Week 25 – September 30th: Playoffs Set, Wildcard Games Begin; Bobby Witt Jr Gets 20/20
Baseball is often called a marathon, but once the Major League Baseball playoffs begin today, it transforms into a sprint to the finish. A single mistake, misstep, or high-pressure error can shatter your team's hopes of winning the title, potentially ending the game in an instant. Conversely, a powerful swing or a well-placed pitch could just as quickly lead your team to celebrate, with players parading down Main Street and hoisting a glittering World Series trophy before cheering fans. All the top contenders are prepared, and the playoffs kick off today with multiple Wild Card Series matchups.
AL Wildcards
Baltimore Orioles (BYE)
Minnesota Twins (BYE)
Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers
NL Wildcards
Atlanta Braves (BYE)
San Francisco Giants (BYE)
Milwaukee Brewers vs. San Diego Padres
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. St. Louis Cardinals
The final season standings put us second to last, with 6 more wins than the miserable Oakland Athletics. I don't think the Athletics will stay in Oakland much longer under John Fisher's ownership, but we’ll see. Also, we had a better winning record than three National League teams—the Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Rockies.
Surprisingly, or not so much, we end up exactly matching our Pythagorean projection of a 70-92 record. The biggest takeaway for me is our lack of run production, which is evident in our final season stats. We ranked last or near last in the areas that mattered most, even though we had the offensive bats to generate much better run production.
Defensively, we started the year strong in both starter and bullpen ERAs, but as the season went on and we lost key starters like Ragans and Lugo, we had to depend on the bullpen to hold some games until we found replacements. Zac Eflin seems to be that guy, but I’m considering other options this offseason.
Finally, as a fitting season-ending finale, Bobby Witt Jr. has achieved the coveted 20/20 career achievement, with 24 home runs and 45 steals this year, despite the injuries he endured.
I told my front office that as the playoff series are being played, I’ll occasionally check in with them and share my thoughts on our approach for the winter meetings and key events from winter through spring training. I’m relying on J.J. Picollo and McLeod to find us a couple of good international amateurs while I handle the rest. As I’ve already told them, they are safe, but a few of the front office staff involved in training and coaching will be replaced unless they choose to retire first. Once I’ve had my review with the owner, I’ll start to cull the herd and rebuild for next year.