How much do you care about winning the division?

[Pickles]

4/6 percent

[24fps]

Huh?  Win the frickin' division.  I'd rather be effective than appear smart.

[Chavez Ravine]

I am more a regular season guy. Win the division—that’s the more significant accomplishment. The playoffs have too much random real life angst, anguish, and sorrow. 

[Flash- bd]

A lot. Regardless of what happened last season there's no way I can be convinced that avoiding a whole 3 game series--especially with the volatility there in such a short series--is not a huge advantage in going further in the playoffs. Bigger or as big as almost any addition we could make at the trade deadline. 

[Frobby]

I care a lot.  Winning the AL East is a very difficult accomplishment, much more than getting a wild card spot.  I take great pride in our AL East title from last year, regardless of our playoff flop.

Also, it’s been fifty years since the O’s won the AL East back to back.  5. 0.  

Saying all that, I won’t turn my nose up at a wild card either.  
 

[SilverRocket]

I care a lot, I believe it's still a big advantage in the playoffs. Now am I willing to trade the farm to get 110 wins to get it vs unusual competition, no. But I want a number of wins that would normally win the division most years, and hope the Yankees come back to earth.

[Philip]

To be honest, it depends on whether the division would be a step down, a step up, or expected.

In 2022, everyone would have been overjoyed at 3WC. In 2023, we would have been furious.

Now expectations are high. A WC is still playoffs but a huge disappointment.

Not just considering the importance of a first round bye and R&R for the guys, anything less than a division title is a disappointment. 
The division is the goal of the season.

And I hate the Yankees. And I’m annoyed every time we lose a game we should have won.

[HandsomeQuack]

It's the Yankees. It's pride, regardless of anything else.

[Frobby]

28 minutes ago, Philip said:

To be honest, it depends on whether the division would be a step down, a step up, or expected.

In 2022, everyone would have been overjoyed at 3WC. In 2023, we would have been furious.

Now expectations are high. A WC is still playoffs but a huge disappointment.

Not just considering the importance of a first round bye and R&R for the guys, anything less than a division title is a disappointment. 
The division is the goal of the season.

And I hate the Yankees. And I’m annoyed every time we lose a game we should have won.

This is just a repeat of the discussion the other day.  We don’t control what the Yankees do, except when we play them.  The O’s are on pace to win 106 games.  There’s no way I’d be disappointed in them if they did that, no matter what the Yankees did.  Only 6% of our posters thought the O’s would exceed 101 wins this year; 85% expected a drop to 97 wins or lower.   

 

[Philip]

Just now, Frobby said:

This is just a repeat of the discussion the other day.  We don’t control what the Yankees do, except when we play them.  The O’s are on pace to win 106 games.  There’s no way I’d be disappointed in them if they did that, no matter what the Yankees did.  Only 6% of our posters thought the O’s would exceed 101 wins this year; 85% expected a drop to 97 wins or lower.   

 

Yes, I am aware that this is basically just a repeat of the other days chat. it’s quite possible. This post was inspired by that chat.
But the point remains valid. I can only say what I’ve already said it’s still how I feel.

If the bullpen management doesn’t improve, I don’t think it will be a three game gap, but if we lose the division 108-105, I will be very disappointed.

And it seems that a lot of people feel the same way.

 

[Frobby]

1 minute ago, Philip said:

Yes, I am aware that this is basically just a repeat of the other days chat. it’s quite possible. This post was inspired by that chat.
But the point remains valid. I can only say what I’ve already said it’s still how I feel.

If the bullpen management doesn’t improve, I don’t think it will be a three game gap, but if we lose the division 108-105, I will be very disappointed.

And it seems that a lot of people feel the same way.

 

I can’t tell another person what their standard should be for being disappointed.  It’s subjective.  I’ll just say I think that’s really unreasonable.  I also think your opinion that the O’s have lost a lot of games by bad bullpen management is wrong.  But go ahead, drive yourself nuts thinking the bullpen would never lose a game if only they were managed properly.   

[Philip]

21 minutes ago, Frobby said:

This is just a repeat of the discussion the other day.  We don’t control what the Yankees do, except when we play them.  The O’s are on pace to win 106 games.  There’s no way I’d be disappointed in them if they did that, no matter what the Yankees did.  Only 6% of our posters thought the O’s would exceed 101 wins this year; 85% expected a drop to 97 wins or lower.   

 

PS I think I probably was one of the ones who voted for a drop into the high 90s, but I definitely predicted, and expect a division title. I don’t care if we do it with only 90 wins. I wanna win the division.

[now]

I've been checking the standings and how the MFYs are doing most days for weeks now, so I guess that means I care who wins the division.

[baltfan]

I care a lot less than I did last year when I thought the rest was some big advantage.  Now I would be perfectly fine with the first wild card

[BohKnowsBmore]

5 hours ago, Flash- bd said:

A lot. Regardless of what happened last season there's no way I can be convinced that avoiding a whole 3 game series--especially with the volatility there in such a short series--is not a huge advantage in going further in the playoffs. Bigger or as big as almost any addition we could make at the trade deadline. 

This. People seem to discount the fact that we could lose in the opening series, and not even have the opportunity to fall flat in the division series.