there's two aspects of the Rizzo system of building an MLB team that have, for the most part, been very good. The first is Johnny DiPuglia's Caribbean and latin america operation and the second is his ability to cut worthwhile trades. DiPuglia's guys are most of the products from the system who have made any contribution since we had the high picks a decade plus ago. In terms of trades, I think he is decisive depending on the direction of the team. The Eaton deal, and perhaps the Doolittle / Madsen deal, are the epitome of not flinching when the goal is to win quickly and plug holes. The Soto deal certainly was decisive when the goal was clearly to rebuild. Drafting has been horrid, and free agency I think is limited by the Lerners views on how to do deals.
Horrid drafting ensures a perpetual rebuild unless the stars really align. The last run was jumpstarted by back to back number 1 overall picks that because dominant MLB players followed by the guy who should have gone number 1 slipping to us at 6. Is that what we're counting on happening again?
