10 replies to this topic

[Falconsfan567™]

I know for a fact that pre-season results in the NFL mean absolutely nothing when it comes to regular season success. So it got me to wondering if spring training success in MLB equaled success when it comes to regular season success so I did a little research. I went all the way back to 2003 for some data.

2003
The Royals went 19-8 in spring training and went 83-79 in the regular season.
The Indians went 19-11 in spring training and went 68-94 in the regular season.
The Expos went 17-10 in spring training and went 83-79 in the regular season.
The Cubs went 17-11 in spring training and went 88-74 in the regular season. That's the first team that we come to that made the playoffs. The Cubs beat the Braves in the NLDS before falling to the Marlins in the NLCS.
The Yankees went 16-13 in spring training and went 101-61 in the regular season before losing to the Marlins in the World Series.
The Marlins went 15-16 in spring training and went 91-71 in the regular season and won the World Series.
The Braves went 17-12 in spring training and went 101-61 in the regular season and lost to the Cubs in the NLDS.

2004
The Mariners went 18-11 in spring training and went 63-99 in the regular season.
The Twins went 20-10 in spring training and went 92-70 in the regular season.
The Red Sox went 17-11 in spring training and went 98-64 in the regular season and won the World Series.
The Cardinals went 17-12 in spring training and went 105-57 in the regular season before losing the World Series to the Red Sox.

2005
The Angels went 21-11 in spring training and went 95-67 in the regular season.
The Blue Jays went 16-10 in spring training and went 80-82 in the regular season.
The White Sox went 14-18 in spring training and went 99-63 in the regular season and won the World Series.
The Astros went 14-14 in spring training and went 89-73 in the regular season and loss the World Series to the White Sox.

2006
The Angels went 20-11 in spring training and went 89-73 in the regular season.
The Reds went 22-11 in spring training and went 80-82 in the regular season.
The Cardinals went 15-14 in spring training and went 83-78 in the regular season and won the World Series.
The Tigers went 18-15 in spring training and went 95-67 in the regular season and loss the World Series to the Cardinals.
The Braves went 11-18 in spring training and went 79-83 in the regular season.

2007
The Diamondbacks went 20-12 in spring training and went 90-72 in the regular season.
The Tigers went 21-10 in spring training and went 88-74 in the regular season.
The Red Sox went 15-12 in spring training and went 96-66 in the regular season and won the World Series.
The Rockies went 13-12 in spring training and went 90-73 in the regular season and loss the World Series to the Red Sox.
The Braves went 18-12 in spring training and went 84-78 in the regular season.

2008
The Athletics went 18-8 in spring training and went 75-86 in the regular season.
The Rays went 18-8 in spring training and went 97-65 in the regular season before losing the World Series to the Phillies.
The Phillies went 12-18 in spring training and went 92-70 in the regular season before winning the World Series.
The Braves went 15-15 in spring training and went 72-90 in the regular season.

I've gotten tired of doing this but I think it's a pretty good indication that a good spring in MLB equals a good regular season record.

[Cable Guy]

I say no. to me the Sping is about getting the players on the 25 man ready for the regular season. Also it allows the manager the access to see prospects up close. You probably could argue that the Spring record indicates if a teams minor league system is good or not. Since the MLB starters only play a hand full of innings per game. While the rest is played by minor leaguers.

[usmcdirtybird]

I do not pay attention to spring training till the last two weeks.  That is when the regulars get more playing time and cuts are starting to happen.  That is when you see players working more on the game situations.

[muskokas finest ©]

Depends on your circumstances.  If you have a lot of hot positional battles going on, it's possible to ride that to a good record in ST and maybe on into the season.  On the flip side, with a largely set lineup, you are just looking to make sure your players are ready for the season, often at the expense of ST wins, but once the regular season kicks in, the switch is turned to full.

[Billy Pilgrim]

I'd normally say no, but I also did a double-take yesterday when I saw we were 1-11. That's shockingly awful, spring games or not.

After last year watching the Falcons play like a bunch of clowns in the preseason and me just trying to pass it off as "Preseason doesn't matter these guys are just messing around" and then watching as they played the exact same way in the regular season I've kind of backed off that whole 'preseason doesn't matter' stance.

Regardless, I have been completely unsold on this team since way before spring training began and this doesn't really do anything to lessen that conviction.

[Falconsfan567™]

Billy Pilgrim, on 14 March 2012 - 04:51 PM, said:

I'd normally say no, but I also did a double-take yesterday when I saw we were 1-11. That's shockingly awful, spring games or not.

After last year watching the Falcons play like a bunch of clowns in the preseason and me just trying to pass it off as "Preseason doesn't matter these guys are just messing around" and then watching as they played the exact same way in the regular season I've kind of backed off that whole 'preseason doesn't matter' stance.

Regardless, I have been completely unsold on this team since way before spring training began and this doesn't really do anything to lessen that conviction.

Actually 1-10-1.

[R.C. Collins]

No. What is important about spring training is that the team is getting better as the Spring progresses. All teams are working on teaks and things like that. You just don't want a terrible record because that is an indication that your team is taking longer to work out kinks or not getting them worked out which is what is bugging most people about the Braves.

[Falconsfan567™]

R.C. Collins, on 14 March 2012 - 05:35 PM, said:

No. What is important about spring training is that the team is getting better as the Spring progresses. All teams are working on teaks and things like that. You just don't want a terrible record because that is an indication that your team is taking longer to work out kinks or not getting them worked out which is what is bugging most people about the Braves.

I don't know. Last year the Twins went 20-12 and then loss 99 games. On the flip side the Diamondbacks went 12-25 and then won 92 games.

[R.C. Collins]

falconsfan567, on 14 March 2012 - 05:40 PM, said:

I don't know. Last year the Twins went 20-12 and then loss 99 games. On the flip side the Diamondbacks went 12-25 and then won 92 games.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the record is a sign or your regular season success. I just think win or lose, your games have to be competitive. Also keep in mind that even the diamond backs record of 12-25 is a winning percentage of over.300. The Braves current winning percentage is about .100 and that has to change.

[Falconsfan567™]

R.C. Collins, on 14 March 2012 - 06:01 PM, said:

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the record is a sign or your regular season success. I just think win or lose, your games have to be competitive. Also keep in mind that even the diamond backs record of 12-25 is a winning percentage of over.300. The Braves current winning percentage is about .100 and that has to change.

Well I highly doubt the Braves don't end up with 10-12 wins during the spring.

[R.C. Collins]

falconsfan567, on 14 March 2012 - 06:02 PM, said:

Well I highly doubt the Braves don't end up with 10-12 wins during the spring.

True.