Steel, I think that too, I feel there is progress, and the team is moving in the right direction. But just because you and I, and others, may feel that way, doesn't mean that it will actually come to pass. We're still in the mode of hopes and wishes, because until we actually see a winning season, that's all we have, and have had for nigh onto 20 years now.

Look, I'm one of the most optimistic people around. I don't like a lot of negativity in general. And I will go along that Smizik is playing cards, but until we see winning seasons at the ML level, those cards, like them or not, are still fair.

Besides that....I do think some of his criticisms are fair even on the face of it. We've seen signings of major ball players who are part of a core before. We've seen, as has been pointed out, the makings of a nice ranking in the minors before (not since the latter 90s but still). Prospects, especially in baseball, don't always turn out, or even if they do so, rarely in a progressive trajectory. Again...I agree we're on a good track, but that's all it is, a track with little to no, other than a half season of seeming progress, results at the only level that ultimately matters: the major league ballclub.

Though I fully understand and sympathize with critics, which apparently you do not, that's fine. We can agree to disagree on that. What we can agree with is I'm also looking forward to the coming season, and beyond. Though they are still just hopes, they are high hopes, at least on my part. It's spring and for me, spring is the season where hope springs eternal when it comes to my baseball team.

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Playing football was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. If I could go out today and suit up, I would do it.--Jack Butler

There is a difference between being critical and outright trolling a fanbase though. I can be as critical, if not more than Smizik, but overall I think the front office has done a good job.

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This is Getting Old


https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsGettingOld

No doubt he's trolling it. He'll come down on all sides just to stir the shit.

Look, I'm not in the business of defending Smizik. I don't mind him as much as many of you guys do, and I try to keep links to his blog to a minimum. I could really give two shits about him, I was more in the line of saying that criticisms are fair, no matter their source, until the team...on the right track or not...shows positive results (wins) at the ML level.

I read Smizik occasionally, not all the time. I find much of it tiresome.

When it comes to baseball and particularly the Buccos, your blog tops my list every time, Sham.

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Playing football was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. If I could go out today and suit up, I would do it.--Jack Butler