I am not a Yankee fan.
Nope. I don't like the Braves either.
Yet, when you look back at their lengthy periods of excellence, you've just got to tip your caps to both organizations.
The Yankees will not be playing postseason baseball for the first time in the Derek Jeter era; that's a 13-year streak that ended earlier this week. As Jared Smith put it, "October Just Won't Be the Same" without the Bombers.
Meanwhile, the Braves had won 14-straight division titles (not counting the strike year of '94) until their run ended in 2006.
There will be those who say the Bronx Bombers haven't won a thing since 2000, or Atlanta won just one World Series title.
But could you imagine all those consecutive appearances in the MLB postseason, the most difficult playoff system to qualify for in professional sports?
Just ask the New York Mets. The 2008 Metropolitans were expected to dominate the NL East, especially with the acquisition of former Minnesota ace Johan Santana to go along with big names like Delgardo, Beltran, Wright, and Pedro on that talent-laden roster.
Santana has been very good this season, but not dominant—a la Pedro Martinez circa 1997-2000. Santana hasn't given the Mets that invincible aura the way Roger Clemens did for the Red Sox of the 1980s or Jimmy Key for the Yankees in 1993-'94.
- B/R Ticket Guide
The Mets' bullpen has been brutal, giving up several blown leads and on Wednesday, they failed to nail down a victory after taking a four-run advantage for an alarming eighth time this year.
And there was last year's fiasco when they couldn't "hang on" to a seven-game lead in the division with only 17 to play.
Yikes.
So, it is tough being the favorites and actually performing up to expectations.
(Note: I'm not dissing the Mets. I still think they'll make the postseason. After all, they're battling the Brewers, right? And no, CC Sabathia—he and his 10-2, 1.78 record—isn't going to pitch Friday or Saturday for Milwaukee.)
And just ask the L.A. Dodgers of the Kevin Brown era (1999-2003). The Bums never once made the postseason during that stretch, and in fact, they finally won the NL West the year after Brown was sent to the Bronx.
The Seattle Mariners couldn't win the AL West in 1998, despite having the trio of Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez, and Ken Griffey Jr. together for the final season. (As a side note: Don't you feel sorry for Ichiro? The M's best player hasn't sniffed the playoffs since his rookie year in 2001.)
It's tough to live up to everyone's (read: experts') expectations.
Right now, it seems the L.A. Angels (four AL West titles in the last five years) and Boston Red Sox (five postseason berths in the last six seasons) have been the models of consistency.
But they're not in the same class as the Braves or Yankees.
Neither Atlanta nor New York will be in the dance this year, and I'm sure many out there love that fact. Still, let's give both organizations their due. Let's applaud them for their incomparable levels of success.
**Not only does KP Wee writes for Bleacher Report, he’s also a published author. Check out his fiction novel, “Showing Their Scales”, on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.**
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3 months ago
Very classy
3 months ago
great article.
It's definitely true that consistent playoff appearances are so undervalued. Everyone just sort of expects the Yankees to do it but so many things can go wrong in a 162 game season to stop them from making the playoffs.
The Braves and Yankees' sustained success is really unbelievable.
Good stuff
3 months ago
Nice article K.P. - But I think the NFL might have a tougher playoff qualification standard
3 months ago
"Santana has been very good this season, but not dominant—a la Pedro Martinez circa 1997-2000. Santana hasn't given the Mets that invincible aura the way Roger Clemens did for the Red Sox of the 1980s or Jimmy Key for the Yankees in 1993-'94."
Do you watch baseball? Santana hasn't lost in 3 months. He's got an ERA around 2.26 during that time, is in the top ten in every relevant pitching stat and leads in ERA. He'd be 22-7 if he didn't have 7 leads blown for him by the Mets pen.
Your article is nothing more than a shot at the Mets. Why even mention them here?
from 3 months ago
He hasn't been lights out as he'd been in Minnesota. And as you just pointed out, it's a three-month stretch.
3 months ago
Nice article. It's true that it's weird that neither team will be playing October baseball this year. It really is impressive that both teams had such long runs for post-season appearances. Although it is nice to see a team like Tampa Bay earn a playoff spot because they've been so consistent all year.
3 months ago
Well the yankees are still to me the best team in baseball with a pre-k student runing them hank is a joke and expect them back next year, atlanta is good too and I hope the rays make it all the way I really don't want red sox wining it all
3 months ago
"He hasn't been lights out as he'd been in Minnesota. And as you just pointed out, it's a three-month stretch."
Career low ERA. Career high in IP. There's nothing more I can point to as an illustration of how wrong you are.
from 3 months ago
Keep in mind in the NL, any pitcher would have a lower ERA as he doesn't have to deal with the DH. And you're right, career high in IP. With that kind of bullpen, what choice did the Mets have other than to keep sending him out there? And if you really think he's been the savior and has been THE best pitcher in baseball--the reason all those teams wanted him in the first place--then you're out of your mind.
He's underachieved big time. And I'm not the only one saying that.
from 3 months ago
To answer your original question, the reason I mentioned the Mets, the Kevin Brown-led Dodgers, and the Mariners, was to illustrate how DIFFICULT it is to make the postseason every single year, when everyone expects you to.
3 months ago
"He's underachieved big time. And I'm not the only one saying that."
No, you are.
from 3 months ago
Then read this. Where was his stopper mentality and leadership role then?
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-santana082708&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
from 3 months ago
I guess by what you're saying, Jeff Passan doesn't watch baseball, huh?
3 months ago
It certainly looks like it. In an elimination game he on the second to last day of the season, he pitched a 3 Hit Shutout.
Combine that with a guy who pitched to a 9-0 Record with an ERA just above 2 since June 28.
He didn't lose a game after June. That makes him the only major league starter NOT to.
Posting two misinformed opinions doesn't make one right one.
He won the NL ERA title. That means per nine-innings (within which his sample size was bigger than everyone else in the NL because he also led the league in IP). Also had more "quality starts" than any other ML pitcher.
1st in the NL in ERA, 1st in IP, 2nd in Ks, 6th in WHIP, 3rd in CGs, 7th in Win Pct. Spells dominance. Yes he only won 16 games, he also left 7 games with a lead in the 7th or later that we're blown. That could have worked itself out to a 23-7 record. As a starting pitcher, putting your team in a position to win 23 of 34 starts is in fact dominant.
I make many arguments that are veiled in homerism and I am a Met fan, but, you're CRAZY if you think Santana short of expectations or wasn't dominant. I've made my case and from what it looks like to me, both you and whatever hack Yahoo writer you cited are wrong. Also, considering what Santana did this September, you might have wanted to choose something from a later period of time to show his leadership abilities or clutchness.
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