As the 2008 MLB season comes to an end, the Nationals are ready to set a franchise record for losses unless they win four of their last five games. Big Money Tony, would like the Nationals to avoid this dubious achievement. Five or ten years from now will anyone remember a 100 loss season from a 99 loss season? 100 Losses. No, but fans could remember that this was the year that finishing with so many losses provided one of the best and most heralded pitching prospects to enter the draft in the last decade.
The Washington Post reported weeks ago about Stephen Strasburg from San Diego State Boswell. A 20 year old with a 101 mph fast ball and a phenomenal curve ball. This isn't a year to finish second when the sweepstakes are so high for the first pick.
Baseball is a sport that relies upon stats more than any other sport and at the end of the day a 100 losses is a 100 losses for a very mediocre team. How soon fans forget that the previous year in which a massive quantity of pitchers were invited to spring training and mlb scouts and journalists predicted a record setting number of losses to be tallied by the Nats. For a team that has had consistent problems scoring and pitching, a 100 loss season isn't the end of the world. At least the Nats could succeed at something and earn themselves on the of the best pitchers to enter the draft in years that could change the direction of the franchise with a true ace. Now is the time to not only follow the Nats, but track the Mariners too. Seattle has one fewer losses than the Nats.
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Not surprisingly, I disagree. Baseball has a very unique situation where draft picks may not pan out. Even the best picks might not last in the majors for long.
I don't disagree that baseball and hockey draft 18 year old kids that often are difficult to project and provide more misses that hits, but when there an opportunity to draft an ace you take it.
100 is just a number that we affix a value or stigma. It's not the first time or last time a team hits this dubious distinction. You play the games and see where you end up. Whether it's 99 or 100 losses they're both bad, but the worst team has the upside of great potential.