Visual-Baseball

2000s MLB Team Rankings Countdown: 20 through 16

Posted on July 20, 2026July 23, 2026 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 July 2, 2026July 1, 2026 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 June 24, 2026June 23, 2026 by kc2519

Our next entry in the MLB Radial Axis Series features the Cardinals, one of the National League teams dating back to 2001. 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 June 23, 2026June 23, 2026 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 June 19, 2026June 21, 2026 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 June 17, 2026June 23, 2026 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.