--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we think a playoff spot's not in the…" description: "\"If we think a playoff spot's not in the cards, there will be no concern for appearances or cosmetics whatsoever. We'll continue to address our future a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/theo-epstein-7214_appearances_if-we-think-a-playoff-spot-s-not-in-the_740077.jpg" --- # If we think a playoff spot's not in the cards, there will… ![“If we think a playoff spot's not in the cards, there will be no concern for appearances or cosmetics whatsoever. We'll continue to address our future and trade off some pieces that would keep us respectable.” quote by Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/theo-epstein-7214_appearances_if-we-think-a-playoff-spot-s-not-in-the_740077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/theo-epstein-7214_appearances_if-we-think-a-playoff-spot-s-not-in-the_740077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fd/theo-epstein-7214_appearances_if-we-think-a-playoff-spot-s-not-in-the_740077.jpg) > “If we think a playoff spot's not in the cards, there will be no concern for appearances or cosmetics whatsoever. We'll continue to address our future and trade off some pieces that would keep us respectable.” [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The team will prioritize long‑term success over short‑term image, making tough roster moves even if it hurts current reputation. **In simple terms:** Focus on future, not appearances. Key Takeaway Accept short‑term pain for long‑term gain. Themes strategy teambuilding leadership Mood determined pragmatic Type advice strategic When to use this quote - front office meetings - season planning - contract negotiations - media statements Key Concepts long‑term planning trade decisions rebuilding reputation management Questions to Reflect On - What sacrifices are worth a future championship? - How do you balance fan expectations with strategic goals? A Different Perspective Fans may feel alienated by losing popular players. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appearances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearances/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Playoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playoff/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever format it is, I think playoff hockey is still going to look a lot like playoff hockey and it is going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/whatever-format-it-is-i-think-playoff-hockey-is-still-going-to-look-a/) [T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/) > [If you go to a team that's fighting for a playoff spot, you just want to fit in. That's all you want to do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-lowry/if-you-go-to-a-team-that-s-fighting-for-a-playoff-spot-you-just-want/) [Kyle Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-lowry/) > [I think playoff experience matters for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-gobert/i-think-playoff-experience-matters-for-sure/) [Rudy Gobert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-gobert/) > [As an organization, would we like to be in a better spot Everybody would like to know they're in the playoffs. But that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tortorella/as-an-organization-would-we-like-to-be-in-a-better-spot-everybody/) [John Tortorella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tortorella/) > [In many college classes, laptops depict split screens - notes from a class, and then a range of parallel stimulants: NBA playoff statistics on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/in-many-college-classes-laptops-depict-split-screens-notes-from-a/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [This is definitely a playoff team. There's no question about that. It's just a matter of how much we want it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bondra/this-is-definitely-a-playoff-team-there-s-no-question-about-that-it-s/) [Peter Bondra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bondra/) > [Every game is a playoff game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/every-game-is-a-playoff-game/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [After a basketball game, you're gonna be physically tired, but more mentally. Playoff time comes around, you have it all in your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/after-a-basketball-game-you-re-gonna-be-physically-tired-but-more/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [I loved the three years I had in Cleveland, especially that playoff run with Timmy Couch and Kelly Holcomb. And obviously those great years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-arians/i-loved-the-three-years-i-had-in-cleveland-especially-that-playoff/) [Bruce Arians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-arians/) > [It's fun to be in playoff contention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-semien/it-s-fun-to-be-in-playoff-contention/) [Marcus Semien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-semien/) > [Everything we talk about is about beating the Packers, the Bears and the Vikings. Obviously there are other teams in the league, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mariucci/everything-we-talk-about-is-about-beating-the-packers-the-bears-and/) [Steve Mariucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mariucci/) > [We're just a fragile team right now. It seems like when we have a little bit of adversity, when something goes wrong, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-walz/we-re-just-a-fragile-team-right-now-it-seems-like-when-we-have-a/) Wes Walz > [I said as soon as we had a playoff, we were going to minimize the importance of all the other bowl games. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/i-said-as-soon-as-we-had-a-playoff-we-were-going-to-minimize-the/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [When it comes down to playoff basketball, it's attention to detail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-williams/when-it-comes-down-to-playoff-basketball-it-s-attention-to-detail/) [Lou Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-williams/) > [You’ll never have a 16-team playoff in college football. The most that could happen would be four teams in the next century. But after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beano-cook/you-ll-never-have-a-16-team-playoff-in-college-football-the-most-that/) [Beano Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beano-cook/) ## More by Theo Epstein > [I still wake up thinking about draft choices we should have made that would have impacted the franchise for a long time, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-still-wake-up-thinking-about-draft-choices-we-should-have-made-that/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [I used to follow people home. I just like being anonymous so much that I would follow people home because they didn't know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-used-to-follow-people-home-i-just-like-being-anonymous-so-much-that/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [When we build that foundation for sustained success, and it ultimately results in a World Series, it's going to be more than just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/when-we-build-that-foundation-for-sustained-success-and-it-ultimately/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [If you're trying to avoid one move that you don't think is going to work out, don't then settle for a different move that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/if-you-re-trying-to-avoid-one-move-that-you-don-t-think-is-going-to/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [You're not always going to get the outcomes you feel like your talent deserves, that