Tanking

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:27 pm

As the ExCo we have had some discussions about this issue in the past. The league also has had some. I am asking that we, as the ExCo, develop some hard guidelines with explicit penalties over the off-season to be implemented effective next season.

I guess on this subject I am a little naive as I find it hard to believe anyone would tank in a make believe game - yet it appears that it may have happened. I am not proposing this as some sort of sour grapes (as the IBC Mets for the second year in a row go on a winning streak in the last two weeks ...); nor am I saying this because I absolutely believe that one or more GMs has "tanked" (at least for a while) this season. There has been questions raised about and of at least two teams this season - but I believe the lack of a definitive policy and penalty on tanking made both the idea of tanking more possible (and palatable) and enforcing the notion of NO TANKING more difficult.

I feel strongly that whatever we decide on be put out to the league in penalty of time for the other GMs to comment and buy into the policy. I can't believe anyone would have the balls to argue the issue (although there were idiots in Atlanta yesterday that booed the President of the Humane Society ...) I also feel strongly that we can not go back and retroactively implement a policy effective this season.

I have been poking around some other league rules for a possible starting point in our discussion/policy and will follow up in the near future.

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:36 am

Who tanked?

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:27 am

Athletics wrote:Who tanked?

I did not say that any one did. I said there have been questions about at least two teams.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:17 pm

There have been questions, there have also been situations in the past where GM's asked me what would happen if it did occur (when i was commish). Maybe it has hapened, maybe it hasn't, but I think it's better to establish standards now than later.
IMO, since tanking is generally an effort to improve their draft situation, it would seem appropriate to either bump that player down in the draft or strip them of the ability to participate in the next upcoming draft altogether if the case was overtly blatant.

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:16 pm

Agreed. I say first offense move to the bottom of the round, second offense strip first and third rounders. Also tell GMs that if they aren't going to be around they should get someone to set their lineup just like getting someone to monitor the DL to take away that excuse.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:49 pm

Second offense I'd boot someone.

Cardinals · Post by **Cardinals** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:56 pm

If we are going to be calling people out, or discussing tanking, let's at least make the debate with the names I think. There are probably varying cases that possibly have circumstances that would rationalize whatever the roster move is.

So I'm all for naming names here but would want to proceed very cautiously with any sort of penalty and or accusation.

Rangers · Post by **Rangers** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:04 am

Astros wrote:If we are going to be calling people out, or discussing tanking, let's at least make the debate with the names I think. There are probably varying cases that possibly have circumstances that would rationalize whatever the roster move is.

So I'm all for naming names here but would want to proceed very cautiously with any sort of penalty and or accusation.

Yeah I agree.

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:07 am

Astros wrote:If we are going to be calling people out, or discussing tanking, let's at least make the debate with the names I think. There are probably varying cases that possibly have circumstances that would rationalize whatever the roster move is.

So I'm all for naming names here but would want to proceed very cautiously with any sort of penalty and or accusation.

I am specifically NOT calling anyone out. I want this discussion to be prospective. How do we define tanking (in a manner that is clear and enforceable) and what are the penalities when (or rather if) a GM does tank?

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 12:15 am

I'm also not interested in naming names or penalizing people for what HAS been done. I prefer not to penalize peopel, I prefer that a penalty acts as preventative.
I do think each future situation would need to be looked at differently. I wouldn't recommend stripping someone of all their draft picks unless it was very clear that the GM was tanking, such as but not limited to, sending in multiple roster files with significant players left out of the lineup, using clearly subpar players in key situations (i.e. using unjustifiable relievers to close).
Anything less than such a clear violation would, IMO, still deserve a penalty, but a lesser one.

Dodgers · Post by **Dodgers** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:01 pm

Keep in mind there was this thread: viewtopic.php?t=471 as I know Jake is a suspect.