Would you trade 1 WS win for a decade of losing seasons?

[Trov]

There is no way to make sure you win a WS, no matter what you do roster construction.  However, if you knew you get a WS win but it would have 10 straight losing seasons, would you do it?  The alternative would be you have no clue what the outcomes will be during that period of time, you could have a stretch of playoffs with no WS, or you could still lose 10 seasons, or you could win several WS.  This is not a comment on selling off prospects to increase odds or tanking to get top picks, it is just a fun question, would take the win for sure, if you also knew it would be long time of bad teams?  

[TwinsDr2021]

I would, the 90's were pretty terrible for the Twins, but you could always looks back at 91 (and 87).

[terrydactyls]

Nope.  I would rather see the Twins compete every year.

[SoDakTwinsFan]

27 minutes ago, Trov said:

There is no way to make sure you win a WS, no matter what you do roster construction.  However, if you knew you get a WS win but it would have 10 straight losing seasons, would you do it?  The alternative would be you have no clue what the outcomes will be during that period of time, you could have a stretch of playoffs with no WS, or you could still lose 10 seasons, or you could win several WS.  This is not a comment on selling off prospects to increase odds or tanking to get top picks, it is just a fun question, would take the win for sure, if you also knew it would be long time of bad teams?  

100% in a heartbeat.  Winning the WS is the ultimate goal.  Not winning the division every year.  Not being competitive every year.  Not losing in the WS every year.  Winning it.  If that means I have to put up with 9 abysmal to competitive and everything in-between then yes.  The Twins had some good teams in the 2000s but never won a WS.  I'm tired of the "just get to the playoffs and anything is possible."  

[Unwinder]

Sure. One world series for 29 non-championship seasons would be an even distribution, so getting it for ten trash seasons is a bargain. If I was making this deal with the devil (or preferably a more trustworthy entity) I'd request that the world series win be distributed somewhere in those ten seasons at random to surprise me so I have some reason to watch for more than one year, but even if I couldn't get those terms I'd take it.

[Woof Bronzer]

2 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

Nope.  I would rather see the Twins compete every year.

Interesting question.  You'd trade the 91 Series for 10 years of better records in the 90s and a couple division titles?  Not saying this is wrong, just interesting.

Basically this question is the Royals, right?  1 series win, 1 series loss, amidst a couple decades of total ineptitude.  I don't know but I think I'd take this over the last 20 years of Twins being either middling or terrible...maybe...the Royals have had some really, really awful seasons...

[Squirrel]

15 minutes ago, SoDakTwinsFan said:

100% in a heartbeat.  Winning the WS is the ultimate goal.  Not winning the division every year.  Not being competitive every year.  Not losing in the WS every year.  Winning it.  If that means I have to put up with 9 abysmal to competitive and everything in-between then yes.  The Twins had some good teams in the 2000s but never won a WS.  I'm tired of the "just get to the playoffs and anything is possible."  

I don’t think anyone is satisfied with that as the goal and I don’t think it is the goal despite the outcome. The goal is always to win it all. But I’d also rather win the division every year than be at the bottom of it every year. That is being competitive. We might not like that as the only outcome or result and I’d rather have more, but I’d still rather win something every year, even if not the grand prize, than lose every year. Winning something puts you in the position to win more. Losing just makes you a loser.

[MABB1959]

We have 3 painful decades and would not want to do it again.  In the past 20 not even a playoff game win.  It is HORRIBLE

[Vanimal46]

So basically, do we want to be Royals fans? Tough call. I would like to witness a sports championship in my lifetime. 1 year old me doesn’t exactly remember Jack Morris Game 7 in 1991. The following decade of 90+ losses would be enough for me to stop following the Twins all together. 

[jorgenswest]

Wouldn’t knowing the Twins are going to win the World Series take any enjoyment and interest out of the season? Imagine knowing that the Twins would win game 7 of the 1991 World Series ahead of time. Why watch? I have no interest in bragging rights. If everyone knows there is reason to even televise. 

