How To Ruin a Franchise

As we watch this year's playoffs, note that the heart of the Phillies came via a strong run of first-round picks from 1998 through 2002 (Gavin Floyd was their #1 pick in 2001):

2002: Cole Hamels
2000: Chase Utley
1999: Brett Myers
1998: Pat Burrell

Compare that list to the Bucs, who had higher selections in 2002 and 1999 and took pitchers ahead of pitchers the Phillies took:

2002: Bryan Bullington #1 overall
2001: John VanBenschoten #8
2000: Sean Burnett #19
1999: Bobby Bradley #8
1998: Clinton Johnston #15

What a horrible list of picks. Only one player with really any chance of still contributing to the franchise and he's a long reliever at that.

Even worse is their list of their #1 picks since 1993. Really, no other explanation is needed for why the Bucs stink than this:

1997 J.J. Davis
1996 Kris Benson
1995 Chad Hermansen
1994 Mark Farris
1993 Charles Peterson
1992 Jason Kendall
1991 Jonathan Farrell
1990 Kurt Miller
1989 Willie Greene
1988 Austin Manahan
1987 Mark Merchant

When you have to argue about whether Kris Benson or Jason Kendall was your best #1 pick over the course of 16 years, you're in trouble. Just when the #1 picks from '87 and '88 should have been coming up to replace Bonilla and Bonds, we were stuck with Merchant and Manahan, who never made the majors.

But also know that this list spans more than one GM or front office administration. It's not just Dave Littlefield who has ruined the Pirates.