The Red Sox have become almost unwatchable

 

The Red Sox, after an excellent month of June, have been historically awful in July and so far in August and after losing three of four games in Kansas City over the weekend to the lowly Royals, stand in last place in the American League East at 54-56. They’re five games out of the third and final playoff spot in the American League.
Given how little Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom did to improve the team that came within two games of going to the World Series in 2021 in the off season --- especially with respect to the bullpen and the lack of a closer --- it shouldn’t come as a surprise how bad the team has become.
And there’s no reason at all for optimism, especially with the Red Sox scheduled to play the Atlanta Braves two games at home on Tuesday and Wednesday, which will be followed by a game against AL East rival Baltimore and three more against the New York Yankees. The Red Sox have yet to win a series against the AL East; going 2-2 in a four-game series at Yankee Stadium was the best that they could muster.
With that in mind, here are nine thoughts about the state of the Red Sox:
1. It would appear to be an inescapable conclusion that owner John Henry doesn’t really care about the team as he’s let Bloom, the baseball boss since the fall of 2019, systematically dismantle the team; his inexplicable move to trade away catcher Christian Vasquez at the deadline for two low-level Houston Astros prospects at a time when Vasquez, especially with Rafael Devers on the injured list, had been the team's best offensive player, was the latest indication of Bloom’s intent to rip apart this once-proud team.
2. It’s really telling that after falling two wins shy of making the World Series last year, that Bloom did very little to improve the team in the off season --- and arguably made it worse by trading away right fielder Hunter Renfroe. We could have used his 19 homers as the Sox are way down on their home run totals.
3. Bloom’s failure to address the bullpen enough in the offseason --- and to sign a legitimate closer --- set up the Sox for failure as they blew a league-leading high number of saves in the first half of the season. And the misguided decision to start the team’s top bullpen weapon, Garrett Whitlock, left the pen even more barren until finally returning him to the pen after the All-Star break.
Then, by not bringing in a reliable reliever at the trade deadline, he forced manager Alex Cora into using horrible relievers such as Darwinzon Hernandez, who should be designated for assignment after walking the bases loaded in relief on Sunday. He’s another example of a guy who can pitch in the minors, but not the majors.
To make matters worse, Bloom had to give up the only semi-reliable lefty in the pen, Jake Diekman, at the deadline, to the White Sox for a backup catcher. True, Diekman walked too many, but he was at least better than Hernandez.
4. Bloom also failed to address first base in the offseason, and after not re-signing Kyle Schwarber, he left Bobby Dalbec at first. After Dalbec was hitting 200 or less, Bloom promoted his binky he got in the Andrew Benintendi trade, Franchy Cordero, and had the outfielder playing first despite the fact that he’s an atrocious fielder.
Thankfully, Cordero is back in Worcester after playing hellacious defense in Boston --- I saw him make TWO ERRORS ON THE SAME PLAY in a game they lost 7-6 to the Guardians on July 27^th --- and Dalbec has spurts of hitting, but that’s it.
He finally got Eric Hosmer at the trade deadline to play first, but only because, as many pundits have pointed out, he fell into the Sox’ lap after Hosmer invoked his no-trade clause and refused to be flipped to the Nationals from the Padres at the trade deadline as part of the mega Juan Soto deal between the two clubs.
5. The trade deadline was confusing and atrocious. See previous comments on the Vasquez trade.
6. Too many players playing for the Red Sox aren't Major Leaguers. Exhibit A is Jarren Duran, who is an atrocious outfielder, has a lousy attitude  --- and can’t hit. He should have been demoted a long time ago!
7. Dumping Jackie Bradley Jr. (JBJ) for nothing was absurd. He’s the best or second best centerfielder I’ve seen in my lifetime for the Red Sox after Fred Lynn and his spectacular  defense is worth keeping him.
Duran’s embarrassing plays in the field --- the inside-the-park homer gaffe when he lost the ball in the lights on Friday, July 22 (the embarrassing 28-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays) --- and his three bonehead plays in Sunday’s loss to the Royals should have been the signal to send his butt down to Worcester. But he’s still the Sox centerfielder. Disgusting and embarrassing for the organization and its longtime fans.
8. Sign Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts. If you doubt the worth of these two backbones of the club to the Red Sox, then you’re not a fan of the club or baseball.
Note to Bloom: You’ve been in Boston for nearly three years, start acting like it. BOSTON IS NOT TAMPA BAY, ACT ACCORDINGLY AND SIGN CORNERSTONES DEVERS AND BOGAERTS!
9A. Bloom hoards prospects but arguably has neglected the parent club. He pays lip service to the concept of staying competitive in the Majors, but clearly doesn’t care about holding on to stars.
9B. Bloom bears responsibility for the debacle that this season has become and may have to go if he doesn’t pay more attention to the parent club at Fenway.
Fans are paying the highest prices in the Majors to see the Red Sox play at Fenway and they deserve much better