Interesting older article on tanking

[CCard]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/337 ... b-here-why


"Beginning in 2019, we devoted our entire company to building through the farm system in the "Oriole Way" of past eras, recently emulated successfully by other MLB clubs," the statement from John Angelos read. "As a result, we now boast the No. 1 rated player talent pool and scouting and development system in all of Major League Baseball...When we began this journey in 2019, we expected our Minor League rebuild to take four to five years..."

It's this admitting to not even trying to win for a period of years that has upset players during this era of rebuilding. Throughout the work stoppage, the t-word was raised in heated conversations between players and owners about the sport's future. But how much the changes implemented in the new CBA will actually curb tanking remains to be seen.

I'd say they need a new plan. It did nothing to stop tanking.


But to many MLB players, it's not just about winning and losing. It's about trying.

"I'm held accountable to be the best I can be otherwise I'm sent down or released," said Michael Lorenzen, another former Reds player who joined the Angels during the offseason. "There should be something for teams, too.

"The standard should be the best in the world, not to be the best of the worst."

To this point, being the best at being the worst has actually benefited teams by giving them the No. 1 overall pick in the next year's draft. Even with the addition of the lottery, some wonder how much the new process will actually matter to the teams at the bottom of the standings.

"The Pirates probably don't even care about getting the No. 1 pick," one agent said. "It means they have to pay him more."