I want to see them win, because this team is about the kids, and I want the kids to play well. Its a heck of a lot more fun to watch, for one thing.
But I'm just not that concerned about #1 v #3 because I think the key to building a top franchise isn't getting lucky in the draft, the Flyers had a great farm system before they got lucky in the lottery, luck is something you'd like, but it shouldn't replace hard work and preparation. Houston had 3 #1 picks and ended up with one top player, their best player was a cheap LA signing and they hit on a couple other 1st rd picks, but they've did a lousy job drafting overall, and that's why I think their success is illusonary, they've depended on winning trades and patching with older free agents to build a winning team, and that rarely continues to work.
Right now we have a potentially great OF with a traded 2nd rd pick, a Rule 5 guy, and a 9th rd pick, a 5th rd 1B who's setting records. That's the kind of track record I want to see continued, where they're getting talent everywhere. If we end up trading Moniak because Tocci keeps improving, Haseley because WIlliams is better, so what - the purpose of wanting more 1st rd picks is a better shot of getting talent, not to have a lot of 1st rd picks. So I want to see the kids step up, because the more young players who develop, the stronger our future lineup and the more red and blue chip trade picks we have to address holes. It's nice to buy the best pitcher two years running in LA, but it's also nice to find some more Sixto's and Rangers.
Of course #1 is better than #3, but it's far more important to consistently identify and develop talent on a regular basis than think there's a magical player that can turn our fortunes around. Angels hit the jackpot with Trout, spent a lot of money, and had one excellent, one decent and three mediocre seasons in the last five. There's just no substitute for a long-term commitment to building and maintaining a top flight, DEEP farm system.
So I'll lose more sleep watching Franco and Alfaro chase balls out of the K-zone and get themselves out than where we pick this summer, because the next three years we really need a 3B and C who can hit the d**n ball. Whether we get a good or great player for 2021 I hope is relatively unimportant because by then we'll have developed a half dozen top players.