The Phillies have been willing to invest in the draft over the last few years. While the J.D. Drew fiasco of 1997 still sticks in the collective craw of Philly fanatics, the 1998 draft class was excellent. The front office has also revamped and increased their efforts in Latin America. Such efforts usually take awhile to bear fruit, but in the long run they are very cost-effective ways to stock the system.

Adam Eaton, one of the system's brightest stars, was the key figure in the trade with the Padres that brought Andy Ashby back to town. There are other power arms in the lower minors, but it will be a couple of years before they reach Veterans Stadium. The 1999 draft, as we will see below, did not go well past the first round, which could hurt the depth of the system. Rebuilding takes time, effort, patience, and more time. The Phils have a good foundation in place, but work still remains.

After Myers, however, the draft was a disappointment.

The selection of Myers looks terrific, but the failure to sign Cooper, Jacobson's injury, and Pautz's mediocre performance were blows to system depth.