What Keeps Losing Teams Going?

BKL · 03-23-2005, 11:15 PM

Was wondering what anyone thoughts were on this: What keeps a losing team going during the final few weeks of the season? In other sports, most teams - even the bad ones - still have a chance to make the playoffs during the last month. In baseball, because so many games are played, a number of teams are essentially out of the running by the last month, if not sooner. What do you think keeps the team motivated?

When I'm playing OOTP and have a losing season, I'm tempted to rush through my games during the last month - I play out all my games. In real life, I would imagine there may be even more of a feeling for players on a losing team to "just get the season over."

Any thoughts?

BKL

andjbock · 03-23-2005, 11:27 PM

Try out the rooks.

canadiancreed · 03-23-2005, 11:30 PM

paycheque?

andjbock · 03-23-2005, 11:34 PM

To be honest, I do rush through things sometimes. It usually depends on who is starting though. If my 4-5 guys are on the hill, I may sim, but never with my 1,2,3 or anyone who is having a spectacular season.

HolyCow98 · 03-23-2005, 11:39 PM

In real life....money

In OOTP..for me, stats or stats padding...and developing guys who have shown improvement.

Elendil · 03-24-2005, 06:56 AM

September is the one time I usually play out a few of my games, whether my team is winning or not. It's a chance for callups to prove themselves!

cknox0723 · 03-24-2005, 07:32 AM

funny nicknames, the race for last, and the chance to knock off the empire

jazzrack · 03-24-2005, 07:45 AM

professionalism?

Dagrims · 03-24-2005, 08:12 AM

Job security. Players don't want to lose their starting position to a youngster or bench player simply because they're slacking off. As someone else mentioned, September is also a good time to take a look at prospects. Finally, even teams out of playoff contention still may have goals for the season that are within reach (e.g., finish .500, stay out of last place, avoid losing 100 games).

treedom · 03-24-2005, 09:18 AM

All the things mentioned, and also, you sometimes get a chance to play the upsetter by sticking it to a team still in contention.

treedom · 03-24-2005, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagrims

Finally, even teams out of playoff contention still may have goals for the season that are within reach (e.g., finish .500, stay out of last place, avoid losing 100 games).

Yeah, or sometimes there will be a battle for third place or something like that.

sebastian0622 · 03-25-2005, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treedom

Yeah, or sometimes there will be a battle for third place or something like that.

And it's always good to end the season on a high note. It is good for fan support, player confidence, and team morale.

It might even get the owners to loosen up the pursestrings in the offseason a bit if the team goes 19-11 in their last 30 instead of 11-19.

Malleus Dei · 03-25-2005, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKL

Was wondering what anyone thoughts were on this: What keeps a losing team going during the final few weeks of the season? In other sports, most teams - even the bad ones - still have a chance to make the playoffs during the last month. In baseball, because so many games are played, a number of teams are essentially out of the running by the last month, if not sooner. What do you think keeps the team motivated?

A lot of things - professionalism, determination, courage, the desire to do well individually (e.g., great pitcher on a bad team), the desire to improve, the desire to play well enough to be noticed by another team, the athletic spirit to go out there and do your best. Then there's always the pure underdog spirit - "Sure, they're better than we are, but let's let them know that they've been in a ball game, by damn."

swampdragon · 03-25-2005, 09:08 AM

Most of us have played on teams that weren't going to win any titles at some point in our lives. You keep playing because 6-6 is better than 5-7, because you love the game, and because you want to prove that at least for one day, you're better than those guys on the other side of the court (field). Pros have the additional incentive of needing to perform to keep their jobs.

ctorg · 03-25-2005, 09:16 AM

I very often sim the end of a season that is going horribly wrong, unless I have some rookies I want to try out or moves I want to make.

As for what keeps guys going in real life, here's how I look at it. If you've made it to the major leagues, you have made a habit of playing at your best level no matter what the standings are, no matter what else. You are always playing to win that particular game. Not the division or the playoffs, but that game. Good players rarely get too caught up with anything outside of the present.

brain hemorrhage · 03-25-2005, 02:19 PM

This is a funny thread because I just finished up an online league going L26 to end the season. Total collapse. The team got worse and worse as the season progressed, starting with my ace going out for 3/4ths of the season in his third start of the year, and me cutting my 3B three months into the year for only batting .175 and having 20 (!) errors.

