Cubs (Imanaga) vs Braves (Elder): 9/8/25, 6:15pm

[CubinNY]

I was thinking about trying to find some recent examples of teams limping into the playoffs and winning, but really, who cares? 

They could be coasting because they know they are in and using this time to recharge and get ready for the playoffs. It's all I got. 

But they do look a little crispy around the edges. 

[squally1313]

5 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

I was thinking about trying to find some recent examples of teams limping into the playoffs and winning, but really, who cares? 

Bored on a long call. September records:

• 2024 Dodgers 16-10
• 2023 Rangers 15-13
• 2022 Astros 18-8
• 2021 Braves 18-11

So....not really. But 3-4 on 9/9 leaves a lot of finishing possibilities. 

Here's a slightly dated article if we're trying to talk about the second half as a whole. https://www.mlb.com/news/worst-second-half-records-for-postseason-teams

[UMFan83]

Last 51 games: .231/.305/.384/.688, 3.9 runs per game

All of those numbers would be bottom 5 in baseball over a full season.  Obviously it's not a full season and they were very good in the first ~90 games but just to put the last 1/3 of the season in context.

[soccer10k]

6 hours ago, CubinNY said:

I was thinking about trying to find some recent examples of teams limping into the playoffs and winning, but really, who cares? 

They could be coasting because they know they are in and using this time to recharge and get ready for the playoffs. It's all I got. 

But they do look a little crispy around the edges. 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/2006-schedule-scores.shtml
 

13-15 in August and 12-17 in Sept/Oct. They were up 7 games with 11 games left but then lost 8 of 9 and saw their lead trimmed to 0.5 games.

I seem to remember another team in the last 20 years that either nearly blew the division or did blow it but got a WC, then went on a run in the playoffs.

[UMFan83]

15 minutes ago, soccer10k said:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/2006-schedule-scores.shtml
 

13-15 in August and 12-17 in Sept/Oct. They were up 7 games with 11 games left but then lost 8 of 9 and saw their lead trimmed to 0.5 games.

I seem to remember another team in the last 20 years that either nearly blew the division or did blow it but got a WC, then went on a run in the playoffs.

2006 Tigers stand out.  There were in first place all year, blew the division the last weekend of the season and ended up going to the World Series where it was eventually cancelled and no winner named.

[soccer10k]

24 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

2006 Tigers stand out.  There were in first place all year, blew the division the last weekend of the season and ended up going to the World Series where it was eventually cancelled and no winner named.

Yep, that’s the one I was thinking of. 13-16 in August, 12-16 in Sept/Oct, up 5 games on Sept 7, lost their final five games (the last three were to the 62-100 Royals) to lose the division by a game.