Shapiro, as with any President, has a game plan that is focused on building a team as well as focusing on the business needs of ownership. In hindsight their trade of Revere for Storen backfired big time, but at the time it made sense as we had a suspect bullpen and felt that filling that void was more important and moving Pillar into the lead-off role was a practical idea. He (and the GM) did however acquire Grilli and Benoit, whom have been welcome additions to the bullpen. Their decision to sign Happ was excellent and well thought out.
So to me, the current leadership has proven they can build a winning organization, especially under the financial constraints in Cleveland.
I agree they made some good moves and have a proven history for building a "competitive" team, but they have never won.
Like I said at the trade deadline, Cleveland never acquires big names trading away the future. But this year they got the stopper Andrew Miller giving up prospects and it looks like that could be the difference to take them all the way.
They built a good foundation in Cleveland for success, but any winning that happens this year or next, Shapiro/Atkins can't take all the credit.
What he did for Toronto this year, we got Benoit, Upton and Liriano.
Very early on in May, it was evident Cecil was not himself, and we needed LH reliever in a bad way, We suffered thru Loup, Cecil and that ambidextrous guy Pat something. Gibby often had to leave in a RH guy to face LH hitters which also cost games.
He didn't get us a LH arm in the bullpen.
Early on, we could see this was a Right dominated, high SO, low BA, all-or-nothing, live and die by the HRs team. We needed a LH batter, contact hitter who could keep the rallies going; kinda like a LH Travis. Instead he got us Upton. He's been better of late, but still kills a lot of rallies.
Not addressing these needs contributed to this Sept tailspin.