Actually AF, your latest post gave credibility to my concerns. Look at the list.. While I may agree with you on the pleasant surprises, almost none of them are considered our best prospects and most of them are whats known as "spear carriers", guys who can contribute and help fill out a roster but not be real difference makers.
Counter that with your list of the concerns. A good case can be made that in Williams, Alfaro, Thompson, Appel, Cozens and Quinn you are naming 6 of our supposed top 10-12 prospects and you didn't even mention Crawford.
Look, I hope I am wrong but I know the opportunity to trade players like Hamels and Giles are rare and you simply cannot miss on this and while I was very excited about both deals [though less so when Fisher was taken out of the Giles deal and Appel was added] I am a bit concerned.
If Thompson and Williams don't pan out, then Alfaro had better become a near All-Star because it will be he and Eickhoff that constitute all thats left of that deal.
And while I love the electric stuff of VV, if he is moved to the bullpen and Appel doesn't make it then the Phils basically dealt one flame throwing closer for another.
Look, I understand its early and things can change. But I am experiencing these nagging doubts about just how deep this system truly is and I have not been happy with the loss of a few guys [Goeddel, Asher] that helped make the system as deep as it once appeared.
I mean, we just went through a period where it seemed all the stars were aligned...lots of money to spend, an ability to go over the international limit for a year, the #1 draft pick in the nation, more money allotment to spend than nearly any team in baseball on the international front and a new front office seemingly eager to move forward.
Now??? I see guys like Kendrick, Buchholz, Saunders and Benoit, guys I will never see as real true Phillies, clogging up the lineup cards while players like Neris and Altherr [true Phillies to me] languishing in secondary roles and it gives me pause.
I have never been a fan of Keith Law but I do think he knows his stuff and he has never been as high on the Phils system as many of us were. I hope he is wrong because if he is right, we sure blew what looked like the Perfect Storm and the last thing I want is another ticket to middle of the pack mediocrity.