the issue is, if you are going to ignore big time or even mediocre free agents, and you wont' trade prospects for proven players, you have to BETTER than the other teams at drafting. You have to win the draft, year after year. Otherwise, you end up with at least three years of 95 loss teams. Ryan does get a ton of credit for what he did before. Certainly some dont' give him any credit.....some don't give Gardy credit, some used to rip on Kriby for hitting into too many double plays. Not sure what any of that has to to do with acknowledging that part of the issue is that this team has not drafted and developed enough good players. Whatever the reason, it is true. And, that isn't all on Smith. That's all my post was about, this isn't all Smith's fault, like some people keep posting.