On Bloom and revisionist history

[Jeff Goldblum]

I'm not sure why this needs to be repeated every single day for some people, but.... Mo left the organization in such shambles that the only way to correct was to burn it down to the foundation and completely start from scratch.

[mattmitchl44]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/ch ... a127&ei=18

Ken Rosenthal's take on Chaim Bloom and what he's doing in St. Louis.

[renostl]

Bloom, 40, served as chief baseball officer of the Red Sox from 2019-23. Boston reached the 2021 American League Championship Series under Bloom’s guidance. After the Red Sox won 92 games in '21, they fell on hard times in '22 (78-84) and '23 (78-84), finishing last in the AL East in both seasons.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak first mentioned the possibility of bringing in an outside resource during the General Managers Meetings in November. Bloom will work under Mozeliak, advising on a variety of baseball-operations areas.

Mozeliak said he first approached Bloom about the possibility of an advisory role in September when the latter parted ways with the Red Sox. Mozeliak described Bloom’s role as “more of a part-time role, more of an advisory role.” He said Bloom will not be relocating to St. Louis, but he will be with the club in Spring Training, and he will join the squad for home and road games during the season.

Mozeliak said Bloom wasn’t directly involved in recent Cardinals acquisitions of relief pitchers Andrew Kittredge, Nick Robertson and Ryan Fernandez -- players Bloom had ties to from his time working for the Red Sox and Rays. Still, Bloom proved to be a valuable resource in helping learn more about players the Cards added.

https://www.mlb.com/news/cardinals-hire-chaim-bloom

Just a little more flavor to savor. Those last place finishes in Boston sealed his fate there.

It sounds like you are trying to make a case for Bloom being a bad choice for Cards POBO? Is that correct? You are not convincing me with the argument above. Much has been written and spoken into microphones about how Bloom was at the mercy of an ownership in Boston that demanded Mookie Betts to be traded and that the MLB payroll to be slashed. Bloom was a good soldier and did his job. The results were short term failure and a replenishment of Boston's minor league system, which has since resulted in a noted upturn in prospects reaching the bigs.

Let me reiterate....TWO LAST PLACE FINISHES for a high market team. Wow...Just wow. You guys are all in on the Bloom train.

First off, Bloom absolutely deserved to be fired in Boston. Two last‑place finishes in a major‑market, high‑expectation city will get anyone removed. That’s just the reality of the job.

That said, it doesn’t mean he lacks strengths. Plenty of executives get fired, learn from it, and come back stronger with a clearer understanding of what works and what doesn’t. Bloom has been in MLB since around 2005 and climbed steadily from intern to player evaluation to operations, eventually reaching a VP‑level role in one of the most efficient, low‑budget organizations in baseball. That kind of rise doesn’t happen by accident.

Whether he ultimately succeeds or fails in St. Louis is unknown — nobody can say that today. But dismissing him as unqualified ignores the fact that he *does* have the tools and experience to be a legitimate front‑office leader.

After his time in Boston, he joined the Cardinals as a consultant and managed to convince the DeWitts — which is no small task — to invest in a brand‑new player‑development facility. He also helped bring in strong player‑development personnel, including Cef and his staff from Cleveland, an organization known for producing MLB‑ready talent.

From the outside, I’m not fully sold on all of his trades so far. The approach has been extremely pitching‑heavy with very few positional players coming in. That’s just my opinion. But he inherited a mess and is trying to rebuild the minors under Flores and the new development group. And given that Busch Stadium is a pitcher‑friendly park, stockpiling arms does make strategic sense.

I still believe they need more positional talent, but I’m also aware I’m just giving my perspective.

The bottom line: yes, Bloom failed in Boston — the standings make that clear. But pretending he’s unqualified or incapable ignores his long track record, his rise through MLB, and the organizational improvements he’s already pushed for in St. Louis.

Thanks. You're the first person to actually enumerate what Bloom has done. I now appreciate some of what he's done more and maybe can cut him some slack. That being said, I still see no reason for the forced losing streak. I mean they're eventually going to sign talent, right? Why not sign some now and help this team to not be so bad? Surely DeWitt and company aren't worried about what amounts to pocket change to him. I just don't understand why they have to force a terrible losing streak on the Cards fans. So get rid of some older veterans. Okay. Just replace some with younger free agents that have game. Maybe it's not a Kyle Tucker but there's free agents out there that could really help these young guys and this young team.

