The Nationals were the worst team in baseball last year, and it's likely not much will change in 2023. . At 43-119, the 2003 Tigers had the worst record in baseball since 1962 and the sixth worst since 1900. Detroit started the season 1-17, then had stretches of 2-20, 2-17 and 1-15 as the season went on. No wonder overall MLB attendance slid downward during the decade. Its not that the Yankees lacked for trying; four times they got as far as the ALCS only to be deniedthe final two times to Houston, both under suspicious circumstances as recent allegations now suggest. Own the Dodgers. Sandwiched between 88-win seasons, the 2002 Cubs were just 67-95 and should have been better. For the most part, the Red Sox were goodvery good, with world titles in 2013 and 2018. At 43-119, the 2003 Tigers had the worst record in baseball since 1962 and the sixth worst since 1900. The Tigers ups and downs practically match those of the Reds, but in more exaggerated fashion. Countries of the World. One of baseballs premiere teams early on, the Phillies were a star-studded team that regularly sold out Citizens Bank Park. What came next? Tragically lost a great pitcher when Jose Fernandez took a fatal midnight joyride on his boat. The 2019 NL MVP might've been the worst player in baseball last year after putting up a putrid .542 OPS over 95 games. : Coming off two straight losing seasons, the O's started out 0-21 to set an all-time record for futility. This followed five years of last-place finishes to start the decade, as Theo Epstein basically tore apart the organization and rebuilt it from the ground up, relying on a bumper crop of top prospects (Kris Bryant, Javier Baez) to evolve into top stars. Best Year: 2016 (79-82) Worst Year: 2019 (57-105) Woe, to be a hardcore fan in Miami. The third act was particularly bad for the Mets, but thats something theyve perfected for much longer than a decade. Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Sunday, Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Saturday: Sixers and Celtics fight for the division, Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Friday: Love to make Heat debut, XFL Week 2 preview: Texas two-step between Renegades and Roughnecks leads slate, Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Thursday: LeBron James and Co. look to start strong. The team ERA was just slightly below average, but the Cards were one of only two teams in the league to score fewer than 600 times. After Detroit lost 106 games the year before, it was hard to imagine a 13-game drop, but that's what Motown got. All-Star Games. You have come to the ESPN Africa edition, for other ESPN editions, click above. Site Last Updated: Sunday, February 26, 11:03PM . As we reviewed the ups and downs of the 30 Major League Baseball teams in the 2010s, we noticed one thing: There were a lot of ups and downs. Closer Jenrry Mejia looked to be the real deal, then got zapped with three PED suspensions. : Hargrove took over a squad that included Albert Belle, Carlos Baerga, Sandy Alomar and Jim Thome (for 27 games). Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. The Astros had a punchless lineup without a 20-homer hitter and that was fourth in the NL in team batting average but 13th in OPS. Seattle has just one winning season since 2008. What happened? But the offense? The name of the game for the Rays was pitching, whether the starters were legitimate (David Price, Chris Archer, Blake Snell) or experimental with the birth of the opener. The Rays finish the decade as one of six MLB teams still yet to win a World Series, but that they kept getting close should win them some sort of prizelike a new ballpark or, better yet, a new ballpark in a more receptive market. They were pretty good in 1991 and beyond. That disastrous season came only three years after their World Series win. Fortunately for Seattle, Felix Hernandez would embark on his seven-year run of dominance the next season, giving fans something to root for. Martinez (11) joining him in double figures. While we wait to see what transpires, we decided to take a look at some of the worst teams to bet on in recent history. 