There was another constant though, by his side – Eric DeCosta. So I think EDC makes a fascinating case study in humility, self-development and team-building. He saw a great team-builder change his approach and build two different teams – he was there for all of it. But also because there was so much success, particularly in the draft, during Ozzie’s tenure, that it would be so easy to fall into the crash and burn pitfall that lies in wait if he were to try and replicate Ozzie’s approach, lock, stock and barrel.

Having studied other team’s draft histories, I have noticed that patterns start to emerge that betray a little, what types of players different teams are looking for and what they are want to do on draft night. In the same way that teams study play-calling tendencies before a game, we can begin to evaluate team’s drafting tendencies when considering whether to trade up and above them or to play out scenarios on who might be there from our board when we pick.