

New Member
Apr 14, 2006
38
I am at total loss as to why you though it was a good idea to tear into posters here at SoSH not once but twice in a single post. What do the opinions of "Bloom loyalists" have to do with understanding Story's situation? I don't see how that contributes anything valuable to the thread or what your point is.

Next, whom are you targeting with the "assuming healthy prognoses" statement? What evidence did this mysterious group lack ("absense of evidence") exactly? What should "they" have done?

As was noted a number of times earlier in this thread, the Sox front office had medical evidence, but we do not know what it indicated exactly. However, also discussed was how "rest before surgery" is a commonly held position by many physicians. Are you saying the Sox front office did not know this?

Please keep up with the thread.
"They"--and I'm thinking of one poster in particular who is especially nasty to anyone who deviates from the Bloom line--should not make projections about the team based on expected performance of a few oft-injured players.

What should the Sox have done? I dunno, built a team with more depth? Signed players more befitting of a team with the Sox's payroll and historical aspirations?

My point here is that a few of us have expressed repeated concerns about the team, only to be belittled. The Story injury all but ensures that the most dire forecasts will be accurate. I'd love it if this injury inspires those in this forum who've cheerled for Bloom, and attacked those of us who've been skeptical, to do a little self-reflection.
 

chrisfont9

Member
SoSH Member
This stinks, but at a certain level if you weren't bullish on the 2023 team already (raises hand), it's not THAT catastrophic.

As plenty of people on here have pointed out, the window for the team is more likely 2024(25)-2027 and this shouldn't have any real bearing on that. As someone whom didn't think this team had done really anything to dislodge New York, Toronto, Tampa Bay and Baltimore for this season, Story missing time doesn't change the equation all that much. I guess it makes it less likely we beat out Baltimore to be 4th in the division, but beyond that, while MAYBE the 2023 Red Sox looked better than the 2022 Red Sox, they didn't look better than the 2022 (or 2023) Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays or Orioles, with or without a full season from Story.

Get the elbow fixed, and hope that means he's able to play short stop the way he did in Colorado because that gives more flexibility but to the core of the Red Sox and the 2025-27 window, this really doesn't have much bearing.
Fully agree. Not that I know anything more than the rest, but it sure seems like Bloom's job is centered around that window. Story's surgery, if anything, stabilizes him in the long run.
 

geoflin

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Feb 26, 2004
709
Melrose MA
Would have preferred for a trade or a deal to be done prior to this announcement at least. Maybe other GM's and/or agents know all this info... but it doesn't leave the Sox too much leverage.
I agree with the first part but as for the leverage, seems to me that depends on what other clubs might be willing to offer. If the Sox can offer someone like Andrus or Iglesias more than any other team is willing to offer I'd think they would sign here, no different than yesterday, or if they offer whichever team more for a trade than other teams offer then a team motivated to trade might well accept.
 

JM3

often quoted
SoSH Member
Dec 14, 2019
14,285
"They"--and I'm thinking of one poster in particular who is especially nasty to anyone who deviates from the Bloom line--should not make projections about the team based on expected performance of a few oft-injured players.

What should the Sox have done? I dunno, built a team with more depth? Signed players more befitting of a team with the Sox's payroll and historical aspirations?

My point here is that a few of us have expressed repeated concerns about the team, only to be belittled. The Story injury all but ensures that the most dire forecasts will be accurate. I'd love it if this injury inspires those in this forum who've cheerled for Bloom, and attacked those of us who've been skeptical, to do a little self-reflection.
I try not to be critical of the critical. It's hard, though, when so many of the takes ignore the reality of building a baseball team & just want things to be done, period, with no actual reflection as to what would happen if all the things these people want done are done.

Walk me through how you would have made the Red Sox amazing by now. I won't even mind if you use hindsight as long as your vision doesn't ignore economic realities.
 

