Since baseball is the longest season of any major sport in terms of games, I like to subdivide the year into three somewhat equal parts. While these parts are, for the most part, equal in length, they are certainly not equal in terms of importance the way I see it. Hot starts and late surges are things that MLB managers dream about, and their direct correlation to the postseason should not be underestimated. Not to take anything away from the middle of the season, but the easiest and most effective way for a team to punch its playoff ticket is by racking up the wins in April and September. After the jump, I’ll take a look at the importance of beginning and ending the season with a bang.
Perhaps more so than any other sport, baseball is filled with ups and downs, streaks and slumps, consistencies and inconsistencies. This holds true from both an individual standpoint and a team standpoint. Unpredictability is what makes the game of baseball so unique. In short, you never really know for sure what you’re going to get from year to year, month to month, or even day to day. At times, this can frustrate the hell out of the some of the more passionate fans like me, but it’s all worth it in the end. So with opening day less than one week away, let’s finally get to the good stuff.
Hot Start
Many people have the “It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish” mentality, but I beg to differ. If a team wins its final 30 games of the year but loses its first 30 games, you can’t tell me that the horrible start is unimportant. Rather than having a great team if the beginning of the season was anything like the end, you’re left with an average or good-at-best team (Depending on how the middle of the season went) because the streaks cancel out.
This obviously goes without saying, but if you pile up victories early in the year, it puts you in the best possible position moving forward. It’s much tougher to climb back into the playoff race from the basement than it is to maintain a spot in the race last in the season. Who doesn’t like a little breathing room when things get intense down the stretch?
There is no denying that a large portion of baseball is mental, so confidence for teams and players alike is crucial. If confidence levels are high right from the get-go, the team will have a solid foundation to work with and good things will come down the road. However, if confidence falters early in the year and the team struggles, it can be next to impossible to get that all-important rhythm and swagger back in the clubhouse.
I think a hot or cold start can sometimes be a product of spring training, so it says a lot about the preparation of the players leading up to opening day. On the other hand, it is not always the case that teams start the regular season the same way they finished spring training. In fact, sometimes it can be the complete opposite. It doesn’t always make sense, but that’s just the way it works sometimes.
Finally, a hot start is a great way to put fans in the seats. Even if fans are in the seats regardless, winning early can get them fired up for the rest of the year. Many fans go into a new season with a clean slate and a fresh mind, and winning will only help them forget about last year if their team didn’t quite live up to expectations.
In a way, the all-star break can be a perfect time for hot start evaluation. If a team looks at the all-star break as a time to stop the bleeding, than you know the first half didn’t go as well as planned. However, if a team isn’t looking forward to the break, than you know they are probably on a roll and don’t need anything that could potentially break up their positive momentum.
Late Surge
Whenever a team that is on the bubble makes the postseason, a late surge is often the main reason why. Whenever a team that is on the bubble comes up short, a late-season collapse is usually to blame. Pressure begins to build in the late summer months of August and September, and the spotlight shines as bright as ever on teams in contention. It is by no means easy to win games in the heat of a playoff race, no matter who the opponent is. At such a late stage of the season, not only is a team likely to have some injuries, they will face increased adversity night in and night out.
As the San Francisco Giants proved last year, the name of the game is getting hot at the right time. It’s not necessarily being the most talented or most skilled team out there. Teams that can build up some momentum and click on all cylinders at the right time have the ability to not only make the postseason, but make a run at the World Series.
While the challenge is undoubtedly difficult for all MLB teams, they do have two things going for them. First of all, if a team doesn’t really pick things up until the last possible moment, other teams around the league probably don’t consider them to be a legitimate threat. In other words, if a team is able to fly under the radar and come out of nowhere so to speak, their opponents might take them slightly for granted.
Secondly, teams that are forced to rely on a late push have the advantage of pure adrenaline. In do or die situations, players are often more focused and determined. Sometimes the old us-against-the-world mentality can come into play to provide added motivation, but different teams have different ways of thinking. As opposed to be relaxed with a 10+ game lead over everyone, these teams are on the edge and fighting to play another day. Any way you look at it that has to be a good thing.
Ideally, every MLB ballclub would love to get off to a hot start and end with a late surge. The truth is, not many teams are able to accomplish even one of these two daunting yet rewarding tasks. The feeling of coming up short after 162 games is never a good one, especially if your team was oh-so-close. No team wants to be left with unanswered questions and what-ifs as they sit at home and watch baseball’s best do battle in October. Just ask Pirates fans, who haven’t even sniffed the postseason in what feels like an eternity.
Now that I’ve exhausted almost every cliché in the book, it’s time to welcome in a year season of Major League Baseball. Come Thursday, teams around the league will be looking to begin the year in the win column. I hope you’re all as excited as I am, and just think, at this time next week, the season will be well underway!