It all comes down to this…
I’m bummed. I’m in Washington DC right now and I was supposed to go to the Nats game on Thursday night, but it didn’t happen—it got rained out. What bums me out the most, however, is the fact that the game-that-didn’t-happen could have a substantial impact on the draft next year. Because the M’s won a meaningless game today, they’re now a half game in front of Washington with one game left to play. In order for the M’s to get the first pick in the draft next year, they have to lose tomorrow and the Nationals have to win. I’m not worried about the Mariners holding up their end of the deal, but it could be a tough order for the Nationals—they’re scheduled to face the Phillies. Now, the Phillies are already guaranteed a playoff spot, so maybe they’ll be resting some of their regulars. Cole Hamels has already gotten the day off, resting up for Game 1 of the playoffs.
It all comes down to this, so knock on wood, wish on a star, go find a four-leaf clover, hang up a horseshoe and pick up any pennies you see, because we need all the help we can get!
I will not cheer for my team to have the worst record in baseball. There are limits to hard-headed practicality — even if you think the difference between drafting first and drafting second is a big difference. I like several players on the Mariners, and I don’t wish on them the ignominy of being the worst team. Yeah, sure, Lincoln and Armstrong deserve it, but Ichiro, Adrian, and Felix do not.
From a practical perspective, that rained out game actually only helps the Mariners.
If the Nationals had won, we’d have a one game lead on them headed into tomorrow. If we win and they lose, we’d be tied… and the Nationals would win the tiebreaker because they had the worse record in 2007.
If the Nationals had lost, we’d be tied with them going into tomorrow. Even if we lost, if they still lost, they’d still get the #1 pick.
The rained out game increased the odds of the M’s getting the #1 pick by quite a bit.
One question.
Where can we get a live chicken?
Someone give Jobu some Rum. NO REALLY, GET JOBU SOME RUM!!!
Forget the players fragile egos, we need to re-load this Team with some good young players man.
Oh yeah, also,
BREWERS BABY, GO, GO, GO!!!
Conor, you going to the Nats game on Sunday? Have you been to a Nats game this year?
I had the pleasure of seeing a game there in June. It’s a fun place and I love the feeling of walking into the Stadium from the center field landing. Sent chills down my spine. I like the color scheme, too, although I’m colorblind so I’m not sure if that orange isn’t really an orangish red. But it’s not deep red which makes for a much brighter atmosphere especially on a sunny day. The Rushmore Presidents race is awesome btwn innings. I’m not usually a sucker for btwn innings entertainment but this one is clever.
Anyway… Go Nats!
Who’d thunk that we would be in this position at the end of the season? Go Nats!
Scraps,
If the choice is being runner up worst team in the league by 1 game or having complete control of your first round in the draft the following season, I’ll take the first pick everytime.
I don’t think Ichiro or Adrian deserve any of this garbage. But a crappy season is a crappy season. And if any benefit can come from it, I say bring it on!!!
Tomorrow for the first time in my life I will be actively rooting against the M’s. Call me a bad fan, call me whatever you want. But sacrificing 1 game for the good of several future seasons is worth it to me.
By the way, now that interleague play is part of the game, why not change the rules to have head to head record be the first tiebreaker. If the two teams tied for worst didn’t play eachother then go to previous season record. Shouldn’t what happens in this season have more weight on draft order then what happened in 07?
There is something more pleasingly resonant about coming dead last, despite a payroll well over $100 million dollars, than in coming second last. The abominably inept, self-deluding and dishonest senior management of this team deserve to have made the 2008 M’s the worst team in all baseball.
I don’t care much about the draft position. (There’s every chance the #2 pick will be pretty bloody good too.) I just hope we tank.
So, if we end up with the #2 pick, how much of a dropoff is it from Strasburg? Also, what are the odds that the Nats will pass on Strasburg due to signability problems?
Please God, lose for Strasburg!!!!!
Lose, lose, lose, lose, lose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A) It’s not ok to root for the
SeattleMilwaukee Pilots. WTF.B). How do you like the Nats new park, Conor? I was there for opening day and thought the park had a good feel to it. The outfield bar is cool yet strangely gigantic, but still provides nice views of the field. The video screen is almost too good.
C). The Nats took 2 of 3 from the Phillies in April. The Phils will be resting their dudz tomorrow. Dicky is…not good. THERE IS HOPE.
Dickey too
They just showed the Almost Live! from 1997 which featured a Dylan impression. The last lines:
But the Mariners we won’t be slamming.
Cause they’re the AL West Champions
Boy, the town it sure is a-changin’!
Made me want to cry.
The times are changing back.
–Bob Roberts
…and so is this town.
–Uncle Fran
I wsa under the impression that if both teams end with the same ammount of loses, then we’d win the tie-breaker because they played one less game. So if we both lose today, we get the first pick.
I hate to root for them to lose, but today I am.
No, if we end with the same amount of losses, but they have one less game, that means they have one less win, which slightly lowers the average.
So right now, we’re tied in losses at 101. However, we have 60 wins to their 59. Our win percentage is .373 but theirs is .369. That half-game gives them the statistical advantage and gives them the worst record in baseball.
I’ve heard through the rumor mill that the Ms are coveting either a DH or a closer for their first pick. I think one of those will likely be available whether the Ms pick 1 or 2….
terry- I hope not.
5-3 Phillies in the 8th. The Nats got Strasburg.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens. I haven’t followed the Nats recent drafts very closely, but how diligent have they been at following the MLB slotting system? This may allow Strasburg to slide…
Dave’s made comments elsewhere that Strasburg might not be the best player in the draft.
Also: it’s not June 2009 yet.
TotallyNotWilly – Didn’t actually end up going at all. It was pouring at 6, so we didn’t want to trek down there, find tickets and then have it be rained out. So we went out to eat instead, which ended up being a good decision.