Diamondbacks Radial Axis Network

Posted on by kc2519

Our next entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Diamondbacks, one of the National League expansion teams dating back to 1998. In total, we’re talking about 28 seasons from 1998 through 2025. We’re going to walk through some highlights from the network, and then provide the link so you can explore it in detail. For some background on how the network graphs work, select this link – Anatomy of MLB radial axis graphs.

The Diamondbacks Network

The Diamondbacks’ radial axis network reflects the connections among all players who spent time with the franchise from 1998 to 2025. The 1998 season is found at the bottom center of the graph. Subsequent seasons are arranged clockwise, eventually returning to the bottom center with the 2025 season. Player nodes are sized by the number of seasons spent with the team, and the gray lines between nodes reflect connections to other players. The interactive version of the network is here – Diamondbacks Network.

Top 10 by Seasons Played (Size)

Nick Ahmed (2014-2023) has logged the most seasons for the short-lived Arizona franchise, followed closely by the still active Ketel Marte (2017-2025) plus Miguel Montero (2006-2014). A host of other players were DBacks for eight seasons, including notables such as Paul Goldschmidt (2011-2018), Luis Gonzalez (1999-2006), and Randy Johnson (1999-2004, 2007-2008).

Top 10 by Degree (the number of connections)

Nick Ahmed also has the most connections for Arizona, although Ketel Marte may eventually surpass him. David Peralta (2014-2022), Miguel Montero, and Andrew Chafin (2014-2020, 2023) have well over 200 connections apiece to rank in thed top five in franchise history.

Top 10 by Harmonic Closeness Centrality

With Harmonic Closeness Centrality, we measure how closely an individual player is related to all other players in the network. This number (scaled from 0 to 1) often indicates a player’s importance to the network and may also note that they played with influential teammates. The top five here are familiar names from our prior metrics. They are followed closely by a handful of additional DBacks players. Numbers here are higher than for longer-tenured teams, given that a high percentage of players either played together or in adjacent periods.

Top 10 by Betweenness Centrality

Betweenness Centrality measures which players rank highest in their ability to connect all other players. In simple terms, which player provides the most efficient path through the network (scaled from 0 to 1). Miguel Montero and Ian Kennedy (2010-2013, 2022). Kennedy indexes high due to his separate stints with the club, giving him two different networks of teammates.

Summary

That’s it for our overview of the Diamondbacks network. Be sure to visit the interactive graph to discover additional insights about the Diamondbacks players over the last 28 seasons. We’ll be back shortly with our next franchise entry. Thanks for reading!

Cubs Radial Axis Network

Posted on by kc2519

Our next entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Cubs, one of the National League teams dating back to 1901. In total, we’re talking about 125 seasons from 1901 through 2025. We’re going to walk through some highlights from the network, and then provide the link so you can explore it in detail. For some background on how the network graphs work, select this link – Anatomy of MLB radial axis graphs.

The Cubs Network

The Cubs’ radial axis network reflects the connections among all players who spent time with the franchise from 1901 to 2025. The 1901 season is found at the bottom center of the graph. Subsequent seasons are arranged clockwise, eventually returning to the bottom center with the 2025 season. Player nodes are sized by the number of seasons spent with the team, and the gray lines between nodes reflect connections to other players. The interactive version of the network is here – Cubs Network.

Top 10 by Seasons Played (Size)

Phil Cavaretta (1934-1953) tops the Cubs with 20 seasons played, winning NL MVP honors in 1945 courtesy of a .355 BA. A trio of Hall of Famers follows Cavaretta, led by Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks (1953-1971), and Gabby Hartnett (1922-1940). Banks spent his entire career with the Cubs, while Hartnett played his final season with the Giants. Billy Williams (1959-1974) led the NL with a .333 BA in 1972, before finishing his career with the Athletics. Other Hall of Famers on the list include Ryne Sandberg (1982-1994, 1996-1997) and Ron Santo (1960-1973).

Top 10 by Degree (the number of connections)

Ernie Banks is the runaway leader in the number of connections as a Cub, having rostered with 349 other players. Kyle Hendricks (2014-2024) and Kerry Wood (1998, 2000-2008, 2011-2012) are the only other Cubs with 300+ teammates during their tenure. The remainder of the list includes several players known for their Cubs career, including Billy Williams, Sammy Sosa (1992-2004), Anthony Rizzo (2012-2021), Ryne Sandberg, Mark Grace (1988-2000), and Ron Santo.

Top 10 by Harmonic Closeness Centrality

With Harmonic Closeness Centrality, we measure how closely an individual player is related to all other players in the network. This number (scaled from 0 to 1) often indicates a player’s importance to the network and may also note that they played with influential teammates. Ernie Banks and Ryne Sandberg top the list, followed closely by star pitcher Fergie Jenkins (1966-1973, 1982-1983). New players appearing in the list include Shawon Dunston (1985-1995, 1997), Don Kessinger (1964-1975), and pitching ace Greg Maddux (1986-1992, 2004-2006).

Top 10 by Betweenness Centrality

Betweenness Centrality measures which players rank highest in their ability to connect all other players. In simple terms, which player provides the most efficient path through the network (scaled from 0 to 1). Ernie Banks is the clear leader here; Mr. Cub provides the most efficient path through the network. Bob O’Farrell (1915-1925, 1934) is a strong connector for an earlier era of Cubs players, while Greg Maddux scores highly due to his separate Cubs tenures. Larry Gura (1970-1973, 1985) is another player who provides an efficient path despite playing less than five full seasons as a Cub. He and Maddux each wound up with two very different sets of teammates based on their early or late career stints.

Summary

That’s it for our overview of the Cubs network. Be sure to visit the interactive graph to discover additional insights about the Cubs players over the last 125 seasons. We’ll be back shortly with our next franchise entry. Thanks for reading!

2000s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 15 through 11

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the second countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 2000s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. The 2000s (for the first time since the 1950s) saw no teams added through expansion. For the decade (2000-2009), a total of 300 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. We’ll summarize each team and include portions of their team dashboard. Then we’ll explain how they attained their ranking. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #15 through #11.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 2000s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#15: 2004 St. Louis Cardinals, 50.8 WAR162

The Cardinals rode a powerful offense to win the NL Central by a resounding 13 games over the Astros. They then took care of business in the playoffs, taking out the Dodgers in a 4-game NLDS, and defeating the Astros in 7 games in the NLCS. Their ride came to an abrupt end with a sweep at the hands of the Red Sox.

