Most dysfunctional team in pro sports..

[Jeffy25]

The Pirates do need a medal for 17 years without a winning record. But I think Hunnington finally gets it

[actionjackson]

In all Sports, its all Raidahs.

Just lose baby!

[TheNamelessPoet]

Orioles or Twins. Not arguable.

lol Twins not even close

2 yeras ago I would have said pitt
now probably Houston NYM, or Royals

[Jeffy25]

Twins are possibly one of the best ran organizations in baseball. If only the owner would pay to keep some players....Imagine if they had never done the Santana deal.

[actionjackson]

The Pirates do need a medal for 17 years without a winning record. But I think Hunnington finally gets it

If I'm not mistaken 17 straight seasons without a winning record is a new MLB record. So yes indeed, they deserve a medal and congratulations Pirates and Pirates lovers everywhere. Keep it going. Make it one of the most unbreakable records in the sport.

No matter what and despite the "accomplishment", I don't think they'll ever match the agony of Phillies' fans from 1918 through 1948. From 1918 through 1931 they endured 14 straight non-winning seasons, with a brief small ray of sunshine in 1932 (a 78-76 [.506] record, break out the champagne baby! ) and then back to losing again with 16 straight non-winning seasons from 1933 through 1948. Ouch! Missed 31 straight by that much. Whoa! Chin up Pirates faithful. I believe when Huntington digs you out of this mess, things will be much better...but until then.

Other big ones (I include .500 seasons in these streaks because technically they're not winning seasons, but a .500 season cannot start a non-winning streak, it can only extend one - K? ):

16: Red Sox (1919-1934), Cubs (1947-1962)

15: Athletics (1953-1967)

14: Orioles (1946-1959), Brewers (1993-2006), Mariners (1977-1990)

13: Athletics (1934-1946)

12: Orioles (1930-1941), Orioles (1998-2009: only other active double-digit streak), Tigers (1994-2005)

11: Braves (1903-1913), Braves (1922-1932), Cubs (1973-1983), Reds (1945-1955), Dodgers (1904-1914), Twins (1901-1911)

10: Astros (1962-1971), Athletics (1915-1924), Rays (1998-2007), Nationals (1969-1978)

I didn't change the nicknames of the franchises because they've changed so much through the years. If you want to...knock yourself out.

See metsguy, it's not so bad, your team's just dysfunctional - they don't completely suck.

[dickay]

See metsguy, it's not so bad, your team's just dysfunctional - they don't completely suck.

perfect comment!!

I find the Mets fascinating because they have tons of talent....but they are just completely dysfunctional. If they sucked and were dysfunctional (like the Raiders or Pirates) they wouldn't be nearly as much fun. The Mets are solid humor.

[Jeffy25]

If I'm not mistaken 17 straight seasons without a winning record is a new MLB record. So yes indeed, they deserve a medal and congratulations Pirates and Pirates lovers everywhere. Keep it going. Make it one of the most unbreakable records in the sport.

No matter what and despite the "accomplishment", I don't think they'll ever match the agony of Phillies' fans from 1918 through 1948. From 1918 through 1931 they endured 14 straight non-winning seasons, with a brief small ray of sunshine in 1932 (a 78-76 [.506] record, break out the champagne baby! ) and then back to losing again with 16 straight non-winning seasons from 1933 through 1948. Ouch! Missed 31 straight by that much. Whoa! Chin up Pirates faithful. I believe when Huntington digs you out of this mess, things will be much better...but until then.

Other big ones (I include .500 seasons in these streaks because technically they're not winning seasons, but a .500 season cannot start a non-winning streak, it can only extend one - K? ):

16: Red Sox (1919-1934), Cubs (1947-1962)

15: Athletics (1953-1967)

14: Orioles (1946-1959), Brewers (1993-2006), Mariners (1977-1990)

13: Athletics (1934-1946)

12: Orioles (1930-1941), Orioles (1998-2009: only other active double-digit streak), Tigers (1994-2005)

11: Braves (1903-1913), Braves (1922-1932), Cubs (1973-1983), Reds (1945-1955), Dodgers (1904-1914), Twins (1901-1911)

10: Astros (1962-1971), Athletics (1915-1924), Rays (1998-2007), Nationals (1969-1978)

I didn't change the nicknames of the franchises because they've changed so much through the years. If you want to...knock yourself out.

See metsguy, it's not so bad, your team's just dysfunctional - they don't completely suck.

wait a second...weren't the cubs out of the playoffs for 39 straight years prior to 84?

just thought I would add that.




what's the longest over .500 streak then?

