The first part was what Elias spoke of immediately after the draft. I agree. I get the SSS skepticism, but it isn’t as much for me about the stats as it is about the process that Kjerstad showed in the video I watched. The mechanics and approach were much improved. Therefore, I think the success he had is sustainable. Not as confident in Servideo, but he is a toolsy guy I like where they got him.
A guy I have cited as a big junior riser who was similar is JJ Bleday. Andrew Benintendi is a very different player, but had a meteoric rise from obscurity as a junior.
I don't want to disagree about the O's approach to rebuilding with the posters in this thread. I actually think they have enough starting pitching to keep us in most games, assuming all of Baumann, Lowther, Akin, Kremer, Cobb, Means, Zimmerman, Smith, Bradish and Wells get an opportunity. I'm not saying they all stick, but I think they're good enough to be competitive. Position players are a different story.
With that said, in a vaccuum, Eshelman is a fine move. Depth guy. Mop up guy. Usually won't kill you. He's no Mike Wright. Has value at a minimum salary, but isn't in the conversation for competitiveness.
Exactly...and while they operate with different financial constraints, they also had a barren MiL system at the time too.
But they made the right decision to trade guys, develop what they did have well and got right back there.
While not the best example, the Yankees "sell off" in 2016 shows that a rebuild does not need to take years and years. They traded a huge trade chip in Chapman for Gleyber Torres, traded Andrew Miller for some good pieces, traded Beltran for Tate (which got them Britton shortly thereafter) made a few more moves, and were competitive again. Again, they operate with different financial constraints, etc., but this is proof that a rebuild does not need to include purposely terrible seasons.
Or the more likely concern, from my perspective, is it's just a SSS. Don't want to over react to a hot streak. Every hitter who ever played has had them.
With Kjerstad, he also had some team USA moments if I remember correctly, so hopefully this is a reflection of what he is and not a hot month at the plate.
This is true. And to this point, the hardcore tanking of the Sixers netted them two very good draft picks at the top of the draft (Embiid and Simmons) and two awful early picks (Okafor and Noel). Being awful for good draft positioning does not always yield results.