Is it wrong to root for the Twins to lose?

[Forever34]

We all know this season is a lost cause. All we have to keep our spirits up is the promise of the future with our loaded farm system. Obviously I want to see guys like Arcia and others that we expect to be part of the turnaround to do well, but is it okay to hope that we keep losing games in order to get better draft picks? This isn't like the NFL where a good draft can immediately help a team and obviously the baseball draft is a completely different animal, but still...

[nicksaviking]

We all know this season is a lost cause. All we have to keep our spirits up is the promise of the future with our loaded farm system. Obviously I want to see guys like Arcia and others that we expect to be part of the turnaround to do well, but is it okay to hope that we keep losing games in order to get better draft picks? This isn't like the NFL where a good draft can immediately help a team and obviously the baseball draft is a completely different animal, but still...

 

I think many feel this way and I don't think it's wrong.

 

I actually would like for the young players to get a taste of winning early, but really, the only young player of much significance on the roster right now is Arcia, maybe Pinto. Hicks and Gibson likely won't be recalled and the Twins don't seem to be planning on bringing May, Meyer, Sano or Rosario to Target Field, they weren't even promoted to Rochester to learn about playoff baseball.

 

The roster is a mess of career minor leaguers and declining vets. Many people are still firmly standing behind the management of this team, but those who are not may also hope all the losses may spur a front office change no matter how slight a chance that may be.

[Mike Sixel]

There is no wrong way to be a fan. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[IdahoPilgrim]

I'm not going to say it's right or wrong. But it's not something I personally can do, as much as I understand the argument about draft picks and giving playing time to younger players (which I understand is not the same as trying to lose). I could never root for the Twins to lose. Just how I feel.

[Rosterman]

I would rather lose with prospects than with AAAA veterans.

 

I would rather cheer prospects than look over throngs of empty seats and the non-excitement over the latest from Clete Thomas or Josh Roeincke's shutout inning.

 

Should a team tank to get a high draft pick? Right now, the Twins will be in the #3-5 range. The plus side is that they can spend the necessary monies to sign a high draft pick. The downside is that they get no supplementary draft picks from lost free agents. So this is their biggie.

 

It will be more interesting to see what the off-season does bring with Terry Ryan trolling the free agent (albeit minors) market. There are at least 3-4 guys that the Twins had drafted but ahd signed with others that were waived this season. We forget that NOT ALL of these guys are rotten to the core. Many are the 41st man, or the 26th man, or have been pushed aside because of minor league depth and there will be no place for them in the majors before they become free agents (albeit, minors FA).

 

The Twins offer a place for hope. We can also continue to sign people like Pelfry, who will use the Twins as a stepping stone to something else, or possibly show the team enough that they could resign for a generous (both ends) longer-term deal.

 

Yes, aging vets are hungry. But new guys are also hungry. Plus you'll get to see their bad habits right away when they push themselves in the wrong direction.

 

Lots of $5 tickets out there to watch September baseball.

[big dog]

Arcia, maybe Pinto. Hicks and Gibson likely won't be recalled and the Twins don't seem to be planning on bringing May, Meyer, Sano or Rosario to Target Field, they weren't even promoted to Rochester to learn about playoff baseball.

 

 

The Trevor May thread has a post from earlier today saying he was promoted to Rochester for the playoffs.

[Miles]

I feel dirty for saying it, but I hope we play hard but lose every game 4-3 the rest of the year. I love our team as much as anyone, but if losing now helps us potentially get a future difference maker, I'm all for it. A front-line SP or legit SS would be nice...

[ashbury]

All we have to keep our spirits up is the promise of the future with our loaded farm system.

 

Games like the one where the Twins beat Darvish make me feel good. I think a fan of the sport or of the team can find satisfaction if they look, even in a lost season. It's a beautiful sport and it's fun to root root root for the home team.

 

Conversely, after another humiliating loss I find some satisfaction in looking at the reverse standings and thinking about the next draft. When the Twins end up with their lousy record, legitimately and without the stench of tanking, the draft will take care of itself.

 

I also look at an aspect of sportsmanship when any bad team is playing a contender - the entire baseball world (including that contender) expects a representative lineup put forth. Nobody wants a playoff berth decided because, say, a team closed the season playing against some team giving 9 28-year-olds their cup of coffee before cutting them. Fortunately I don't recall a scandal like that ever occurring, and I wouldn't want it to be my team that was caught in the center of it.

 

So yes, play the promising rookies and if they fall down in September 2013 so be it. But if these rookies play well and the Twins win some games unexpectedly, the forecast for 2017 (and sooner) with these players plus some #12 draft pick next June will be brighter than if they give evidence of washing out plus a #3 pick.

 

So I'm not going to make a moralistic statement that it's "wrong" to root for losses, but I think it's actually against the fans' self-interest and thus wrong in a practical sense.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd rather the Twins hitters (Arcia, Pinto) they call up hit well, and the SPs that are NOT part of hte future to be awful, and the Twins lose the rest of the way, than have them win a lot the rest of the way. Best of both worlds, imo.

[Tibs]

I'm not going to root for the Twins to lose, but I won't care if they do lose based on the circumstances. You play to win the game so I always want the Twins to win.

[golfboy1]

I'd rather the Twins hitters (Arcia, Pinto) they call up hit well, and the SPs that are NOT part of hte future to be awful, and the Twins lose the rest of the way, than have them win a lot the rest of the way. Best of both worlds, imo.

 

I feel the same. I'd like Liam Hendriks to pitch good in his starts but if Pelfrey or Correia get hammered I don't feel bad.

 

I'd like to see Colabella have a good finish but Doumitt or Thomas can go 0 for the rest of the year & I'd be ok with that.

