The recent successes of the Cubs and Astros might ensure the team-building strategy of “tanking” (that is, intentionally fielding a series of non-competitive teams) will continue to remain popular in the near future, as Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle writes in a long feature story. The Braves, for example, appear to be employing a variation of the Astros’ extreme-rebuilding approach, the Phillies are doing something somewhat similar, and the Brewers could conceivably do the same. But “tanking” isn’t without its downfalls. “[Y]ou risk losing the fan base and alienating a fan base and in some cases they come back and in some cases they don’t come back,” says Pirates GM Neal Huntington, who traded many of his team’s key players beginning in 2008, after he had been on the job for about a year. “I don’t know, I mean, we’re a copycat society, let alone industry, so I think it’s worked remarkably well on a couple of fronts. I think once it doesn’t work well, then it probably won’t be a thing to do anymore.”

Some organizations can go through a 'tanking' and some cannot. Example, the Cubs. But to be perfectly honest while a few seasons of racking up good picks can help, I don't think its truly necessary. In baseball you don't need the #1 overall pick to get a good prospect. You can build through the draft, international players, and FA just fine. Just look at the Cardinals. I think having the right staff from A, AA, AAA, to the majors, all the right scouts and GM, etc... you can build a 'dynasty' with home grown talent without tanking. And I wouldn't say the Cubs necesarrily 'tanked' either, they just started over.

This.

2002 - Matt Cain, pick 25
2006 - Tim Lincecum, pick 10
2007 - Madison Bumgarner, pick 10
2008 - Buster Posey, pick 5; Brandon Crawford, 4th round
2009 - Brandon Belt, 5th round
2011 - Joe Panik, pick 29


Just need to draft a solid core over the course of ~5-7 years, then groom them and put them in positions to succeed with coaches and roles that fit them, and supplement your roster with solid free agent acquisitions

Future GM

Matt Duffy 18th round (568th overall) 2012

the right GM/management is where its at.

cardinals dont always do what the fans want, but they do whats right.


letting pujols walk not only allowed us to extend molina and wainwright, but also netted us a comp pick in which we drafted wacha.

trading freese, a hometown player who won WS mvp not long before, wasnt a fan favorite move. but getting grichuk for a below league avg 3rd basemen could pay huge dividends.


obv hitting your later draft picks is key, but development is even more important. i just wish the rams could draft and develop half as good as the cardinals.

This post was edited by Genetics on Nov 16 2015 12:52pm

Reading other teams emails is really important as well

Neil Huntington used to be one of the most hated people in Pittsburgh.

one things for sure. taking steroids and denying it while calling everyone else a liar doesnt create a successful team.

I'm just glad the biggest tool in all of baseball is on a rival team. Makes it a lot easier to hate them.