Futility at the All-Star Break

I guess I should update this now that we are at the All-Star Break. Since I wrote my last article, the A's have gone 3-5, and now stand at 25-67 (.271). I track starts by the A's because I am a weird nerdy stathead A's fan.

After 92 games, the all-time worst Athletic start was in 1916, where Connie Mack's original sell-off team were 19-72-1 at this point. They finished 36-117-1, a .235 winning percentage. I am pretty sure the 2023 A's are a better team than this one, relative to their league.

Since they moved to Oakland, the worst A's team was the 1979 team, who finished 54-108, a .333 winning percentage. However, that team was 25-67 (.271), just like the 2023 A's. They went 29-41 the rest of the way, an almost respectable .483 pace. I sincerely doubt the 2023 A's will play at that pace. Projecting their current winning percentage puts them at 44-118; their Pythagorean is 43-119, which would tie them at 119 wins for second-worst in the 20th century, with the 2003 Detroit Tigers.

I don't track the Kansas City Royals nearly as closely, because unlike Bill James and Rany Jazayerli, I am not a fan of the team, and don't think much about them normally. Since my last article, they have gone 3-6, and now sit at 26-65, a .286 pace. Still terrible, but they are not actively sabotaging their team in an attempt to extort a new stadium (well, not yet. They are making rumblings, though. They are just not good.

So, let's look at the all-time standings, shall we?

By Wins

All-time: The 2023 A's, 25-67, are tied with three two other teams at 59th-worst all-time win totals, with the 2020 Arizona Diamondbacks and the 2020 Baltimore Orioles. They are ahead of 3 teams with 24 wins, two of which were not in pandemic seasons. They are one win ahead of the 2023 Royals (26-65) and 9 other teams, 2 of which are not from 2020, the 1890 AA Brooklyn Gladiators (26-73) and the 1877 NL Chicago White Stockings (26-33). In 2020, the Rockies, Royals, Angels, Mets, and Nationals all finished 26-34. Next at 27 wins are the 1889 AA Louisville Colonels (27-111, yuck), the 1879 NL Cleveland Blues (27-55), and the 2020 Seattle Mariners (27-33).

Since 1876: #27 1880 NL Buffalo Bisons (24-58), 1878 NL Indianapolis Blues (24-36), and the 2020 Red Sox (24-36). #30 2023 Oakland A's (25-67), 2020 Diamondbacks (25-35), and 2020 Orioles (25-35). #33. 1890 Broolyn Gladiators (26-73), 2023 Kansas City (26-65), 2020 Rockies, Royals, Angles, Mets, and Nationals (26-34), 1877 Chicago White Stockings (26-33). #41 1899 Lousiville Colonels (27-111), 1879 Cleveland Blues (27-55), and the 2020 Mariners (27-33).

American League: #3 2020 Red Sox (24-36); #4 2023 A's (25-67) and the 2020 Orioles (25-35). #6 2023 Roayls (26-65), and the 2020 Royals and Angels (26-34). #9 2020 Mariners (27-33)

Since 1901: (tired of the Pandemic teams yet?) #4 2020 Red Sox (24-36); #5 A's (25-67), the 2020 Diamondbacks and Orioles (25-35), #8 2023 Royals (26-65), 2020 Rockies, Royals, Angels, Mets, Nationals (26-34); #14 2020 Mariners (27-33)

Since 1871, >100 games: #1 Cleveland Spiders (20-134; .130), #2 2023 Oakland A's (25-67, .272), #3 2023 KC Royals (26-65, .286); #4 1889 Louisville Colonels (27-111, .196)

By Winning Percentage

All-time: #47 1884 AA Indianapolis Hoosiers (29-78, .271), #48 2023 AL Oakland Athletics (25-67, .272), #49 1872 NA Cleveland Forest Citys (6-16, .273) .... #59 1915 AL Philadelphia Athletics and the 1928 NL Philadelphia Phillies (43-109, .283). #61 1884 AA Richmond Virginians (12-30, .286) and the 2023 AL Kansas City Royals (26-65, .286). #63 1896 NL Louisville Colonels

Since 1876: #31 1884 Hoosiers (29-78, .271), #32 2023 White Elephants (25-67, .272), #33 1890 NL Buffalo Bisons (36-96) and 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates (42-112) at .273

American League: #4 2003 Detroit Tigers (43-119, .265), #5 2023 Oakland (25-67, .272), #6 1909 Washington Senators (42-110, .276) ... #9 1915 Philadelphia Athletics (43-109, .283), #10 2023 KC (26-65, .286), #11 2018 Baltimore Orioles (47-115, .290)

Since 1900: #6 2003 Tigers (43-119, .265), #7 2023 A's (25-67, .272), #8 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates (42-112, .273) ... #14. The Philadelphia losers, 1915 A's and the 1928 Phils, 43-109, .283; #16 2023 Royals (26-65, .286), #17 2018 Orioles (41-115, .290)

Since 1871, >100 games: #16 1884 Indianapolis (29-78, .271), #17 2023 Oakland (25-67, .272), #18 1890 Buffalo (36-96) and 1952 Pirates (42-112), .273 .... #27 1915 A's and 1928 Phillies (43-109, .283), #29 2023 Kansas City (26-65, .286), 1896 Louisville Colonels (38-93, .290)

Finally

The 2023 Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, and the Seattle Mariners all now have more wins than the 1962 New York Mets. I am sure that they are all sleeping better at night. The leaves seven teams, including the two under scrutiny, who have not won more than everybody's favorite bad team, those Lovable Losers from Queens.

Realistically, the A's and Royals will clear that hurdle, but there is no guarantee. And they still could finish 41-121, thus winning more games and losing more games than the Mets, who had one tie, and one rain-out that was not made up.