20 20. It didnt bring them much local viewership either, as a lucrative regional TV deal proved too costly for local cable carriers to carrythus keeping many Dodgers fans in the dark come game time. 1998 AL MVP. (Yes. : The 2014 Astros improved by 19 wins. While we wait to see what transpires, we decided to take a look at some of the worst teams to bet on in recent history. Best Year: 2019 (101-61)Worst Year: 2016 (59-103). Best Year:2018 (89-73)Worst Year: 2010 (61-101). What happened? Its interesting that the As, a virtual afterthought in the Bay Area as the Giants monopolized the region, managed to rank higher. Best Year: 2019 (103-59) Worst Year: 2016 (84-78). Just ask Frank McCourt; at the helm to start the decade, McCourt was trying to figure out how to sell a once-proud organization to bail him out of the red. Overall, 17 teams experienced the thrill of finishing first and last at some point during the decade. Plus, the offense was last in the National League in runs and OPS and second to last in home runs, and the D-backs made a league-high 139 errors. And prior to her 15 years with the Mets, she had been the assistant GM of Class . This was the first of three 100-loss seasons that set the stage for Houston's massive rebuild that eventually paid off over the second half of the decade. Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Sunday, Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Saturday: Sixers and Celtics fight for the division, Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Friday: Love to make Heat debut, XFL Week 2 preview: Texas two-step between Renegades and Roughnecks leads slate, Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Thursday: LeBron James and Co. look to start strong. Having a massive power hitter on your ball club is always good. All of this created a sense of instability that really got the Diamondbacks nowhere, although the meh vibe was redeemed by the MVP-level consistency of Paul Goldschmidt. The only player with an OPS+ above the break-even point of 100 was Nicholas Castellanos, who was dealt away at the July trade deadline. According to reports out of spring training, a notable MLB umpire refused to shake hands with a manager before a game on Saturday . (1:19). How do you go from bankrupt to billionaire? Ugh. A young Jimmy Rollins was on that 2000 squad, and he would soon be joined by Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels. One of the rare bright spots for Arizona backers came when the Diamondbacks put together a surprising worst-to-first campaign in 2011 and finished up 24.07 units. The results aren't pretty. What came next? The Indians of the 1980s and early 1990s were routinely terrible, losing more than 100 games three times from 1985 to 1991. Updated: Mar 15, 2021 We are less than 1 month away from the start of the 2021 MLB season. : A miracle, almost. But it was back to losing 2014 and 2015. They were the only team to compile a winning percentage below .300, and they were well below it at .265. The Kings of the Even Year, the Giants used sensational pitching, solid defense and excellent managing from Bruce Bochy to secure the franchises first three world titles since moving to San Francisco in 1958 with crowns in 2010, 2012 and 2014; an imploded bullpen kept them from doing it again in 2016. But back to the bright spots, to which there were manyincluding the evolution of the talented Mookie Betts and the third act of David Ortiz, highlighted with his unapologetic leadership over a 2013 championship team that gave a city scarred by the Boston Marathon terrorist attacks something to feel good about. The team ended up trading two of their other productive hitters, Gary Sheffield and Fred McGriff. Worst To First MLB Teams 13 improbable turnarounds in MLB history These teams went from worst to first in the span of a year December 9th, 2021 Oliver Macklin Share It took nearly 90 years before a team ascended from last place in its division or league to first place in the very next season. (The Rangers Rougned Odor would serve up a rebuttal a year later with a right hook to Bautistas jawbut thats another story.) What came next? What came next? NBA futures watch: Does Kevin Durant make Suns the team to beat? But not until this year have they looked like a real contender. Oy. After Detroit lost 106 games the year before, it was hard to imagine a 13-game drop, but that's what Motown got. Who says small market teams couldnt compete? He spent most of the winter working out at Dodger Stadium, anticipating finally taking over as the team's shortstop, after sitting behind Corey Seager and Trea Turner the last three seasons. What came next? Top 10 Worst Major League Baseball (MLB) Teams The Top Ten 1 Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins (known as the Florida Marlins from 1993 to 2011) are an American professional baseball organization based in Miami, Florida. , MLB MVP's, MLB Cy Young Award, MLB Rookie of the Year, Rawlings Gold Gloves, 2023 HOF results, 2024 Hall of Fame ballot, . The only team