Mid-Season Reflections: A Quarter of the Way Through
This week marks an intriguing juncture in the baseball season: the completion of the first quarter. Not by any means a large sample size, yet it provides a valuable opportunity to analyze the trends that have emerged. What catches the eye is the surprising stability within the NL Central. Remarkably, the Chicago Cubs, who had a losing record just a month ago, have clawed their way to first place following two impressive 10-game winning streaks. Meanwhile, their divisional rivals, the Brewers and Cardinals, have managed to stay consistently above the .500 mark, a feat not shared by many other teams in the league. In fact, only four others—the Yankees, Braves, and Dodgers—join them as franchises that have never dipped under the threshold of losing.
Contrast that with the American League, where the narrative is less favorable. As of Friday's games, only five teams in this league, including the Yankees, have winning records, with the likes of the Rays and Athletics—teams we might have underestimated—making the cut in ways no one expected at the start of the season.
Star Performers and Surprising Ascent
When assessing individual performances, several big names continue to dominate the offensive leaderboard. Players like
Aaron Judge,
Yordan Alvarez, and
Kyle Schwarber hold their ground in the top ten for wRC+, with Judge, Alvarez, and
Matt Olson also making the top 10 in WAR. That said, the emergence of unexpected players like
Ben Rice and
Shea Langeliers (both boasting impressive wRC+ over 170) alongside young talents like
Jordan Walker (166) transforms the narrative.
Even
Shohei Ohtani, despite a less-than-stellar batting output, continues to shine with a remarkable 0.82 ERA through his first seven starts—this suggests that even the so-called slumps can yield surprising productivity when viewed through the lens of two-way play.
What Lies Ahead: Predicting Future Outcomes
The pressing question is, what does this all mean moving forward? I think it's safe to say one NL Central team will likely end the season with a losing record, and don't sleep on the White Sox either. My skepticism about teams like the Rays and Athletics as real contenders remains intact. While players like Langeliers and Walker have a strong chance to keep performing, I wouldn’t bet against Ohtani either.
Beyond all the stats and trends, what truly shapes a season often remains unpredictable. Sure, we can scrutinize the numbers, but guesswork is only so reliable. A related note: you may have noticed the mention of Mickey Moniak earlier, and honestly, the seasonal narrative can swing in any direction from here. And on that note, let's pivot to the mailbag, which is always more entertaining than conjecture about a single player's impact. If you want to keep diving deeper, consider becoming a FanGraphs Member—your gateway to exclusive content and a community of like-minded enthusiasts. Sign up for a Membership
here.
Final Thoughts on Baseball's Most Overlooked Franchises
It's fascinating how history can obscure entire eras of baseball lore. When considering forgettable franchises, you'd expect teams with dismal records or abysmal fan engagement to top the list. Yet, there’s far more to the narrative than that. Jay Jaffe's exploration of these lesser-remembered teams highlights how even the most unremarkable franchises can contribute to the rich tapestry of baseball history. For instance, the Milwaukee Brewers of 1901 and the 1901-02 Baltimore Orioles may not have had impressive tenures, but their stories ripple through the annals of the sport, interwoven with significant figures like Connie Mack and John McGraw.
For serious baseball aficionados, it's a harsh reality that many teams are easily forgotten, like the Marlins who’ve won two World Series yet barely register in discussions about baseball's greats. Their roster turnover is so severe that everyday fans might struggle to name three players each season—a point humorously underlined by Jayson Stark's challenge. It raises an essential question: what defines a team’s legacy? Is it longevity, success, or something more inherent?
What stands out here, however, is the notion that nostalgia often hinges on context. Teams that might seem inconsequential now can actually be pivotal—look at the 1871-75 National Association, which birthed the very definition of professional baseball. Still, as Jaffe illustrates, it’s tough to elevate these franchises into discussions of greatness when their contributions are drowned out by the larger-than-life dynasties that capture our imagination. And yet, the twisted path of franchises like the original Orioles, erroneously lumped into the Yankees’ history, reveals how fluid and sometimes deceptive baseball's historical records can be.
If you’re involved in sports research or team management, take heed: small stories matter. They shape fan engagement and inform how we understand the game’s evolution. The ghostly echoes of these forgotten teams serve as reminders that in baseball, as in life, even fleeting moments can leave an indelible impact. Revisiting these narratives might just elevate our appreciation for the sport's rich heritage. From forgotten franchises to legendary players, the journey of baseball is a tapestry woven from many threads—some vibrant, others more muted, but all essential in defining the game we love.
