Column: Astros proof that cheaters really do prosper
By TIM DAHLBERG AP Sports Columnist
Stop if this sounds familiar. The World Series is here, and so unfortunately are the Houston Astros.
For the third time in just five years, if you’re keeping score at home. And, yes, they’ve brought their baggage along.
The difference this time? We know who they are.
That wasn’t the case in 2017 when Houston players banged garbage cans and hit like they knew what was coming in beating the Dodgers in seven games. It wasn’t the case two years ago when the core group of Astros that is still with the team got a free pass in a losing effort against the Nationals because their cheating ways had yet to be exposed.
But now we know. Even as we try to forget, we know.
Tune in Tuesday night if you’re so inclined, though for many this will be a tough World Series to watch. The sight of Astros like Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman or Jose Altuve at the plate will be a painful reminder of what happened in the recent past and a constant reminder that none of them have missed even one paycheck because of it.
Many of the same players who stole a title are playing for the trophy once again. Meanwhile, the Dodgers fell just short of the World Series, depriving them and their fans of their rightful chance to set things right on the field.
They likely may never get that chance again as the years go by and players move on. There will be no closure, because Rob Manfred decided that the players who actually perpetrated the scheme should, for some reason, not be punished.
So now the question becomes, is it time to let it go? Will it ever be time to let it go?
The answers aren’t terribly hard to figure out.
Viewed at their worst, the World Series favorites consist of a core group of unapologetic cheaters who don’t deserve their names on one World Series trophy much less a spot in another.
At their best, well, the Astros are a bunch of unapologetic cheaters who, well, you try to fill in the rest.
No, the Atlanta Braves aren’t perfect. But their only real crime is continuing to allow their fans to do the incessant tomahawk chop and chant that was tired and offensive even when Jane Fonda and Ted Turner were doing it back in the 90’s.
Compare that to the Astros, who should have collectively been charged with felony grand theft for what they did in 2017. The distaste about what transpired that year is only heightened by the arrogance of those who never even got a letter of reprimand for their actions.
No, not all the current Astros were on that team. But this team still has that 2017 smell, even if all the cheaters aren’t still around.
The thought of them lifting another World Series trophy should disgust baseball fans — and fans of fairness — everywhere. Any idea that they should be celebrated by anyone outside of Houston for getting to a third World Series in five years is indefensible.
They cheated other teams, and they cheated other players. Most of all they cheated a game that had enough problems even before they began banging on garbage cans to let their hitters know what pitch was coming next.
About the only thing the Astros have in their favor is Dusty Baker is now in the dugout. And that makes a lot of baseball fans conflicted, because Baker deserves better.
He’s a baseball treasure who probably should have at least two World Series rings as a manager by now. Even Dodger fans can’t help but secretly root for the man who once patrolled Bakersfield in Dodger Stadium and by now he’s been long forgiven for dugout mistakes made at stops along the way.
Watching Baker finally get a ring as a manager at the age of 72 would be epic. But watching him celebrate with a group of cheaters wouldn’t.
At some point, of course, we’ll all have to move on. Grudges can’t be kept forever and in a few years all the cheating players will be gone anyway.
For now, though, the wounds are still too raw. Another World Series looms, and there are still too many players on the team who were a part of the scandal.
The home faithful will be cheering wildly Tuesday night as the Astros open as 7-5 favorites to win another World Series.
The rest of us won’t.
Column: Dodgers were finished until epic Game 3 comeback. Now it’s the Braves who are done
Bettmann // Getty Images
Baseball is a thoughtful sport marked by a storied history, long seasons, plenty of statistics, and a roster of teams that has grown steadily over time. That has caused some major changes in how the Major League Baseball postseason is structured. For this list of most successful MLB postseason teams, we’ve accounted for the team’s full record, including both regular and postseason games. For some teams, that includes the relatively new division series. For others, it includes only the league championship series and the World Series.
The league’s divisions, teams, and postseason format aren’t the only changes in baseball when these great teams played. The oldest team on the list dates to 1969, the year when both the pitcher’s mound and strike zone shrank to cut down on the dominance of major league pitching. That was also the first year of postseason divisional play. In other seasons, the instant replay was introduced and the number of teams jumped to the current 30.
BestOdds.com calculated the most successful postseason teams of all time in MLB, using data from 100-plus years of Major League Baseball.To calculate the most dominant team, teams that won at least seven games in the postseason (every MLB season after 1968 qualifies) are ranked according to their postseason winning percentage, with ties broken by the team with the most wins during the regular season.
Read on for the 10 most dominant MLB teams in postseason history.
Bettmann // Getty Images
Baseball is a thoughtful sport marked by a storied history, long seasons, plenty of statistics, and a roster of teams that has grown steadily over time. That has caused some major changes in how the Major League Baseball postseason is structured. For this list of most successful MLB postseason teams, we’ve accounted for the team’s full record, including both regular and postseason games. For some teams, that includes the relatively new division series. For others, it includes only the league championship series and the World Series.
