Which team has done most to end its drought?
One of the most effective tales of the 2022 postseason was the ending, ultimately, of the 2 longest playoff droughts in Major League Baseball: The Seattle Mariners (who hadn’t made the playoffs since 2001) and Philadelphia Phillies (who hadn’t made it since 2011) each broke by, not solely reaching the playoffs however successful the primary sequence after they bought there. (The Phillies made all of it the best way to the World Series, after all.) There is nothing extra enjoyable than watching your crew within the playoffs, and people two fanbases had waited a very long time for that chance.
But now that they’ve damaged by, they’re not the groups with these longest postseason droughts. Thanks to the brand new playoff format, although, it’s a bit of simpler to get into the playoffs than it was. Now there are, actually, solely seven groups who’ve gone at the least 5 years with out making the postseason. Will they be capable of finish their very own skids this 12 months? Let’s check out every crew’s possibilities, from the longest skid to the shortest.
Detroit Tigers
Last playoff look: 2014 ALDS
Lost to: Orioles, 3 video games to 0
The Tigers have been supposed to interrupt by final 12 months. Remember that? They have been one of many higher groups down the stretch in 2021, they’d introduced in Javier Báez and Eduardo Rodriguez, and younger stars like Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson have been able to explode. It is honest to say, 96 losses later, that the Tigers didn’t break by, although it’s attainable they win much more video games just because they’d nothing however dangerous breaks in 2022 and issues in all probability gained’t go fairly as poorly in ’23. That mentioned, there was a transparent recalibration of expectations in Detroit this 12 months, and new normal supervisor Scott Harris is but to make any main strikes in his first offseason in cost. It appears possible this drought will final at the least one other 12 months.
Los Angeles Angels
Last playoff look: 2014 ALDS
Lost to: Royals, 3 video games to 0
When the Angels gained 98 video games in 2014, in Mike Trout’s third full season with the franchise, it certain felt like they have been simply getting began. They had the most effective younger participant in baseball surrounded by big-ticket stars, and an proprietor who made it clear he’d do no matter it took to ensure this crew reached the following stage. There have been really tales about how the Angels may conceivably take over Southern California from the Dodgers! That, uh, didn’t occur. The Angels have had just one successful season since then, they usually weren’t even that near the playoffs that season (2015). Thus, Trout, the most effective baseball gamers who ever lived, has but to win a postseason recreation … even whereas taking part in alongside Shohei Ohtani, one other of the most effective baseball gamers to have ever lived.
The Angels, to their credit score, have made a bunch of focused strikes this winter that ought to increase their flooring, reminiscent of signing left-hander Tyler Anderson and reliever Carlos Estévez, and buying and selling for third baseman Gio Urshela and proper fielder Hunter Renfroe. The Angels are as properly positioned as any crew on this checklist to finish their drought in 2023.
Kansas City Royals
Last playoff look: 2015 World Series
Beat: Mets, 4 video games to 1
Even because the Royals have been making two consecutive World Series appearances, there was a way that they weren’t essentially constructed on the sturdiest of foundations — it didn’t really feel like this was a dynasty within the making. Which is ok: They did win the World Series in spite of everything. But you’ve seen the aftermath of these two seasons, not simply with the exodus of all these groups’ stars (save for Salvador Perez) however with the issue bringing in sustainable younger expertise. Two managers and one normal supervisor later, they’ve turned in a brand new route this offseason, with J.J. Picollo taking on as GM and Matt Quatraro within the dugout. Bobby Witt Jr. is a superb man to construct round, nevertheless it’s cheap to imagine it’ll be a 12 months or two till you’ll be able to think about this crew a severe postseason contender.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Last playoff look: 2015 Wild Card Game
Lost to: Cubs
Oh, weren’t these 2013-15 Pirates enjoyable? I for one will always remember the group on the ’13 Wild Card Game in opposition to the Reds, when rowdy, desperate-to-scream, hockey-style followers, actually, have been so loud and fired up that they spooked poor Johnny Cueto into dropping the ball on the mound.
That certain does really feel like a very long time in the past, doesn’t it? The Pirates have had just one successful season since then, 82 wins in 2018, they usually’ve now misplaced 100 or extra video games two seasons in a row. (And had a worse successful proportion in ’20, going 19-41.) The good news is that there’s a lot of younger expertise within the Pirates’ system, and Oneil Cruz is likely one of the most fun younger gamers within the recreation. This is a division that may be had with some aggression, however it should take greater than the signing of Carlos Santana to interrupt this streak.
Baltimore Orioles
Last playoff look: 2016 AL Wild Card Game
Lost to: Blue Jays
Perhaps no franchise has gone by a extra tumultuous turnover since their final playoff look for the reason that Orioles, who’ve shifted their technique in each attainable means since Buck Showalter resisted utilizing Zack Britton in that extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays. The new regime was prepared to have some shedding seasons as they constructed up the farm system, which is an effective factor, as a result of the losses undoubtedly got here: 115 in 2018, 108 in ’19, 110 in ’21. But that stopped final 12 months: The Orioles weren’t simply feisty in ’22, they have been actually a successful franchise at 83-79. The arrival of Adley Rutschman has modified every thing in Baltimore, and, together with Gunnar Henderson, he has extra assist coming: The Orioles have three of MLB Pipeline’s prime 13 prospects in baseball: Henderson (No. 2), right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (No. 4) and shortstop Jackson Holliday (No. 13).
It’d be good to see them get some beginning pitching assist this offseason, however the Orioles are not a perennial rebuilder. Far from it. Of all of the groups on this checklist, I believe they may be the most effective one in 2023.
Texas Rangers
Last playoff look: 2016 ALDS
Lost to: Blue Jays, 3 video games to 0
You can not say the Rangers should not making an attempt. The crew that reached two straight World Series on the backs of its sturdy farm system and a few strategic free-agent signings has seen that farm system dry up lately. So now, with a brand new employees in place and the cash to make a splash, Texas is doing every thing it may well to get again within the playoffs. Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, now Jacob deGrom and Andrew Heaney … the Rangers clearly see a possibility within the AL West and are spending like loopy to benefit from it. They nonetheless look quick within the lineup, notably the outfield, and most of the people will nonetheless be predicting them to complete fourth within the division, however then once more, they’re absolutely not finished including. We’ll see if the “spend until you make it” works for them prefer it did for the Phillies.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Last playoff look: 2017 NLDS
Lost to: Dodgers, 3 video games to 0
The D-backs don’t appear to be a crew on the cusp of a run or something, however they’re actually an intriguing crew, one with younger expertise like Jake McCarthy and Corbin Carroll, who regarded electrical in his temporary debut in 2022 and appears like a Rookie of the Year favourite in 2023. This is a tricky division, after all, however there’s a number of expertise right here — you can make an argument they’re round (and even above) the place the Giants are proper now, and definitely forward of the Rockies. They may completely sneak in a playoff sequence this 12 months. You’ve been warned.
