3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
By Tyler Maher
3. Waiting For Injured Players to Return
A big reason why Bloom didn’t do much at the deadline was because Boston had a number of key players on the injured list that were set to return in August, including Story, Chris Sale, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck.
The problem is that the Red Sox needed help before then. The team lost seven out of eight in late July and early August, which significantly damaged their playoff odds. If Bloom had been more proactive about bringing in help rather than passively waiting for players to come back, Boston might have survived that stretch.
Instead, he let the team run on fumes longer than necessary and made their job even harder in August and September. Now they have less time to make up more ground. They also need the aforementioned injured players to a) contribute immediately (no time for rust!) and b) stay healthy the rest of the way.
Not surprisingly, none of those players have had the impact that was hoped for yet. They’ve all battled some struggles and are still getting back to 100% as they try to find their groove during the heat of a pennant race.
Players get hurt in baseball all the time — it’s just part of the game. Good general managers find ways to effectively replace them, either internally or externally. Bloom, on the other hand, simply waits for them to replace themselves.
Looking to bet on the Red Sox down the stretch? Make sure to do it at Caesars Sportsbook, which just released a terrific new welcome offer. New users who sign up through the exclusive Chowder and Champion link below will unlock a $250 guaranteed bonus when they place a single $50 bet. It doesn’t even matter if that bet wins or loses, you get the full bonus either way. This offer expires soon though, so make sure to cash in now before it’s too late!