The league’s divisions, teams, and postseason format aren’t the only changes in baseball when these great teams played. The oldest team on the list dates to 1969, the year when both the pitcher’s mound and strike zone shrank to cut down on the dominance of major league pitching. That was also the first year of postseason divisional play. In other seasons, the instant replay was introduced and the number of teams jumped to the current 30.
BestOdds.com calculated the most successful postseason teams of all time in MLB, using data from 100-plus years of Major League Baseball.To calculate the most dominant team, teams that won at least seven games in the postseason (every MLB season after 1968 qualifies) are ranked according to their postseason winning percentage, with ties broken by the team with the most wins during the regular season.
Read on for the 10 most dominant MLB teams in postseason history.
Column: Dodgers were finished until epic Game 3 comeback. Now it’s the Braves who are done
Jeff Zelevansky // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 78.6%
- Postseason Record: 11-3
- Regular Season Record: 92-70
The Phillies finished the 2008 season with a record of just 92-70, by far the lowest number of regular season wins on this list, so expectations for the postseason were low. They first faced the Milwaukee Brewers for the division title, losing just one game. After that, they won the NLCS in just five games against the L.A. Dodgers. Finally, they faced the Tampa Bay Rays, which had just shed the “Devil” from their name. Maybe it was a mistake as the Phillies took the World Series in five games. Cole Hamels was named MVP as he went undefeated in the postseason, notching a 1.80 ERA.
Jeff Zelevansky // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 78.6%
- Postseason Record: 11-3
- Regular Season Record: 92-70
The Phillies finished the 2008 season with a record of just 92-70, by far the lowest number of regular season wins on this list, so expectations for the postseason were low. They first faced the Milwaukee Brewers for the division title, losing just one game. After that, they won the NLCS in just five games against the L.A. Dodgers. Finally, they faced the Tampa Bay Rays, which had just shed the “Devil” from their name. Maybe it was a mistake as the Phillies took the World Series in five games. Cole Hamels was named MVP as he went undefeated in the postseason, notching a 1.80 ERA.
Column: Dodgers were finished until epic Game 3 comeback. Now it’s the Braves who are done
Tim Bradbury // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 78.6%
- Postseason Record: 11-3
- Regular Season Record: 108-54
The Red Sox boasted a 2018 regular season record of 108-54, a new franchise record for wins that ousted the old record of 105 that had stood for over a century. They were nearly as dominant in the postseason. First, they faced the Yankees in the ALDS. They had finished a comfortable eight games ahead of the Yankees during the regular season and vanquished the Yanks three games to one. Next, they beat the Houston Astros in the ALCS and then the L.A. Dodgers in the World Series, each time in five games, cementing their status as the year’s best team. Game 5 winner David Price was the Series MVP.
Tim Bradbury // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 78.6%
- Postseason Record: 11-3
- Regular Season Record: 108-54
The Red Sox boasted a 2018 regular season record of 108-54, a new franchise record for wins that ousted the old record of 105 that had stood for over a century. They were nearly as dominant in the postseason. First, they faced the Yankees in the ALDS. They had finished a comfortable eight games ahead of the Yankees during the regular season and vanquished the Yanks three games to one. Next, they beat the Houston Astros in the ALCS and then the L.A. Dodgers in the World Series, each time in five games, cementing their status as the year’s best team. Game 5 winner David Price was the Series MVP.
Column: Dodgers were finished until epic Game 3 comeback. Now it’s the Braves who are done
David Seelig // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 84.6%
- Postseason Record: 11-2
- Regular Season Record: 114-48
The 1998 New York Yankees won the most regular-season and postseason games in MLB history with 125 total wins and just 50 losses. Among those wins, 114 came during the regular season, putting the Yankees a comfortable 12 games ahead of the divisional runner-up Boston Red Sox. In the postseason, the Yankees first swept the Texas Rangers for the ALDS title. After that, they faced a bigger challenge from the Cleveland Indians, which took two games to the Yankees’ eventual four. In the World Series, the Yankees faced the San Diego Padres. Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter led the team on offense; Andy Pettitte’s Game 4 shutout clinched the World Series title.
David Seelig // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 84.6%
- Postseason Record: 11-2
- Regular Season Record: 114-48
The 1998 New York Yankees won the most regular-season and postseason games in MLB history with 125 total wins and just 50 losses. Among those wins, 114 came during the regular season, putting the Yankees a comfortable 12 games ahead of the divisional runner-up Boston Red Sox. In the postseason, the Yankees first swept the Texas Rangers for the ALDS title. After that, they faced a bigger challenge from the Cleveland Indians, which took two games to the Yankees’ eventual four. In the World Series, the Yankees faced the San Diego Padres. Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter led the team on offense; Andy Pettitte’s Game 4 shutout clinched the World Series title.