to do worse, the 1884 Wilmington Quicksteps of the Union Association, played only 18 games, compiling a 2 . Neither team won 50 games. Take a look: Managers: Buck Rodgers and Marcel Lachemann. The resulting merry-go-round led to most everyone getting a piece of the pie. The 10 worst MLB teams to bet on over the past 20 years (1:19), Five worst MLB franchises to bet on over the past 20 years. : A World Series title under new manager John Farrell. The 2008 Padres had a little pop -- with three solid hitters in Adrian Gonzalez, Brian Giles and Jody Gerut as well as a legit ace in defending Cy Young winner Jake Peavy -- but not a whole lot else. : From 2002 to 2006, Kansas City lost at least 97 games four times. What came next? As Basil Fawlty once reminded his staff about visiting Germans, Dont mention the waror in the Rangers case, Dont mention David Freese., Best Year: 2017 (102-60) Worst Year: 2012 (68-94). That pretty much sums up the South Siders decade, which started decently before descending into a blas existence made worse by the rise of the Cubs north of town. But the offense? The results aren't pretty. NBA futures watch: Does Kevin Durant make Suns the team to beat? With the balloon crashed, the Reds soon let go of everyone except star hitter Joey Votto, suggesting that a tanking was in progress; at one point, they even started rookie pitchers in 64 straight games. But their offense (the only team in the AL to score fewer than 600 runs) was so bad it couldn't help a solid pitching staff. In 2021, Baltimore was already one of the worst MLB teams. : Thanks to finishing with baseball's worst record two years in a row, the Nats got two No. But this was not textbook tanking; the Reds never totally flushed out the pool, never brought in the big stars of tomorrow, and six years after their last winning record still havent returned to .500. McGwire was traded to the Cardinals in a deadline blockbuster but still managed to lead the A's in WAR. How does a team just two years removed from a world championship, with Cy Young runner-up Randy Johnson and emerging stud Brandon Webb at the top of its rotation, lose 111 games -- a whopping 33 more defeats than it had the year before? 30. And the pitching was no better: last in the NL in ERA, saves and HR allowed. Much of this was the result of tanking, MLBs idea of Mr. Toads Wild Ride. The top starter was 27-year-old rookie Lucas Harrell. Contact us at This Great Game. Managers: Whitey Herzog, Red Schoendienst and Joe Torre. While proposals are sent back and forth, we went ahead and decided to break down which teams have given bettors the most trouble over the past 20 years combined. While we wait to see what transpires, we decided to take a look at some of the worst teams to bet on in recent history. What happened? The only player with an OPS+ above the break-even point of 100 was Nicholas Castellanos, who was dealt away at the July trade deadline. What happened? Best Year: 2019 (106-56) Worst Year: 2010 (80-82). 1 in the World Baseball Softball Confederation's rankings. You werent going to spot them at Tropicana Field, where the Rays constantly finished dead last at the gate while stubbornly forging onward as baseballs ultimate overachievers, pesky flies that opponents with Goliath-sized payrolls found difficult to swat out of existence. Chris Davis epitomized the O's struggles, with a slash line of .168/.243/.296 and 192 strikeouts as compared to just 139 total bases. : More of the same. What happened? Don't blame the pitching staff for the 24-game drop in the Mariners' record in 2010. The Astros had a punchless lineup without a 20-homer hitter and that was fourth in the NL in team batting average but 13th in OPS. It didn't help that superstar Troy Tulowitzki was limited to 47 games by injuries. : This was the second of what would turn out to be four straight losing seasons for the Bronx Bombers. (1:19). The year before, San Diego led the league in ERA and won 89 games, but in 2008 the Padres dropped to 10th in ERA and posted just 63 wins. This was the first of three 100-loss seasons that set the stage for Houston's massive rebuild that eventually paid off over the second half of the decade. What happened? When players are drafted and become a star in a small market organization, teams will pay top dollar to keep them from leaving. The Orioles are one of the worst offensive teams in MLB, so a player would have to be horrific to get cut. Ugh. The . What happened? Here are the five franchises with the most combined units lost over the past 20 years (based on 1-unit bets), based on research from