[actionjackson]

wait a second...1) weren't the cubs out of the playoffs for 39 straight years prior to 84?

just thought I would add that.




2) what's the longest over .500 streak then?

1) It is possible to have a winning record without getting to the playoffs.

2) If I were a betting man, I'd look at one team and one team only. You either love them or you hate them: The New York Yankee$. Their economic clout tends to result in fans with this perspective on all things baseball:

[actionjackson]

perfect comment!!

I find the Mets fascinating because they have tons of talent....but they are just completely dysfunctional. If they sucked and were dysfunctional (like the Raiders or Pirates) they wouldn't be nearly as much fun. The Mets are solid humor.

I actually think the Pirates are quite functional right now. I don't think it's fair to lay the debacles of the 8 year (ugh!) Cam Bonifay era (1994-2001) and the 5 year Dave Littlefield era (2002-2006) at the feet of Neal Huntington who's only had the job for three years and is still cleaning up from 13 years of idiot GMs. To a certain extent you can only be as successful as a GM as ownership will allow you to be and I think it says a lot that they've allowed Huntington to strip it to the bare bones and build it back up from the ground up. I think he'll do a great job.

Minaya has been an incredibly dysfunctional GM since taking over the Expos in 2002 at the behest of MLB. While it may not be fair to judge a man on his record at the helm of a team without ownership, I'm quite sure Nationals fans would beg to differ. You see Minaya was the bonehead who traded Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips, Grady Sizemore, and Lee Stevens for half a season of this guy and Tim (not J.D., not Stephen) Drew. I'm pretty sure the Nats would love to have Lee, Phillips, and Sizemore at this point, that is if Jim Bowden could've resisted the temptation to trade all of them off for toolsy outfielders. Everybody knows about his time with the Mets, but that trade wound up fu(king up another NL East team and he hasn't been able to take advantage of that yet, with only 1 division title to show for his five years with a team with a huge payroll budget. Add in the distractions and inanities illustrated brilliantly by metsguy's flow chart earlier in the thread, and you have a rather sad legacy.

[Jeffy25]

1) It is possible to have a winning record without getting to the playoffs.

2) If I were a betting man, I'd look at one team and one team only. You either love them or you hate them: The New York Yankee$. Their economic clout tends to result in fans with this perspective on all things baseball:

you love adding that photo everywhere.

on issue number 1. I edited my comment to say that i realize that he said .500 not playoff.

[actionjackson]

you love adding that photo everywhere.

on issue number 1. I edited my comment to say that i realize that he said .500 not playoff.

I think I've only used it three times now, including my first post back and it's just so apropos.

[Jeffy25]

Minaya

Montréal Expos

At the time of Minaya's arrival in Montreal, the Expos were jointly owned by the 29 other teams of Major League Baseball. This unusual ownership arrangement was reached after a period of contraction rumors and the purchase of the Florida Marlins by former Expos owner Jeffrey Loria. With the fanbase rapidly declining and speculation that the team would be relocated, Minaya was forced to work with limited financial resources. Despite these limitations, Minaya was aggressive in his attempt to make the Expos a contender, adding Bartolo Colón and Cliff Floyd in a pair of mid-season trades. These moves helped the 2002 Expos to an 83-79 record and second place in the National League East.

After another 83-79 record and the departure of star Vladimir Guerrero in 2003, the Expos went 67-95 in 2004 amid reports that their future in Montréal would soon end. When it was announced that the Expos would relocate to Washington, DC for the 2005 season, Minaya learned that with the move would come a new front office and coaching position.

As General Manager of the Expos, Minaya traded away a number of young players that went on to enjoy significant success upon reaching the major league level. These include:

Jason Bay (2004 Rookie of the Year, All-Star in 2005, 2006, & 2009, Top 25 in MVP Voting 2005 & 2006)
Cliff Lee (2008 AL Cy Young Award, All-Star in 2008, Top 25 in MVP Voting 2008, 4th in AL Cy Young Voting 2005)
Grady Sizemore (All-Star in 2006, 2007, & 2008, Gold Glove in 2007 & 2008, Silver Slugger in 2008, Top 25 in MVP Voting 2005-2008)
Brandon Phillips (Gold Glove in 2008, Top 25 in MVP Voting 2007)
Chris Young (2007 All-Star)
[edit] Return to the Mets

After the Mets continued to struggle at the conclusion of the 2004 season, Mets owner Fred Wilpon asked Minaya to become the team's general manager. In Minaya's first offseason he made two significant free agent signings, adding pitcher Pedro Martínez and outfielder Carlos Beltran. Signing Martinez helped raise the awareness of the Mets in Latin America, leading Minaya to remark that Martinez was "a guy that makes the brand."[4] Under new manager Willie Randolph, the Mets improved from 71 wins in 2004 to 83 wins in 2005, staying in the hunt for the postseason until the last week of the season.