Column: Dodgers were finished until epic Game 3 comeback. Now it’s the Braves who are done
Bettmann // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 87.5%
- Postseason Record: 7-1
- Regular Season Record: 100-62
It’s hard to remember now, but the Mets was a young team when they won the World Series in 1969. That year, the National League East was also new. Huge changes shifted the balance of power across the major leagues. The mound was lowered five inches to reduce the dominance of pitchers, and the strike zone was narrowed so that it only stretched from the armpit to the top of the batter’s knees. The changes seemed to serve the “Miracle Mets” well as they shocked the nation by sweeping the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS and then taking four of five games from the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. First baseman Donn Clendenon was named MVP for his Series batting average of .357.
Bettmann // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 87.5%
- Postseason Record: 7-1
- Regular Season Record: 100-62
It’s hard to remember now, but the Mets was a young team when they won the World Series in 1969. That year, the National League East was also new. Huge changes shifted the balance of power across the major leagues. The mound was lowered five inches to reduce the dominance of pitchers, and the strike zone was narrowed so that it only stretched from the armpit to the top of the batter’s knees. The changes seemed to serve the “Miracle Mets” well as they shocked the nation by sweeping the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS and then taking four of five games from the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. First baseman Donn Clendenon was named MVP for his Series batting average of .357.
Column: Dodgers were finished until epic Game 3 comeback. Now it’s the Braves who are done
Focus On Sport // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 87.5%
- Postseason Record: 7-1
- Regular Season Record: 104-58
To date, 1984 was the last time the Detroit Tigers won the World Series. First, the Tigers swept the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS. After that, they took the World Series over the San Diego Padres, losing just one of the five games. The team’s roster included relief pitcher Willie Hernandez, who won that year’s Cy Young Award, and Gold Glove shortstop Alan Trammell, who earned World Series MVP honors by batting .450 in the Series. The team was managed by the legendary Sparky Anderson.
Focus On Sport // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 87.5%
- Postseason Record: 7-1
- Regular Season Record: 104-58
To date, 1984 was the last time the Detroit Tigers won the World Series. First, the Tigers swept the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS. After that, they took the World Series over the San Diego Padres, losing just one of the five games. The team’s roster included relief pitcher Willie Hernandez, who won that year’s Cy Young Award, and Gold Glove shortstop Alan Trammell, who earned World Series MVP honors by batting .450 in the Series. The team was managed by the legendary Sparky Anderson.
Column: Dodgers were finished until epic Game 3 comeback. Now it’s the Braves who are done
Focus On Sport // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 87.5%
- Postseason Record: 7-1
- Regular Season Record: 108-54
The 1970 Baltimore Orioles dominated the newly created American League East. During regular season play, they finished an astonishing 15 games ahead of the New York Yankees on the strength of 108 wins. At the time, the ALCS was best-of-five, and the Orioles swept the Minnesota Twins in three games. After that, they steamrolled the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series in just five games. The team included first-ballot Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, who played for the Orioles for 23 years, a Major League record for players who played for only one team in their career.
Focus On Sport // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 87.5%
- Postseason Record: 7-1
- Regular Season Record: 108-54
The 1970 Baltimore Orioles dominated the newly created American League East. During regular season play, they finished an astonishing 15 games ahead of the New York Yankees on the strength of 108 wins. At the time, the ALCS was best-of-five, and the Orioles swept the Minnesota Twins in three games. After that, they steamrolled the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series in just five games. The team included first-ballot Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, who played for the Orioles for 23 years, a Major League record for players who played for only one team in their career.
Column: Dodgers were finished until epic Game 3 comeback. Now it’s the Braves who are done
MLB Photos // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 88.9%
- Postseason Record: 8-1
- Regular Season Record: 99-63
By winning 99 games, the 1989 Oakland A’s finished a comfortable seven games ahead of the American League Western division’s runner-up Kansas City Royals. The A’s then beat the Toronto Blue Jays for the ALCS title in just five games, which included their only postseason loss. From there, they had the enviable job of sweeping their Bay Area rivals, the San Francisco Giants, in the World Series, which will forever be known as the Quake Series because a major earthquake (killing 63 people) struck the Bay Area minutes before the start of Game 3. (The Series was postponed by 10 days.) The lineup included all-time greats Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, and Mark McGwire, although Canseco and McGwire were later implicated in steroid scandals. Pitcher Dave Stewart was that year’s World Series MVP.