Petagine in a Bottle

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 13, 2021
11,922
I know it’s not MLK Day yet, but the Sox as currently constructed are an Arroyo injury away from an Enmanuel Valdez / David Hamilton DP combo. Up the middle depth was already an issue, now it really is. Feels like they almost have to sign an Iglesias or Andrus at minimum; although I suspect they may wait until ST starts and they can move injured players to the 60.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

has fancy plans, and pants to match
Dope
SoSH Member
Apr 12, 2001
24,548
I'm going to try to be optimistic - mostly because I get sad thinking about another summer of largely meaningless baseball as we had last year and 2020 - but I thought the O was at least 1 big bat short even with Story returning to his pre-2022 form. Now... I just don't know. Really need Cassas and Turner to mash, because the rest of the likely lineup could be rough.
The one thing that I'm looking forward to is Yoshida. As well as Casas and Bello.

Everything else (aside from Devers setting the AL base on balls record) is going to be tough.
 

nvalvo

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
21,484
Rogers Park
Why? Is there something in the numbers suggesting that getting outside of Petco and the NL West will be a boon to his hitting? Can this team really afford to trade assets (and they'd have to be real assets not EEI assets) to get a guy that's had one season of slightly above average offense? In a year where they're likely to be cellar dwellars again?

View attachment 59934
Here's the case for Kim: He's 26, he kicked ass offensively in KBO, he made big strides from 2021 to 2022, and he has moderate RH pull power that might help him in Fenway. The glove is All-World and the contract terms are favorable — $7m per for 2023 and 2024, plus a mutual option for 2025, i.e. perfect as a bridge to Meyer.

The case against: he has poor exit velocities, and the expected stats have tracked with the real ones.
 

JM3

often quoted
SoSH Member
Dec 14, 2019
14,285
Here's the case for Kim: He's 26, he kicked ass offensively in KBO, he made big strides from 2021 to 2022, and he has moderate RH pull power that might help him in Fenway. The glove is All-World and the contract terms are favorable — $7m per for 2023 and 2024, plus a mutual option for 2025, i.e. perfect as a bridge to Meyer.

The case against: he has poor exit velocities, and the expected stats have tracked with the real ones.
The other case against is the potential acquisition cost if we're robbing from '25-29 to paper over '23.
 

TheYellowDart5

Hustle and bustle
SoSH Member
Apr 16, 2003
9,276
NYC
Here's the case for Kim: He's 26, he kicked ass offensively in KBO, he made big strides from 2021 to 2022, and he has moderate RH pull power that might help him in Fenway. The glove is All-World and the contract terms are favorable — $7m per for 2023 and 2024, plus a mutual option for 2025, i.e. perfect as a bridge to Meyer.

The case against: he has poor exit velocities, and the expected stats have tracked with the real ones.
Forget whether or not Kim is worth trading for; why would San Diego give him up? He's the projected starting second baseman for that team unless Preller gets a first baseman to replace Cronenworth so he can move back to second or decides that Tatis will play there post-suspension, or the position is turned over to the untested Eguy Rosario. There's no reason for the Padres to move Kim unless they get blown out of the water by an offer.

If you want to find a potential SS from the meager pickings left, you're either looking at teams projected to finish below .500 with veterans or pending free agents on the roster, or trying to take an expensive mistake off someone's hands (Javy Baez, for example). Kim is not going to be the guy unless Preller gets wacky.
 

Sprowl

mikey lowell of the sandbox
Dope
SoSH Member
Jun 27, 2006
34,441
Haiku
Time to go sign Jose Iglesias.
Yes please.
Me three. If this is going to be another bridge season, at least make it an enjoyable one.

What’s the expected recovery from something like this? Is 6/140 for Story still a good value deal? Not so sure anymore.
Yeah, missing almost 75% of the first two years of the contract is not a great start...
Bloom's balance sheet of bargains, lottery tickets, and other quixotic means of talent discovery takes another hit. After a while, you are what your roster says you are.
 

Big Papi's Mango Salsa

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2022
1,175
The one thing that I'm looking forward to is Yoshida. As well as Casas and Bello.

Everything else (aside from Devers setting the AL base on balls record) is going to be tough.
Genuine question and not to be snarky - especially since I agree with you on the vast majority of your opinions but...

Why not Whitlock and Houck (to see if either can make it as starters)? The young pitchers are pretty interesting.

