What Happened, Guys?
The Chicago Cubs (2016)
I recently watched a clip of Bryce Harper walking off the 2019 Cubs in epic fashion. One of the comments reads, “… All of our 2016 magic died right then and there. You could argue that it died in the 2018 wildcard game but to me, this was the moment when it became official…” I agree wholeheartedly.
Back in 2016, it felt like the entire world (sans maybe the NL Central and White Sox) was rooting for the Cubs. Game 7 of that year could, in essence, be described as magical. Watching any footage of Cubs fans reacting to that win melts the heart a little bit. All these factors made the fall from grace hurt just a little more.
The thing is, this fall from grace was slow, punctuated by losses early in the playoffs in 2017, 2018, and 2020, as well as missing the wild card in 2019, prompting the exit of Joe Maddon. By the time 2021 rolled around, it was impossible to ignore the inevitable rebuild. Rizzo, Baez, Bryant? All gone. 2022 fared no better, with the Cubs finishing fourth in their division. However, with the recent signings of Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger, and names like Nico Hoerner beginning to stand out more, one can hope for a better season. Not World Series material, but getting closer.
The Boston Red Sox (2013, 2018)
How does a team go from nearly making the World Series in 2021 to coming in last in the division in 2022? Being in the AL East, for one, means constantly being on your toes. Every team in that division but the Red Sox finished with a record of over .500. Even then, Boston was only three games below, with a record of 78-84. June 2022 was especially great for the Red Sox, going 12-6.
Unfortunately for them, the baseball season does not end in June. July 2022, to put it plainly, was pure agony. The Red Sox won only eight (eight!) games in the entire month. Getting swept by division rivals, losing enormous blowout games, and simply forgetting how to play baseball cost Boston the division. I don’t think I even have to go into detail about that game versus the Blue Jays.
However, 2023 might be interesting for Boston. Out of their 2018 winning team, only four players remain. Their most recent losses in Xander Bogaerts and JD Martinez are somewhat concerning, considering both their offensive prowess. Extending Rafael Devers to a 10-year contract seems to be a positive blip in a rather disappointing offseason, and the signings of Kenley Jansen, Adam Duvall, and Justin Turner hopefully will add some depth to the roster. Overall, I feel tentative about Boston going into the post-season, but who knows? Stranger things have happened.
The San Francisco Giants (2014)
If I were a San Francisco Giants fan last year, I’d be disappointed as well. After their 2021 run was cut short in devastating fashion, I expected the Giants to have a similar year. Looking back at the years before their 107-55 year, however, it appears as though that season was an outlier. It was their first winning season since 2017. 2022 prompted another, frankly, mediocre season. Finishing 81-81, the Giants just barely missed the playoffs.
Their roster did not change too drastically; Buster Posey retired, Kevin Gausman and Kris Bryant left (among others), while the roster gained names like Joc Pederson and Carlos Rodon. Mike Yastrzemski and Brandon Crawford were among those from the 2021 team who stayed. The main difference between 2021 and 2022 was the performance of these players.
Though cliche, the “there is no I in team” adage applies to the Giants. When looking at overall production from their roster, there are a select few that have a WAR over 2. Logan Webb and Carlos Rodón proved to be excellent starters but, at the same time, Camilo Doval regressed, going from 5-1 in 2021 to 6-6 in 2022. Brandon Crawford, who was an All-Star in 2021, boasted a batting average of .231 to end the year.
Despite individual players having great years, the team overall did not gell. Hopefully, in 2023, the Giants will find the cohesiveness they need to compete with Los Angeles and San Diego.