The Cardinals’ offense scored 855 runs to top the NL, and ranked second in doubles and third in home runs for the season. They also topped the league in BA and OPS, and ranked second in stolen bases. St. Louis also featured a balanced pitching staff that placed second in ERA while topping the NL in WHIP by a wide margin.

Third baseman Scott Rolen had an outstanding season, batting .314 with 34 homers and 124 RBI. Rolen also earned a Gold Glove for his superb defense at the hot corner. Albert Pujols batted .331with 46 homers and 123 RBI, and led the NL with 133 runs scored. Center fielder Jim Edmonds also starred for the Cards, racking up 42 homers, 111 RBI, and a .418 OBP. Edmonds also claimed a Gold Glove. Tony Womack batted .307 with 26 steals in support of the big three. The Cardinals pitching was consistent if unspectacular, led by Jason Marquis (15-7, 3.71 ERA) and Chris Carpenter (15-5, 3.46 ERA).

#14: 2007 New York Yankees, 50.8 WAR162

The Yankees finished the regular season two games behind the rival Red Sox, before being defeated by the Indians in a 4-game ALDS.

The Yankees had plenty of offensive firepower, easily outscoring all AL rivals with 968 runs. The New Yorkers also belted an AL-best 201 homers, while sweeping the BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS categories. Pitching was a different story, as the Yanks were a league-average staff in ERA, ranking 8th out of 14 teams. Their WHIP was even further back at 9th in the AL, and the staff fared little better in other key metrics.

Alex Rodriguez had a monster season for the Yankees, winning AL MVP honors with 54 homers, 156 RBI, 143 runs, and a 1.067 OPS, all tops in the league. Robinson Cano batted .306, and Jorge Posada batted .338 with 20 home runs in his age-36 season. Derek Jeter (.322 BA) and Hideki Matsui (25 homers, 103 RBI) added further offensive punch. Chien-Ming Wang (19-7, AL-best 0.4 HR per 9 innings) and Andy Pettitte (15-9) were the pitching mainstays for the Yankees.

#13: 2003 Seattle Mariners, 51.0 WAR162

The 2003 Mariners weren’t at the same level as their epic 2001 squad, but were still a potent team. Unfortunately, they finished three games behind the Athletics in the AL West and two games back of the Red Sox in the wild-card race.

The Mariners’ offense was quite ordinary in 2003, with a 7th-place ranking in runs scored and a meager 139 home runs, the second-fewest in the AL. The team ranked fifth in BA and fourth in both OBP and stolen bases, but this was a fairly modest offense. Pitching carried the club, as the Seattle staff ranked first in WHIP and second in ERA despite a lack of bog-name talent. They also topped the league with 15 shutouts on the season.

Bret Boone, Ichiro Suzuki, and Mike Cameron led the Mariners position players in 2003. Each of the three earned Gold Glove awards, with Boone adding power to the mix (35 homers, 117 RBI). Ichiro batted .312 with 34 steals and 111 runs scored, and Cameron added 18 homers with a .344 OBP. On the mound, 40-year-old Jamie Moyer posted a 21-7 record with a 3.27 ERA, aided by the great defense behind him. Joel Pineiro added 16 wins, Ryan Franklin another 11, and Shigetosi Hasegawa posted a sterling 1.48 ERA across 73 innings.

#12: 2002 Boston Red Sox, 52.1 WAR162

The Red Sox had a fine season but finished 10.5 games behind a powerful Yankees team and 6 games back of the wild-card Angels, who ultimately won the 2002 World Series.

The Sox had a strong offense, scoring 859 runs, second only to the Yankees’ 897. Their BA ranked second behind the Angels, and they placed third in both OBP and OPS. On the pitching front, the Sox staff had the top WHIP by a substantial margin, while ranking third in ERA. They also topped the AL in strikeouts and finished second with 17 shutouts on the season.

Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez led the offense for the Sox, aided by Johnny Damon. Garciaparra topped the league with 56 doubles, adding 24 homers, 120 RBI, and 101 runs scored. Ramirez led the league with a .349 BA and .450 OBP while swatting 33 home runs. Damon added 11 triples, 31 steals, and 118 runs scored. The pitching staff was anchored by Pedro Martinez (20-4, AL-best 2.26 ERA and 249 strikeouts) and Derek Lowe (21-8, 2.58 ERA). Tim Wakefield added 11 wins, splitting duty between the bullpen and starting.

#11: 2003 Boston Red Sox, 52.4 WAR

The 2003 Sox wound up in a similar spot as their 2002 brethren, although they reached the AL playoffs as a wild-card entry. They eventually dropped a heartbreaking 7-game ALCS series to the rival Yankees, continuing their 80+ year run without a World Series title.

The Sox’s 961 runs easily topped the AL, as did their .289 BA. Their potent offense also led the league in OBP, SLG, and OPS. Pitching did not measure up to the 2002 team, placing 8th in both ERA and WHIP. Their staff did lead the AL in strikeouts and ranked third in strikeout-to-walk rate.

Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez again led the offense, this time bolstered by Bill Mueller and Trot Nixon. Garciaparra batted .301 with 28 homers, 120 runs, and 105 RBI, while Ramirez batted .325 with 37 homers, 104 RBI, and 117 runs scored. Mueller topped the AL with a .326 BA, and Nixon mashed 28 homers while batting .306. Pedro Martinez was once again the ace, posting a 14-4 record with an AL-best 2.22 ERA. Tim Wakefield added 11 wins, while Derek Lowe won 17 but with an inflated 4.47 ERA.

Summary

That’s it for the second entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 2000s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #10 to #6, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!

2000s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 20 through 16

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the first countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 2000s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. The 2000s (for the first time since the 1950s) saw no teams added through expansion. For the decade (2000-2009), a total of 300 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. We’ll summarize each team and include portions of their team dashboard. Then we’ll explain how they attained their ranking. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #20 through #16.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 2000s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#20: 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, 49.7 WAR162

The Diamondbacks captured the NL West by two games over the Giants before going on a tear through the postseason, defeating the Cardinals (NLDS), Braves (NLCS), and Yankees (World Series) to claim their first World Series in just their fourth year as a franchise.

The DBacks featured a solid offense that placed in the top five in multiple offensive categories. They ranked fourth in BA, OBP, OPS, and home runs, and third in runs scored. Pitching was a real strength, with the Arizona staff ranking a clear first in WHIP, second in ERA, and first in strikeout-to-walk rate. They also tied the Braves with 13 shutouts on the season.

