Bloom definately has his work cut out for him

[Southern Illinois]

After this season I have little confidence in Marmol's ability to use a pitching staff competently. He seems wedded to the idea of a pitcher needing to throw a certain number of pitches regardless.

And yet, with Fedde, Mikolas, and Pallante making up 3/5 of a rotation they were in the hunt until late in the year. I would argue he handled the pitching staff, such as it was, very well.

[ScotchMIrish]

21st in team ERA. 26th in batting average and hits allowed.

With average pitching this team would have made the playoffs.

[Cusecards]

In regards to putting together the kind of starting pitching staff needed to compete for post season play. Especially, if Gray is traded.

I predict that by August the starting pitchers will be McGreevy, Liberatore, Leahy, Doyle and Mathews. Bloom will please the boss by going young and cheap.

Very possible and would certainly be the best result if able to develop from within.
If Gray is traded they will probably use some of the cost savings to sign a vet short term.

[cardstatman]

If they trade Gray, their starting rotation will be among the 5 worst in MLB.

[icon]

In regards to putting together the kind of starting pitching staff needed to compete for post season play. Especially, if Gray is traded.

Sort of stating the obvious here

That's one of the things he specializes in.

[JuanAgosto]

Bloom needs to add a minimum of one starting pitcher (preferably two) this winter.

If he can acquire 2 bonafide prospects (position players), then he's off to a great start.

[redbirdfan51]

Bloom will be under fire quickly by a very critical impatient fan base that demands instant gratification. Hopefully, the changes made in the off season will result in a more competitive 2026 season to take some of the heat off an anxious fan base.

[butsir01]

I’d say that the fanbase has been much more than patient with ownership’s clownish administration of the club. It is time for ownership to fixits mistakes and if that means spending some dry powder, well, we’ve been forced to watch them accumulate piles of it , so, spend it!