The line up (for 2023) stunk before this news and it stinks more after this news, but games started by Whitlock, Bello, Houck and (at some point) Mata are pretty interesting, at least to me.
 

soxhop411

news aggravator
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2009
46,277

bosox1534

New Member
Dec 17, 2022
130
The pessimism due to one injury is quite bizarre from this group. First off, the timetable for the injury is 4-6 months. That means it’s possible it could be a May return, which would be a month into the season, which means no matter how bad your record is you can make up ground, as we saw last year. Story is a good player, but even without him the lineup still produced pretty well last year. Obviously the current middle infield alignment (Arroyo/Valdez?) is not great but I seriously doubt this will be it come April. Perhaps let things play out before hitting the panic button and calling for Blooms head and trading every guy at the deadline. I’ve been a fan for 20 years and have seen this team overcome more things than this.
 

radsoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 9, 2009
13,622
I think the idea he was ramping up with an eye on SS when Xander left and his elbow just couldn't take it makes a lot of sense. Not sure there is anything to get on the medical staff re: timing unless we get more info, though I hope they have been diligently managing this all offseason since it's a known problem.

Story last played a major league game Sept 11, 2022. Hopefully before the season was over he got a full elbow workup/MRI and they decided on a detailed well thought out plan moving forward. None of this Dr. Merloni "we dont throw for October, November, part of December then see how things are feeling".

The medical staff should have been ALL OVER this, down to the day. If surgery wasn't indicated in September, I hope his rest and ramp up was highly choreographed. Every extra month Story misses costs the team millions of dollars, so there is no excuse to give him a cursory physical, tell him to take a break for awhile, then just see how it's going at the end of December. I certainly hope that's not what happened.
 

chrisfont9

Member
SoSH Member
"They"--and I'm thinking of one poster in particular who is especially nasty to anyone who deviates from the Bloom line--should not make projections about the team based on expected performance of a few oft-injured players.

What should the Sox have done? I dunno, built a team with more depth? Signed players more befitting of a team with the Sox's payroll and historical aspirations?

My point here is that a few of us have expressed repeated concerns about the team, only to be belittled. The Story injury all but ensures that the most dire forecasts will be accurate. I'd love it if this injury inspires those in this forum who've cheerled for Bloom, and attacked those of us who've been skeptical, to do a little self-reflection.
So is this about which tribe we belong to, pro-Chaim or anti? I'd rather the anti-Bloom people acknowledge that they are insisting on short-term results over anything else. People like me who aren't just yelling at Bloom probably take the view that this team has very little chance of scotch-taping the organization into a World Series winner in 2023 but actually has a pretty fair chance of building a real contender as early as '24 or '25. Singing All the Guys or Trading All the Prospects For Guys is the path to immediate success, except not all the guys want to sign here because there are 29 other teams who mostly have money to burn, and bankrupting the farm system is a great way to set up other teams for the success we wish the Sox could enjoy.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

has fancy plans, and pants to match
Dope
SoSH Member
Apr 12, 2001
24,548
Genuine question and not to be snarky - especially since I agree with you on the vast majority of your opinions but...

Why not Whitlock and Houck (to see if either can make it as starters)? The young pitchers are pretty interesting.

The line up (for 2023) stunk before this news and it stinks more after this news, but games started by Whitlock, Bello, Houck and (at some point) Mata are pretty interesting, at least to me.
Yeah. I think watching whether Whitlock and Houck can adjust to starting might be fun. Or it could be really painful. I mean, I kinda know what's in W&H's bag of tricks, so that could be interesting to see how that translates. But if they get lit up, it'd be like a double Bob Stanley circa 1987 flashback.
 

nvalvo

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
21,484
Rogers Park
Story's health situation is rough, but if he's going to in fact be our shortstop for the next few years, it's probably better to get his elbow put back together sooner rather than later. Hopefully he's back in mid-May. Maybe it's a silver lining if it gives us a chance to audition Valdez a bit.

Forget whether or not Kim is worth trading for; why would San Diego give him up? He's the projected starting second baseman for that team unless Preller gets a first baseman to replace Cronenworth so he can move back to second or decides that Tatis will play there post-suspension, or the position is turned over to the untested Eguy Rosario. There's no reason for the Padres to move Kim unless they get blown out of the water by an offer.
Good question. My take: Because they now have an Oops! All Shortstops! roster, and the fourth best defender of the four (not even counting Machado) has been handed the job. They would be a better team moving on from Kim or Cronenworth to shore up their pitching or acquire a real 1B/DH masher better than Brandon Dixon.