Outfielder Luis Gonzalez had a career year for Arizona, batting .325 with 57 homers, 128 runs scored, and 142 RBI. He also drew 100 walks in posting a .429 OBP. Gonzalez’s main support came from Reggie Sanders (33 homers, 90 RBI) and the 37-year-old Mark Grace (.298 BA, 78 RBI). On the mound, the DBacks featured one of the most dominant starter duos in MLB history. Randy Johnson claimed NL Cy Young honors with a 21-6 record, 2.49 ERA (NL-best) and 372 strikeouts (NL-best). Johnson also topped the NL in WHIP in a dominant season. Curt Schilling was the Cy Young runner-up, thanks to a 22-6 record, 2.98 ERA, and 293 strikeouts.

#19: 2000 San Francisco Giants, 49.8 WAR162

The 2000 Giants coasted to an 11-game margin over the Dodgers to claim the NL West title. Their season then came to a sudden end with a 4-game defeat at the hands of the Mets in the ALDS.

The Giants had a potent offense, trailing only the Rockies and Astros with 925 runs scored for the season. They also ranked third in home runs and BA, and second in both OBP and OPS. Pitching was less of a strength, as the Giants ranked fourth in ERA and seventh in WHIP, despite leading the NL with 15 shutouts.

Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent formed the league’s best offensive duo, with Kent earning MVP honors over Bonds. Bonds batted .306 with a .440 OBP, 49 homers, 129 runs, and 106 RBI. Kent batted .334 with 33 homers, 125 RBI, and 114 runs scored. Ellis Burks was a capable third cog in the team’s offense, batting .344 with 24 homers and 96 RBI. Livan Hernandez led the Giants’ staff with a 17-11 mark, complemented by Shawn Estes‘ 15 wins. Robb Nen saved 41 games with a microscopic 1.50 ERA as the Giants’ closer.

#18: 2002 Oakland Athletics, 50.5 WAR162

The 2002 A’s were part of the famed Moneyball era, winning 103 games to top the Angels by four games in the AL West. Unfortunately, the Twins beat them in the ALDS round in a 5-game series to end their season.

The Athletics ranked just eighth in the 14-team AL with 800 runs scored for the season, although they rose to fourth in homers and sixth in OPS. Pitching is where the team topped their rivals, as the A’s led the league in ERA and shutouts, despite ranking just fourth in WHIP.

The left side of the Athletics infield provided much of their offense, led by shortstop Miguel Tejada and 3rd baseman Eric Chavez. Tejada won AL MVP honors with a .308 BA, 34 homers, 131 RBI, and 109 runs scored. Chavez launched 34 homers as well and added 109 RBI. Scott Hatteberg added a .280 BA with a .374 OBP from his first-base spot. The A’s pitching was led by starters Tim Hudson and Barry Zito. Hudson posted a 15-9 record with a 2.98 ERA, while the left-hander Zito claimed Cy Young honors with a 23-5 record and 2.75 ERA. Mark Mulder was a strong third option, recording a 19-7 mark, and Cory Lidle added another 8 wins.

#17: 2008 Chicago Cubs, 50.7 WAR162

The Cubs cruised to the NL Central title by 7.5 games before being upended by an 84-win Dodgers squad in the NLDS. The 3-game sweep brought a disappointing end to a great season.

The Cubs rode a strong offense that led the league in runs, doubles, OBP, and OPS, while ranking second with a .278 BA. Their pitching was also effective, ranking third in both ERA and WHIP, and first in strikeouts.

The Cubs’ offense was notable for its balance, with no star-level performances. Contributions came from a variety of sources, led by Aramis Ramirez (.289 BA, 27 homers, 111 RBI), Mike Fontenot (.305 BA), Geovany Soto (23 homers, 86 RBI, Rookie of the Year), and Mark DeRosa (.285 BA, 21 homers, 87 RBI). Alfonso Soriano added 29 home runs to the mix. Ryan Dempster (17-6, 2.98 ERA) and Carlos Zambrano (14-6) led the Cubs’ pitching in 2008, backed by Ted Lilly (17-9).

#16: 2008 Tampa Bay Rays, 50.8 WAR

The newly renamed Rays (formerly Devil Rays) rose to the top of the AL East, beating the Red Sox by two games for the regular season crown. In the playoffs, they took down the White Sox in the ALDS and the Red Sox in a 7-game ALCS. Their great season ended with a 5-game World Series defeat to the Phillies.

The Rays’ offense was quite ordinary by many measures, finishing ninth (out of 14 teams) in runs scored and a lowly 13th in BA. They did draw the second-most walks in the league, giving them above-average numbers for OBP and OPS. They also led the AL in stolen bases. Tampa had a fine pitching staff for 2008, ranking second in both ERA and WHIP, trailing only Toronto. They also ranked second with 52 saves.

Evan Longoria led the Rays offense with 27 homers and 85 RBI, winning Rookie of the Year honors in the process. Carlos Pena had perhaps his best season, belting 31 homers with 102 RBI and a .377 OBP. B.J. Upton posted a .383 OBP with 44 steals and 85 runs scored to balance the Rays’ offense. James Shields led the mound staff with a 14-8 record and a strong 4.00 strikeout-to-walk rate. Matt Garza (11-9) and Scott Kazmir (12-8) joined Shields in forming one of the AL’s best rotations. Grant Balfour (6-2, 1.54 ERA) was particularly effective out of the bullpen.

Summary

That’s it for the first entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 2000s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #15 to #11, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!

1990s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 5 through 1

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the final countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1990s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1990s (1990-1999), a total of 278 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. The 90s were a challenge, with two short seasons due to contract issues. The 1994 season fell well short of the 162-game schedule, with most clubs playing just 115 games. In 1995, most teams played about 140 games. I’ve elected to include both seasons, given that WAR162 adjusts for the number of games played. We’ll summarize each team, including those from 1994-95, and include portions of their team dashboard. Then we’ll explain how they attained their ranking. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #5 through #1.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 1990s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#5: 1993 Atlanta Braves, 57.8 WAR162

The 1993 Braves nipped the Giants by a single game to claim the NL West, before being defeated in a six-game ALCS by the Phillies. Nevertheless, 1993 provided a glimpse of further dominance to come from the Atlanta club.

The Braves had a solid if unspectacular offense in 1993, leading the NL in home runs, but placing further down the list in other major categories. They ranked third in runs, ninth in BA, fourth in OBP, fifth in OPS, and sixth in steals. Pitching was the Braves real strength, as the team ranked first in ERA and WHIP by large margins over their rivals. They also placed third in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk rate in the 14-team National League.

