TODAY’S SPORTSTAT: Pirates, Reds have been consistent, consistently bad
By JERRY TAPP
Sometimes losing can become a habit.
Case in point: The team with the worst record in baseball through games of April 10 is the Kansas City Royals. They have a 2-9 record, a .182 winning percentage. Since 2000, the Royals have had 14 losing seasons (below .500 winning percentage) and that is tied with the Baltimore Orioles for the most in the American League. That’s 14 losing seasons over the last 19 years … not a very impressive run, is it?
Over in the National League, we have a similar story. Miami and Colorado are both 3-9, a .250 winning percentage, tied for worst record in the National League in 2019. Over the last 19 seasons (since 2000), the Rockies have had 13 losing seasons; the Marlins have had 14 losing seasons in the last 19 years.
Leading the N.L. with the most losing seasons since 2000 are the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates. They each have had 15 losing seasons since 2000, not only most in the National League, but tied for the most in the majors since the start of the century.
The Reds’ record through games of April 10 this season? They are 3-8, a .273 winning percentage, one of seven MLB teams that have a winning percentage under .300 to this point in the season. The Pirates are off to a good start this season with a 6-4 record.
Here’s a look at the number of losing seasons (under .500) that each MLB team has had since 2000.
15-Cincinnati
15-Pittsburgh
14-Baltimore
14-Kansas City
14-Miami
14-San Diego
13-Colorado
12-Tampa Bay
11-Milwaukee
11-New York Mets
11-Texas
10-Detroit
10-Seattle
9-Chicago Cubs
9-Chicago White Sox
9-Toronto
9-Washington
8-Arizona
8-Cleveland
8-Houston
8-Minnesota
8-Philadelphia
7-Los Angeles Angels
7-Oakland
7-San Francisco
6-Atlanta
3-Boston
2-Los Angeles Dodgers
1-St.Louis
0-New York Yankees
As you notice above, the Yankees have not had a losing record in any season this century. The last losing season they had was in 1992 when they went 76-86; that was the last year of four straight seasons with a losing record before their current streak of 26 winning seasons.
The Cards only losing season since 2000 was in 2007.
Follow Jerry on Twitter @StatsonTapp
