MLB Off-Topic

[l3ulvl]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I'm in a weird place with the tanking strategy. On one hand I understand, to avoid being good but not great you become bad on purpose and hope to strike gold and become great that way. I get it. But I simply can't root for my teams to lose. I've been in Detroit sports forums where fans get upset because the team won. It's unfathomable to me, I can't watch my team play and hope my team's batter strikes out, or my QB throws a pick, the shooter clanks the shots, or the goalie allows a bunch of softies. I watch games to root for my teams to win, I may say after a loss "oh well, at least it helps draft position" but that's just a consolation ploy

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I literally NEVER root for my team to lose, ever. I don't expect them to ever tank, or lose on purpose, for any reason. That said, I think people can easily mistake rebuilding for tanking. I'd rather my team rebuild and suffer through the tough times that go with it than just be mediocre with an occasional bright spot. There is nothing wrong with rebuilding at all.

[redsox4evur]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

David Price is the ****, in my book. Can't do any wrong from here on out.

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

David Price is the ****, in my book. Can't do any wrong from here on out.

He truly is an awesome guy.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I literally NEVER root for my team to lose, ever. I don't expect them to ever tank, or lose on purpose, for any reason. That said, I think people can easily mistake rebuilding for tanking. I'd rather my team rebuild and suffer through the tough times that go with it than just be mediocre with an occasional bright spot. There is nothing wrong with rebuilding at all.

Rebuilding is one thing. Constructing rosters to be purposefully bad "for a couple years," completely dismissing entire seasons, is another.

[55]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

David Price is the ****, in my book. Can't do any wrong from here on out.

He's been doing stuff like that for years (he was a HUGE advocate for animal rights) but nobody noticed when he was wearing a Rays uniform. Now that he has that "B" on his cap, the media will actually pay attention. Funny how that works.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

He's been doing stuff like that for years (he was a HUGE advocate for animal rights) but nobody noticed when he was wearing a Rays uniform. Now that he has that "B" on his cap, the media will actually pay attention. Funny how that works.

It is pretty weird how the media is attracted to a successful team that actually draws a crowd.

[Master Live 013]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

You shouldn't have to root for your team to lose, GM should just construct a roster so bad that them giving their all still falls short of being good enough to win. Win win. You root to win and you lose...and then you win a high pick!

[55]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It is pretty weird how the media is attracted to a successful team that actually draws a crowd.

It's funny how bandwagon fans are attracted to teams like that too.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It's funny how bandwagon fans are attracted to teams like that too.

Man, it has been a while since I heard that.

[CMH]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Anything that damages the legitimacy of what you're watching is hurting the league, whether the numbers reflect it or not.

Numbers speak to what fans think. If they are watching you can't say they aren't.

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Rebuilding is one thing. Constructing rosters to be purposefully bad "for a couple years," completely dismissing entire seasons, is another.

It is hard to rebuild without having a poorer roster. What is an example of tanking for you?

[slickdtc]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't see much tanking in the MLB in the way it is done in other leagues. Rebuilds are longer term projects and one draft pick doesn't make as much of a difference and those #1 overall saviors don't really exist. They're much more generational. All in the last 15 or so years have been pretty good players but they aren't talked about like how they are in the NBA, NHL, and NFL. Harper is the one guy who stands out to me.

It seems to be more a real strategy in MLB to rebuild then in other leagues where it's luck or hoping you get that 1st overall pick. I think that's the nature of having such a huge pool of players and the minor league system and the overall team game of baseball. There's teams in the MLB who are rebuilding but have a great player, for example my Reds with Joey Votto (and even a few complementary pieces). But yet we're prepared for a 100 loss season.

One guy makes a difference but not like he does in the NBA or NFL and to a lesser degree, NHL. Speaking of the NHL since I know Matrix was outspoken about the Sabres clear white flag waving shenanigans last season, they have a nasty tendency to identify a top pick and act like he's the next Great One when only Crosby has lived up to that billing. McDavid seems like he could be it too but it really is generational.

I do agree that fans rooting for losses is despicable. I'm ready for a bad year, but if we end up winning 75 games I'll actually be pretty happy about that. I like to see the young guys get a shot and impress. The high draft pick is a consolation, it shouldn't be a goal.

[l3ulvl]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Plus it's different in baseball because when you come to the realization you won't be a contender and trade off a star you get multiple prospects in return, then it becomes about stocking the minors so they'll come through about the same time and hopefully blossom together. You know you won't be great in the meantime but the future is bright unless all the specs are busts, then you're in big trouble but at least it wasn't intentional

[AC]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The problem with tanking in the other leagues is that it works.

It doesn't work in baseball. The Astros happened to tank, sure, but it's not really why they were so successful. Springer was an 11th overall pick, which isn't a tank pick. Jose Altuve wasn't a product of tanking. They had a chance to bring Bryant out of a tanked season and took Mark Appel instead. The only real piece they got out of tanking was Correa, and he wasn't the consensus 1 that year (or even 2 IIRC).

I can't really think of many other teams that have outright tanked like the Astros did, and their reasons for now being a solid team have been more of a product of shrewd smaller decisions like finding McHugh and Keuchel than tanking for Mark Appel.

If a team tanks, they'll just perpetually be bad, more than likely. Or if they manage to pull out of it, they'll unnecessarily lose revenue like the Astros did. Either way, smart teams won't do it. And if enough of the league is dumb enough to do it then tanking won't really be the problem, lol.