Real MLB Thread

[The Sultan]

Yeah in the late 1970s / early 80s, there were numerous teams in the AL East that didn't make the playoffs with 90+ wins.  In 1978, the year Bucky Dent hit the HR in the one game playoff v. the Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles had 90 wins but finished *fourth* in the division behind the Yankees, Red Sox and Brewers.  Between 1977 and 1980, the AL East runner up had 95+ wins.

[Cheeks]

Has there ever been a 97-98 win team that didn't make the Playoffs?

Many

[buckchuckler]

I'm a believer in a 3 game wild card. That 98 win pirate VS 97 win cub game is still in my mind.

The problem is then the division winners are waiting, what 5-6 days to play?

[CTWarrior]

Yeah in the late 1970s / early 80s, there were numerous teams in the AL East that didn't make the playoffs with 90+ wins.  In 1978, the year Bucky Dent hit the HR in the one game playoff v. the Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles had 90 wins but finished *fourth* in the division behind the Yankees, Red Sox and Brewers.  Between 1977 and 1980, the AL East runner up had 95+ wins.

Most wins and not in playoffs since introduction of division play.  Average wins for best record missing the playoffs is 87 since introduction of second wild card, 90 when there was one wild card, and 94 when there were two divisions and no wild card.

Yr   Wins   Teams   Comment
1961   101   Tigers   ^
1962   102   Dodgers   *
1963   94   White Sox   
1964   98   White Sox   
1965   95   White Sox, Giants   
1966   93   Giants   
1967   91   Tigers, Twins, Giants   
1968   91   Orioles   
1969   92   Cubs   
1970   93   Yankees   
1971   91   Tigers   
1972   92   White Sox   **
1973   95   Dodgers   
1974   98   Reds   
1975   91   Royals   
1976   92   Pirates, Dodgers   
1977   97   Orioles, Red Sox   
1978   99   Red Sox   *
1979   95   Brewers, Expos   
1980   100   Orioles   
1981   99   Reds   **
1982   94   Orioles   
1983   92   Tigers   
1984   90   Mets   
1985   98   Mets   
1986   90   Yankees   
1987   96   Blue Jays   
1988   91   Twins   
1989   92   Royals   
1990   94   White Sox   
1991   93   Dodgers   
1992   92   Brewers   
1993   103   Giants   
1994      N/A   ***  ^^
1995   78   Angels   **
1996   88   Expos   
1997   88   Mets, Dodgers   
1998   89   Giants   
1999   96   Reds   *
2000   90   Indians   
2001   90   Giants   
2002   93   Red Sox, Mariners   
2003   93   Mariners   
2004   91   A's, Giants   
2005   93   Indians   
2006   89   Angels   
2007   89   Padres   
2008   89   Yankees, Mets   
2009   87   Rangers, Marlins   
2010   90   Padres   
2011   90   Red Sox   
2012   90   Rays   
2013   86   Royals, Nats   ^^^
2014   87   Mariners   
2015   85   Angels   
2016   86   Tigers, Mariners, Cards   
2017   86   Brewers   
2018   90   Rays   

^ - NL plays 154 game schedule
^^ - MLB moves to three divisions, wild card introduced
^^^ - Second wild card added
* - Lost playoff
** - Strike season, win total prorated to 162 games
***-Strike season, no postseason

[buckchuckler]

Most wins and not in playoffs since introduction of division play.  Average wins for best record missing the playoffs is 87 since introduction of second wild card, 90 when there was one wild card, and 94 when there were two divisions and no wild card.

Yr   Wins   Teams   Comment
1961   101   Tigers   ^
1962   102   Dodgers   *
1963   94   White Sox   
1964   98   White Sox   
1965   95   White Sox, Giants   
1966   93   Giants   
1967   91   Tigers, Twins, Giants   
1968   91   Orioles   
1969   92   Cubs   
1970   93   Yankees   
1971   91   Tigers   
1972   92   White Sox   **
1973   95   Dodgers   
1974   98   Reds   
1975   91   Royals   
1976   92   Pirates, Dodgers   
1977   97   Orioles, Red Sox   
1978   99   Red Sox   *
1979   95   Brewers, Expos   
1980   100   Orioles   
1981   99   Reds   **
1982   94   Orioles   
1983   92   Tigers   
1984   90   Mets   
1985   98   Mets   
1986   90   Yankees   
1987   96   Blue Jays   
1988   91   Twins   
1989   92   Royals   
1990   94   White Sox   
1991   93   Dodgers   
1992   92   Brewers   
1993   103   Giants   
1994      N/A   ***  ^^^
1995   78   Angels   **
1996   88   Expos   
1997   88   Mets, Dodgers   
1998   89   Giants   
1999   96   Reds   *
2000   90   Indians   
2001   90   Giants   
2002   93   Red Sox, Mariners   
2003   93   Mariners   
2004   91   A's, Giants   
2005   93   Indians   
2006   89   Angels   
2007   89   Padres   
2008   89   Yankees, Mets   
2009   87   Rangers, Marlins   
2010   90   Padres   
2011   90   Red Sox   
2012   90   Rays   
2013   86   Royals, Nats   ^^^
2014   87   Mariners   
2015   85   Angels   
2016   86   Tigers, Mariners, Cards   
2017   86   Brewers   
2018   90   Rays   

