So, because no one "predicted" that the players acquired would perform so well, in spite of them actually performing well and actually assisting in getting the Pirates to the WC game should be the litmus test?
Wow.
I'd hate to work for you. Let's see......I see something no one else sees, make some moves and the company makes tons of money. You call me in and tell me, Yeah, the company made millions because of your shrewd moves, but we have to let you go because no one would have predicted it!
The same crowd bemoaning the acquisition of Happ howled the loudest when the Pirates let him walk!
I get the Nutting hate, I hate him and this situation as well, but at least make sense, particularly with the benefit of hindsight.
The 98 win team was a mirage. Just like the Miracle team that contended briefly in the late 90's.
Come on, that is not what happened and you know it. The Pirates didn't see something in Happ that no one else did leading to them acquiring him.
They grabbed him at the 11th hour after their other moves fell through because they were unwilling to pull the trigger. He was literally like their 20th option that season.
You think the Pirates thought Happ would outperform Price or a number of other pitchers traded during that trade deadline year in the 2nd half of that season and that is why they acquired him? You really think that?
This wasn't a business man seeing an opportunity that no one else sees so your example is not relevant at all.
This was a team that grabbed what was left on the scrap heap in Happ and got lucky with the results.
They tried doing the same garbage when Burnett retired by continuing to trot out Jeff Locke, adding a 39 year old Vogelsong, etc.. to replace guys in the rotation when they had a legit chance to compete.