1. The Failure to Correctly Assess One's Team.

2. A Distrust of Minor League Statistics.

3. Overvaluing a Pitcher's Won/Loss Record.

4. Team Chemistry/Make-up.

An inaccurate Reds reference.

July 21, 1995: The Reds traded Deion Sanders, John Roper, Ricky Pickett, Scott Service and Dave McCarty to the Giants for Mark Portugal, Dave Burba and Darren Lewis. In an effort to plug a gap in the Reds' rotation, Reds' GM Jim Bowden traded his leadoff man, Sanders, to fill the fourth and fifth slots in the Reds' rotation. During the remainder of the season, the deal appeared to be a wash. However, when the Reds reached the postseason, they reduced their rotation to a three-man staff. This put Portugal and Burba on the sidelines and eliminated the benefit of the trade. Umm, The Reds swept the Dodgers 3-0. They were then down 3-0 to the Braves and had to pitch Pete Schourek in game 4. Thus, the postseason net effect was that the Reds were without a leadoff hitter and without a pennant. Yeah, they really missed Sander's .621 OPS. All series long, the Reds advanced baserunners into scoring position only to fall victim to poor BA with RISP.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz0vDqPgqg3
5. The Trading of Young Stars.

All in all, a good read, but the 1995 Reds' reference is ridiculous.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...l?xid=Fanhouse