Red Sox fans will see a familiar face in Fall Classic
Division rival Rays take on Betts’ Dodgers
When the World Series kicks off Tuesday night, prepare for the endless lamentations of Red Sox fans everywhere.
This year’s matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays is the perfect storm of everything awful for the Fenway faithful, though it might not be immediately clear why.
The obvious reason plays in right field for L.A., a former Red Sox star whose trade from Beantown to La La Land will forever leave a bitter taste in the mouths of Boston fans. The trade of Mookie Betts, a generational talent, to the Dodgers for apparent payroll cuts is a tough one to swallow.
Every game of late, it seems, features one remarkable play by Betts, followed by a cut to the former AL MVP wearing a smile that only increases the pain. Red Sox fans are lovers scorned, cut deeply every time they see their beloved outfielder having fun and enjoying his new relationship.
Imagine the clash of sorrow and distanced happiness as Betts beams with his new teammates after winning a title in his first season away from Boston? Fans have continued to support the star from afar, turning their rage toward the team at home.
It’s understandable, given the circumstances of his departure.
But seeing Betts win a World Series in Dodger blue isn’t the worst thing that could happen in the coming days.
Not even close.
What could be worse than a former Sox star sold away for pennies on the dollar celebrating with his new team? Vindication for the ownership and management group that sent him away.
That’s exactly what would happen should the Rays come away victorious.
A no-name, no-star group winning against a team of players whose names belong on marquees. A group whose entire payroll just barely eclipses the combined contracts of Chris Sale, J.D. Martinez and Xander Bogaerts.
And one with enough traces of Chaim Bloom’s fingerprints still on it that it should terrify Red Sox Nation.
The Chief Baseball Officer in Boston for the great cost-cutting this spring, Bloom was brought in to run operations for the Sox because of his history of making something out of nothing in Tampa. A history akin to being given $20 to buy ingredients at a grocery store with the expectations of a gourmet meal for 10.
It’s been a recipe for success for the small-market Rays for years. And Bloom was a major part of that since 2011, when he was named the team’s Director of Baseball Operations.
He was brought to Boston with one major expectation: get the Red Sox below the competitive balance tax by any means necessary. Seeing the Rays celebrating a title at Globe Life Field in Arlington would have the front offices at Fenway Park celebrating the achievements of an AL East foe while seeing dollar big signs of their own.
Stars? Who needs them? Big contracts for big names? Unnecessary.
For a fanbase used to seeing things done in a certain way, it should be an unsettling thought. It’s not far-fetched to think the Sox would deal off their established cornerstones for prospects, building up the farm system and building a team of blue-collar ballplayers.
Being able to point to a World Series champion built with Bloom’s blueprint would absolve the Sox of any accusations of being cheap or of not caring. At least in the eyes of management.
Given how things went prior to the season, it’s easy to envision the scenario.
A Rays victory could mean the dealing away of Betts and David Price last spring could pale in comparison to the coming firesale of 2021. After all, Bloom has made something out of nothing before.
A scary thought for the hordes of fans already fed up with Red Sox management: further motivation to cut highend talent with the backing of recent history to show teams can win with payrolls well below $100 million.
For the sake of the future, it may be best for a star from Boston’s not-too-distant past to win and bring a bit of bittersweet heartache.
Which is pretty on-brand for a bizarre year like this one.