History

Year: 1920

Record: 61-93

Win Percentage: .396

Win Percentage Change: -.175 from season before

Run Differential: -181

Pythagorean Record: 60-94

AL Finish: Seventh of eight

Manager: Hughie Jennings

Best Transaction

A couple weeks ago, with the 90th anniversary of the 1919 Black Sox Series having just past and this year's World Series coming up, I went through the Chicago Tribune archives and put together a post on their coverage of the end of that series and the gambling rumors that were circulating around it.

Year: 1989

Record: 59-103

Win Percentage: .364

Win Percentage Change: -.179

Run Differential: -199

Pythagorean Record: 61-101

AL Finish: 14th of 14

Manager: Sparky Anderson

Best Transaction: The re-signing of Dave Bergman

Let me rewind to the 1995 ALDS between the Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees.

It was Game Five, and the “Refuse to Lose” Mariners had rallied from a 2-0 series deficit to force a decisive final game at the old Kingdome.

The game was a classic and is undoubtedly remembered for the infamous Edgar Martinez walk-off, two-run double that scored a jet-fueled Ken Griffey Jr. in the 11^th inning.

But I want to flash back to the bottom of the ninth inning, with the game tied at 4-4.

With the soul of David Ortiz circa 2004 apparently having been transferred to Alex Rodriguez, at least for the 2009 playoffs, it's a good time to look back at the days before people thought he couldn't perform in the postseason.

Article originally published on STADIUMJOURNEY.com

It took six years, numerous legal battles, a San Diego Padres pennant, and massive voter support to get Petco Park, the Friars’ current stadium, from the ballot to the heart of San Diego’s downtown.

The 1999 Cleveland Indians had one of the best lineups in the history of Major League Baseball.

They had incredible individual accomplishments. Three sluggers combined for 108 homers. Four hitters had RBIs in the triple-digits. Five players scored 100 or more runs.

They became the first team in nearly 50 years to score 1,000 runs in a season.

• Year: 1975
• Record: 57-102
• Win %: .358
• Win % Change: -86 from the previous season
• Run Differential: -216
• Pythagorean Record: 57-102
• AL Finish: 12th of 12
• Manager: Ralph Houk
• Best Transaction: This is a tough call.  This transaction took place in 1975, but after the season had finished and it marked the departure of a well-know and accomplished Tiger, Mickey Lolich.  Lolich lost 18 games in 1975 and it was becoming clear that his best years were behind him.  The Tigers traded a no-name player and Lolich to the New Y
  

No, that would have been that of Paul DePodesta, in 2005. As a Moneyball fan, I was sorry to see DePodesta go. And in fact, it may have cost the Dodgers the 2009 World Series, as discussed below.

Shortly after taking the reins, DePodesta angered Dodgers fans with a trade that at its heart was Paul Lo Duca for a pitcher, Brad Penny.

Despite being a catcher, Lo Duca was a "league average" hitter, that is to say, one of the better batters on a light-hitting Dodgers team.

Now with the World Series set to begin, people have started to talk about the Yankees winning their 27th World Championship and "Mr. November", Derek Jeter, will help the team once the World Series gets that far.

However, I completely disagree with the term "Mr. November" for Derek Jeter and I argue that Randy Johnson should instead be called Mr. November.

To tell you about my argument, I will turn back the clocks to 2001 and how this entire event concerning Mr. November unfolded.