And when a team wins 100 in the regular season, there is no doubt they are thinking beyond the Division Series. They are thinking they are a legit World Series contender… a pennant will have to be beaten from them.
But there have been teams that have won 100 games that were cruelly bumped out of the playoffs early and shown the exit in the Division Series.
The staff at Sully Baseball has compiled a list of the teams that reached the century mark but couldn’t make the LCS… and also listed the players on those teams who remain ringless and probably thought that was their year.
There have been 9 different teams… a few franchises have multiple entries.
And one year, 2002, saw three (count em, THREE teams!) that fell short.
1998 HOUSTON ASTROS
102-60 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-1 to San Diego Padres. (98-64).
Manager:
LARRY DIERKER
102-60 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-1 to San Diego Padres. (98-64).
Manager:
LARRY DIERKER
Ringless Veterans Include:
BRAD AUSMUS
JEFF BAGWELL
CRAIG BIGGIO
MIKE HAMPTON
DOUG HENRY
RICHARD HIDALGO
JOSE LIMA
SHANE REYNOLDS
BILLY WAGNER
1999 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
100-62 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-1 to New York Mets. (97-66)
Manager:
BUCK SHOWALTER
100-62 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-1 to New York Mets. (97-66)
Manager:
BUCK SHOWALTER
Ringless Veterans Include:
OMAR DAAL
BERNARD GILKEY
GREGG OLSON
2001 OAKLAND A’S
102-60 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-2 to New York Yankees (95-65)
Manager:
ART HOWE
102-60 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-2 to New York Yankees (95-65)
Manager:
ART HOWE
Ringless Veterans Include:
CHAD BRADFORD
ERIC BYRNES
ERIC CHAVEZ
RON GANT
JASON GIAMBI
TIM HUDSON
TERRENCE LONG
MARK MULDER
F. P. SANTANGELO
MIGUEL TEJADA
BARRY ZITO
2002 ATLANTA BRAVES
101-59 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-2 to San Francisco Giants (95-66)
Manager:
BOBBY COX (Won Ring as manager in 1995)
101-59 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-2 to San Francisco Giants (95-66)
Manager:
BOBBY COX (Won Ring as manager in 1995)
Ringless Veterans Include:
HENRY BLANCO
DARREN BRAGG
VINNY CASTILLA
JULIO FRANCO
MATT FRANCO
RAFAEL FURCAL
CHRIS HAMMOND
ANDRUW JONES
KEVIN MILLWOOD
B. J. SURHOFF
2002 NEW YORK YANKEES
103-58 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-1 to Anaheim Angels (99-53)
Manager:
JOE TORRE (Won Rings as manager in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000)
103-58 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-1 to Anaheim Angels (99-53)
Manager:
JOE TORRE (Won Rings as manager in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000)
Ringless Veterans Include:
RON COOMER
JASON GIAMBI
NICK JOHNSON
STEVE KARSAY
RAUL MONDESI
MIKE MUSSINA
JUAN RIVERA
ALFONSO SORIANO
ROBIN VENTURA
2002 OAKLAND A’S
103-59 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-2 to Minnesota Twins (94-67)
Manager:
ART HOWE
103-59 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-2 to Minnesota Twins (94-67)
Manager:
ART HOWE
Ringless Veterans Include:
CHAD BRADFORD
ERIC BYRNES
ERIC CHAVEZ
RAY DURAM
MARK ELLIS
SCOTT HATTEBERG
RAMON HERNANDEZ
TIM HUDSON
BILLY KOCH
TED LILLY
JOHN MABRY
MARK MULDER
MIGUEL TEJADA
RANDY VELARDE
BARRY ZITO
2003 ATLANTA BRAVES
101-61 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-2 to Chicago Cubs (88-74)
Manager:
BOBBY COX (Won Ring as manager in 1995)
101-61 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-2 to Chicago Cubs (88-74)
Manager:
BOBBY COX (Won Ring as manager in 1995)
Ringless Veterans Include:
DARREN BRAGG
VINNY CASTILLA
ROBERT FICK
JULIO FRANCO
MATT FRANCO
RAFAEL FURCAL
MIKE HAMPTON
ROBERTO HERNANDEZ
ANDRUW JONES
RUSS ORTIZ
JARET WRIGHT
2003 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
100-61 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-1 to Florida Marlins (91-71)
Manager
FELIPE ALOU
100-61 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-1 to Florida Marlins (91-71)
Manager
FELIPE ALOU
Ringless Veterans Include:
EDGARDO ALFONZO
RICH AURILIA
BARRY BONDS
JOSE CRUZ, Jr.
RAY DURHAM
ANDRES GALARRAGA
JEFFRYE HAMMONDS
JOE NATHAN
SIDNEY PONSON
KIRK RUETER
BENITO SANTIAGO
JASON SCHMIDT
J. T. SNOW
TIM WORRELL
2008 LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
100-62 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-1 to Boston Red Sox (95-67)
Manager:
MIKE SCIOSCIA (Won Ring as manager in 2002)
100-62 regular season record.
Lost Division Series 3-1 to Boston Red Sox (95-67)
Manager:
MIKE SCIOSCIA (Won Ring as manager in 2002)
Ringless Veterans Include:
VLADIMIR GUERRERO
TORII HUNTER
HOWIE KENDRICK
GARY MATTHEWS, Jr.
KENDRY MORALES
DARREN OLIVER
ERVIN SANTANA
JERED WEAVER
There are some heart breakers on this list… and a few players who might have a more compelling Hall of Fame resume if they lead these teams to October glory.
Right now, no teams in baseball are on pace to win 100. (The Rays and Yankees are on pace to win around 97 or 98 wins.) If they win 100, that is a great achievement. But don’t think you are guaranteed a spot even in the LCS. Just ask the teams above.
How the '01 A's won 102 is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteMulder was a part of the 2006 Cardinals. Though he was hurt and didn't pitch in the postseason, he still got a ring because he pitched half of that season.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the 1993 Giants, 103 win season with no playoff appearance because they had the Braves in their division. I believe the wild card was created because this team did not make the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteYou are right KP Wee. i will make the correction
ReplyDeleteActually Mummbles, they announced the new playoff format DURING the 1993 season before they knew the Giants fate
ReplyDeleteThis is why I read this Blog Awesome off the wall post, Who Thinks Of that? Keep up the Great Work Sully.
ReplyDeleteA year too late on that one
ReplyDeletewhat about the 1906 cubs....
ReplyDeleteHey Anon...
ReplyDeleteWas that a joke?
Please tell me it was a joke.
In case you aren't. The First division series was in 1995.
You are 89 years off