My dad and I were talking about this today at dinner. I think this team was built to win now. I know it’s never known how a team will come together so it is a risk. But I told my dad I thought Minge knew his seat was hot. He knew he had to prove something this year so he built this team to win now. And next year, although recruiting looks to be a little better, will be another “rebuild” year and the cycle starts over again.
That is somewhat the case, but I think he did an OK job of getting pieces that can or will return. We have another year of Pitre and McCoy as returning starters recruited from HS. Then you have some transfers that are also sophomores thar could return next year like Waldschmidt. Then guys like Herrera could return. So there is a core there a bit, but still probably a lot to replace.
Pitching is where it gets worse I think. Conceivably Cotto, Hagenow, Lee, Williams, Strickland, Bosma, Giles, Hise, Logue and Martin are all draft eligible. I doubt we lose all those, but wouldn't surprise me to lose the majority. So, we'd be rebuilding the pitching staff to some degree, with building blocks like Moore and Smith still there.
But I think this new setup of transfers may work for Mingione better than the old system. They seem to have a decent eye for some collegiate talent and a bigger pool of that with the portal might help. We will see.