 

Right now the Twins would pick 6th but it is really bunched up. I'm hoping they can get the 4th pick but I don't want to see them go on a winning steak & fall all the way to 13th or so.

[ThePuck]

The day I root for the twins to lose is the day I stop being a Twins fan. I don't see that happening in my lifetime.

[DaveW]

I have 250 reasons not to root for the Twins to lose...more than 95 games.

[nicksaviking]

I have 250 reasons not to root for the Twins to lose...more than 95 games.

 

They need to go 8-18 the rest of the way then? That should be close but I like your odds. They play five playoff contenders the rest of the way but all they have to do is win one game a series. It might come down to if Cleveland is still fighting the last series of the year.

[Mike Sixel]

Fangraphs predicts 71-91 right now....

[cmb0252]

If the season ended today the Twins would have the 6th overall pick but the season doesn't end today. The 6th and the 12th overall pick, actually 13th because of the Jays failing to sign the 10th overall pick, is only seperated by 2 games. Value wise 6th and 13th is massively different. While I don't actively root for the Twins to lose I rather they not waste a chance to get a possible top 5 pick on useless wins. Especially with how good the top of the draft looks currently.

[BabyJesusBuxton]

I don't mind the losses because its improving the future while the current product doesn't really change. With that said, in the middle of games I am not thinking that I hope they blow the lead. I think as long as they continue to compete and play hard I am okay with the losses. If all of a sudden the guys the Twins are throwing out in the lineup everyday start taking plays off I will have issues. I understand why people want to cheer for losses but I have to continue to hope they will win, I just don't have the same disappointment when they lose games like I do early in the year.

[pierre75275]

This season is lost. The twins if the twins get hot the could end up with a mid teens pick. If they play slightly worse then they have been it could be a top 5 pick. I would much rather they pick in the top 5 then otherwise. That bein said I want certain guys to do well. Dozier, colabello etc. Just right now it makes more sense to lose then to win.

[Marta Shearing]

If losing will ensure change, I'm all about losing. This organization needs change.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Tanking it? No. I don't see the value in that.

 

Playing prospects who need experience at the expense of vets who can get an extra win or two, yes absolutely. Being overly cautious when your star catcher gets a concussion, yes absolutely. Trading off Morneau, yes absolutely. Those will add losses to the column. I think Dave is save from his 95 loss bet, but I would much prefer they finish with a top 5 pick again this season.

[Kwak]

Is it really losing if losing some games in 2013 lead to winning more games in the future? I don't think so at all. Therefore, I have rooting for the Twins to lose so next June the Twins can select earlier in the Rule 4 draft--hopefully selecting a player or two that they would not otherwise be able to select--and win more games in future seasons. I especially want the twins to lose to AL contenders to block the Yankees from the post-season. The ---- with NY!

[Mike Sixel]

Dead wrong, unless you're a loser.

 

Why? You really didn't add to the discussion at all....but why is there wrong way to be a fan?

[Shane Wahl]

I was still cheering for the Twins to win in extra innings last night. I am not going to not cheer for them just so that they can get 1-3 better spots in the draft.

[snepp]

Dead wrong, unless you're a loser.

 

 

Not only was this completely unnecessary, it's the kind of vitriol that TD is trying to eliminate from the forum's atmosphere.

[cmb0252]

I was still cheering for the Twins to win in extra innings last night. I am not going to not cheer for them just so that they can get 1-3 better spots in the draft.

 

1-3 better spots could quickly turn into 10 worse spots. Doesn't matter though. Its not like you can play the lastros every game.

[zenser]

I was still cheering for the Twins to win in extra innings last night. I am not going to not cheer for them just so that they can get 1-3 better spots in the draft.

 

I am not really rooting for them to lose but I am kind of hoping that they don't rattle off a win streak either and finish out of the top 10 in the reverse standings. At least that way they wouldn't lose their pick if they signed someone with a qualifying offer.

[ThePuck]

At least that way they wouldn't lose their pick if they signed someone with a qualifying offer.

 

Do you see that kind of scenario playing out? A scenario where someone turns down a contract worth close to 14M and then Terry Ryan signs him?

[cmb0252]

Do you see that kind of scenario playing out? A scenario where someone turns down a contract worth close to 14M and then Terry Ryan signs him?

 

Oh snap! Burn Terry Ryan!..... Let's try and keep one single thread on this site not based around complaining about Ryan please. We get it, you don't like the way he is running the team.

 

Not only does staying in the top 10 give pick protection but once again the Jays didn't sign the 10th pick last year so any pick past 10 gets bumped down one.

[zenser]

Do you see that kind of scenario playing out? A scenario where someone turns down a contract worth close to 14M and then Terry Ryan signs him?

 

No I really don't. I just don't want to hear it as an excuse either.

[ThePuck]

Oh snap! Burn Terry Ryan!..... Let's try and keep one single thread on this site not based around complaining about Ryan please. We get it, you don't like the way he is running the team.

 

Not only does staying in the top 10 give pick protection but once again the Jays didn't sign the 10th pick last year so any pick past 10 gets bumped down one.

 

okay, the poster threw a scenario out there as to why he wants to finish with a record that allows us to be in the top 10. All I did was ask him if he thought that scenario was something he could envision happening. If it isn't, then I was wondering why it'd even be brought up. He explained why he brought it up.

 

It's like during the winter in North Dakota, there are many reasons not to go into the backyard in just your shorts. If I said one of many reasons, along with the cold, is that aliens may come down into my backyard and abduct me, well that's a reason...but it ain't likely..and one might ask why I mentioned it :-)