What if Barry Bonds’ sole trip to the World Series ended in victory? What if the 2004 Cardinals were able to extend the curse of the Bambino?
There are so many incredible MLB teams of the last 25 years than just those that ended up crowned as World Series champions. Don’t get us wrong. Ranking the champions of the 21st century is great, but it’s also a little limiting.
[25 World Series Champs Since 2000, Ranked: The Full List]
Let’s take a look at the most effective 10 groups since 2000 which have misplaced the World Collection.
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1. 2019 Houston Astros
Common Season: 107–55 (1st in AL West)
ALDS: Defeated Rays, 3–2
ALCS: Defeated Yankees, 4–3
World Collection: Misplaced to Nationals, 3–4
The 2019 Astros outscored their common season opponents by 280 runs, greater than any World Collection winner between 2000 and 2024 managed — simply a kind of golf equipment, the 2016 Cubs, even made it over 250. Their offense alone produced extra wins above substitute (45) than 10 of the World Collection champions from this century, and that’s with out counting the COVID-impacted 2020 season. Plus, their rotation finally included Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke. This workforce — arguably the most effective one from an Astros’ dynasty that included two championships — would lose a seven-game World Collection to the wild-card Nationals.
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2. 2004 St. Louis Cardinals
Common Season: 105–57 (1st in NL Central)
NLDS: Defeated Dodgers, 3–1
NLCS: Defeated Astros, 4–3
World Collection: Misplaced to Crimson Sox, 0–4
The 2004 Cardinals, winners of 105 video games, featured peak Albert Pujols, future Corridor of Famers in Scott Rolen and Larry Walker, a 34-year-old Jim Edmonds who was nonetheless practically nearly as good total as Pujols, a deep rotation and even deeper bullpen, three top-5 MVP candidates and three Gold Glove winners. They have been swept out of the World Collection by the 2004 Red Sox, who performed as if they have been by no means going to lose one other sport after getting back from down 3-0 in opposition to the Yankees within the ALCS.
(Photograph by Kevin Sullivan/Digital First Media/Orange County Register by way of Getty Photographs)
3. 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers
Common Season: 104–58 (1st in NL West)
NLDS: Defeated Diamondbacks, 3–1
NLCS: Defeated Cubs, 4–1
World Collection: Misplaced to Astros, 3–4
The Dodgers are in a humorous spot in all of those rankings, as their extra spectacular World Collection championship got here within the shortened 2020 season, and the 2024 title marketing campaign was nice, however not elite compared to the century’s greatest thus far. A lot of the actually terrifying Dodgers squads of this dynasty misplaced in or earlier than the World Collection, with the 2017 membership a kind of examples. They gained 104 video games and outscored opponents by 190 runs, then dominated each the Diamondbacks and Cubs by profitable 7 of 8 postseason video games in opposition to them within the NLDS and NLCS, respectively. In the long run, although, the Astros have been simply an excessive amount of in a seven-game World Collection.
(Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs)
4. 2018 Los Angeles Dodgers
Common Season: 92–71 (1st in NL West)
NLDS: Defeated Braves, 3–1
NLCS: Defeated Brewers, 4–3
World Collection: Misplaced to Crimson Sox, 1–4
As we have been saying. The 2018 version of the Dodgers gained simply 92 video games, however outscored opponents by 194 runs and really produced extra wins above substitute than the ‘17 squad — their anticipated win-loss report put them at 102 wins, a full 10 extra! They’ll’t get full credit score for wins they ought to have gotten compared to the workforce that truly did win over 100 video games, however they nonetheless deserve recognition for what doubtless ought to have been a championship membership… if solely they didn’t come up in opposition to the buzzsaw that was the 2018 Crimson Sox within the World Collection.
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5. 2021 Houston Astros
Common Season: 95–67 (1st in AL West)
ALDS: Defeated White Sox, 3–1
ALCS: Defeated Crimson Sox, 4–2
World Collection: Misplaced to Braves, 2–4
You’ll be right in case you’re sensing a theme right here — the Astros and Dodgers have been actually distinctive over the past decade, even within the years that they didn’t find yourself going all the best way. The Braves took out the Astros in six video games, which is why they play them within the first place: amongst World Collection losers this century, the ‘21 Astros have the second-highest run differential, and have been mainly nearly as good as any of the groups right here in entrance of them in addition to the 2019 version, which sits on a wholly totally different stage. They need to have gained, within the sense they have been the dominant power that season, however “ought to have” hardly ever carries weight in October.
