Which was shrewder: Stockpiling an arsenal of young starting pitching? Or an array of promising young position players?
That had been the debate in recent years regarding whether the New York Mets or the Chicago Cubs were building the better model for sustained success.
Now, the Cubs are celebrating their first championship in 108 years. And the Mets, albeit coming off consecutive postseason appearances, are holding their collective breath that five young starting pitchers successfully return from surgeries.
"It's a cautionary tale for everybody," Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said at last week's GM meetings.