Tag: 1990s

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!

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!