you feel like the big picture deserves. And what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/you-re-not-always-going-to-get-the-outcomes-you-feel-like-your-talent/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [We try to do a great job of understanding the opposing hitter and his tendencies. Maybe understand the hitter better than he knows himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/we-try-to-do-a-great-job-of-understanding-the-opposing-hitter-and-his/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [If I let my brain follow its path unfettered, it would be kinda ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/if-i-let-my-brain-follow-its-path-unfettered-it-would-be-kinda-ugly/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [Sometimes, on the business side, it's important to sort of have something with some sizzle in an offseason. It's the baseball operations department's job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/sometimes-on-the-business-side-it-s-important-to-sort-of-have/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [When I was writing or competing in individual sports, it felt unfulfilling and lonely. When I was able to find a group of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/when-i-was-writing-or-competing-in-individual-sports-it-felt/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [I believe in our players. That's why they're here. I also know slumping is part of baseball. What's surprising is sometimes when it lasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-believe-in-our-players-that-s-why-they-re-here-i-also-know-slumping/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [I believe in the First Amendment. But I also believe we should be mindful of how other people feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-believe-in-the-first-amendment-but-i-also-believe-we-should-be/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [Scouting and player development is the key to year-in and year-out success, not the occasional lucky hit. There are no definitive answers in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/scouting-and-player-development-is-the-key-to-year-in-and-year-out/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [You have years where most things go your way, and you have years where more things than usual seem like a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/you-have-years-where-most-things-go-your-way-and-you-have-years-where/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [The only time I think about my contract is when I'm asked about it by the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-only-time-i-think-about-my-contract-is-when-i-m-asked-about-it-by/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [There has to be active, hands-on management in concert with the manager to lead the organization and make sure that the standards that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/there-has-to-be-active-hands-on-management-in-concert-with-the/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) [Explore all 93 Theo Epstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) ## More Appearances quotes > [I always feel like I've been slightly misunderstood. As a woman, you get judged for appearances or things like that I don't really care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-always-feel-like-i-ve-been-slightly-misunderstood-as-a-woman-you/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [I already know what things look like - I don't want description. People believe in appearances, and I don't believe in appearances at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-michals/i-already-know-what-things-look-like-i-don-t-want-description-people/) [Duane Michals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-michals/) > [When will we regard human beings as human beings? Why do we discuss someone's appearance? And when we can't find faults in appearances, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saba-qamar/when-will-we-regard-human-beings-as-human-beings-why-do-we-discuss/) [Saba Qamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saba-qamar/) > [“He "had developed a trick in college for speaking with authority. He believed that breaking his argument into numbers forced people to pay attention.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-had-developed-a-trick-in-college-for-speaking-with-authority-he/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest weakness of all is the great fear of appearing weak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-benigne-bossuel/the-greatest-weakness-of-all-is-the-great-fear-of-appearing-weak/) Jacques Benigne Bossuel > [“The most important thing had always been what other people thought-appearances before herself or her family. And righteous about it. Time and again Matt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-most-important-thing-had-always-been-what-other-people-thought/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [Appearances are significant, and never more than in politics. You can always sway the crowd, provided you have a good story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/appearances-are-significant-and-never-more-than-in-politics-you-can/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If it shuffles like a zombie, stinks like a zombie, and moans like a zombie, make sure it isn't your mom, then shoot it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-cowles/if-it-shuffles-like-a-zombie-stinks-like-a-zombie-and-moans-like-a/) [Rock Cowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-cowles/) > [“She had told Kazan that she was bored with the roles she was playing because so many of them had been basically the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-randy-taraborrelli/she-had-told-kazan-that-she-was-bored-with-the-roles-she-was-playing/) [J. Randy Taraborrelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-randy-taraborrelli/) > [When I did '1,2,3,4' on 'Sesame Street' they'd rewritten the song and made it about counting. At first, I balked. I was like, 'Counting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feist/when-i-did-1-2-3-4-on-sesame-street-they-d-rewritten-the-song-and/) [Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feist/) > [In 1996 I was working on a play in New Orleans, and they needed a drag queen. I offered to play the role. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-del-rio/in-1996-i-was-working-on-a-play-in-new-orleans-and-they-needed-a-drag/) [Bianca Del Rio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-del-rio/) > [To reach Bergomi at the top of appearances for Inter in Europe gives me pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-zanetti/to-reach-bergomi-at-the-top-of-appearances-for-inter-in-europe-gives/) [Javier Zanetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-zanetti/) > [You can be 19 or 20 and playing reserve team football, be able to say 'I played at,' say, 'Manchester United,' even though you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/you-can-be-19-or-20-and-playing-reserve-team-football-be-able-to-say/) [Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/) > [There is no trusting appearances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/there-is-no-trusting-appearances/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [Outward appearances mean everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/outward-appearances-mean-everything/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) [Browse all 245 Appearances quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appearances/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If we think a playoff spot's not in the cards, there will be no concern for appearances or cosmetics whatsoever. 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