No way they go into the 2nd season in the new stadium and suck again.
Here's the thing about that - they're not likely to suck again. At least not as badly, for several reasons.
1.) We've likely seen the worst of Swanson we're going to see. That's not to say this is going to be his breakout season, but I find it really hard to believe that he's going to deliver a .276 wOBA again. He's just a better hitter than that - even if he's not a world-beater.
2.) The rotation is going to be better. That's not to say it's going to be good enough to get them to the playoffs, but this crop - without even getting to Allard/Soroka/Wright - is simply better than and more capable of making adjustments than Folty (thus far), Wisler, and Blair. I understand it's one of those intangibles that our numbers-minded friends hate, but you can just see the wheels turning when Gohara, Newcomb, Fried, and Sims get knocked around a bit. They don't throw their hands up like Folty does, they don't give you that completely flustered "what the *ell should I throw now???" look like we've all seen from Wisler. They're actually learning - struggling like all youngsters do, but learning. While none of them may ever ultimately reach their ceilings, they're going to be better than what we've had, and with only moderate bouncebacks from Julio and Folty, the starting pitching will be better.
3.) The pen will be better by default - even if they add no one. Minter's here for good. Winkler looks healthy. Lindgren and Rivero could be huge in-house additions. One of Sims and Fried might ultimately be too. For all the lack of forward thinking moves, they at least realize that there's NO WAY you can compete without a competent pen today. Even without spending money on a big-name Closer, playing at the Kintzler/McGee level is far better than going to battle with the Jason Mottes and Jim Johnsons of the world.
Just trying to read between the lines (like we all do)...
1.) I think they're sold on Riley. We all have to let it play out, and they may very well be wrong, but that's what I take from the "we don't have any money" stance. That doesn't mean that they have tons, but it's impossible for them to be broke with Colon and Garcia's money coming off the books. I won't disagree that this may not be the time to run out there and spend that money to try to get into the wildcard discussion, but there are going to be upgrades over Camargo/Ruiz available on shorter-term deals if they're really feeling the pressure to start winning. Just as nsacpi mentions, you could likely pay for Nunez at the very least by simply declining Dickey's option if he hasn't decided to hang it up.
2.) The talk of a Markakis/Kemp platoon is for real - but not because they're trying to snow anybody. I'm more convinced than ever that the decision has already been made and that barring injury Acuna's going to be in the Opening Day lineup. There's your "splash" to get the general fans excited. Beyond that, what happens with Kemp/Markakis/Adams is absolutely fluid. You just go into the offseason with all three available and take the best offer you get for one (or maybe even two if you get lucky) - if that turns out to be a "decent" (40-45 FV) prospect for Adams, you wind up with the old guys platooning. Whether they have money or not, it's pretty obvious they're going to have to be beaten with a stick to swallow money on either of those guys.
3.) Not sure why anyone would question Hart - or anyone else for that matter - for simply waiting in the hopes that Dickey makes the call himself and saves you the buyout money. That's simply smart business. Expressing sour grapes over that decision just shows your personal disdain for whatever decisions they make rather than looking at them objectively. 29 other teams would be waiting for Dickey to call it quits on his own and save them that money too.