^ - NL plays 154 game schedule
^^ - MLB moves to three divisions, wild card introduced
^^^ - Second wild card added
* - Lost playoff
** - Strike season, win total prorated to 162 games
***-Strike season, no postseason

^^ Very cool. Thank you!

[MU82]

Just baseball things. Winning 6/10 games usually gets you into playoffs.

Agreed.

That's baseball.

Agreed.

Folks simply were talking earlier about so-and-so's "easy" schedule. A team still has to win the games. The 2004 Cubs lost 3 straight at home to a bad Cinci team in the final week to miss the playoffs.

Indeed, that's baseball.

[CTWarrior]

^^ Very cool. Thank you!

You're Welcome.

Pre-1969, the best records to not make the World Series are:

1909 Cubs  104-49 .680 (translates to 110-52 in 162)
1942 Dodgers 104-50 .675 (translates to 109-53 in 162)
1954 Yankees 103-51 .669 (translates to 108-54 in 162)

[GB Warrior]

The problem is then the division winners are waiting, what 5-6 days to play?

Is that a legitimate concern for them after a 162 game slog?

[The Sultan]

Is that a legitimate concern for them after a 162 game slog?

Yeah baseball is about timing.  Players largely don't want that much time off in between games.

[TallTitan34]

In a complete 180, the Cubs now have a four game road winning streak and a three game home losing streak.

[BM1090]

It's ridiculous that the Cubs have a night game in NY today and a day game in Chicago tomorrow.

[tower912]

Is that a legitimate concern for them after a 162 game slog?

The 2006 and 2013 Tigers say yes.

[SaveOD238]

It's ridiculous that the Cubs have a night game in NY today and a day game in Chicago tomorrow.

Home team are in charge of game times.  They could start at 7, like every other team does on Friday nights

[BM1090]

Home team are in charge of game times.  They could start at 7, like every other team does on Friday nights

They could. It could be completely the Cubs fault. I'm also not a fan of night games on getaway days.

It's just a tough ask for the players to get into town 10-12 hours before their next game.

[wadesworld]

Rest (pun) assured Cubs fans, this is not last years Brewers team.  You do not need to make excuses before the series start for why your team might lose a game or the series.  The Brewers stink this year.  You'll be fine.

[4everwarriors]

Fo, on dis wee agree, hey?

[#UnleashSean]

Home team are in charge of game times.  They could start at 7, like every other team does on Friday nights

Cubs legally cannot play nights on Fridays

[TallTitan34]

Interesting schedule quirk this year. The Brewers have an off-day the day before every Cubs/Brewers series this season.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Good thing that wasn't Bryant's throw in 2016...

[The Sultan]

Cubs legally cannot play nights on Fridays

So all of MLB must compensate huh?

[cheebs09]

Cubs legally cannot play nights on Fridays

Well, they did get that waiver against the Brewers last year.

[drewm88]

Well, they did get that waiver against the Brewers last year.

Did they? Weird that I never heard anything about it on Scoop.

[GB Warrior]

Well, they did get that waiver against the Brewers last year.

Only because they really needed the makeup game after the sun-out

[Lennys Tap]

Tyler Skaggs death ruled an accidental overdose of drugs/alcohol.

[HouWarrior]

Tyler Skaggs death ruled an accidental overdose of drugs/alcohol.

Family has engaged Rusty Hardin of Houston as their atty...maybe angling to prove Angels personnel helped supply his drugs (fentanyl and oxycodone) and ...then they sue organization for responsibility.

Rusty repr Rogers Clemens before congress...Arthur Anderson in post Enron suit...mildly, neither came out well...IMHO Rusty is better at self promotion PR than he is in his work...I wish they had chosen someone else.