As every off season comes to a close, people start making excuses for the FO. You start reading things like: the market was too high, no one was available, it a b ridge year etc., etc. I think people just are tryting to avoid the reality that the team isn't good enough to be a serious competitor and they want to start the season with hope. Even Fred has been susceptible to this false hope as he has said numerous time that he likes the moves made this off season and that he thinks the team will be improved. The reality is that the FO has made a very weak effort at improving the starting pitching which is our biggest need They are rolling the dice that last year's crew will improve. I think that is a bad strategy.