Despite all the familiarity within the standings, a good number of teams made strong headway over 2004, while others dipped well below expectations. Below are our choices of five teams that overachieved, and five that underachieved.
THE OVERACHIEVERS
1. The Chicago White Sox
99-63, 1st Place, AL Central
For several years now, the Pale Hose have been threatening to make a move to the top of the AL Central, and in 2005 they finally delivered with an awesome charge. Under manager (and former White Sox star) Ozzie Guillen, Chicago did very little wrong. The Sox were graced with stifling pitching, timely hitting, aggressive baserunning and terrific defense. They certainly proved their worth within the division, sporting a 52-22 record against AL Central opponents; they were only 35-35 when pitted against the rest of the AL.
2. Oakland A’s
88-74, 2nd Place, AL West
When two-thirds of Oakland’s vaunted “Big Three” aces—Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder—were traded within days of one another before the season, it appeared the A’s were nose-diving into rebuilding mode. That opinion didn’t change after a 17-32 start. But just when general manager Billy Beane’s genius looked ready to surrender to the harsh realities of the franchise’s low-budget mentalities, the A’s made a shocking turnaround, becoming the first AL team ever to reach 15 games above .500 after earlier being logged 15 games below it, and nearly stole the AL West from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Beyond Beane, credit the rise of starting pitcher Rich Harden, rookie closer Huston Street and a general, strong cohesive team chemistry that has continued to buoy the A’s to success over the last five years.
3. Milwaukee Brewers
81-81, 3rd Place, NL Central
For years, Bud Selig and family complained of how the Brewers were handicapped playing in a “small market” environment. Then Mark Attanasio (sorry, no relation to This Great Game’s Ed Attanasio) bought the Brewers, pumped up the payroll and, in his first year, watched the team record its first non-losing season since 1992. So much for the small-market mindset. Despite a highly suspect defense, the Brewers became competitive behind free agent pick-up Carlos Lee (32 home runs, 114 runs batted in) solid starting pitching from Chris Capuano (18-12) and Doug Davis, and a stunning effort by closer Derrick Turnbow (1.74 earned run average), who saved 39 games in 43 chances.
4. Cleveland Indians
93-69, 2nd Place, AL Central
For the second straight year, the Indians made a late summer run to claim the AL Central title, and for the second straight year they came up disappointingly short by losing crucial games at home. But with an overall 13-game improvement over 2004 that led to the year’s best record by a non-playoff team, the no-name Indians continue to be the alter ego of the All-Star Tribe that dominated the division throughout the late 1990s. If the Indians are to improve further in 2006, perhaps a home record that matches their success on the road (50-31 in 2005) would help.
5. Washington Nationals
81-81, 5th Place, NL East
Okay, so the team formerly known as the Montreal Expos came to Washington and resumed the Nation Capitol’s penchant for finishing last. But the newly-renamed Nationals hardly played as a cellar dweller, becoming only the second team in major league history to finish last in a division without a losing record—and until Atlanta made their patented second half run, the Nationals actually led the highly-competitive NL East. Playing in an old facility with spacious dimensions, the Nationals lived on the one-run game, often winning them—thanks in large part to the emergence of closer Chad Cordero, who led the majors with 47 saves.
THE UNDERACHIEVERS
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
71-91, 4th Place, NL West
Baseball’s biggest collective head case over the last ten years, the Dodgers’ 12-2 start looked to confirm a great off-season in which they gathered up Jeff Kent, J.D. Drew and Derek Lowe. Then it all collapsed on them. Drew returned to his oft-injured ways, an early-season return of All-Star closer Eric Gagne went awry when more elbow problems developed, and Milton Bradley regressed to his bad behavior and accused the front office of racism. The Dodgers were 59-89 after that 12-2 start and finished with the second-worst record since departing Brooklyn. Injuries definitely played a huge role, but so did Karma. This team badly needs a Kirk Gibson type to screw their heads back on right again.
2. San Francisco Giants
75-87, 3rd Place, NL West
The Giants have pondered what life would be like in the post-Barry Bonds world, and they found out earlier than expected when the potential home run king missed almost the entire year with knee problems. San Francisco badly lacked intimidation in its batting order, had an Opening Day starting rotation that blew up in its face by mid-season, and for the third straight year scrambled within the bullpen to replace an injured ace closer (Armando Benitez). Worse, the team that usually plays so well at SBC Park had the fifth-worst home record in the majors. Finally, this note: In 2004, Bonds set a major league record with 120 intentional walks. In 2005, the Giants without Bonds had 19. Enough said.
3. Baltimore Orioles
74-88, 4th Place, AL East
From an overall point of view, the Orioles’ performance doesn’t stand out as a major bust, given that they haven’t had a winning season since 1996. But strip away the last four months of the season and you have a squad that started at 35-22 and seriously had the look and talent of a team ready to interrupt the continuing Yankee-Red Sox wars in the AL East. Now strip away the first two months and you have a team that wins 39, loses 66, has its manager fired, frets over a badly degenerated Sammy Sosa, and dismisses both Rafael Palmeiro (for implicating Miguel Tejada of feeding him steroids) and starting pitcher Sidney Ponson for a total lack of excellence on the mound (6.21 ERA) and on the road (two drunk driving arrests).
4. Texas Rangers
79-83, 3rd Place, AL West
There was great hope deep in heart of Texas for 2005 as the Rangers looked ready to clamp down on the AL West after an eye-raising 89-73 campaign without Alex Rodriguez in 2004. And while Ranger batters killed the ball again and again as if their life depended on it—nine players over 15 homers, seven over 20, an all-time record 153 hit at home—the team’s starting pitching re-emerged as its Achilles’ heel, producing a poor 4.97 ERA. The challenge to improve the rotation won’t get easier now that the Rangers have released Kenny Rogers—the team’s best pitcher with a thing against videographers.
5. Chicago Cubs
79-83, 4th Place, NL Central
The Cubs became something of an enigma this year. They hit .270 as a team while opponents hit .250 against them. They were blessed with the phenomenal performance of Derrek Lee, who toyed with the hitters’ triple crown for much of the year. Yet after two contending years under manager Dusty Baker, this year’s Cubs sank below the .500 mark. So what happened? Take Lee. Batting third in the order, he wins the NL batting title, adding 46 homers and 50 doubles. You think those kinds of numbers would certainly lead to 120 RBIs, probably 130 and maybe 140. But no, he knocked in 107. There you go. The top of the order didn’t deliver. Injuries to fellow sluggers Nomar Garciaparra and Aramis Ramirez didn’t help, and speaking of aches and pains…Kerry Wood, will you ever get healthy?