Ron Gant had a big year at the plate, swatting 36 homers with 117 RBI and 113 runs scored. Gant also swiped 26 bases on the season. Jeff Blauser batted .305 with a .401 OBP and 110 runs scored, followed by David Justice with 40 homers and 120 RBI. Other contributors included Fred McGriff (19 homers in 68 games) and Otis Nixon (47 steals). Greg Maddux topped a formidable rotation with a 20-10 mark. Maddux led the NL in ERA, WHIP, and complete games on his way to the Cy Young Award. Steve Avery went 18-6 with a 2.94 ERA, and Tom Glavine recorded a 22-6 mark. John Smoltz added another 15 wins.

#4: 1997 Atlanta Braves, 58.1 WAR162

The 1997 Braves were another in a long line of great Atlanta teams in the 1990s. The Braves swept the Astros in the NLDS before being stunned by the 92-win Marlins in a six-game NLCS series.

The Braves’ 791 runs ranked third in the NL, as did their .270 team BA. The team ranked fourth in OBP and second in OPS with a .769 mark. Starting pitching was again the real strength of the team, with their staff leading the NL by a wide margin in both ERA and WHIP. They also recorded the top strikeout-to-walk rate, courtesy of the fewest walks issued on the season.

Kenny Lofton starred in his one season in a Braves uniform, batting .333 with 90 runs scored. Jeff Blauser batted .308 with a .405 OBP, and Chipper Jones batted .295 with 21 homers and 111 RBI. Catcher Javy Lopez swatted 23 homers with a .295 BA, and 20-year-old Andruw Jones added 18 more long balls. Greg Maddux had a sensational season with a 19-4 record, 2.20 ERA, and a ridiculous 8.85 strikeout-to-walk rate. John Smoltz posted 15 wins across an NL-best 256 innings, and Tom Glavine went 14-7. Denny Neagle recorded a 20-5 mark with a 2.97 ERA.

#3: 1995 Cleveland Indians, 59.1 WAR162

The 1995 Indians rolled to the AL Central crown, finishing a preposterous 30 games ahead of the Royals. They went on to sweep the Red Sox in a 3-game ALDS, before defeating the Mariners in six games to claim the AL pennant. The party ended with a six-game World Series defeat to the Braves.

The Indians had a dominant offense, scoring 840 runs and bashing 207 homers in the abbreviated 1995 season. They also swept the BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS metrics, capped by an .831 OPS mark. For good measure, the Indians also topped the AL in stolen bases. Their pitching was also very effective, with the Cleveland staff topping the AL in ERA, WHIP, and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Albert Belle crushed AL pitching in 1995, with league-best totals in doubles (52), homers (50), RBI (126), and runs (121). Belle also batted .317 and sported a 1.091 OPS for the season. Jim Thome homered 25 times with 97 walks and a .438 OBP, and Kenny Lofton batted .310 with an AL-best 54 steals and a Gold Glove Award. Manny Ramirez (.308 BA, 31 homers, 107 RBI) was also a primary contributor. The pitching staff was led by 41-year-old Dennis Martinez, who posted a 12-5 record with a 3.08 ERA. Orel Hershiser and Charles Nagy each won 16 games, and Jose Mesa led the AL with 46 saves.

#2: 1998 New York Yankees, 62.2 WAR162

The Yankees had a season for the ages in 1998, topping the AL East by 22 games over the Red Sox. While they were projected for 108 wins (vs. 114), the Yankees were clearly the class of the American League. The New Yorkers went on to sweep the Rangers in the ALDS, defeat the Indians in a 6-game ALCS, and sweep the Padres in the World Series.

New York led the league with 965 runs, as well as in OBP and OPS, and ranked second in BA behind the Rangers. The Yankees’ staff was impressive, easily leading the AL in ERA and WHIP, plus strikeout-to-walk rate. They also issued the second-fewest walks in the AL in an impressive season.

Derek Jeter led a deep offensive team, batting .324 with 30 steals and an AL-best 127 runs. Paul O’Neill batted .317 with 24 home runs and 116 RBI, and Scott Brosius batted .300 with 19 homers and 98 RBI. Bernie Williams won a Gold Glove in center field while topping the AL with a .339 BA and 26 homers in just 128 games. David Wells (18-4, AL-best WHIP) and David Cone (20-7, 209 strikeouts) led a deep staff, aided by Orlando Hernandez (12-4) and Andy Pettitte (16-11).

#1: 1998 Atlanta Braves, 62.8 WAR162

The 1998 Braves were likely the best Atlanta team of the decade, beating the Mets by 18 games to claim the NL East. After sweeping the Cubs in the NLDS, the Braves were stunned by the Padres in a 6-game NLCS.

Atlanta featured a strong offense and its usual excellent pitching. The Braves scored 826 runs to rank fourth in the NL and finished second with 215 homers. The Braves ranked fourth in BA and OBP, and second in OPS for the season. The Atlanta staff led the league in ERA and WHIP by wide margins, and tossed a league-best 23shutouts. They were also tops in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Andruw and Chipper Jones were the offensive stars for the Braves. Andruw launched 31 homers with 90 RBI and 27 steals in addition to his Gold Glove defense. Chipper batted .313 with 34 homers, 107 RBI, and 123 runs scored. Andres Galarraga belted 44 homers with 121 RBI and a .305 BA, while Javy Lopez ripped 34 home runs with 106 RBI from his catcher position. Greg Maddux had another stellar season on the mound, recording a 18-9 mark and leading the league in shutouts (5), ERA (2.22), and WHIP (0.980). Tom Glavine (20-6, 2.47 ERA, Cy Young Award) and John Smoltz (17-3) rounded out a scary top of the rotation.

Summary

That’s it for the final entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1990s decade! Here’s a summary of the most dominant franchises of the 1990s:

Cardinals Radial Axis Network

Posted on by kc2519

Our next entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Cardinals, one of the National League teams dating back to 1901. In total, we’re talking about 125 seasons from 1901 through 2025. We’re going to walk through some highlights from the network, and then provide the link so you can explore it in detail. For some background on how the network graphs work, select this link – Anatomy of MLB radial axis graphs.

The Cardinals Network

The Cardinals’ radial axis network reflects the connections among all players who spent time with the franchise from 1901 to 2025. The 1901 season is found at the bottom center of the graph. Subsequent seasons are arranged clockwise, eventually returning to the bottom center with the 2025 season. Player nodes are sized by the number of seasons spent with the team, and the gray lines between nodes reflect connections to other players. The interactive version of the network is here – Cardinals Network.

