Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom described some of the challenges that will come out of the unique circumstances surrounding this year’s MLB Draft in a discussion with the Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald. Bloom’s organization is particularly aware of the value of an additional year of scouting, which allowed the team to select Andrew Benintendi in the first round in 2015—something that probably wouldn’t happen if teams’ exposure was limited to his nondescript freshman season the year before. But that’s precisely the scenario teams find themselves in now: they won’t have the same feel for which draft-eligible players would have taken an additional leap this season and might have to base those judgments on just a few weeks of play. In addition, the shortened format of the draft (no more than 10 rounds) could influence teams’ strategy, especially in the later rounds, where clubs might look to take risks on players who will command more than $20K (the maximum amount for which teams can sign undrafted players). All this means that more high school players might opt to forego pro ball in favor of a collegiate scholarship.
- Former Chicago Bulls front office executive Jerry Krause has received plenty of scrutiny recently, thanks to ESPN’s Michael Jordan docuseries, “The Last Dance.” But Krause’s tenure as the Bulls’ GM was bookended by a career as a baseball scout, where he worked most prominently with the White Sox. The Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales reflects on Krause’s astute eye and resolution as a scout; he was instrumental in swaying White Sox higher-ups to make a play for shortstop Ozzie Guillen (then a Padres minor-leaguer), who would of course go on to play 13 years and rack up 19.5 WAR with the South Siders—not to mention his role in managing the 2005 World Series team.
- Beginning May 15, the Rangers will institute pay cuts for some of their full-time employees, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Per Grant, employees above a certain salary threshold will have their pay reduced by roughly 10-20%, which will affect approximately half of the team’s full-time staffers. That said, there won’t be any layoffs or furloughs at this time. A number of high-rankings Rangers execs, including GM Jon Daniels, had already begun taking pay cuts in April, but this round will expand the scope of those measures. They’re one of just a few teams that won’t be paying teams in full through May, with a handful of teams implementing similar pay cuts, while the Rays have furloughed some of their employees.
Krause was a big part of the abysmal track record in the J2 signing period post Wilder scandal.
Really don’t nderstand why this guy gets so much love from media and higher ups from both sports.
I am much more of a baseball then a basketball fan, but look at the record of the Bulls and the fact he helped the White Sox win a Championship. There are few Executives that have his Winning record. As for tearing the Bulls down too early, Branch Rickey put it best “It is better to trade someone too early then too late.”
He deserves credit for turning the Bulls into what they became. Yes, they had Jordan, but he did a hell of a job building around Jordan – and that includes making the decision to replace Collins with Phil when he did. He also deserves the blame for letting his ego get in the way and tearing it down too early. Either way, he absolutely deserves recognition and *some* love for what he accomplished on that side.
As for the baseball side, I’m not very impressed. If Ozzie Guillen the player was his biggest accomplishment, I’d argue he was pretty bad at his job. That being said, the overall WAR (19.5) over 13 years doesn’t show how good Ozzie actually was. 19.0 of that WAR came over his first 7 season, and he was a 3-time All-Star. He was a very solid player, but I wouldn’t throw a parade for the scout that found him.
No one is throwing a parade for Krause for his tenure with the White Sox. But saying it was ego that had him leave the Bulls. I really doubt that. Why? 1: You go from being the GM of a team that has 3 Hall of Famers ( Jordan, Pippin and Rodman), one more that will join them (Paxton), and Kukoc who may as well, to being an MLB Scout. That is a huge comedown. But based on the article, you get the opinion he loved scouting. 2: Dealing with Jordan and Rodman was not easy. It is sad he could not defend himself nor see himself inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, but at least he got that reward.
I didn’t say his ego is what made him leave the Bulls. I said his ego is what destroyed the Bulls in the end.
Again, I believe he deserves a ton of recognition for what he did with the Bulls – probably more than he actually gets.
1. He’s getting drug through the mud, which only unsettles me because he’s not here to defend himself. In today’s groupthink and mob mentality culture on social media sites, the first/loudest message we hear becomes the popular narrative. Some people have clearly crossed a line on their keyboards.
2. The runner of a team is the owner, at the end of the day. Jerry Reinsdorf could’ve easily put his foot down and fronted the bill, but he allowed Krause to disassemble the team. He comes off in the doc whose intentionally trying to not be the villain. (Ex. His “Don’t look at me, I told Scottie it was a bad deal” bit.)