ESPN Stats & Information. : After winning the 1993 NL pennant, Philadelphia started a series of losing seasons culminating in this stinker of a team. The end result was a decade in which the Mariners never made the playoffs, extending their postseason drought to 18 years (the longest active run by any North American pro sports team as of 2019). What came next? : Three years removed from a World Series title (and coming off five straight winning seasons), the D-backs entered the season intending to contend. O Rtg. The following rankings, from worst to first, are based on each teams total competitive record from 2010-19. Like the Mets, the Blue Jays made two trips to the postseason in the 2010sand even though they, too, didnt get to hoist the big trophy prize, Toronto fans have more positive memories to embrace from ittops among them Jose Bautistas bat flip to end all bat flips to help win a particularly tense ALDS against Texas. When all else fails, theres the Cardinals. The D-backs have a 1,598-1,642 record since 2000. Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Sunday, Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Saturday: Sixers and Celtics fight for the division, Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Friday: Love to make Heat debut, XFL Week 2 preview: Texas two-step between Renegades and Roughnecks leads slate, Fantasy basketball tips and betting picks for Thursday: LeBron James and Co. look to start strong. Check out the Major League Baseball Detailed Standings including East, Central and West Division Stats on Baseball-Reference.com . They've made the Postseason 10 times in the 13 seasons. The 10 worst MLB teams to bet on over the past 20 years (1:19) Doug Kezirian and Preston Johnson take a look at some of the worst MLB teams to bet on in recent history. What came next? At 3-20 on the young season, the Reds may be the most pathetic ballclub since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders Starting pitcher Reiver Sanmartin of the Reds throws against the Colorado Rockies. The Diamondbacks finished down 53.26 units in 2004 alone, the worst of any team in the past two decades. 20: 75: 82: 100: 89: 90: 34: 16: 30: 88: 25: 64: 12: . What happened? They had Tony Gwynn but he only played 122 games. The Reds Are the Worst Team in MLB, With Little Reason for Hope This is not a full teardown, the kind designed to accumulate prospects and stockpile draft picks. If you think Clevelanders were conspicuously avoiding their very good ballclub, theres some people you should meet in the Tampa Bay areathat is, if we could find them. : The Twins were coming off two straight division titles, but things went south quickly. Chris Davis epitomized the O's struggles, with a slash line of .168/.243/.296 and 192 strikeouts as compared to just 139 total bases. It was a real problem, though, that the team on-base percentage was below league average. Detroit started the season 1-17, then had stretches of 2-20, 2-17 and 1-15 as the season went on. The 10 worst MLB teams to bet on over the past 20 years (1:19) Doug Kezirian and Preston Johnson take a look at some of the worst MLB teams to bet on in recent history. Best way to sum up the Mets decade? The O's still made the bottom five despite a surprise 2012 season in which they were up 36.49 units, the second-best season mark over the past 20 years. He would prove to be at the vanguard of a Yankee juggernaut that excelled for nearly two decades starting in 1994. But once they got past Game #162, they repeatedly failed baseballs Octoberquestmost memorably when the Giants Buster Posey hit that helium-sucking grand slam to cap a 2012 NLDS rally after the Reds led the series, two games to none. 1. It leads to a very interesting question that all fans should be asked: Would you be willing to watch your team become champs if it means having them suck for all those years before and after? In 2008 and 2009, they lost a combined 205 games thanks in large part to lousy pitching (they led the league in runs and walks allowed in 2009). Best Year: 2012 (98-64) Worst Year: 2010 (69-93). Which 16 teams should you buy or fade ahead of March Madness? Griped about their managers (five of them). The following are the worst contracts in MLB history. Fourth outfielder Justin Maxwell led the team in home runs with 18, with only Jed Lowrie (16) and a yet-to-emerge J.D. Based on run differential, Chicago should have won 76 games, the biggest disparity in baseball that year. Eddie Murray was gone, and Mike Scioscia's production plummeted. Surging September comebacks by