Those events were always there to be seen and were not hidden.

IF is was only about money why not just let MO do the cutting? There no need to have Bloom and MO on staff.
No need for any of the additions to the FO. Just cut and the restart new after 2026. They've done the opposite
in an attempt to build. We easily see the cuts, but Bloom isn't needed for that. It is his vision for a
rebuild is why he has this job. IF it never happens, which is often the case since all ways fail, maybe it
can be the changes made in development that remains in the organization for years that will be
his legacy to the franchise.

1. Maybe Mo didn't want to put up with being the hatchet man for DeWitt.
2. Springfield just won the championship. The cupboard was not bare as has been widely circulated.
3. No matter what you guys think, Bloom did not invent the wheel or sliced bread. His job was to keep payroll down in Tampa. He did that.
4. He cut payroll in Boston. Then got fired.
5. Now he's doing the same thing in St Louis that he did in Tampa. The same thing he did in Boston that he got fired for.
6. Dewitt wanted to cut payroll. Why? Maybe the CBA and incoming possible strike? Maybe in preparation to sell the team? Who knows.
7. One thing is for sure. If you wanted to sell the team, this is the steps you'd take to do it. Not saying they will but this is how you do it.

1 Then quit. Still doesn't explain both on the payroll.
It also conveniently ignores the building part of the equation. It's happening. It costs to do. Costs more not to do
2. It's hyperbole to say that the farm was zero. I never have stated that
3-5. Cuts both ways anyone can slash. MO refuses send in Girsch. TB and Boston irrelevant. TB because their model has always been the same before and after Bloom. Boston transitional without patience. One could argue that the best parts of the current is due to Bloom and the whole Bregman, Devers and since moves will be a setback.
6. Maybe what he wants is a reset ASAP. That can't happen going down with the ship with $40M to SG and dwindling production from aged NA or WC who's production is matched by Burleson. Burleson at least shows up to work. WCs production is good at C, elsewhere not so much.
7. Guess work. However you OFTEN bring up a successful past. A past DeWitt was the #1 force in its creation. Jocketty before MO. Brought MO in to improve on Walt. Why think DeWitt is suddenly evil when the season hasn't even started yet?
Seems loyalty to that past would at the very least get us to OD roster for 2027.

1. True
2. True
3. - 5. I don't think Boston and Tampa are irrelevant, it just shows that Bloom has no problem holding down payroll, good or bad.
6. If they got something worthwhile for Gray then I'm okay with it, If it's something good. Arenado had to go. Contreras production still has to be replaced. Burelson did what he did last year with Contreras in the lineup. That production is now gone. Someone has to pick up the slack.
7. Because Dewitt has made it clear that money is more important than winning. He of the "Keep the powder dry" crusade. If anyone thinks Mo did anything without DeWitt's consent they have to be crazy.
Look, I don't have a problem with adjusting players and getting rid of the non-productive players. That's just part of the game. But they should still keep up adequate payroll and field some semblance of a professional team. The Cards should never ever be in last place with the fan following they have. It's a disgrace but I fear it will be a reality in this coming season. I certainly hope not.

6. 148 HR
The Cardinals were so bad at HR production last season that one can do something that we should never ever do. Project an increase by each player/position.
It is difficult to project any of them going under their last seasons production.
2B could double

[Cardinals1964]

I'm not sure why this needs to be repeated every single day for some people, but.... Mo left the organization in such shambles that the only way to correct was to burn it down to the foundation and completely start from scratch.

You’ll have to repeat if tomorrow, too. Some people like being miserable all the time when they can get I different hobby. Maybe one that they can participate in instead of relying on other athletes to make them feel like they accomplished something.

[ecleme22]

I'm not sure why this needs to be repeated every single day for some people, but.... Mo left the organization in such shambles that the only way to correct was to burn it down to the foundation and completely start from scratch.

I’ll also add that trading 3 older vets with 5 total years under contract isn’t that earth shattering.