The counterpoint is that Machado is probably leaving next season, so we're really just talking about one year of a weird defensive alignment, at which point Bogaerts or Cronenworth can cover 3B and everything starts making more sense.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 23, 2009
20,676
Maine
I think the idea he was ramping up with an eye on SS when Xander left and his elbow just couldn't take it makes a lot of sense. Not sure there is anything to get on the medical staff re: timing unless we get more info, though I hope they have been diligently managing this all offseason since it's a known problem.

Story last played a major league game Sept 11, 2022. Hopefully before the season was over he got a full elbow workup/MRI and they decided on a detailed well thought out plan moving forward. None of this Dr. Merloni "we dont throw for October, November, part of December then see how things are feeling".

The medical staff should have been ALL OVER this, down to the day. If surgery wasn't indicated in September, I hope his rest and ramp up was highly choreographed. Every extra month Story misses costs the team millions of dollars, so there is no excuse to give him a cursory physical, tell him to take a break for awhile, then just see how it's going at the end of December. I certainly hope that's not what happened.
I don't think Merloni was suggesting that it was the medical staff that "prescribed" the 2.5 months off from throwing then "see how things are feeling". I think Merloni was saying that it is S.O.P. for most ballplayers to take a month or two completely off before beginning preparations for the next season.
 

BornToRun

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 4, 2011
17,321
The pessimism due to one injury is quite bizarre from this group. First off, the timetable for the injury is 4-6 months. That means it’s possible it could be a May return, which would be a month into the season, which means no matter how bad your record is you can make up ground, as we saw last year. Story is a good player, but even without him the lineup still produced pretty well last year. Obviously the current middle infield alignment (Arroyo/Valdez?) is not great but I seriously doubt this will be it come April. Perhaps let things play out before hitting the panic button and calling for Blooms head and trading every guy at the deadline. I’ve been a fan for 20 years and have seen this team overcome more things than this.
Off-season isn’t over yet. I’m sure Bloom isn’t going to just sit and leave an opening in the middle infield. Just spitballing but something like this could be passable with plus defense and a pitching staff that could possibly be quite solid.
1.Kike
2.Yoshida
3. Raffy
4. Turner
5. Verdugo
6. Casas/Gurriel
7. Arroyo
8. Wong/McGuire
9. Andrus/Iggy

Does that look pretty? No, not really, but there’s a possibility that’s a passable lineup in the short term and could look even better if Casas breaks out and Yoshida can translate his skills to the big leagues. I could see that team winning 85~ games with good luck in regards to the health of the pitching staff and 85 wins might be enough to sneak in as a wild card. Bullpens are volatile and the rotation is a mix of unknowns and “please for the love of god stay healthy”s but they could be a solid team if things break right.
 

radsoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 9, 2009
13,622
I don't think Merloni was suggesting that it was the medical staff that "prescribed" the 2.5 months off from throwing then "see how things are feeling". I think Merloni was saying that it is S.O.P. for most ballplayers to take a month or two completely off before beginning preparations for the next season.
That's sort of my point. I hope Story wasn't on any sort of 1980's style standard operating procedure offseason plan for his elbow.

This should have been closely monitored all season and offseason with a highly intentional plan along the way (for all we know it was, and this was just the unfortunate outcome).
 

BornToRun

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 4, 2011
17,321
Oh, so it's a good thing we... uh... let our shortstop go? WTF, Red Sox???
I love Xander Bogaerts and watching him leave was a serious punch to the gut. But he’s a SS on the wrong side of 30 whose already meh defense is only going to regress with age and the shift ban. There were also worrying trends in his batted ball stats last year. San Diego gave him 11 years and close to 300 million dollars while we have Marcelo Mayer right around the corner.
 

