You do realize that without Strasburg and Harper they would still be in first or second place in the NL East this year, don't you?
On the other point, every single instance of the "Lerners being cheap" to my memory, was proved to be correct in retrospect.
First it was "OMG U CANT LET SORIANO LEAVE!!!!!"
Then, "DUNN LEAVING! CHEAP AZZ LERNERZ!"
Then, "CHEAP LERNERS TRADE OUR CLOSER FOR STUPID CATCHING PROSPECT"
Then, "LERNERZ WONT PONY UP FOR CARL CRAWFORD WTFFFF!"
Then, "WHY LERNERZ LET DESMOND KEEP PLAYING; SIGN REYEZZZZZZ!" (2.7 WAR to 1.4 WAR)
Then, "CHEAP LERNERZ RATHER PAY EDWIN JACKSON ONE YEAR THAN AWEZOME MARK BUERHLE 5 YEARS!" (1.3 to 1.3)
They've resigned the right players, made insightful trades, given the right guys long leashes, etc.