The A's and the Cardinals both 21 - 19

[An Old Friend]

Orioles, bottom 4

This. Calls into question how likely the success of a youth movement can be even if you get hold of several top prospects.

Also the Nats haven’t been competitive since letting go of Scherzer, Soto, Turner and never really replacing Harper.

Wood / Gore / Abrams are a pretty solid return on Soto.

Orioles developed bats and no pitching, then didn’t spend on pitching to fortify the roster.

Wood/Gore/Abrams are good on paper - they haven't won actually anything since 2019 and seem to be getting worse. It can create a death spiral where you lose the fan base by losing so many games then can't afford to spend on FA to suppliment the talent you did develop, because no amount of draft picks and trades for prospects can create a dynasty without some FA or veteran star talent to anchor it.

You have a weird description of getting worse.

They peaked bad in 2022.

They went winning%

2019: .574
2020: .433
2021: .401
2022: .340
2023: .438
2024: .438
2025: TBD

They were at 17-21 before this series.

The return they got for Soto has been great. Crews has appeared overmatched at the big league level so far, but we’ll see in the long run. He’s still only a rookie.

Obviously a good team will supplement the young talent with veteran talent. Nats still have time to do that. And they added a guy like Lowe to help with that this past offseason.

All those players - Scherzer, Soto, Turner, also Harper - have won in other cities since leaving. Meanwhile the Nats have a few potentially great players but not nearly enough to win with - hence the death spiral.

My goal for the Cardinals is Not to acquire the next Mike Trout level prospect at a cost of 5-10 straight losing seasons

You’re implying that you think Washington’s owner won’t spend?

Not me. Letting multiple Hall of Famer’s go elsewhere implies that.

They turned down big offers.

[Carp4Cy]

Orioles, bottom 4

This. Calls into question how likely the success of a youth movement can be even if you get hold of several top prospects.

Also the Nats haven’t been competitive since letting go of Scherzer, Soto, Turner and never really replacing Harper.

Wood / Gore / Abrams are a pretty solid return on Soto.

Orioles developed bats and no pitching, then didn’t spend on pitching to fortify the roster.

Wood/Gore/Abrams are good on paper - they haven't won actually anything since 2019 and seem to be getting worse. It can create a death spiral where you lose the fan base by losing so many games then can't afford to spend on FA to suppliment the talent you did develop, because no amount of draft picks and trades for prospects can create a dynasty without some FA or veteran star talent to anchor it.

You have a weird description of getting worse.

They peaked bad in 2022.

They went winning%

2019: .574
2020: .433
2021: .401
2022: .340
2023: .438
2024: .438
2025: TBD

They were at 17-21 before this series.

The return they got for Soto has been great. Crews has appeared overmatched at the big league level so far, but we’ll see in the long run. He’s still only a rookie.

Obviously a good team will supplement the young talent with veteran talent. Nats still have time to do that. And they added a guy like Lowe to help with that this past offseason.

All those players - Scherzer, Soto, Turner, also Harper - have won in other cities since leaving. Meanwhile the Nats have a few potentially great players but not nearly enough to win with - hence the death spiral.

My goal for the Cardinals is Not to acquire the next Mike Trout level prospect at a cost of 5-10 straight losing seasons

You’re implying that you think Washington’s owner won’t spend?

Not me. Letting multiple Hall of Famer’s go elsewhere implies that.

They turned down big offers.

I guess they’re screwed then. Look at the Yankees and Dodgers and other top teams rosters. You have to be able to acquire high dollar stars that other teams drafted to reach the top. A youth moment alone cant ever cut it.

[An Old Friend]

Orioles, bottom 4

This. Calls into question how likely the success of a youth movement can be even if you get hold of several top prospects.

Also the Nats haven’t been competitive since letting go of Scherzer, Soto, Turner and never really replacing Harper.

Wood / Gore / Abrams are a pretty solid return on Soto.

Orioles developed bats and no pitching, then didn’t spend on pitching to fortify the roster.

Wood/Gore/Abrams are good on paper - they haven't won actually anything since 2019 and seem to be getting worse. It can create a death spiral where you lose the fan base by losing so many games then can't afford to spend on FA to suppliment the talent you did develop, because no amount of draft picks and trades for prospects can create a dynasty without some FA or veteran star talent to anchor it.

You have a weird description of getting worse.

They peaked bad in 2022.

They went winning%

2019: .574
2020: .433
2021: .401
2022: .340
2023: .438
2024: .438
2025: TBD

They were at 17-21 before this series.