Coachster

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 3, 2009
8,945
New Hampshire
I know it’s not MLK Day yet, but the Sox as currently constructed are an Arroyo injury away from an Enmanuel Valdez / David Hamilton DP combo. Up the middle depth was already an issue, now it really is. Feels like they almost have to sign an Iglesias or Andrus at minimum; although I suspect they may wait until ST starts and they can move injured players to the 60.
Let’s not forget our ace in the hole, Nico Goodrum.
 

chawson

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
4,660
When healthy and not in a pandemic year, Niko Goodrum has been a .305-310 expected wOBA bat (basically Andrus) who plays a better-than-average shortstop. I don't know if he can be that guy again, but he's in the range of options.
 

bosox1534

New Member
Dec 17, 2022
130
Off-season isn’t over yet. I’m sure Bloom isn’t going to just sit and leave an opening in the middle infield. Just spitballing but something like this could be passable with plus defense and a pitching staff that could possibly be quite solid.
1.Kike
2.Yoshida
3. Raffy
4. Turner
5. Verdugo
6. Casas/Gurriel
7. Arroyo
8. Wong/McGuire
9. Andrus/Iggy

Does that look pretty? No, not really, but there’s a possibility that’s a passable lineup in the short term and could look even better if Casas breaks out and Yoshida can translate his skills to the big leagues. I could see that team winning 85~ games with good luck in regards to the health of the pitching staff and 85 wins might be enough to sneak in as a wild card. Bullpens are volatile and the rotation is a mix of unknowns and “please for the love of god stay healthy”s but they could be a solid team if things break right.
Agreed. This teams lineup isn’t as bad as some think. We are just blessed with top of the league lineups most years that we come to expect it. A lineup like this with a healthy pitching staff is easily good enough to sneak in as a wild card imo. Lots of questions marks, but also tons of potential.
 

Daniel_Son

Member
SoSH Member
May 25, 2021
1,685
San Diego
The division is going to be tough this year. At best, the Sox had a shot at the wildcard. At this point, grab Andrus or Iglesias and let the kids have a shot. Maybe Rafaela rockets through AAA and contributes this season. Valdez is an interesting option at 2B, too.

IDK, it sucks, and the optics of this on the heels of Bogey leaving aren't great. But I'm not sure I get the doom-and-gloom stuff. I'd rather this happen in '23 than in '24.
 

CoffeeNerdness

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 6, 2012
8,714
Buster has been taking pot shots at the sox this entire offseason... and spare me the "inevitably would require major elbow surgery"

yah he says that now, when this was announced....
Seems like a relevant time to bring this up, no? It's not like the elbow thing is something new and mean old Buster taking potshots at the trainwreck that is the 2022-23 Boston Red Sox isn't a reason to just dismiss his reporting out of hand.
 

Sandy Leon Trotsky

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 11, 2007
6,348
"They"--and I'm thinking of one poster in particular who is especially nasty to anyone who deviates from the Bloom line--should not make projections about the team based on expected performance of a few oft-injured players.

What should the Sox have done? I dunno, built a team with more depth? Signed players more befitting of a team with the Sox's payroll and historical aspirations?

My point here is that a few of us have expressed repeated concerns about the team, only to be belittled. The Story injury all but ensures that the most dire forecasts will be accurate. I'd love it if this injury inspires those in this forum who've cheerled for Bloom, and attacked those of us who've been skeptical, to do a little self-reflection.
Arguing with your point is not belittling. I haven’t seen anyone just dismiss anyone else’s points without some points in their defense. The only time I see anything close to “belittling” is when some poster says the same thing over and over without developing their point. It’s the equivalent to yelling louder….
 

Petagine in a Bottle

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 13, 2021
11,922
Off-season isn’t over yet. I’m sure Bloom isn’t going to just sit and leave an opening in the middle infield. Just spitballing but something like this could be passable with plus defense and a pitching staff that could possibly be quite solid.
1.Kike
2.Yoshida
3. Raffy
4. Turner
5. Verdugo
6. Casas/Gurriel
7. Arroyo
8. Wong/McGuire
9. Andrus/Iggy