Top 10 by Seasons Played (Size)

Stan Musial stands alone on top of the Cardinals’ tenure ranking after playing 22 seasons (1941-1944, 1946-63) with the team. A handful of other Cardinals stars follow Musial. This group is led by Adam Wainwright (2005-2023), Yadier Molina (2004-2022), Jesse Haines (1920-1937), and Bob Gibson (1959-1975). Other long-time standouts include Lou Brock (1964-1979), Red Schoendienst (195-1956, 1961-1963), and Ozzie Smith (1982-1996).

Top 10 by Degree (the number of connections)

Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright were teammates for nearly their entire careers, so their number of connections (and who they are connected to) is very similar. Stan Musial played more seasons, but in an era without free agency. Bob Gibson and Lou Brock also overlapped careers and teammates to a substantial degree.

Top 10 by Harmonic Closeness Centrality

With Harmonic Closeness Centrality, we measure how closely an individual player is related to all other players in the network. This number (scaled from 0 to 1) may indicate a player’s importance to the network and may also indicate that they played with influential teammates. Bob Gibson and Stan Musial have nearly identical scores at the top, followed by a number of well-known Cardinals, including Bob Forsch (1974-1988), Ted Simmons (1968-1980), Willie McGee (1982-1990, 1996-1999), and Keith Hernandez (1974-1983).

Top 10 by Betweenness Centrality

Betweenness Centrality measures which players rank highest in their ability to connect all other players. In simple terms, which player provides the most efficient path through the network (scaled from 0 to 1)? Bob Forsch tops the list, followed closely by Stan Musial. Willie McGee also scored highly on this metric, well ahead of the remaining members of the top 10. We don’t see any real surprises in this list; unlike some franchises with more volatile histories, the Cardinals’ top players offer few.

Summary

That’s it for our overview of the Cardinals network. Be sure to visit the interactive graph to discover additional insights about the Cardinals players over the last 125 seasons. We’ll be back shortly with our next franchise entry. Thanks for reading!

1990s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 10 through 6

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the third countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1990s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1990s (1990-1999), a total of 278 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. The 90s were a challenge, with two short seasons due to contract issues. The 1994 season fell well short of the 162-game schedule, with most clubs playing just 115 games. In 1995, most teams played about 140 games. I’ve elected to include both seasons, given that WAR162 adjusts for the number of games played. We’ll summarize each team, including those from 1994-95, and include portions of their team dashboard. Then we’ll explain how they attained their ranking. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #10 through #6.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 1990s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#10: 1996 Cleveland Indians, 54.8 WAR162

The Indians rolled to the AL Central title, finishing 14.5 games ahead of the White Sox, before being upset by the Orioles in the ALDS round of the playoffs.

Cleveland featured a very potent offense, scoring 952 runs to trail only the Mariners in the AL rankings. The Tribe ranked second in doubles, stolen bases, OPS, and SLG, while topping the AL in BA and OBP. Their pitching staff led the AL with a 4.34 ERA in the very offense-friendly 1996 season. The Indians also topped the AL in WHIP and strikeout-to-walk rate for the season.

Slugging first baseman Jim Thome had one of his best seasons, launching 38 homers with 116 RBI and 122 runs scored. Thome also drew 123 walks in compiling a .450 OBP. Albert Belle led the league with 148 RBI, whacking 48 home runs and scoring 124 runs, while leadoff batter Kenny Lofton claimed a Gold Glove while batting .317 with an AL-best 75 steals, scoring 132 runs to lead the Indians in that category. Manny Ramirez batted .309 with 33 homers and 112 RBI to round out the Cleveland offense. Charles Nagy led the pitchers with a 17-5 record and 3.41 ERA, backed up by 37-year-old Orel Hershiser‘s 15 wins.

#9: 1994 New York Yankees, 55.0 WAR162

The 1994 Yankees were cruising toward the postseason when the 1994 season ended early due to the MLB labor dispute. There would be no playoffs or World Series at the end of the season.

The Yankees were 6.5 games ahead of the Orioles in the AL East when the season ended, due in part to a strong offense that led the AL in OBP and OPS, and ranking second in runs. The pitching staff was a step behind, placing fourth or fifth in most major categories, including ERA and WHIP.

Wade Boggs and Paul O’Neill were the offensive leaders for a deep Yankees lineup. Boggs batted .342 with a .433 OBP and a Gold Glove Award, and O’Neill topped the AL with a .359 BA and whacked 21 homers with 83 RBI in just 103 games. Mike Stanley batted .300 with 17 home runs out of the catcher spot, and Bernie Williams scored 80 runs with a .384 OBP and solid defense in center field. Left-hander Jimmy Key was the Yankees’ top pitcher on the season, going 17-4 with a 3.27 ERA. Melido Perez (9-4) and Scott Kamieniecki (8-6, 3.76 ERA) provided additional mound support.

#8: 1994 Chicago White Sox, 55.1 WAR162

The 1994 White Sox were another team whose playoff hopes were terminated by the short-season labor dispute. The White Sox were a game ahead of the Indians in the AL Central when the season ended prematurely.

The Sox had a very good offense, ranking third in BA and OPS, second in OBP, and fourth in runs for the season. Pitching was the real strength of the team, as Chicago easily topped the AL in the ERA and WHIP categories. The White Sox staff also led the AL in strikeout-to-walk rate, and ranked third in both the strikeout and walks metrics.

Frank Thomas was on his way to a monster season for Chicago, batting .353 with an AL-best .487 OBP, .729 SLG, and 1.217 OPS. He also topped the league in walks (109), runs (106), and belted 38 homers with 101 RBI. Unsurprisingly, these efforts won Thomas the AL MVP Award. His primary support came from Julio Franco (.319 BA, 20 homers, 98 RBI), and Robin Ventura (18 home runs, 78 RBI). Darrin Jackson chipped in with a .312 BA. Jack McDowell led the ChiSox pitching corps, topping the league with a 3.02 strikeout-to-walk rate and 10 wins. Wilson Alvarez (12-8, 3.45 ERA) and Alex Hernandez (11-7) combined to give the White Sox a deep starting rotation.

#7: 1998 Houston Astros, 56.1 WAR162

The Astros romped to the NL Central title, 12.5 games ahead of the Cubs. Their season then ended in the NLDS with a four-game defeat at the hands of the Padres.