The return they got for Soto has been great. Crews has appeared overmatched at the big league level so far, but we’ll see in the long run. He’s still only a rookie.

Obviously a good team will supplement the young talent with veteran talent. Nats still have time to do that. And they added a guy like Lowe to help with that this past offseason.

All those players - Scherzer, Soto, Turner, also Harper - have won in other cities since leaving. Meanwhile the Nats have a few potentially great players but not nearly enough to win with - hence the death spiral.

My goal for the Cardinals is Not to acquire the next Mike Trout level prospect at a cost of 5-10 straight losing seasons

You’re implying that you think Washington’s owner won’t spend?

Not me. Letting multiple Hall of Famer’s go elsewhere implies that.

They turned down big offers.

I guess they’re screwed then. Look at the Yankees and Dodgers and other top teams rosters. You have to be able to acquire high dollar stars that other teams drafted to reach the top. A youth moment alone cant ever cut it.

Have you somehow forgotten that they won the World Series in 2019?

[ICCFIM2]

Orioles, bottom 4

This. Calls into question how likely the success of a youth movement can be even if you get hold of several top prospects.

Also the Nats haven’t been competitive since letting go of Scherzer, Soto, Turner and never really replacing Harper.

Wood / Gore / Abrams are a pretty solid return on Soto.

Orioles developed bats and no pitching, then didn’t spend on pitching to fortify the roster.

This. The Orioles did excellently, as far as they went. They didn't finish the job. Their window isn't closed yet, but what a waste of a prime opportunity.

The Orioles did what the Cardinals have done several times, did not complete the roster while the opportunity was there. For the Cardinals, the last time was 2022. As a fan base, it is maddening to watch...

[Carp4Cy]

Orioles, bottom 4

This. Calls into question how likely the success of a youth movement can be even if you get hold of several top prospects.

Also the Nats haven’t been competitive since letting go of Scherzer, Soto, Turner and never really replacing Harper.

Wood / Gore / Abrams are a pretty solid return on Soto.

Orioles developed bats and no pitching, then didn’t spend on pitching to fortify the roster.

Wood/Gore/Abrams are good on paper - they haven't won actually anything since 2019 and seem to be getting worse. It can create a death spiral where you lose the fan base by losing so many games then can't afford to spend on FA to suppliment the talent you did develop, because no amount of draft picks and trades for prospects can create a dynasty without some FA or veteran star talent to anchor it.

You have a weird description of getting worse.

They peaked bad in 2022.

They went winning%

2019: .574
2020: .433
2021: .401
2022: .340
2023: .438
2024: .438
2025: TBD

They were at 17-21 before this series.

The return they got for Soto has been great. Crews has appeared overmatched at the big league level so far, but we’ll see in the long run. He’s still only a rookie.

Obviously a good team will supplement the young talent with veteran talent. Nats still have time to do that. And they added a guy like Lowe to help with that this past offseason.

All those players - Scherzer, Soto, Turner, also Harper - have won in other cities since leaving. Meanwhile the Nats have a few potentially great players but not nearly enough to win with - hence the death spiral.

My goal for the Cardinals is Not to acquire the next Mike Trout level prospect at a cost of 5-10 straight losing seasons

You’re implying that you think Washington’s owner won’t spend?

Not me. Letting multiple Hall of Famer’s go elsewhere implies that.

They turned down big offers.

I guess they’re screwed then. Look at the Yankees and Dodgers and other top teams rosters. You have to be able to acquire high dollar stars that other teams drafted to reach the top. A youth moment alone cant ever cut it.

Have you somehow forgotten that they won the World Series in 2019?

That's my point. They dumped all the players that got them there and those players were still good and winning for other teams ever since.

[Carp4Cy]

Orioles, bottom 4

This. Calls into question how likely the success of a youth movement can be even if you get hold of several top prospects.

Also the Nats haven’t been competitive since letting go of Scherzer, Soto, Turner and never really replacing Harper.

Wood / Gore / Abrams are a pretty solid return on Soto.

Orioles developed bats and no pitching, then didn’t spend on pitching to fortify the roster.

This. The Orioles did excellently, as far as they went. They didn't finish the job. Their window isn't closed yet, but what a waste of a prime opportunity.

The Orioles did what the Cardinals have done several times, did not complete the roster while the opportunity was there. For the Cardinals, the last time was 2022. As a fan base, it is maddening to watch...

Right - suppose we win 85-90 games this year at our current pace. It would be a crime to not complete the roster in 26 by complementing the young guys that are producing with proven vets that get us to that next level.