The A's need to win 16 out of their last 70 (.229 pace) games, and the Royals need to win 15 out of 71 (.211 pace). In normal years, one might scoff that those goals might not be met, but these are not normal times.

 

More futility; Less futility

The Oakland Athletics have actually gone 2-3 since I last wrote, and now stand at 22-62, a .262 winning percentage. They should easily pass the 1962 New York Mets (40-120) in wins at this pace. Of course, this also happened. Not everyday a scumbag tosses a perfecto against you. It's so on brand for this team to have good news and a gut punch in the same week.

The other really bad team, the Kansas City Royals have gone 1-4 since I wrote last, and are now at 23-59, a .280 winning percentage. That is starting to creep into the winning percentage of some fairly recent teams, like the 2018 Baltimore Orioles (47-115, .292). Of course, their owner is now doing the charade of "Build me a new ballpark because I can't make a real estate empire where our currently awesome ballpark is located right now" dance. Some things never change.

I think that some franchise moves needed to happen. The Boston National League team moving to Milwaukee, the Browns moving to Baltimore, and the Philadelphia Athletics leaving Philadelphia made some since. Even the Giants leaving New York made some sense.

But usually, it just stinks. The owner is very greedy, and wants new shiny toys, and they get the league behind them, and they go on a sabotage campaign with their current city, and either get a shiny new ballpark out of the deal (Marlins Stadium, Citi Field, New Yankee Stadium), or they move (Expos->Nationals, Senators->Rangers, KC A's->Oakland, Milwaukee-Atlanta). This is a hugely profitable business, propped up by laws that exist for no other business, and a LOT of public money.

The only team I somewhat admire for how they got their most recent stadium is the Giants. They built what is now Oracle Park themselves. The city did do improvements around the neighborhood (some), but taxpayers were not soaked terribly much. And the Giants have been building their own real estate empire themselves. While I hated what they were doing before the current ownership bought the team and built the stadium, I admire what they did to stay in San Francisco.

None of the other 29 teams have such a clean story about their stadiums.

Sometimes I wonder why I follow this sport. Oh, yeah. That's right. It's about the players. Go watch the good ones. They are all kinds of fun.

On to the LeaderLoser boards.

By Wins (sorted from worst to best)

We are going to be seeing all of the pandemic teams over the next few weeks. That season generated a lot of stat pollution, that's for sure.

All-time: The A's are in a four-way tie for 51st worst with the 1879 NL Syracuse Stars (22-62), the 2020 AL Texas Rangers (22-38), and the 1874 NA Brooklyn Atlantics (22-33). They are ahead of a five-way tie with 21 wins which I am not going to enumerate. Next with 23 wins are the 1890 NL Pittsburgh Alleghenys (23-113), the 2020 AL Detroit Tigers (23-35), and the 2023 AL Kansas City Royals (23-59), all tied for 55th worst all time. Next for the Royals at 24 wins are the 1880 NL Buffalo Bisons (24-58), the 1878 NL Indianapolis Blues (24-36), and the 2020 AL Boston Red Sox (24-36).

Since 1876: 4-way tie for 19th, then at 23rd, the A's (22-62), 1879 Syracuse (22-48), and the 2020 Rangers (22-38). Next is 1890 Pittsburgh (23-113), the 2023 Royals (23-59), and the 2020 Tigers (23-35). Next up: The 1880 Bisons (24-58), 1878 Indianapolis (24-36), and the 2020 Red Sox (24-36).

American League: The White Elephants (22-62) are still the worst all time, although they are tied with the 2020 Rangers (22-38). Next at 3rd are the Royals at 23-59, and the 2020 Tigers (23-35). Next on the leaderboards are the 2020 Red Sox. Whee.

Since 1900: The A's are 2nd, ahead of the 2020 NL Pittsburgh Pirates (19-41), and tied with the 2020 Rangers (22-38). The Royals are tied for 4th with the 2020 Tigers (23-35). Next is the 2020 Red Sox (24-36).

Since 1876, >100 games (otherwise known as the list I actually care about): The A's are 2nd, ahead of the 1899 NL Cleveland Spiders (20-134). The Pale Blue Hose are next. 4th on the list are the 1889 AA Louisville Colonels (27-111).

By Winning Percentage

All-time: #41 1882 NL Baltimore Orioles (19-54; .260) (there have been many many different franchises in Baltimore called the Orioles); #42 2023 AL Oakland Athletics (22-62; .262); #43 1880 NL Cincinnati Stars (21-59; .263)... #56 (3-way tie) 1941 NL Philadelphia Phillies, the 1939 AL St. Louis Browns, and the 1932 Boston Red Sox (43-111, .279); #59 2023 Kansas City Royals (23-59; .281); #60 1915 NL Philadelphia Athletics and 1928 AL Philadelphia Phillies (43-109; .283).

Since 1876: Same list except the 1882 Orioles are #25, the A's are #26, the Stars are #27... the three way tie at #39; Royals at #42; and the Wonder Twins of Philadelphia at #43.

American League: #3 1919 AL Philadelphia Athletics (36-104; .257); #4 A's (22-62; .262); #5 2003 AL Detroit Tigers (43-119; .265)... #7 (tie) 1932 Red Sox and 1939 Browns (43-111; .279); #9 Royals (23-59; .281); #10 1915 A's (43-109; .283)

Since 1900: #5 1919 A's (36-104; .257); #6 2023 Mt. Davis Specials (22-62; .262); #7 2003 Tigers (43-119; .265)... #11 Dynamic Trio of badness (43-111; .279); #14 The Fountain Drainage Sludge (23-59; .281); #15 Two forgotten Philadelphia teams (43-109; .283)

Notes

The 2023 Red Sox, Twins, Brewers, and Phillies all now have more wins than the 1962 New York Mets. Hurray! They don't suck!