I only considered competitive series with ideally rivalries. ALDS 2001 NEW YORK YANKEES 3 OAKLAND ATHLETICS 2 NLDS 2001 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS 3 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 2 ALCS TIE BETWEEN 2003 NEW YORK YANKEES 4 BOSTON RED SOX 3 AND 2004 BOSTON RED SOX 4 NEW YORK YANKEES 3 NLCS 1992 ATLANTA BRAVES 4 PITTSBURGH PIRATES 3 WORLD SERIES 1956 NEW
Read moreThe Washington Nationals are world champions for the first time ever. During the series, Washington batted .241/.320/.419 compared to .265/.342/.454 during the season. The Houston Astros batted .272/.342/.452 during the series and .274/.352/.495 during the season. On the pitching side, Washington had a 4.29 ERA during the series and a 4.27 ERA during the season. Houston had a shockingly identical
Read moreNLCS WASHINGTON NATIONALS 4 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 0 The sheer dominance by Washington was a surprise, but their win was not. They had the better record, the better Pythagorean record, better starting pitching and better hitting. They were simply the better team. ALCS HOUSTON ASTROS NEW YORK YANKEES Another unsurprising result. Houston were the favorites going in because they had
Read moreI decided to analyze some playoff upsets. Records aren’t always the best way to judge a team as injuries and trades affect a team throughout the season. A team might’ve had a better record had they not had some injuries or if they had particular players all season. I’m using the “modern” period starting with the advent of the playoffs
Read moreI decided to analyze every team that won the World Series and see what led to them winning the championship that season. 1903 BOSTON RED SOX Easily won the pennant, had the best record in the Majors and dominated to the championship. 1905 NEW YORK GIANTS They had the best record in the Majors and dominated all the way to
Read moreAL EAST NEW YORK YANKEES The Bronx Bombers need health and that’s the most important thing. The returns of James Paxton, Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Aaron Hicks and Didi Gregorius should be enough to give them the best chance possible at winning the World Series. TAMPA BAY RAYS Tampa could use another top of the rotation starter, especially with inning
Read moreThere is a wide belief that since “the wildcard era” has started, the best team doesn’t always win the World Series, and that the playoffs have become a “crapshoot”. In other words that the team that wins the World Series is the hottest during the playoffs, and not the best that season. Ironically this actually supports the idea that the
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