The organization--and many fans--consider perennially competing and often winning division titles as fulfilling the frequent proclamations of the front office as trying to compete. They HAVE, in fact, followed through nearly every single year on their proclaimed intentions. That's the way many of us see it. That obviously isn't the way you see it, because you would rather them try big one year and be bad for 5 years--whether that one year they go for it works out or not (and it probably won't).