Does that look pretty? No, not really, but there’s a possibility that’s a passable lineup in the short term and could look even better if Casas breaks out and Yoshida can translate his skills to the big leagues. I could see that team winning 85~ games with good luck in regards to the health of the pitching staff and 85 wins might be enough to sneak in as a wild card. Bullpens are volatile and the rotation is a mix of unknowns and “please for the love of god stay healthy”s but they could be a solid team if things break right.
That lineup looks pretty bad, but the bigger problem is what happens if a few key guys there get hurt? If Kike and Arroyo are hurt, hardly a far fetched scenario, they are replaced by Duran and Valdez / Hamilton and you are looking at a really horrendous group, potentially. Ugh.
 

nvalvo

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
21,484
Rogers Park
Seems like a relevant time to bring this up, no? It's not like the elbow thing is something new and mean old Buster taking potshots at the trainwreck that is the 2022-23 Boston Red Sox isn't a reason to just dismiss his reporting out of hand.
I agree. If the strategy to avoid giving Bogaerts $280m was to give Story $140m a year earlier, the reason that strategy was possible was because of the health risks.
 

BornToRun

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 4, 2011
17,321
Agreed. This teams lineup isn’t as bad as some think. We are just blessed with top of the league lineups most years that we come to expect it. A lineup like this with a healthy pitching staff is easily good enough to sneak in as a wild card imo. Lots of questions marks, but also tons of potential.
The feeling I get this year is sort of how I felt heading into 2013. They could be a lot better than people think. And no, I don’t expect us to win 97 games and go the distance.
 

BornToRun

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 4, 2011
17,321
That lineup looks pretty bad, but the bigger problem is what happens if a few key guys there get hurt? If Kike and Arroyo are hurt, hardly a far fetched scenario, they are replaced by Duran and Valdez / Hamilton and you are looking at a really horrendous group, potentially. Ugh.
You’re absolutely right. A lot of it hinges on luck and things could look a lot worse if guys keep getting hurt. All I’m saying is we aren’t there quite yet.
 

Petagine in a Bottle

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 13, 2021
11,922
You’re absolutely right. A lot of it hinges on luck and things could look a lot worse if guys keep getting hurt. All I’m saying is we aren’t there quite yet.
Agree, hopefully they add Andrus/Iglesias and McCutchen/DuVall or something to provide some needed veteran depth.
 

scottyno

late Bloomer
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2008
11,305
Genuine question and not to be snarky - especially since I agree with you on the vast majority of your opinions but...

Why not Whitlock and Houck (to see if either can make it as starters)? The young pitchers are pretty interesting.

The line up (for 2023) stunk before this news and it stinks more after this news, but games started by Whitlock, Bello, Houck and (at some point) Mata are pretty interesting, at least to me.
Really the entire pitching staff, outside of Pivetta who we kind of know what to expect is interesting. The range of outcomes for all of Sale, Paxton, Kluber, Bello, Whitlock, and Houck is really wide
"They"--and I'm thinking of one poster in particular who is especially nasty to anyone who deviates from the Bloom line--should not make projections about the team based on expected performance of a few oft-injured players.

What should the Sox have done? I dunno, built a team with more depth? Signed players more befitting of a team with the Sox's payroll and historical aspirations?

My point here is that a few of us have expressed repeated concerns about the team, only to be belittled. The Story injury all but ensures that the most dire forecasts will be accurate. I'd love it if this injury inspires those in this forum who've cheerled for Bloom, and attacked those of us who've been skeptical, to do a little self-reflection.
It's cool, you could just @ me, though I'm pretty sure that neither I or anyone else ever argued they were deep at middle infield. Also seems just a a tad premature to say that an injury that may not cause him to miss that much time in the regular season ensures that they're going to suck this year.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,067
Alamogordo
What should the Sox have done? I dunno, built a team with more depth? Signed players more befitting of a team with the Sox's payroll and historical aspirations?

My point here is that a few of us have expressed repeated concerns about the team, only to be belittled. The Story injury all but ensures that the most dire forecasts will be accurate. I'd love it if this injury inspires those in this forum who've cheerled for Bloom, and attacked those of us who've been skeptical, to do a little self-reflection.
(Mods: I apologize and will take whatever suspension/ban you feel I deserve)

I doubt that I am one of the people who has belittled you, as it isn't really my style, but fuck it, I'm tired. "Self-reflection"? Seriously? GTFOH with that. I've been here almost twenty years, and it has always been a place where we could come and talk baseball intelligently, and it has always been a place that makes following my (and most of our) favorite team more fun.