Houston scored a league-high 874 runs and ranked second in doubles and stolen bases. Their .280 BA also ranked second in the league, and they topped the NL in OBP. The Astros also featured a strong pitching staff, finishing second in both ERA and WHIP behind the Braves. Their staff also issued the fewest walks in the NL, leading to the second-best strikeout-to-walk rate for the season.

The Astros had four position players top the 5.0 WAR162 threshold, with three of the four exceeding 6.0. Jeff Bagwell batted .304 with a .424 OBP and launched 34 homers with 111 RBI and 124 runs scored in 147 games. Craig Biggio batted .325 with 50 steals, 123 runs scored, and an NL-best 51 doubles, and Moises Alou slugged 38 homers with 124 RBI and a .312 BA. Derek Bell was the fourth big producer, batting .314 with 111 runs and 108 RBI. The pitching staff also featured balance at the top, led by Shane Reynolds (19-8, 3.51 ERA). Mike Hampton posted 11 wins, and Randy Johnson recorded an impressive 1.28 ERA in 84 innings. Jose Lima posted the top strikeout-to-walk rate in the league (5.28) while recording 16 wins.

#6: 1990 Oakland Athletics, 56.2 WAR

The A’s captured the AL pennant for the third consecutive season, finishing a comfortable 9 games ahead of the White Sox in the AL West. After sweeping the Red Sox in the ALCS, the Athletics were stunned by Cincinnati in a four-game World Series sweep.

Oakland featured a strong offense that ranked third in both runs and home runs for the year. They ranked second in stolen bases, third in OBP, and fourth in OPS, playing in the pitcher-friendly Oakland Coliseum. The A’s pitching staff was dominant in 1990, easily leading the league in ERA and WHIP.

Rickey Henderson was the offensive igniter for Oakland, leading the league in runs (119), stolen bases (65), OBP (.439), and OPS (1.016) in just 136 games. Not surprisingly, these numbers earned him the AL MVP Award. Sluggers Mark McGwire (39 homers, 108 RBI, 110 walks) and Jose Canseco (37 homers, 101 RBI) provided the power for the A’s. Dave Henderson added 20 home runs and strong defense in center field. Dave Stewart (22-11, 2.56 ERA, 11 complete games, 4 shutouts) ranks as the top hurler by WAR162, although his teammate Bob Welch (27-6, 2.95 ERA) claimed Cy Young honors. Closer Dennis Eckersley had a dominant campaign, saving 48 games with a 0.61 ERA and an unheard-of 18.25 strikeout-to-walk rate (73 strikeouts, 4 walks).

Summary

That’s it for the third entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1990s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #5 to #1, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!

1990s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 15 through 11

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the second countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1990s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1990s (1990-1999), a total of 278 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. The 90s were a challenge, with two short seasons due to contract issues. The 1994 season fell well short of the 162-game schedule, with most clubs playing just 115 games. In 1995, most teams played about 140 games. I’ve elected to include both seasons, given that WAR162 adjusts for the number of games played. We’ll summarize each team, including those from 1994-95, and include portions of their team dashboard. Then we’ll explain how they attained their ranking. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #15 through #11.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 1990s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#15: 1993 San Francisco Giants, 50.8 WAR162

The Giants won 103 games, yet fell a game short of winning the NL West title. Atlanta won 104 games to nose out the San Franciscans, who would have to wait until 1997 to claim the NL West crown.

The Giants were paced by a strong offense that compiled 808 runs, second to the Phillies for the season. The club’s 168 home runs were one long-ball behind the Braves, and they led the NL in BA and SLG. The team’s .767 OPS ranked second behind the Phillies, and their OBP ranked third in the league. The Giants’ pitching was not as robust as their hitting, although it was still upper-tier. A league-best strikeout-to-walk rate highlighted their success, as did a second-place WHIP ranking. Team ERA placed fifth in the 14-team NL.

Barry Bonds produced an NL MVP season featuring 46 homers, a 1.136 OPS, and a .458 OBP to go with 123 RBI and 129 runs scored. Bonds also earned a Gold Glove in left field. Robby Thompson (.312 BA, 85 runs scored, Gold Glove Award) and Matt Williams (38 home runs, 110 RBI, Gold Glove) provided ample offensive and defensive support behind Bonds. The pitching staff was led by Bill Swift, who produced a 21-8 record with a 2.82 ERA. John Burkett added 22 more wins, and closer Rod Beck saved 48 games with a 2.16 ERA.

#14: 1999 Atlanta Braves, 51.7 WAR162

The 1999 Braves claimed the NL East crown by 6.5 games over the Mets before defeating the Astros in the NLDS and the Mets in the NLCS. The season came to a sudden end with a World Series sweep at the hands of the Yankees.

The Braves’ offense was solid in 1999, but not quite up to the level of some rivals. Their 840 runs ranked 7th (out of 16 teams), and their 197 home runs placed 4th in the league. In most offensive categories, the Braves were close to league-average levels. Pitching was a different story – Atlanta led the NL in ERA and WHIP, and ranked 2nd in walks, strikeouts, and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones (no relation) were the star positional players for the Braves. Chipper claimed MVP honors with a .319 BA, 45 homers, 110 RBI, 116 runs, 25 stolen bases, and a 1.074 OPS. Andruw won a Gold Glove as the best center fielder in the league at age 22, adding 26 homers, 24 steals, and 84 RBI for good measure. Brian Jordan contributed 23 homers, 115 RBI, and 100 runs scored on the season. Kevin Millwood stood out on a star-studded pitching staff with an 18-7 record and 2.68 ERA, leading the league in WHIP. John Smoltz added 11 wins, and Greg Maddux recorded a 19-9 record. Tom Glavine posted 14 wins, and closer John Rocker added 38 saves and a 2.49 ERA.

#13: 1999 Arizona Diamondbacks, 52.1 WAR162

The Diamondbacks completed an amazing 100-win season, finishing 14 games ahead of the Giants in their second year as a franchise. Their season came to an abrupt end with a four-game loss to the Mets in the NLDS round.

Arizona had a high-powered offense that accounted for an NL-best 908 runs, belting 216 home runs (2nd-best) on the season. The Diamondbacks ranked third in BA, and 2nd in SLG and OPS, trailing only the Rockies. Pitching was also a strength, as the DBacks staff posted a 3.77 ERA, 2nd to the Braves, and also ranked 2nd in WHIP, 3rd in strikeouts, and 3rd in strikeout-to-walk rate.

