The Cleveland Guardians received their fair share of criticism, and deservingly so, for finishing the 2023 campaign with a disappointing 76-86 record only a year after being 92-70.
Shockingly, they finished in third place in the AL Central last year: the Detroit Tigers snuck into second place.
But last year notwithstanding, the Guardians have been the single most consistent squad in MLB when it comes to average position in their division.
The numbers back that up.
“The best average divisional finish by an American League team since MLB went to six five-team divisions in 2013? The Cleveland Guardians! @CleGuardians: 2013 – 2nd; 2014 – 3rd; 2015 – 3rd; 2016 – 1st; 2017 – 1st; 2018 – 1st; 2019 – 2nd; 2020 – 2nd; 2021 – 2nd; 2022 – 1st; 2023 – 3rd,” Codify Baseball tweeted.
The best average divisional finish by an American League team since MLB went to six five-team divisions in 2013?
The Cleveland Guardians! @CleGuardians
2013 – 2nd
2014 – 3rd
2015 – 3rd
2016 – 1st
2017 – 1st
2018 – 1st
2019 – 2nd
2020 – 2nd
2021 – 2nd
2022 – 1st
2023 – 3rd pic.twitter.com/vg0A1F0cp6— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) February 2, 2024
The Kansas City Royals dominated the scene in 2014-15, going to two consecutive World Series and winning one.
The Guardians finished third in both years, but their time was about to come.
From 2016 to 2018, Cleveland was the top dog in the division.
They peaked in 2016 when they were one game away from winning the World Series, but were arguably even better in 2017 (102-60).
The 2018 team was also excellent, but was swept in the Division Series.
The Guardians won the division again in 2022, before falling hard in 2023.
Even if they are missing a power hitter or two, the 2024 Guardians are perfectly capable of competing.
The Minnesota Twins, however, will probably start the season as division favorites.
In any case, no team in the AL Central, or in MLB for that matter, has been more consistent than Cleveland since 2013.
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