What does history say about the D'backs post season chances?

Ryanwb · April 21st, 2003, 12:06 AM

Well, only two teams have ever come back after being 10 games back of first in April, the 1981 Royals and the 1914 Braves. The 1981 Royals actually lost the first 10 games to start the season and another team actually rang off 10 straight wins so they were 10 games back after 10 games.

This isn't the farthest back any team has ever come from behind, this is just the most games back a team has been down in April and still came back to make the post season.

Only 3 teams have ever been 10 games out of first as of April 16th: The 2002 Tigers, the 2003 Tigers and the 2003 Diamondbacks.

With the wild card and the D'backs team, I like their chances.

Rudy P · April 21st, 2003, 06:11 AM

Little bit of a flaw here. The 1981 KC Royals did make the post season after being 10 games out in April, but they shouldn't be considered when factoring the Diamondbacks.

1981 was the strike year, and the Royals won the "division" in the second half of the year, as special rules were enacted to help revive interest in baseball. So, while the Royals did indeed start 10 games back and make the postseason, they were able to start over, midseason, with a clean slate. The D-backs won't be able to do that.

Dback Jon · April 21st, 2003, 06:28 AM

The Dbacks were also the first expansion team to win a division in two years, and the first to win a World Series in 4 years.

My Baseball Quote of the Day for Sunday:

Whitey Herzog:

"Two things in baseball don't mean squat: last year and yesterday."

AZZenny · April 21st, 2003, 07:58 AM

Love the quote - I always liked Whitey Herzog.

I am curious, with all the talk of 'clubs with X-worst records making incredible comebacks' etc - what are the biggest LEADs early in a season that were totally blown? Who had a theoretical/media "lock" the way they were playing before the ASB and then spectacularly nosedived? Make us feel good here....

BC867 · April 21st, 2003, 08:11 AM

The '51 Dodgers and '69 Cubs blew 13 1/2 game leads late in the season . . . to the "Miracle at Coogan's Bluff" Giants and the "Miracle Mets".

Does that mean we're going to be the "Miracle D'backs"?

Hey Schillingfan, didn't the Phillies lose a big lead, too? I can't remember how big or how late it was.

AzKarl · April 21st, 2003, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BC867
The '51 Dodgers and '69 Cubs blew 13 1/2 game leads late in the season . . . to the "Miracle at Coogan's Bluff" Giants and the "Miracle Mets".

Does that mean we're going to be the "Miracle D'backs"?

Hey Schillingfan, didn't the Phillies lose a big lead, too? I can't remember how big or how late it was.

It was a 6.5 game lead in 1964 with 10 to play. I was 10 and living in Philadelphia as a diehard Phils fan. They proceeded to lose 10 straight and the Cardinals won the N.L. pennant. That Phils staff had 2 aces, Jim Bunning and Chris Short. Both were pitched on 3 days rest down the stretch and had nothing left. I had series tix that were preprinted. Ended up seeing game 2 that year in Yankee stadium.

Rudy P · April 21st, 2003, 07:13 PM

'95 Angels also blew a 13.5 game lead. And the 1993 Giants blew a 9.5 game All Star Break lead.

I wouldn't go so far as to say I like our chances, though.

moviegeekjn · April 22nd, 2003, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AzKarl
It was a 6.5 game lead in 1964 with 10 to play. I was 10 and living in Philadelphia as a diehard Phils fan. They proceeded to lose 10 straight and the Cardinals won the N.L. pennant. That Phils staff had 2 aces, Jim Bunning and Chris Short. Both were pitched on 3 days rest down the stretch and had nothing left. I had series tix that were preprinted. Ended up seeing game 2 that year in Yankee stadium.

I remember that year well (a few years older) as a die-hard Cardinals fan... couple of facts you can check out: The Phillies had a 6 1/2 game lead with 12 to play, but lost 10 of those twelve. If you saw a World Series game in Yankee Stadium that year, it was either game 3, 4, or 5 since the Cards hosted the first two games.

Game three--Mickey Mantle takes Barney Schultz's only pitch deep for a walk off win.

Game four--Ken Boyer grand slam proves key

Game five--Yanks tie Gibson with 2 out 2-run homer in 9th (sounds familiar), but Tim McCarver hits 3 run homer in 10th to win!

Ryanwb · April 22nd, 2003, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Game five--Yanks tie Gibson with 2 out 2-run homer in 9th (sounds familiar), but Tim McCarver hits 3 run homer in 10th to win!

This game was ESPN classic a few weeks ago