FanPost

Is it time to start rooting against the O's?

This concept is blasphemy of course. And realistically, I'll never sit in the stands or in front of my TV and hope that the O's lose a particular game. However, perhaps this season can be rescued from "complete and utter disaster" and pushed into "good god, that sure sucked" territory.

The way that happens, of course, is 1) if we get the number one pick in next year's draft and 2) if he turns out to be a star. It's funny, tanking at the end of a season is almost universally scorned in sports. However, trading all your veteran talent in a fire sale at the trade deadline is often looked at as smart baseball. I'd never suggest that the players should try to lose. But there is a way for the organization to not try to win and get something out of it.

I think we should trade every marketable veteran chip, right now. I know there aren't many of them. But get something for Millwood while we still can. Get something for Luke Scott. Let Josh Bell or Brandon Snyder come up and hit for a few months instead of the typical September cup of coffee. Give them a taste of the big leagues. (If you think they won't be hurt by being pushed too fast of course.)

Look, I don't know that much about the 2011 draft. Keith Law and some other people out there seem to think that Anthony Rendon, a third baseman from Rice, is the probable top pick. So we may as well put ourselves in a position to get him. Draft history is filled with tales of teams who won that last series and ended up missing out on a premier talent the following June. I happened with the O's and Teixeira. It happened with the Mariners and Strasburg. For a little bit of honor and integrity, you win two or three more games and end up screwing yourself for the long term. You think the Seattle fans wouldn't trade two wins in September for Stephen Strasburg?

Again, I'm not suggesting that we throw games or anything. But start selling off the pieces now. The fans are already pissed off. It's not like we're selling out every night. The crowds aren't going to come back until we win and losing now puts us in the best position to win later.

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