Welllll.....perhaps.
I would agree with your sentiments if the major league roster churn you describe so well were all that this team was doing. In that case, yes, you're right, it would be the same old...same old. The one possibility of redemption, however, is the fact that for two years running, the front office has---believe it or not---done exactly what it should have done in terms of the amateur draft. Really, I'm hard pressed to find anything to disagree with in terms of the past two drafts. There have been numerous "over-slot" signings up and down the draft, and even this past year's so-called "reach" pick, first rounder Tony Sanchez, has looked awfully good in his limited professional action thus far. Granted, he should be mashing in A-ball because he played major college baseball. Even so, he's done quite well.
The only player you might quibble with just a bit was Tanner Scheppers, and he was a guy who was (and is) a significant injury risk who still received a substantial offer from the Pirates that would have made him a millionaire based on signing bonus alone.
Because of this, I am willing to wait this out for another two seasons to see what happens when our kids hit the big time en masse---albeit with gritted teeth and with some criticism of some of the deals Huntington has made with our big league club. But it's hard to argue with the vast improvement in our minor league system, and so I won't. What will tell the tale is what, if anything, this front office does to add to the young core once it becomes at least somewhat competitive. If at that point, which I expect will be 2012-2013 and following, if at that point they don't step up to the plate and add some veteran talent, then you will know that they are not serious about winning.