03-23-2005, 11:15 PM	#1
BKL All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 935	What Keeps Losing Teams Going? Was wondering what anyone thoughts were on this: What keeps a losing team going during the final few weeks of the season? In other sports, most teams - even the bad ones - still have a chance to make the playoffs during the last month. In baseball, because so many games are played, a number of teams are essentially out of the running by the last month, if not sooner. What do you think keeps the team motivated? When I'm playing OOTP and have a losing season, I'm tempted to rush through my games during the last month - I play out all my games. In real life, I would imagine there may be even more of a feeling for players on a losing team to "just get the season over." Any thoughts? BKL

03-23-2005, 11:30 PM	#3
canadiancreed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11,660	paycheque? __________________ PT21 PT22

03-23-2005, 11:39 PM	#5
HolyCow98 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Douglasville, GA Posts: 2,735	In real life....money In OOTP..for me, stats or stats padding...and developing guys who have shown improvement. __________________ NPBL Enjoying its 60th season Georgia GM

03-24-2005, 06:56 AM	#6
Elendil Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the dynasty forum Posts: 2,318	September is the one time I usually play out a few of my games, whether my team is winning or not. It's a chance for callups to prove themselves! __________________ Heaven is kicking back with a double Talisker and a churchwarden stuffed with latakia.

03-24-2005, 07:45 AM	#8
jazzrack Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still kicking Posts: 3,229	professionalism? __________________ . "Never confuse composure for ease" Was once Head Cheese of Corporate League Baseball

03-23-2005, 11:27 PM	#2
andjbock Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Somerville, MA, USA Bats: Right Throws: Left Posts: 3,640	Try out the rooks.

03-23-2005, 11:34 PM	#4
andjbock Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Somerville, MA, USA Bats: Right Throws: Left Posts: 3,640	To be honest, I do rush through things sometimes. It usually depends on who is starting though. If my 4-5 guys are on the hill, I may sim, but never with my 1,2,3 or anyone who is having a spectacular season.

03-24-2005, 08:12 AM	#9
Dagrims Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,827	Job security. Players don't want to lose their starting position to a youngster or bench player simply because they're slacking off. As someone else mentioned, September is also a good time to take a look at prospects. Finally, even teams out of playoff contention still may have goals for the season that are within reach (e.g., finish .500, stay out of last place, avoid losing 100 games). __________________ "Read books, get brain."

03-24-2005, 09:18 AM	#10
treedom Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: Transylvania Posts: 2,900	All the things mentioned, and also, you sometimes get a chance to play the upsetter by sticking it to a team still in contention. __________________ A rake and a roustabout.

03-25-2005, 09:08 AM	#14
swampdragon Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Lonely Mountain Posts: 2,506	Most of us have played on teams that weren't going to win any titles at some point in our lives. You keep playing because 6-6 is better than 5-7, because you love the game, and because you want to prove that at least for one day, you're better than those guys on the other side of the court (field). Pros have the additional incentive of needing to perform to keep their jobs.

03-25-2005, 09:16 AM	#15
ctorg Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 9,848	I very often sim the end of a season that is going horribly wrong, unless I have some rookies I want to try out or moves I want to make. As for what keeps guys going in real life, here's how I look at it. If you've made it to the major leagues, you have made a habit of playing at your best level no matter what the standings are, no matter what else. You are always playing to win that particular game. Not the division or the playoffs, but that game. Good players rarely get too caught up with anything outside of the present. __________________ My music "When the trees blow back and forth, that's what makes the wind." - Steven Wright Fjord emena pancreas thorax fornicate marmalade morpheme proteolysis smaxa cabana offal srue vitriol grope hallelujah lentils

03-25-2005, 02:19 PM	#16
brain hemorrhage Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 37	This is a funny thread because I just finished up an online league going L26 to end the season. Total collapse. The team got worse and worse as the season progressed, starting with my ace going out for 3/4ths of the season in his third start of the year, and me cutting my 3B three months into the year for only batting .175 and having 20 (!) errors.