Wild-Card Stats.
Before last season’s Wild-Card Series, I presented some Wild Card records that the Diamondbacks could possibly break (details in this AZ Snake Pit article). My thinking was that win or lose, that would add to my enjoyment.
In 2023, the Diamondbacks won their Wild Card Series without breaking any of the presented records.
I broadened my view to all four Wild Card Series in 2023. Here is what I found:
- The Rangers had 23 hits in their series, which was a new record for a Wild Card Series.
- The Rangers and the Diamondbacks each had 3 stolen bases in their series, but fell short of the team record. Tying the player record with 2 stolen bases, were Leody Tavaras of the Rangers and Trea Turner of the Phillies.
- In all four series, the only triple was hit by Josh Jung of the Rangers. That triple was short of the record, but it was the most in the Wild Card Series.
You may have noticed that the teams mentioned all played deep into the playoffs. (Rangers and Diamondbacks made it to the World Series, and the Phillies made it to the NLCS.)
Perhaps which Wild Card Teams will advance far in the playoffs can be predicted on the following:
- Hits. Teams with at least 23 hits in their series. If none, then perhaps the team with the most hits in their Wild Card Series.
- Triples. Team with the most triples in their Wild Card Series (compared to the 7 other teams playing in Wild Card Series). This might be a good place to mention that this season through 26 September, Corbin Carroll’s 14 triples is the second most in the Majors.
- Stolen Bases. Teams with at least 3 stolen bases in their series.
- Winning an Epic Battle. Although in the 2023 Wild Card Series, no team won an epic battle (defined as the losing team scoring at least 8 runs in a game), my view is that would be predictive in a positive manner.
An Additional Predictive Statistic.
A statistic not in last year’s article is 2-out RBIs. My initial view was that it would be excellent because it captures the team spirit of never surrender and fight to the last out. This season’s leaders (through 26 September) for the Diamondbacks were Eugenio Suarez with 33 2-out-RBIs and Christian Walker with 31 2-out RBIs. But the Diamondbacks fell short of the playoffs.
However, looking at the four 2023 Wild Card Series, all teams (except the Twins) got either one or two 2-out RBIs. That was not enough different to be significant.
RBIs. What about all RBIs, not just 2-out RBIs? Are RBIs in a Wild Card Series predictive of advancing deep into the playoffs? Of the eight teams in 2023 Wild Card Series, five had between 1 and 5 RBIs, and three had between 9 and 11 RBIs. The teams with the most RBIs advanced deep into the playoffs:
- Rangers (9 RBIs) and Diamondbacks (10 RBIs) reached the World Series.
- The Phillies (11 RBIs) reached the NLCS.
My Conclusions.
This season, although the Diamondbacks were the LAST team eliminated from reaching the playoffs, I am a little surprised at myself that it feels like a second successive successful season.
It’s hard to put that feeling into words; perhaps part of it is knowing the difference between making a promise and accepting a challenge. Reaching the playoffs was an accepted challenge. The Diamondbacks played better than last season (especially offense) and created memorable moments as they fought to reach their challenge. Although they fell one win short, as a fan my emotional reaction is that it felt like success.
In any case, the following statistics from the Wild Card Series could predict which teams will advance deep into in the playoffs:
- Teams with at least 23 hits.
- The team with the most triples.
- Teams with at least 3 stolen bases.
- Teams that win an epic battle.
- Teams with at least 9 RBIs.