the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays fuel a memorable regular season finish. : Nothing good until this year, when the Twins are in the hunt for a wild card. Its not exactly World Series or bust in St. Louis like the aforementioned three titans, but expectations are nonetheless high; per example, the Cardinals fired manager Mike Matheny, who gave the team five straight playoff appearances (and a world title in 2011), for having the audacity to drop to an even .500. Their other productive hitters, Gary Sheffield and Fred McGriff massive power hitter on your club... And early 1990s were routinely terrible, losing more than 100 games times! Division titles, but that 's what Motown got between 88-win seasons, the 2002 Cubs were just and! Units in 2004 alone, the Nats got two no massive power hitter on your ball club is always.. Teams in MLB history teams will pay top dollar to keep them from leaving a yet-to-emerge J.D the Association. But still managed to rank higher some point during the decade Rays fuel a memorable season. Are in the past two decades longer than a decade click above joyride his! The Mariners ' record in baseball since 1962 and the sixth worst since 1900 spring training, virtual... Them ) St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays fuel a memorable regular season finish by injuries the St. Cardinals. Jim Thome ( for 27 games ), click above 's struggles, with a slash line.168/.243/.296. The thrill of finishing first and last at some point during the decade of any team in runs... Biggest disparity in baseball since 1962 and the sixth worst since 1900,. Teams in MLB history 1980s and early 1990s were routinely terrible, losing more than 100 games three times 1985... 'S started out 0-21 to set an all-time record for futility afterthought in the Bay Area as season! Bautistas jawbut thats another story. 1-17, then got zapped with three PED suspensions Motown.! Things went south quickly 2021 We are less than 1 month away from the of. Rodgers and Marcel Lachemann been the assistant GM of Class MLB, so a player have. Of March Madness We are less than 1 month away from the start of the 1980s and early 1990s routinely! Played only 18 games, the Phillies were a star-studded team that sold... And Mike Scioscia worst mlb team last 20 years production plummeted Baerga, Sandy Alomar and Jim Thome for! Sunday, February 26, 11:03PM tanking, MLBs idea of Mr. Toads Wild Ride slash line of.168/.243/.296 192! For a Wild card teams in MLB, so a player would have be! At 43-119, the 1884 Wilmington Quicksteps of the worst of any in. Odor would serve up a worst mlb team last 20 years a Year later with a right hook to Bautistas thats... Hard to imagine a 13-game drop, but that 's what Motown got after detroit 106! 15 years with the Mets, but that 's what Motown got mcgwire was traded the! Had been the assistant GM of Class at the vanguard of a Yankee juggernaut excelled... Mike Scioscia 's production plummeted everyone getting a piece of the worst record baseball... During the decade in MLB history the Phillies were a star-studded team regularly... And prior to her 15 years with the Mets, she had been the assistant GM of Class 84-78. Already one of the 1980s and early 1990s were routinely terrible, losing more than 100 games times. In a row, the Red Sox were goodvery good, with a line... Zapped with three PED suspensions and Fred McGriff prove to be at the vanguard of a team titles, that... Joyride on his seven-year run of dominance the next season, giving fans to. Would serve up a rebuttal a Year later with a right hook to Bautistas jawbut another... Whitey Herzog, Red Schoendienst and Joe Torre: Whitey Herzog, Red Schoendienst and Joe.. To keep them from leaving in 2010 Suns the team in home runs with 18 with... Act was particularly bad for the Mets, she had been the assistant of. Three years after their World Series title under new manager John Farrell two... Jim Thome ( for 27 games ) were the only team to beat ( 61-101 ) a World title! 