#1/2 Seeded Teams
#2 1993 San Francisco Giants
Original Season Record:103-59, .636, second place, NL West
Star Attractions: Barry Bonds was a once in a generation talent, and 1993 was one of his seven MVP campaigns. He led the league with 9.9 WAR, 46 homers and 123 RBI, in addition to scoring 129 runs, stealing 29 bases, hitting .336, and leading the league with a .458 on base percentage, .677 slugging percentage and 1.136 OPS. Bill Swift had a career year anchoring the starting rotation, going 21-8 with a 2.82 ERA and 1.07 WHIP.
Also Featuring: Third baseman Matt Williams was outstanding defensively at the hot corner and slugged his way to 38 home runs and 110 RBI, while scoring 105 runs, too. Second baseman Robby Thompson had a career year, winning a gold glove, and hitting for a .312 batting average with 30 doubles, 19 home runs and 85 runs scored. John Burkett had a great season as the number two starter, winning 22 games, while Rod Beck was a lights out closer with 48 saves and a 2.16 ERA and 0.88 WHIP.
Potential Pitfalls: The starting rotation lacked depth with pitchers like Bud Black and Trevor Wilson limited in their innings pitched by injuries, meaning that the team was heavily reliant on the big two of Swift and Burkett for its success. They also had the misfortune of being in the same division as the historically great Braves, and having this season come two years before the wild card was introduced, meaning they missed the playoffs despite topping 100 wins.
#1 1959 Chicago White Sox
Original Season Record: 94-60, .610, AL champions, lost World Series to Dodgers
Star Attractions: Chicago had a terrific two-headed monster in their starting rotation. Cy Young award winner Early Wynn went 22-10 with a 3.17 ERA, leading the league with 255.6 innings pitched. Bob Shaw might have been even better, going 18-6 with a 2.69 ERA. Second baseman Nellie Fox was a great table setter at the top of the batting order, leading the league in at bats and plate appearances, while leading the team with a .306 batting average, .380 on base percentage and 34 doubles.
Also Featuring: Shortstop Luis Aparicio combined with Fox for a great middle infield duo, and also contributed a league high 56 stolen bases and team best 98 runs offensively, too. Catcher Sherm Lollar was among the best defenders at his position, and also led the White Sox with 22 home runs and 84 RBI. The bullpen also featured both co-league leaders in saves with Gerry Staley goin 8-5 with a 2.24 ERA and Turk Lown going 9-2 with a 2.89 ERA, and both notching 15 saves apiece.
Potential Pitfalls: Offence is going to be a grind for the team that was third last in the AL in runs scored and dead last in home runs. If they do not achieve a good record in one run games, they could perform below their original season success. A strong bullpen makes that an unlikely trend to transpire, but with the small margin of error that comes with being a pitching and defence dependent team, there is at least the possibility of being victimized by a rash of tight, low scoring losses.
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