This team went 78-84 last year. That's 3 wins from a .500 season, with about as bad a run in July and August as they could have possibly had (and about as good a run in May as they could have as well). The other teams in their division were better, and might be this year as well, but tell me, oh so mighty forecaster, what is the "most dire forecast" for this team? 76-86? There are 29 other teams in the league who are all trying to put together a decent team, and it isn't like Bloom can just snap his fingers and make it happen. Sorry that he didn't sign Bogaerts to a ridiculous contract. I love the guy and hate to see him go, I own three sports jerseys... two are Patrice Bergeron and the other is Bogaerts. But SD is going to rue that contract sooner than later.

Every damn thread in this place turns into irrational discussion about Bloom needing to be fired for whatever meaningless thing happened that day, or JWH isn't willing to build a championship team. Literally every single thread. "Anti-Bloomers" were complaining about it in the Devers extension thread, for crying out loud. It's absolutely exhausting. This place has turned into a cesspool of whining and complaining and it has turned talking about baseball into the opposite of fun for many of us who love the game whether the Sox are winning or losing.

"Signed players more befitting a team with the Sox's payroll"? They are within about $12M of the luxury tax threshold (depending on what site you use), with a clear goal of being able to start building a team from within. $12M from losing draft slots and available international pool money if they decide to QO a player or sign a player who received a QO next season. Every year they go over the threshold coasts them that, and, yes, more money. I agree with people, even before today, that they were a Middle Infielder short on this team, but they aren't in a position to sign somebody like Correa right now, and they have a lot more reasons than being cheap. You can't both build a team with depth AND sign every big free agent on the market, unless you have a crazy owner like Cohen. And yet people whine in every god damned thread about them not spending money. They literally just gave $320M to a guy who is going to be their cornerstone for a decade.

This website is dying a slow death because a small but very vocal group of people get angry about literally everything the team does, and need to scream from the mountaintops, the rooftops and in the shower about how much better anyone would do running the team than current ownership.

I'm going to go be a Royals fan. At least trying to cheer for their (actual) shitty team is fun.
 

wibi

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
11,839
"They"--and I'm thinking of one poster in particular who is especially nasty to anyone who deviates from the Bloom line--should not make projections about the team based on expected performance of a few oft-injured players.

What should the Sox have done? I dunno, built a team with more depth? Signed players more befitting of a team with the Sox's payroll and historical aspirations?

My point here is that a few of us have expressed repeated concerns about the team, only to be belittled. The Story injury all but ensures that the most dire forecasts will be accurate. I'd love it if this injury inspires those in this forum who've cheerled for Bloom, and attacked those of us who've been skeptical, to do a little self-reflection.
That's some great wish casting but I think you might want to do a little more reflection if you think the Story injury all but ensures that the most dire forecasts will accurate.

In the words of many mods ... Do better
 

cornwalls@6

Less observant than others
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
6,249
from the wilds of western ma
Shitty news, obviously. I'm in the sign Andrus or Iglesias camp, and hope Story has, at minimum, an uneventful recovery. And maybe even exceeds or is on the early end of the expected range. I'm hoping Bloom has been on the hunt for an outfield bat via trade or FA anyway, so will hold-off being too dire about the lineup until we have a good idea of what the roster construction will be heading into the season.
 

Petagine in a Bottle

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 13, 2021
11,922
Gammo is tweeting about Nick Ahmed. More injury risk (shoulder was hurt last year) but he'd come cheap I suppose and be a one-year make-good or get lost guy.
Local guy, from Western Mass, so I’m sure Gammons would love to see it. A little pop, lousy average, but yeah, on a one year deal he seems like a pretty good fit. Good defensively.
 

wibi

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
11,839
Story...wait...may we call it a "bad contract" ?
An injury shouldnt make a contract bad. Injuries happen and arent a great metric of the value of the contract.

It would be a bad contract if the Red Sox knew about his elbow fragility before signing him and still signed him without any injury protection.