[chpettit19]

Always an interesting idea to think about. I always come around to "no." Of course the WS is the goal, but a decade of losing teams is brutal. I'll take my chances and "mystery box" over the guaranteed title and 10 seasons I don't care about. I'd rather be a Dodger or Yankee fan than a Royal or Marlins fan. I'd rather have a shot every year and not win it all (sorry, that 2020 Dodgers title isn't the same thing as a normal title) than have my 1 flash in a pan amongst the misery and destruction every other year.

[GusGus11]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

Always an interesting idea to think about. I always come around to "no." Of course the WS is the goal, but a decade of losing teams is brutal. I'll take my chances and "mystery box" over the guaranteed title and 10 seasons I don't care about. I'd rather be a Dodger or Yankee fan than a Royal or Marlins fan. I'd rather have a shot every year and not win it all (sorry, that 2020 Dodgers title isn't the same thing as a normal title) than have my 1 flash in a pan amongst the misery and destruction every other year.

 

This is a very good point. However my one counter is that in the "lets play it out scenario" where you mention the mystery box, there is still a chance of being the Royals or Marlins but without the random title or two. Could just be bad with nothing.

Definitely understand the idea that 10 years of losing guaranteed would be brutal though.

I think the only no brainer scenario would be soemthing that guaranted watchable success. 

Like "would you take 1 title but the next 10 years are no titles and almost entirely uncompetitive" vs "Roll the dice on playoffs but know your team will make it at least 7/10 years"

That would be a no brainer to roll the dice for me.

But the OP subject is a real tough one. Cause rolling the dice could still result in a lot of suck. I think as a Minnesota fan across the board its time I take what I can get and I think i would lean gimme that Title and parade.

[Twins GFP]

I wrote an article similar to this question a while back:  What is more important, the ride or the results....

Personally I would rather see a competitive team year-in and year-out...

[LastOnePicked]

I've seen first-hand the kind of memories a WS title makes for a state, a city, for families, for kids. Absolutely, I'd take that deal.

[Dave Borton]

I would settle for good, competitive ball however far Twins go.

[Jocko87]

18 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

I wrote an article similar to this question a while back:  What is more important, the ride or the results....

Personally I would rather see a competitive team year-in and year-out...

Always the ride.  This isn't hard, on one hand I get one really good thing and a bunch of crap guaranteed. 

On the other hand, I get a lot of good stuff with multiple chances at the same really good thing with the upside of multiple really good things.  Downside? Not to bad.

Anyone want to play poker?

[chpettit19]

32 minutes ago, GusGus11 said:

 

This is a very good point. However my one counter is that in the "lets play it out scenario" where you mention the mystery box, there is still a chance of being the Royals or Marlins but without the random title or two. Could just be bad with nothing.

Definitely understand the idea that 10 years of losing guaranteed would be brutal though.

I think the only no brainer scenario would be soemthing that guaranted watchable success. 

Like "would you take 1 title but the next 10 years are no titles and almost entirely uncompetitive" vs "Roll the dice on playoffs but know your team will make it at least 7/10 years"

That would be a no brainer to roll the dice for me.

But the OP subject is a real tough one. Cause rolling the dice could still result in a lot of suck. I think as a Minnesota fan across the board its time I take what I can get and I think i would lean gimme that Title and parade.

That is definitely the worst case scenario playing out. And I wouldn't be happy. But that's what sports are all about to me. The "what's going to happen" is why I tune in. I'd by no means argue anyone is crazy for taking the title in this hypothetical. Especially as a MN sports fan. It's what makes this such a fun thought exercise. It's reasonable to choose either side. No hope for 10 years would be too much for me.

[GusGus11]

5 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

That is definitely the worst case scenario playing out. And I wouldn't be happy. But that's what sports are all about to me. The "what's going to happen" is why I tune in. I'd by no means argue anyone is crazy for taking the title in this hypothetical. Especially as a MN sports fan. It's what makes this such a fun thought exercise. It's reasonable to choose either side. No hope for 10 years would be too much for me.

 

Yeah I 100% get that view. And its even tougher when talking baseball. If you have the forsight to know that 10 years are gonne suck. 162 games all sumer long when nothing else is on.........woof.

