Houston Astros: Three reasons not to worry about the Cleveland Indians
The road best traveled by
Okay! It’s now time now to discuss the postseason. Let’s assume we manage to get it. Does being the number one seed in the American League favor us as a champion? Let’s go back to the beginning of 2010 and see.
I’m going to show you the teams who had the best records to the team that won the World Series that year.
Past Postseasons
2016
- Best AL Record: Texas Rangers (95-67) – Lost in ALDS
- Best NL Record: Chicago Cubs (103-58) – Won World Series
- World Series Champion: Chicago Cubs (NL1)
2015
- Best AL Record: Kansas City Royals (95-67) – Won World Series
- Best NL Record: St. Louis Cardinals (100-62) – Lost in NLDS
- World Series Champion: Kansas City Royals (AL1)
2014
- Best AL Record: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (98-64) – Lost in ALDS
- Best NL Record: Washington Nationals (96-66) – Lost in NLDS
- World Series Champion: San Francisco Giants (NL5)
2013
- Best AL Record: Boston Red Sox (97-65) – Won World Series
- Best NL Record: St. Louis Cardinals (97-65) – Lost World Series
- World Series Champion: Boston Red Sox (AL1)
2012
- Best AL Record: New York Yankees (95-67) – Lost in ALCS
- Best NL Record: Washington Nationals (98-64) – Lost in NLDS
- World Series Champion: San Francisco Giants (NL3)
2011
- Best AL Record: New York Yankees (97-65) – Lost in ALDS
- Best NL Record: Philadelphia Phillies (10-2-60) – Lost In NLDS
- World Series Champion: St. Louis Cardinals (NL4)
2010
- Best AL Record: Tampa Bay Rays (96-66) – Lost in ALDS
- Best NL Record: Philadelphia Phillies (97-65) – Lost in NLCS
- World Series Champion: San Francisco Giants (NL2)
Conclusion
So what we have here is an illustration of how the postseason went. As we can see, with the exception of three seasons (2013, 2015, 2016), the number one seed has not gotten to the World Series since 2010. So it’s kind of 50-50.
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But look at the teams who disappointed the one seed. The Phillies and the Yankees for example. The 2009 World Series participants couldn’t get by the World Series contenders in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Then there’s the Washington Nationals. Twice they were the best team and twice they failed to get out of the first round.
Then there’s the Washington Nationals. Twice they were the best team and twice they failed to get out of the first round.
At least the San Francisco Giants got the message. What this shows is that it doesn’t entirely matter if you’re the number one seed. Whoever gets hot in the playoffs will most likely win. The Cubs, Red Sox and Royals didn’t win because they were the one seed. They won because they got hot at the right time. Sure they faced the pressure of being the one seed, but they succeeded.
That’s what the team who finishes first in the American League will deal with. Either Cleveland or Houston will have to deal with the pressure of having a bull’s eye as the one seed.