Patience should be the by-word, this year's team is actually better in terms of the rebuild than last year, it's younger and more talented.
But it's also more inconsistent.
The real problem is starting pitching, and that's due to rushing a bunch of young pitchers who really needed to stay in AAA and pitch every five days and work on command and secondary stuff.
But you start with Nola and Eickhoff, and have credible top of the rotation arms in Pivetta, Velasquez, Eflin, and back of the rotation possibilities like Lively, Leiter, Eshelman, Thompson and a bunch of young arms behind them that will arrive in the next two to three years like Anderson, Kilome, El Garcia, etc. It may take a couple years for this group to jell, but there's safety in numbers. Same in the bullpen where they're stockpiling 95 MPH arms and a couple starters may move there eventually.
There was never a question about Alfaro's raw tools, but the fact that by age 24 he hasn't put it together is concening, but they can keep him on the bench for the next two years, let him start 60 games, get 200 PA in winter ball and take the starting job when he's ready, but there's no reason to give it to him before he's earned it. At this point it may make more sense to keep Rupp as the starter, Knapp as a supersub and let Alfaro grow into the job than force the issue, continuity for young pitchers is more important than a second tier prospect - though if a veteran catcher who can handle pitchers comes available, it could be a good short-term move.
Franco is frustrating, but also young enough to turn it around. But they need a credible 3B prospect in AA or above as insurance.
Cozens may never make the show, Quinn is a long-shot, but Tocci and Tromp will be in AAA ball next year with Randolph in Reading,and probably Moniak and Haseley in Clearwater.
They've traded for a lot of prospects since the summer of 2015, but they've also stripped the team of veterans, right now we're talking Blanco, Nava on DL, and Hernandez as the senior statesman. Garcia in the pen is a very inexperienced 30. Problem is the kids need to play everyday to determine who's a keeper, so 2018 may still be ugly until they grow up.