Luis Gonzalez paced the offense, batting .336 with 26 homers and 111 RBI, aided by Jay Bell (38 homers, 112 RBI, 132 runs scored), and Steve Finley (34 home runs, 103 RBI). Veteran third baseman Matt Williams batted .303 and added another 35 homers and 142 RBI. On the mound, Cy Young winner Randy Johnson was a dominant force. Johnson posted a 17-9 record with NL-best numbers for complete games (12), ERA (2.48), and strikeouts (364). Omar Daal was a solid second option in the rotation, recording a 16-9 mark.

#12: 1995 Boston Red Sox, 53.4 WAR162

The Red Sox claimed the AL East title by seven games over the rival Yankees, before falling to the Indians in an ALDS sweep.

Boston had a strong offensive core, ranking 4th in runs scored with 791, and also ranked 4th with 175 home runs. In several other categories – BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS- the Red Sox ranked 2nd behind the Indians’ powerful offense. The Sox pitching was solid, if not quite at the level of their hitting. Their staff ranked 3rd IN ERA, 4th in WHIP, 2nd in walks, and 2nd in strikeout-to-walk-rate.

Shortstop John Valentin had a career year to lead the Sox offense, although his teammate Mo Vaughn claimed AL MVP honors. Valentin posted a .399 OBP, hit 27 homers with 102 RBI, scored 108 runs, and stole 20 bases, all in 135 games played. Vaughn belted 39 home runs with an AL-best 126 RBI and .300 BA. Tim Naehring provided a third productive bat with a .307 BA and .415 OBP, and veteran Mike Greenwell batted .297 with 76 RBI. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield posted a 16-8 mark with a 2.95 ERA to lead the Red Sox mound corps. Erik Hanson added a 15-5 record as the Sox number two option in the rotation.

#11: 1994 Montreal Expos, 53.9 WAR

The Expos were in the midst of their finest season when the 1994 campaign ended early due to labor contract issues. This denied the team a realistic shot at postseason success, given their 6-game lead in the NL East.

The Expos offense was near the top of the NL for the short season, scoring 585 runs to rank third behind the Reds and Astros. Speed was a major asset for the team, as they ranked first in the NL in stolen bases. Their team BA of .278 was third in the NL, as were their OBP and OPS numbers. The Expos’ pitching was very effective, leading the league in ERA, WHIP, walks, and strikeout-to-walk rate.

Three Expos batters led the charge in 1994, topped by Moises Alou. Alou batted .339 with 22 homers, 78 RBI, and 81 runs in just 107 games. Marquis Grissom stole 36 bases while batting .288 and earning a Gold Glove Award. Larry Walker topped the league with 44 doubles and batted .322 with 19 home runs and 86 RBI. Shortstop Wil Cordero batted .294 with 15 homers and 16 steals to round out a potent offense. Butch Henry posted an 8-3 record with a 2.43 ERA, and Ken Hill topped the NL with 16 wins. A promising 22-year-old Pedro Martinez recorded an 11-5 ledger, and Jeff Fassero added 8 wins with a 2.99 ERA.

Summary

That’s it for the second entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1990s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #10 to #6, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!

Brewers Radial Axis Network

Posted on by kc2519

Our next entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Brewers, including their 1969 introduction as the Seattle Pilots. In total, we’re talking about 57 seasons from 1969 through 2025. We’re going to walk through some highlights from the network, and then provide the link so you can explore it in detail. For some background on how the network graphs work, select this link – Anatomy of MLB radial axis graphs.

The Brewers Network

The Brewers radial axis network reflects the connections among all players who spent time with the franchise from 1969 to 2025. The 1969 season is found at the bottom center of the graph. Subsequent seasons are arranged clockwise, eventually returning to the bottom center with the 2025 season. Player nodes are sized by the number of seasons spent with the team, and the gray lines between nodes reflect connections to other players. The interactive version of the network is here – Brewers Network.

Top 10 by Seasons Played (Size)

Robin Yount stands alone on top of the Brewers tenure ranking after playing 20 seasons (1974-1993) with the team. A handful of other Brewers legends follow, led by Jim Gantner (1976-1992), Paul Molitor (1978-1992), Ryan Braun (2007-2020), and Charlie Moore (1973-1986). Yount, Gantner, Molitor, and Moore played many seasons as teammates in a period where the Brewers were often in contention in the AL East.

Top 10 by Degree (the number of connections)

Ryan Braun tops the Brewers’ list for having the most connections to other players, with 309. The Brewers were not regular contenders during his time with the team, leading to more roster turnover than in Yount’s years with the club. Brandon Woodruff had many teammates across eight seasons (2017-2023, 2025), as has Rickie Weeks (2003, 2005-2014). Freddy Peralta (2018-2025), Christian Yelich (2018-2025), and Geoff Jenkins (1998-2007) are next in line. Yelich’s number will continue to grow through at least the 2026 season, although it seems unlikely he will approach Braun’s number of connections.

Top 10 by Harmonic Closeness Centrality

With Harmonic Closeness Centrality, we measure how closely an individual player is related to all other players in the network. This number (scaled from 0 to 1) may indicate a player’s importance to the network, and can also be an indication that they played with influential teammates. Ryan Braun, Geoff Jenkins, and Rickie Weeks top this list, although there are many others with similar scores.

Top 10 by Betweenness Centrality

Betweenness Centrality measures which players rank highest in their ability to connect all other players. In simple terms, which player provides the most efficient path through the network (scaled from 0 to 1)? Ryan Braun at the top is unsurprising, but the next two may raise a few eyebrows. David Weathers played just five seasons with Milwaukee (1998-2001, 2009), but these separate years with the team connect him to two distinct groups of teammates. Doug Jones (1996-1998) played just three seasons for the Brewers but is apparently well-positioned as a network connector.

Summary

That’s it for our overview of the Brewers network. Be sure to visit the interactive graph to discover additional insights about the Brewers players over the last 57 seasons. We’ll be back shortly with our next franchise entry. Thanks for reading!

1990s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 20 through 16

Posted on by kc2519

Welcome to the first countdown post in our series of MLB team rankings for the 1990s. As a reminder, the teams are ranked from #20 through #1 based on aggregate WAR162. For the 1990s (1990-1999), a total of 278 team-seasons were eligible, so the top 20 teams are a rather exclusive group – the top 7% for the decade. The 90s were a challenge, with two short seasons due to contract issues. The 1994 season fell well short of the 162-game schedule, with most clubs playing just 115 games. In 1995, most teams played about 140 games. I’ve elected to include both seasons, given that WAR162 adjusts for the number of games played. We’ll summarize each team, including those from 1994-95, and include portions of their team dashboard. Then we’ll explain how they attained their ranking. So, without further ado, here are the teams ranked #20 through #16.

