Boston Got Hot Way Too Early.

[ORIOLE33]

When they beat us, the Red Sox were unbelievably hot. They looked like the best team in the AL by a wide margin. But I thought then, "they're peaking way too early." Toronto on the other hand, are peaking right at the right time. Late September/early October is the perfect time to play your best. And the way Toronto beat us, I have a feeling will carry them to a title.

I fully expect Toronto to roll right over Cleveland.

[Can_of_corn]

Or a not "hot" Jays team barely got past the O's and then took advantage of a not very good Rangers team.

[ORIOLE33]

Or a not "hot" Jays team barely got past the O's and then took advantage of a not very good Rangers team.

Wait a minute. You can't say the Rangers aren't a very good team when they had the best record in the AL.

[Can_of_corn]

Wait a minute. You can't say the Rangers aren't a very good team when they had the best record in the AL.

Sure I can, just did.

[ORIOLE33]

LOL...Oh, you're doing that. I didn't know you were joking. My bad.

[Can_of_corn]

LOL...Oh, you're doing that. I didn't know you were joking. My bad.

I'm not joking.

The Rangers won a record number of one run games this year, more than the O's did in 2012. Records in one run games do not correlate well with overall won/loss records. They also had a run differential of +8 for the season. Their pythag was 82-80.

They grossly outperformed their peripherals and the most likely explanation is that they were lucky.

Simply put, they acted a lot more like a .500 team than a 95 win team.

[ORIOLE33]

Dude, you cannot luck your way to 95 wins. They just got cold at the wrong time and Toronto is riding a lot of momentum.

[Uli2001]

Sure, in the playoff system, it's about who gets hot and goes on a run. It is unfair, but that's just the nature of it. That's why in most soccer leagues around the world, there are no playoffs, and the team with the best record at the end of the season gets the trophy.

The Rangers were lucky to have that record (their run-difference was +8 if I am not mistaken). They also played in an easy division this year.

[ORIOLE33]

The Cubs played in arguably an easier division. Should they get criticized? Absolutely not.

[Can_of_corn]

Dude, you cannot luck your way to 95 wins. They just got cold at the wrong time and Toronto is riding a lot of momentum.

Buddy, sure you can, they just did.

O's did something similar just a few years ago.

Can you say with a straight face that this year's Ranger team had the talent level of a 95 win team? The Red Sox hitters alone accumulated more rWAR than the Rangers' team.

[Can_of_corn]

The Cubs played in arguably an easier division. Should they get criticized? Absolutely not.

Cubs outscored their opponents by 252 runs.

Once again the Rangers outscored their opponents by 8 runs.

[ORIOLE33]

All that means is that they were good in close games. You do not luck your way to 95 wins. You also can't go by run differential to determine how good a team is. The Cubs do play in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

[Can_of_corn]

All that means is that they were good in close games. You do not luck your way to 95 wins. You also can't go by run differential to determine how good a team is. The Cubs do play in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

Being good in close games is not a sustainable skill.

It just isn't.

[ORIOLE33]

I just looked it up. Actually from what I saw, Texas has a -4 run differential. St Louis, who didn't make the playoffs, has a +62 run differential, I believe. You're telling me St Louis was better than Texas this year?

[Can_of_corn]

I just looked it up. Actually from what I saw, Texas has a -4 run differential. St Louis, who didn't make the playoffs, has a +62 run differential, I believe. You're telling me St Louis was better than Texas this year?

Pretty much yea. You think the Rangers would beat them in a best of five?