3. I’m in the camp where if a team has won that much, and if the owner is willing to pay the bill, then they deserve to defend until they lose. So I disagree with Krause on that, but understand he chose to think about life after Jordan. Regardless, had they stayed together, they would’ve needed a facelift and to evolve. It’s ironic because “evolving” the roster/coach is exactly what Krause excelled at and put the pieces in place to win six titles.
Well put. And so far people are giving Scottie Pippen a pass for being upset over a contract HE agreed to years before, and for postponing surgery that 1997 offseason. Selfish. Can’t blame Krause for that. Krause’ handling of Phil could have been better, sure. Krause could be blamed for the aftermath beyond 1998, yes. But so far the doc has painted a very negative picture based on Michael’s feelings. MJ might want to get over the Pistons craps. He overcame and conquered. Move on.
History shows that does not work. Look at the Yankees. They got old and did not make a World Series from 1965 ( when they finished last), until 1976. I am also a New York Islanders fan ( and I remember the four straight Stanley Cups), but the same thing happened and we have won 2 playoff series since the 80’s. I also think dealing with “Larger then life” characters like Michael Jordan and satisfying ownership is not easy. Miller Huggins had a fit dealing with Babe Ruth, so did most people dealing with George Steinbrenner. Can it be done successfully? Sure Joe Torre did ( and he is in Cooperstown), and so did Brian Cashman ( and he will likely be joining him), but it is not easy.
Krause did not excell at evolving. Krause couldnt draft after MJ left. He refused to adapt. Curry & Chandler draft was a gigantic bust. Krause desreves praise for gis contributions to 6 titles, but he also drove HOF coach out the door, becaue that coach wanted a fair wage, also drove GOAT out the door, two other HOF players.
Krause needed more credit then he deserved, so he burnt the house to the ground.
Krause drafted Scottie, traded Oakley, brought in Rodman, made Phil the head coach, etc. He moved the Bulls forward early in his tenure.
Ugh, it’s Paxson*, Yankee…
Krause did not go from the Bulls to being an MLB Scout. It was the other way around
you need to take about 20 percent off there bud. John Paxton is not a hall of famer. neither is Toni Kucrap.
Krauss is the basketball version of Carole Baskin….
Krause*
With all that baseball ⚾️ money, the Rangers and other teams can’t pay the front office people in full? BULLSHIT.
Get a clue before you comment again, idiot.
All of what baseball money? There is no baseball money this year.
Taking a small pay cut while sitting around doing nothing is a heck of a lot better than being furloughed.
If there is no baseball this year, which is the smart thing to do – Bloom gets baseball GM and executive of the year. Getting a haul for Mookie, Sale surgery? Pure genius
Says the same people who predicted over 2 million people would die. The smart thing to do is to get the country open and live. Play ball!
60k in less then two months. but hey that 60k dead dont mean jack to you.. GTFO
Yeah? 60k? You realize most those deaths are people 50 and older right man? Idk why people are shocked older people are most at risk of dying from a virus…….death is a tragic thing but let’s not use their deaths to make the virus into something it’s not.
Look at New York who’s been hit the hardest. The 18-44 age group has barely been hit.
statista.com/statistics/1109867/coronavirus-death-…
Yeah, who cares? It’s not like any American citizens love their parents and grandparents, right?
So don’t go visit your parents or grand parents…
You that selfish you have to go see them and put them at risk?
Phone calls, video chats, many ways to see them.
Furthermore, there are many ways to prevent elderly people from being affected such as: government delivery system for the elderly for essential items. Limiting access to nursing homes and other places (already in effect), and mandating companies wipe down surfaces in their stores more often….
So many ways to stop corona, flu, cold, and any other outbreak while still allowing people to live their lives and keeping those most at risk safe.
I wish I could punch you.
