MLB: The Franchise All-Time Bracket (AL Edition)
2001 Mariners vs. 2019 Astros
Game 1: The 2001 Mariners’ 116-46 .716 regular-season percentage trumps the 2019 Astros’ 107-55 .660 by nine full games.
Game 2: The 2019 Astros had a .556 post-season percentage based on a 7-8 record. The 2001 Mariners only won four of 10 post-season games, a .400 percentage. This series is even at one game each.
Game 3: The 2001 Mariners built a 117 team OPS+ on Martinez’ 160, Boone’s 153, John Olerud’s 136, and Suzuki’s 126. The 2019 Astros respond with Yordan Alvarez at 173, Bregman at 162, Correa at 137, Altuve at 131, and Michael Brantley at 126. That’s enough for a 119 and a t3wo-point win.
Game 4: In 2001 the Mariners compiled a 117 staff ERA+. The Verlander-Cole-Greinke Astros had a 127 ERA+. They take a 3-1 series lead. From here, however, the series will come down to micro-measurements.
Game 5: The 2019 Astros had a 67.0 WAR. The 2001 Mariners totaled 67.1, giving them a tenth of a point win.
Game 6: In 2001 the Mariners fielded .986, beating the league average by 4.81 points. The 2019 Astros fielded .988, beating the league average by 4.31 points. That’s a half-point win for 2001 and a deadlocked series going to Game 7, Hall of Famers
Game 7. The 2001 Mariners have one certified immortal in Edgar Martinez and another lead-pipe cinch in Ichiro Suzuki. Can we count to two or higher with the 2019 Astros? Verlander, for one, has an excellent chance: Baseball-Reference rates his Hall of Fame chances as comfortably above the standards. A decade into his career the Hall of Fame Monitor rates Altuve at 120 on a scale where 100 equals entrance.
The case for a third Astro Hall of Famer is simply too preliminary; Cole, Bregman, or even Springer could make it, but none has played long enough to establish likelihood.
That means we need a tie-breaker, which is All-Stars. The 2019 Astros placed five players on the All-Star team: Springer, Bregman, Brantley, Verlander, and Cole. That’s a strong showing…but not as strong as the 2001 Mariners. Their All-Star presence included Suzuki, Boone, Olerud, Martinez, center fielder Mike Cameron, plus pitchers Freddy Garcia, Jeff Nelson, and Kaz Sasaki…eight in all.
Result: 2001 Mariners in seven games.
1948 Indians vs. 2002 Angels
Game 1: The 1948 Indians won the American League pennant with a 97-58 record and .626 percentage. The 2002 Angels finished at 99-63 .611, one and one-half games worse.
Game 2: The 1948 Indians had a .667 post-season record. The 2002 Angels won the World Series with a .688 post-season record, winning 11 of 16 games. This series is even at one game each.
Game 3: In 2002 the Angels compiled a team 105 OPS+. The 1948 Indians of Doby, Boudreau, and Gordon produced a .113 OPS+.
Game 4: The 1948 Indians had a great pitching staff led by Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, and Gene Bearden. Their staff ERA+ was 127. The 2002 Angels did well to get to 120. The 1948 Indians lead the series three games to one.
Game 5: The 2002 Angels total 54.9 WAR. In 1948 the Indians had 54.1 WAR, handing the Angels a narrow victory and continued life.
Game 6: The 1948 Indians fielded .982, five points above the league average. The 2002 Angels fielded .986, but that was only four points above the league average.
Result: 1948 Indians in six games. They meet the 2001 Mariners in the quarter-finals.