Here’s the interactive dashboard at Tableau Public: 1990s Top 20 MLB Teams Dashboard

#20: 1994 Cincinnati Reds, 49.8 WAR162

The Reds wound up a half-game ahead of the Astros in the NL Central when the season came to an early ending. With no playoffs or World Series in 1994, the Reds could only wonder what might have happened in a full season.

The Reds featured a strong offense, scoring 609 runs in their 114-game season. Their 124 home runs placed third, as did their 119 steals. The team also swept the BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS metrics. The Reds’ pitching was solid if unspectacular. The staff finished third in ERA and WHIP, and second in strikeout-to-walk rate.

Three players set the tone for the Reds’ offense and defense in 1994. Kevin Mitchell clouted 30 homers in just 95 games played, with a .326 BA, .429 OBP, and 1.110 OPS. Barry Larkin batted .279 with 26 steals and a Gold Glove at shortstop, and Reggie Sanders stole 21 bases, rapped 17 home runs, and drove in 62 runs. Jose Rijo (9-6, 3.08 ERA, 171 strikeouts) and John Smiley (11-10) were the Reds top starters. Chuck McElroy and Jeff Brantley (15 saves, 2.48 ERA) provided strong bullpen support.

#19: 1994 Cleveland Indians, 50.4 WAR162

The 1994 Indians provided a glimpse of the future, as they would become one of the dominant AL teams for the remainder of the decade. They wound up one game behind the White Sox in the AL Central when the season ended early.

The Indians had a powerful offense, leading the AL in runs, home runs, doubles, and BA, and ranking second in stolen bases and OPS, a hair behind the Yankees. The pitching staff was less dominant, ranking fifth in ERA and sixth in WHIP. However, they surrendered the fewest home runs in the AL, helping to keep games within reach for their powerful offense.

Center fielder Kenny Lofton was dynamic, batting .349, scoring 105 runs, and stealing 60 bases in just 112 games. Lofton also claimed a Gold Glove Award. Albert Belle provided the power, slugging 36 homers with 101 RBI and a .357 BA across 106 games. Second baseman Carlos Baerga batted .314 with 32 doubles, 19 home runs, and 80 RBI to round out the Indians’ top three. Dennis Martinez had a splendid age-40 season, posting an 11-6 record with 3 shutouts. Charles Nagy recorded a 10-8 record with a solid 3.45 ERA in the high-scoring 1994 environment. Mark Clark added an 11-3 record for the Indians.

#18: 1996 Atlanta Braves, 50.4 WAR162

The 1996 Braves captured the NL East title by 8 games over the Expos. They went on to sweep the Dodgers in the NLDS round and defeated the Cardinals in a seven-game NLCS. Their run came to an end with a six-game World Series defeat at the hands of the Yankees.

The Braves scored 773 runs on the season, good for 4th place, and just 5 runs behind the second-ranked Reds. Their 197 homers ranked second, as did their .270 BA and .765 OPS. Pitching is where Atlanta distanced itself from most rivals, with a staff that ranked first in WHIP, strikeouts, walks, and strikeout-to-walk rate. They also ranked a close second to the Dodgers in ERA.

Third baseman Chipper Jones paced the offense, batting .309 with 30 homers, 110 RBI, and 114 runs scored. Marquis Grissom (.308 BA, 28 steals, 23 homers, 106 runs) won a Gold Glove in addition to his offensive numbers. Slugger Ryan Klesko launched 34 homers with 93 RBI as the third member of the Braves offensive nucleus. On the mound, John Smoltz earned the NL Cy Young Award with a 24-8 record and 276 strikeouts, both tops in the league. Greg Maddux went 15-11 with a 2.72 ERA and issued the fewest walks per inning in the NL, and Tom Glavine posted a 15-10 mark and 2.98 ERA.

#17: 1997 New York Yankees, 50.7 WAR162

The Yankees finished two games behind the Orioles in the AL East, earning a wild-card berth in the playoffs, where they were defeated in five games by the Indians. Their Pythagorean win projection was 100 victories, so they were actually slightly unlucky during the regular season.

The Yankees rode a high-scoring offense to 96 wins; their 891 runs trailed only Seattle. The Yankees ranked second in BA on the season, first in OBP, and fourth in OPS in the 14-team American League. On the pitching side of the ledger, the New Yorkers ranked first in ERA, second in strikeouts and strikeout-to-walk rate, and third in WHIP for the 1997 season.

Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez, and Derek Jeter spearheaded the Yankees offensive efforts. Williams batted .328 with 21 home runs, 100 RBI, and 107 runs scored while winning a Gold Glove in center field. Martinez batted .296 with 44 homers and 141 RBI, and Jeter batted .291 with 116 runs scored and 23 steals. The Yankees had a strong starting rotation, led by lefty Andy Pettitte, who assembled an 18-7 record with a 2.88 ERA. Veteran David Cone posted a 12-5 mark with 10.2 strikeouts per 9 innings, and David Wells added 16 wins. Closer Mariano Rivera saved 43 games with a 1.88 ERA to support the rotation.

#16: 1994 Baltimore Orioles, 50.7 WAR

The Orioles were another of the 1994 clubs left to wonder what could have happened in a full season. At the time of the early stoppage, they were 6.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East.

The Orioles’ offense was somewhat ordinary in 1994, ranking 7th in runs scored and tied for 4th in home runs at the end of the season. They had similar ranks in BA (6th), OBP (6th), and OPS (6th). Pitching was a strong suit, with the Orioles staff ranking third in ERA, second in WHIP and strikeout-to-walk rate, and first in issuing the fewest walks.

Cal Ripken, Jr. enjoyed a fine age-33 season, batting .315 with 13 homers and 75 RBI in 112 games. Rafael Palmeiro slugged 23 homers and batted .319, while catcher Chris Hoiles added 19 homers in 99 games. Brady Anderson stole 31 bases (in 32 attempts) and scored 78 runs for Baltimore. Mike Mussina posted a 16-5 record in 24 starts, and Ben McDonald added 14 more wins. Reliever Mark Eichorn recorded a 2.15 ERA across 43 appearances in the shortened season.

Summary

That’s it for the first entry in our MLB Team Rankings for the 1990s decade! Stay tuned for the countdown from #15 to #11, arriving in a few days. As always, thanks for reading!