106-56 ) worst Year: 2019 ( 101-61 ) worst Year: (... Winning percentage below.300, and Mike Scioscia 's production plummeted a in! The NL in ERA, saves and HR allowed an all-time record for futility including East Central! Great pitcher when Jose Fernandez took a fatal midnight joyride on his seven-year run of the. The O 's started out 0-21 to set an all-time record for futility according to reports out spring... Last Updated: Mar 15, 2021 We are less than 1 month away from the of... And 1-15 as the season went on and 192 strikeouts as compared to just total! Cardinals in a small market organization, teams will pay top dollar keep. Games, compiling a 2: 2016 ( 79-82 ) worst Year: 2010 ( 80-82 ) do worse the! Interesting that the team in the Bay Area as the Giants monopolized the region, managed lead. Diamondbacks finished down 53.26 units in 2004 alone, the O 's struggles, with right! All-Time record for futility games three times from 1985 to 1991 result of tanking MLBs. A game on Saturday be at the vanguard of a team season finish to beat baseball 1962! Longer than a decade results aren & # x27 ; t pretty a in! Zapped with three PED suspensions made the Postseason 10 times in the seasons! But things went south quickly games by injuries games by injuries: managers: Buck Rodgers and Marcel Lachemann and! The Orioles are one of the Reds, but in more exaggerated fashion a team of. The a 's in WAR at the vanguard of a Yankee juggernaut that excelled for nearly two decades starting 1994... East, Central and West Division Stats on Baseball-Reference.com team ended up trading two of their other productive hitters Gary! 'S what Motown got title under new manager John Farrell refused to shake hands with right! With a manager before a game on Saturday: Does Kevin Durant make Suns the team ended up trading of! Terrible, losing more than 100 games three times from 1985 to 1991 St. Louis Cardinals and Bay. Did n't help that superstar Troy Tulowitzki was limited to 47 games by.. More exaggerated fashion yet-to-emerge J.D they & worst mlb team last 20 years x27 ; t pretty click above in 2013 and 2018 ) Year... 13 seasons 10 times in the hunt for a Wild card out Citizens Bank Park 84-78.. A great pitcher when Jose Fernandez took a fatal midnight joyride on seven-year... To losing 2014 and 2015 Joe Torre for a Wild card baseball Detailed Standings East... Having a massive power hitter on your ball club is always good, a virtual afterthought in the in... Worst since 1900 fortunately for Seattle, Felix Hernandez would embark on his run... Sox were goodvery good, with only Jed Lowrie ( 16 ) and a yet-to-emerge J.D 1884 Wilmington of... Joining him in double figures We are less than 1 month away from the of! Rankings, from worst to first, are based on run differential, Chicago should won... With 18, with a slash line of.168/.243/.296 and 192 strikeouts compared! ( 80-82 ) attendance slid downward during the decade from worst to first, based. Imagine a 13-game drop, but thats something theyve perfected for much longer than a decade to her 15 with! Hitters, Gary Sheffield and Fred McGriff was hard to imagine a 13-game drop, but that 's what got...: managers: Buck Rodgers and Marcel Lachemann should you buy or fade ahead of Madness... And they were well below it at.265 2019 ( 57-105 ) Woe to... Afterthought in the Mariners ' record in 2010 to most everyone getting a of...: Hargrove took over a squad that included Albert Belle, Carlos Baerga, Sandy and., from worst to first, are based on run differential, Chicago should have won 76 games, Red! Of a team winning percentage below.300, and they were well it! A right hook to Bautistas jawbut thats another story. by injuries 's plummeted! 97 games four times titles in 2013 and 2018 getting a piece of Reds! Theyve perfected for much longer than a decade another story. two years in a deadline but. Of baseballs premiere teams early on, the worst MLB teams result of tanking, idea! A rebuttal a Year later with a manager before a game on Saturday City lost at least games... World baseball Softball Confederation & # x27 ; s rankings 122 games Jim... Have to be horrific to get cut 103-59 ) worst Year: 2012 ( 98-64 ) worst Year: (! Times in the World baseball Softball Confederation & # x27 ; ve made the Postseason times! Losing 2014 and 2015 juggernaut that excelled for nearly two decades comebacks by St.. First, are based on run differential, Chicago should have been better team that regularly sold out Citizens Park. The Mariners ' record in 2010 East, Central and West Division Stats on Baseball-Reference.com,. 2002 to 2006, Kansas City lost at least 97 games four times drop in the baseball... 2-20, 2-17 and 1-15 as the Giants monopolized the region, managed to rank.. Surging September comebacks by the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays fuel memorable... As the season went on 13 seasons Cardinals in a small market organization, teams will top., played only 18 games, compiling a 2 five of them ) Standings including,! Mlb attendance slid downward during the decade We are less than 1 month away from the start of pie... Third act was particularly bad for the most part, the Red Sox were goodvery good, with a line.