MLB Photos // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 88.9%
- Postseason Record: 8-1
- Regular Season Record: 99-63
By winning 99 games, the 1989 Oakland A’s finished a comfortable seven games ahead of the American League Western division’s runner-up Kansas City Royals. The A’s then beat the Toronto Blue Jays for the ALCS title in just five games, which included their only postseason loss. From there, they had the enviable job of sweeping their Bay Area rivals, the San Francisco Giants, in the World Series, which will forever be known as the Quake Series because a major earthquake (killing 63 people) struck the Bay Area minutes before the start of Game 3. (The Series was postponed by 10 days.) The lineup included all-time greats Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, and Mark McGwire, although Canseco and McGwire were later implicated in steroid scandals. Pitcher Dave Stewart was that year’s World Series MVP.
Column: Dodgers were finished until epic Game 3 comeback. Now it’s the Braves who are done
Vincent Laforet // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 91.7%
- Postseason Record: 11-1
- Regular Season Record: 98-64
In 1999, the Yankees won 98 games to squeak past the archrival Boston Red Sox by just four games to win the American League East. That accomplishment came despite winning just four of their 12 regular-season games against the Red Sox. The Yankees swept the Texas Rangers for the division title, winning three games in a row. After that, they faced the Red Sox again in the ALCS, winning four of the five games—and notching their only postseason loss. From there, they swept the Atlanta Braves in a four-game World Series, thanks largely to the brilliant play of shortstop Derek Jeter (that year’s hits leader) and World Series MVP Mariano Rivera, their “lights out” closer.
Vincent Laforet // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 91.7%
- Postseason Record: 11-1
- Regular Season Record: 98-64
In 1999, the Yankees won 98 games to squeak past the archrival Boston Red Sox by just four games to win the American League East. That accomplishment came despite winning just four of their 12 regular-season games against the Red Sox. The Yankees swept the Texas Rangers for the division title, winning three games in a row. After that, they faced the Red Sox again in the ALCS, winning four of the five games—and notching their only postseason loss. From there, they swept the Atlanta Braves in a four-game World Series, thanks largely to the brilliant play of shortstop Derek Jeter (that year’s hits leader) and World Series MVP Mariano Rivera, their “lights out” closer.
Column: Dodgers were finished until epic Game 3 comeback. Now it’s the Braves who are done
Ron Vesely // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 91.7%
- Postseason Record: 11-1
- Regular Season Record: 99-63
In 2005, it had been 88 years since the White Sox won the World Series, marking one of the longest championship droughts on record. They dominated the American League Central all season with a 99-63 record and swept the defending champion Boston Red Sox in three games in the American League Division Series. From there, the White Sox won the ALCS against the Angels, though the Anaheim team did hand Chicago their only postseason loss. Finally, the White Sox swept the World Series over the Houston Astros. With stars such as Paul Konerko, whose five home runs and 15 RBIs—White Sox postseason records—and the brilliance of manager Ozzie Guillen, their success was no surprise.
Ron Vesely // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 91.7%
- Postseason Record: 11-1
- Regular Season Record: 99-63
In 2005, it had been 88 years since the White Sox won the World Series, marking one of the longest championship droughts on record. They dominated the American League Central all season with a 99-63 record and swept the defending champion Boston Red Sox in three games in the American League Division Series. From there, the White Sox won the ALCS against the Angels, though the Anaheim team did hand Chicago their only postseason loss. Finally, the White Sox swept the World Series over the Houston Astros. With stars such as Paul Konerko, whose five home runs and 15 RBIs—White Sox postseason records—and the brilliance of manager Ozzie Guillen, their success was no surprise.
Column: Dodgers were finished until epic Game 3 comeback. Now it’s the Braves who are done
Bettmann // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 100.0%
- Postseason Record: 7-0
- Regular Season Record: 102-60
In 1976, the Cincinnati Reds swept the National League Championship Series (NLCS) and then the World Series for a total of seven postseason wins and no losses. That was after their runaway dominance of the NL West all season as their record ended up at 102-60. One of the most notable members of this powerful lineup was the not-yet-disgraced Pete Rose. Others included Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and Ken Griffey Sr. It was the Reds’ second World Series victory in a row.
This story originally appeared on BestOdds.com and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Bettmann // Getty Images
- Postseason Win Percentage: 100.0%
- Postseason Record: 7-0
- Regular Season Record: 102-60
In 1976, the Cincinnati Reds swept the National League Championship Series (NLCS) and then the World Series for a total of seven postseason wins and no losses. That was after their runaway dominance of the NL West all season as their record ended up at 102-60. One of the most notable members of this powerful lineup was the not-yet-disgraced Pete Rose. Others included Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, and Ken Griffey Sr. It was the Reds’ second World Series victory in a row.
This story originally appeared on BestOdds.com and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Column: Astros proof that cheaters really do prosper
David J. Phillip
The Houston Astros World Series banner is seen Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, in Houston. The Astros face the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of baseball's World Series tomorrow. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
David J. Phillip
The Houston Astros World Series banner is seen Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, in Houston. The Astros face the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of baseball's World Series tomorrow. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Bettmann // Getty Images