I'd agree with that. Amaro was in a really weird position though. He was kind of in the "go win now" because they wanted to keep Howard around and continue building on that one crazy magical year, but they also wanted to appease the fanbase, and they also wanted to put together a team that would finish with a World Series or 2 and then try to rebuild.
The problem is precisely what you say. While doing that, you should be restocking your low minor leagues, so that the next crop is ready to jump in. Unfortunately Amaro gave everybody in their minor league system away to get that "team that can win now". But the team that could win now was full of question marks. He got too many old arms and thought they'd dominate. They didn't win the Series with dominant arms 1-4. They won it with great defense (led by Rollins up the middle), amazing and timely hitting by Rollins, Howard, Victorino, Utley, etc. They put together a really great team... and what do you know? The great players they had were for the most part homegrown players. Then they surround them with hired guns and fail miserably. Now they are screwed, because they don't have any young Ryan Howard/Chase Utley/Jimmy Rollins types coming up in their minor league system because Amaro is so myopic.
Unfortunate. I enjoyed watching them do well. Their fans are obnoxious, but my Pony League team was called the Phillies and I've rooted for them since a kid for that reason. I played third base and idolized Mike Schmidt. I loved watching Tug McGraw close out the world series way back in the 70's, because he was fun to watch pitch. I enjoyed the team that they built in the 2005-2010 time period, but it has really gone to crap.
If Sandberg doesn't succeed then it is going to get the Cubs to say "told you so", but Ryne has a great mind and he'll have hiccups this year for sure, but I think he'll also get another chance even if this doesn't work out. Maybe he'll come home and coach the M's and move into a management position at some point. I sure do think he could help with a particular young man named Dustin Ackley who seems to be lacking the two main characteristics Ryne had... 1- Cool to the point that it is almost intense. There is a fine line between relaxed and confident and intense and focused. Ryne was always in the game and focused, but wasn't edgy which Ackley seems to be. Maybe he needs to mellow out? 2- Confidence confidence confidence. Ryne NEVER looked desperate or concerned. Even if he made an error he didn't sit there and kick dirt and grouse around. He just did what he knew he was capable of doing and did it well. I think that what he offers has worked very well in the minors, and I think he'd be a great coach and eventual manager of young guys.
We'll see..... but I wish him well and then some. A class act.