Minaya's work in the 2005 offseason would further shape the franchise, adding closer Billy Wagner, first baseman Carlos Delgado and veteran catcher Paul Lo Duca. He also strengthened the bench by adding utility infielder José Valentín, first baseman Julio Franco and outfielder Endy Chavez. Bullpen acquisitions included Chad Bradford, Jorge Julio, and Duaner Sanchez. Despite the veteran additions, Minaya was able to limit payroll by trading Mike Cameron to the San Diego Padres for Xavier Nady and Kris Benson to the Baltimore Orioles for Jorge Julio and John Maine.

The benefits of Minaya's work became immediately apparent in 2006 as the Mets won the National League East by 12 games, finishing first with a National-League-best and Major League-tied 97 wins. During the season, Minaya fortified the team by making additional trades, acquiring Orlando Hernández (for Jorge Julio) and Óliver Pérez and Roberto Hernandez (for Xavier Nady) and trading away second baseman Kazuo Matsui.

Not all of Minaya's transactions worked out in the Mets' favor, however. The Mets signed Moisés Alou to multiple lucrative contracts, but Alou was plagued with injuries during his Mets career. Minaya also traded away several young pitchers that many fans believe could have helped the Mets avert their historic breakdown at the end of the 2007 season. In November 2006, Minaya sent Heath Bell and Royce Ring to the Padres for Ben Johnson and Jon Adkins. A few days later, he sent hard-throwing relievers Henry Owens and Matt Lindstrom to the Florida Marlins for lefties Jason Vargas and Adam Bostick. The following month, he traded starting pitcher Brian Bannister (son of former major league pitcher Floyd Bannister) to the Kansas City Royals for a live bullpen arm in Ambiorix Burgos. The young pitchers dealt away by Minaya, most notably Bell and Bannister, thrived with their new teams, overall the Mets netted little on those deals.

Minaya's biggest acquisition came on January 29, 2008 when he reached a tentative deal with the Minnesota Twins to send Carlos Gómez, Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey, and Deolis Guerra to the Twins for ace pitcher Johan Santana. The trade became official after Santana was signed to a contract extension and passed a physical. As of June 2, 2009, these 4 players have little to no effect on the Twins organization except for Gomez, the lone player in the majors of the 4. The next offseason Omar needed to address the bullpen. On December 9, Minaya locked up closer Francisco Rodríguez to a three year deal. Rodriguez is coming off a major league record of 62 saves in the 2008 season. Three days later, Minaya acquired JJ Putz from the Mariners in a three team deal. On January 5, 2010, Minaya signed outfielder Jason Bay to a four year deal. Ironically, it was Minaya as Expos general manager who traded Bay to the Mets in 2002.

awful. With a handful of good moves. If he didn't have a high payroll to work with, what would the Mets look like today?

and has anyone else noticed the amount of Dominican players he brings in, and the amount of non-Dominican players he sends out?

[gringokid]

DETROIT LIONS!!!! Hands down. 2 years ago I would have said the Arizona Cardinals, but they're actually deacent now.

[metsguy234]

awful. With a handful of good moves. If he didn't have a high payroll to work with, what would the Mets look like today?

and has anyone else noticed the amount of Dominican players he brings in, and the amount of non-Dominican players he sends out?

Jason Bay, Scott Schoeneweis, Billy Wagner, Xavier Nady, Gary Sheffield, Marlon Anderson, JJ Putz, Jeremy Reed, Sean Green, Shawn Green, Ryan Church, Brian Schneider, Jeff Francoeur, John Maine, Damion Easley, Paul Lo Duca, Pat Misch, Lance Broadway

Damn Mexicans taking all our jobs!

[HoustonGM]

Jason Bay, Scott Schoeneweis, Billy Wagner, Xavier Nady, Gary Sheffield, Marlon Anderson, JJ Putz, Jeremy Reed, Sean Green, Shawn Green, Ryan Church, Brian Schneider, Jeff Francoeur, John Maine, Damion Easley, Paul Lo Duca, Pat Misch, Lance Broadway

Damn Mexicans taking all our jobs!

Funny that metsguy is usually the one claiming Minaya is racist and favors Latinos.