One of several Stark year-in-review columns really highlights streakiness and "playoffs is a crapshoot."
There's a lot more, and not just about the Rangers.
The team that won the World Series had a losing record in its last 102 games (50-52) after a spectacular 40-20 start. You know who had a better record than the Rangers over their last 102 games? Oh, only the Tigers … and Reds … and Marlins … and Padres (among others).
The team that won the World Series also had a bullpen with more blown saves (33) than saves (30). And how many teams have ever won a World Series (or even a postseason game) with a bullpen like that? Once again, that would be zilch.
The team that won the World Series laid out $185 million to sign Jacob deGrom last winter. Hey, at least he pitched six times this past season — which was two more times than the backup catcher (Austin Hedges).
The team that won the World Series traded two of its best prospects to the Mets in July for $43 million starter Max Scherzer. But in the 53 days they were still playing baseball after Sept. 12, he got a total of 29 outs.
The team that won the World Series led its division for 149 straight days, blew that lead in August … fell all the way to third place in September … then charged back to lead again by 2 1/2 games with four to play … only to blow that lead, too, on the final day of the season. So that went smoothly.
The team that won the World Series also coughed up its first-round bye by losing on the final day … which meant having to fly 2,582 miles to conveniently located Tampa, Fla., to open a wild-card series it thought it wasn’t going to have to play.
