"C. Thi Nguyen, philosopher and author of The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else's Game, explained the concept of "striving play" as having friends over for cards - the goal is to win, but the purpose is to have fun. He adds that "striving play" is when we're trying to win, not because winning is valuable, but because we want something about the process."
"You can't win a baseball game by attempting too hard to win, which is why shifting the focus to having fun helps teams win more games, because they focus on having fun and forget that they're trying to win games."
"Even if there are more economic incentives at stake in the majors, teams that have fun usually come out on top because they realize that winning as one purpose and goal isn't always the best strategy to unlock winning ways."
Winning is essential in professional baseball, but merging winning as both the goal and purpose creates counterproductive pressure. The 2025 Blue Jays succeeded by distinguishing their goal—to win—from their purpose—to have fun. Philosopher C. Thi Nguyen's concept of "striving play" illustrates this distinction: winning matters, but the process and enjoyment drive better performance. Paradoxically, focusing solely on winning undermines success, similar to how trying too hard to fall asleep prevents sleep. Teams that prioritize fun while pursuing victory perform better because they reduce pressure and focus on the process. The 2024 Blue Jays experienced failure when winning became their sole purpose and goal, creating excessive pressure. By differentiating these elements, teams unlock better performance and ultimately achieve more wins.
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