And the title as some mentioned already isnt as enjoyable if you know ahead of time. Id at least like to have no idea what year the title is haha

[Dman]

As a fan it would be hard to make through 9 years of literally no hope baseball.  The Twins had about a 5 year spell of that and when your team it is out of it after the first month or two it becomes hard to care at all.  9 years of that would erode the fanbase for sure.

Still that one glorious season where it all goes your way and your team gets to be the best team in baseball.  There is no greater feeling as a fan than the bragging rights of a world series title.   

I guess this article just proves how hope is such a powerful force.  Just being "in" it goes a long way with sports fans.  I guess if it is hope that feeds your passion then just winning seasons and being in the hunt would be better.  If cold hard titles and bragging rights are what you cheer for then yeah, you take the bad years and then the title.

I would like to see the Twins win one more Series so I would take those bad years to get a title but I am also a fan of the team so would be fine either way.  I am just going to watch and complain and cheer and hope no matter what.

[Craig Arko]

34 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

Always the ride.  This isn't hard, on one hand I get one really good thing and a bunch of crap guaranteed. 

On the other hand, I get a lot of good stuff with multiple chances at the same really good thing with the upside of multiple really good things.  Downside? Not to bad.

Anyone want to play poker?

Sure. As per the OP, I don’t think so.

[jaimedude]

No, but I sure would like to see the Twins actually win a World Series again before I die. I took it for granted in 1991 that there would be more of these playoff runs. 2002 seems like a long time ago and was the last legitimate chance we had recently, except the teams with Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau before they got hurt. I like making the playoffs, but it would be nice if Ownership and Front office for one or two dang times would actually give the Twins a real shot. 

[Mike Sixel]

Younger me would say "yes" w/o hesitation.

Now? I'd rather have an enjoyable season year after year, than awful teams year after year. I've learned life is a long ride, not a destination. I get others disagree, and that's cool with me. 

[terrydactyls]

As I look back 32 years to 1991 and 36 years to 1987, what comes to me is "nice for a while but now, not such a big deal.". And a whole lot of crap since then.  I would rather be like the Dodgers or Braves and be in the hunt every year with an occasional title.

[Riverbrian]

I absolutely would not. 

First of all, that one world series title would not be earned. It would be handed to us.

second of all... those 10 losing seasons would not be earned... it would be handed to us. 

Let's play ball! I like the roller coaster. 

 

[nicksaviking]

3 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

So basically, do we want to be Royals fans? Tough call. I would like to witness a sports championship in my lifetime. 1 year old me doesn’t exactly remember Jack Morris Game 7 in 1991. The following decade of 90+ losses would be enough for me to stop following the Twins all together. 

He said 10 years, not 30 years. 

Ick, it actually feels kind of gross making fun of the Royals.

[Unwinder]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

As a fan it would be hard to make through 9 years of literally no hope baseball.  The Twins had about a 5 year spell of that and when your team it is out of it after the first month or two it becomes hard to care at all.  9 years of that would erode the fanbase for sure.

If I knew it was coming I would probably try to get into the Brewers or MLS or something. Maybe duck back in in year seven or eight to see what intriguing rookies/prospects were coming up.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I would definitely rather be competitive on a near annual basis.  There is always a chance that the championship could happen, plus maybe even more.  It's the struggle and the journey -- and of course the ride -- to getting there that makes it fun.  Playing a lot of meaningful baseball games is the exciting part. 

[darin617]

I would trade 20 losing seasons for another World Series title.

We still have the Saints in town.

[Hashim]

9 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Nope.  I would rather see the Twins compete every year.

Gotta love those piranhas right?

[ewen21]

I cannot look back on the last 20 years and say we have been successful simply because we contended and got the playoffs a bunch of times.  What does it matter to "contend" if you hold the record for playoff losses in all North America sports in a post season?  If you are giving me one title and ten crap seasons where we don't make the playoffs then give that to me over what we have had for the last 20 years.  If you're telling me that a couple of years we advance in the playoffs that might be different.  I am operating under the context of what actually happened the last 20 years