If phone calls and video chats are so easy and effective, what are you complaining about hOsEbEeLiOn? That is what you are restricted to right now. If that stuff is fine you have nothing to complain about, do you? Or is it just one of those things that is only okay when it happens to other people but not to you? It’s only good for the goose but NOT the gander? Are you just incredibly selfish or are you actually a sadist?
and this folks, is what a true christian patriot looks like.
no sarcasm, these types look exactly like this person (and funny enough, it’s this group of people dying of christian flu).
some patriots, huh? open up the country so more trumpturds can die of christian flu.
keep it up guys, you’ll make more atheists as a result of your greed and selfishness (and thanks for doing all the work, pal. funny how christians make themselves look so horrible without the slightest bit of effort. imagine how much you could do for the world if you channeled all your evil into good things… j/k, christians aren’t capable of doing good things).
What is genius about it? You think Bloom thought there would no season?
“Doctor! Doctor! This man is chocking!” “Well then, give him the Heimlich.” Genius!!!
No excuse for cutting UDFA bonus to 20k. That reeks of cheap team catering. It was 75k believe, before going up to 125k last cba and started going against allotment allowed. Just a rotten way to cheat kids out of money who may be thinking of turning pro to appease tightwad owners who shouldn’t be allowed in the game.
i say yet again.. too many teams, with too many markets that cannot afford these teams and owners of less than viable means forcing cheap measures onto the rest. These owners and teams need to be gone.
There are a lot of teams that can go away and no one care. Starting with Oakland and Tampa Bay.
I would expect this stupid type of comment from someone named NY Yankee. Typical center of universe garbage from losers like you who never left the state of NY. Narcisist much? Get a clue loser.
You do realize all 30 teams have fans that aren’t good, right?
Hey not all us Yankee fans are garbage… But a lot are.
Very true, because I’m actually among the ones that aren’t garbage.
Never left? Yankee fans are probably more spread out coast to coast than fans of any other team.
wow, keyboard warrior here!
look out everybody, we got a badass here!!
Yeah, yankee fans aren’t arrogant assnecks, right ?
Why would you pick two teams that are good, even if they’re poor, people who like baseball enjoy watching good teams.
Chester,
I see what u sort of started there and it would take 1 of 2 things to happen to fix the game and alienate fans either way:
1) Cut high end salaries and expenses drastically so that poorer teams can stay viable and remain or..
2) Initiate some sort of drastic profit sharing plan that is so un-capitalistic that there is -0- chance of it happening. You don’t have profitable corporations subsidizing losers anywhere else in this country, except with the government and MLB isn’t the government by a long way. Having owners give losers small (to them) amounts now is 1 thing. Having them split highly profitable tv deals because some have poor fan bases is another matter and isn’t going to happen.
I don’t see how long this mess can continue as is with small market owner groups always asking for more. The give away tree will stop and what happens then?
I was merely responding to his comment that “no one would care”. if those teams went away.
If the owners think further subsidizing the poor teams to increase competition, that’s their prerogative, but I don’t see it as likely either. I think what will happen is teams changing location since the league likely does not want to lose teams.
I actually don’t think lowering salaries would help at all, then the richer teams would just be able to buy more of the good players, due to the incentives that come to a player by playing in a bigger city
I would add the NHL to the bailout list ( Arizona Coyotes). But it is very true about MLB and weaker teams. This is especially true of the Rays and A’s. With Tampa Bay, While it is correct, they have a bad lease ( they cannot discuss moving until the lease ends in 2027), in a bad ballpark and in a bad location, the point is ownership was aware of all of these things when they purchased the team. When it comes to the A’s, things are worse: At least the Rays have an excuse, the A’s do not even have that. While I understand it is not easy to build in California, somehow the Sacramento Kings got it done, the Warriors did it, the owners of the Rams and Chargers are building in Inglewood ( although the cost is insane), and finally the Angels got an agreement done. Why not the A’s who play in the worst facility in Professional Sports in this Country? Other owners should not subsidize inept franchises like those two.
Sure. Baseball is aching to retract.
I’m glad that Jon Daniels is willing to take a pay cut, a nice selfless move. Plus, they’re not cutting employees, they look like saints compared to the other team in Texas right now lol.
What exactly was “non-descript” about scouting Nintendo’s freshman season at Arkansas? I know it wasn’t on the map until Ozark, but geez, Clinton found his way to the White House.
Neil Watkins from accounting is T-BONE!
Coco the monkey
Gammy! Gammy! Gammy!
Could have gotten equivalent leadership and production for much less.