(Photograph by Rob Carr/Getty Photographs)
6. 2013 St. Louis Cardinals
Common Season: 97–65 (1st in NL Central)
NLDS: Defeated Pirates, 3–2
NLCS: Defeated Dodgers, 4–2
World Collection: Misplaced to Crimson Sox, 2–4
Don’t fear, different groups misplaced the World Collection this century in addition to the three franchises above, and also you’ll examine them quickly. If St. Louis’ 2006 title was cosmic rebalancing for the 2004 squad’s defeat, then a reverse impact occurred with respect to the 2011 champs and the 2013 loss. Matt Carpenter and Holliday had monster seasons on the plate, veterans Yadier Molina and Carlos Beltran thrived, and Adam Wainwright completed second within the NL Cy Younger race and led the league in innings. The Crimson Sox have been the foes, once more, although no less than this time it took six video games for St. Louis to go down.
(Photograph by Ezra Shaw/Getty Photographs)
7. 2011 Texas Rangers
Common Season: 96–66 (1st in AL West)
ALDS: Defeated Rays, 3–1
ALCS: Defeated Tigers, 4–2
World Collection: Misplaced to Cardinals, 3–4
The 2011 World Collection was already a heartbreaking defeat for the Rangers and their followers after falling brief within the 2010 version to the Giants. A part of what made it so terrible wasn’t simply that it typically felt like snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for them, but in addition as a result of this specific Rangers squad was nice. They gained 96 video games and posted slightly below 55 wins above substitute whereas outscoring opponents by 176 runs. In the long run, although, Cardinals hero David Freese was there to place a cease to them with a monster collection and unimaginable — or horrible, relying in your viewpoint — timing.
(SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS / Nhat V. Meyer) (Photograph by MediaNews Group/The Mercury Information by way of Getty Photographs)
8. 2002 San Francisco Giants
Common Season: 95–66 (2nd in NL West)
NLDS: Defeated Braves, 3–2
NLCS: Defeated Cardinals, 4–1
World Collection: Misplaced to Angels, 3–4
What a conflict of the titans the 2002 World Collection was. The Angels have been one of many higher World Collection champions of the century, and the Giants, with Barry Bonds in his late-career peak, have been no slouches, both. They gained 95 video games within the common season and outscored opponents by 167 runs at the same time as Bonds was deliberately walked a then-record 68 instances — and with loads of intentional unintentional walks combined in together with his 198 whole free passes. Bonds hit .370/.582/.799 — all tops within the league — with 46 homers, gained the NL MVP and hit .356/.581/.978 with one other 8 homers within the postseason… nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient.
(Photograph by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Photographs)
9. 2003 New York Yankees
Common Season: 101–61 (1st in AL East)
ALDS: Defeated Twins, 3–1
ALCS: Defeated Crimson Sox, 4–3
World Collection: Misplaced to Marlins, 2–4
This was a part of a string of horrible luck by the Yankees following the 2000 World Collection championship: the 2001 workforce was genuinely nice and 2004’s was one other wonderful squad. However the most effective of their groups that misplaced within the World Collection was the 2003 version. This workforce gained 101 video games, and even vanquished the rival Crimson Sox in a dramatic seven-game ALCS, the place Aaron Boone ended Boston’s season with a house run in additional innings off of Tim Wakefield. The 2003 Marlins weren’t phased by any of that, and their workforce of rookies and budding stars took down the battle-hardened veterans from New York in six video games.
(Photograph by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Photographs)
10. 2006 Detroit Tigers
Common Season: 95–67 (1st in AL Central)
ALDS: Defeated Yankees, 3–1
ALCS: Defeated Athletics, 4–0
World Collection: Misplaced to Cardinals, 1–4
The Tigers haven’t gained all of it since 1984, however they’ve had probabilities this century. They have been swept in 2012 by the Giants, and misplaced within the ALCS in 2013 and 2011. One of the best of their Twenty first-century squads can be the one which got here the closest to truly profitable all of it, the 2006 Tigers. Whereas they completed second within the AL Central, additionally they gained 95 video games, only one fewer than the division champion Twins — they have been the higher workforce, too, or else you’d see Minnesota on this checklist. Detroit toppled the Yankees and Athletics earlier than arising brief in opposition to the Cardinals within the World Collection.
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