How do you look at it when a good team misses the playoffs due to injuries?

Question

When a good team is side-tracked by injuries there are 2 ways to look at things:

Option 1: Its too bad injuries kept the team from doing well. Now we’ll never know how good that team would have been.

Option 2: Part of being a good team is having enough depth that a few injuries doesn’t slow you down. If most of your success comes on the shoulders of a few key players, then you aren’t a good team, you just an average team with a few standouts. This team didn’t deserve the playoffs so its no tragedy that an injury or two cost them their chance.

When a good team is sidelined by injuries, how do you view the situation. Option 1? Option 2? Or something else?

(Note, this could apply to any team sport I guess, not just baseball).

Answer 1

the 2nd one that is why the Yankees are such a great team they are only 3 games out with a ton of their best players out.

Answer 2

you look at it both options combined, it doesnt mean they didnt deserve it but it also means they need some depth.

Answer 3

Well when you got alot of injuries you have to put the bench to play, and then you will see who was the team with best backup.

Answer 4

Neither one is right, when you have someone like a pujols, ramirez, soriano, etc.(any teams best player) you dont keep backups for those players, you get better at other positions that you need.  You don't need 2 all star first basemen, so you trade one of them away or dont sign them and use the money elsewhere.  That is why the brewers traded their top prospect(LaPorta) b/c he plays 1st base and outfield (positions filled by some guys named Fielder and braun).  They could afford to trade away their best prospect b/c they dont need him.  No team has depth at a position where they have a superstar.  The cardinals have a top prospect(bryan anderson) but he is a catcher and needs to be traded b/c he will not take yadi's place.  Injuries happen, and you cant directly measure a teams depth by their ability to win without that player.