I don't think they're forgetting the expectations. But some year's teams take longer to "gel" than others. Baseball is weird like that. We've had years where we started hot but peaked too early, years where we peaked late (exactly when you want to), years where we peaked in the middle. I don't have a good answer for why that happens.

But I DO remember the 2008 season. We started 1-4, then reeled off 21 straight wins.

More recently and on an individual level, I also remember when Evan Phillips spent his first 2.9 seasons disappointing, then in his final 2 starts he was shutting down Charleston and pitching a gem against LSU, resulting in him getting taken in the 10th round by the Braves (he was drafted out of High School so his finish to that season wasn't the ONLY reason he was drafted high after that, but still). Strange things can, and do, happen.

The 2017 squad seems very much like a "sleeping giant" right now.