Remember when the Giants had the best record at the break in 2016?

Phil Gurnee ♦ September 11, 2017 ♦ 1 Comment

For two years in a row now, the team with the best record in baseball at the break came from the NL West, and for two years in a row, both teams have had major issues in the second half.

The Giants had 57 wins at the break in 2016, the Dodgers in the midst of only losing three games in all of July had 61 wins.  You’d think that the Dodgers would have had more than just four wins more than the Giants but they didn’t. We have already forgotten just how good the first half 2016 Giants were. Because they didn’t win the division, and because they are now the worst team in the NL.
2016 NL Standings at the break:

Tm     W  L W-L%  GB  RS  RA pythW-L%
SFG   57 33 .633  -- 424 351     .586
WSN   54 36 .600 3.0 422 317     .628
CHC   53 35 .602 3.0 460 321     .659
LAD   51 40 .560 6.5 382 329     .568
NYM   47 41 .534 9.0 335 315     .528
MIA   47 41 .534 9.0 371 370     .501

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/11/2017.
2017 NL Standings at the break:

Tm     W  L W-L%  RS  RA pythW-L%
LAD   61 29 .678 463 300     .689
ARI   53 36 .596 446 344     .617
WSN   52 36 .591 486 396     .593
COL   52 39 .571 461 419     .544
MIL   50 41 .549 451 406     .548
CHC   43 45 .489 399 399     .500
STL   43 45 .489 402 389     .515

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/11/2017.

The Dodgers always had some issues with the starting lineup at 2nd and CF, but those issues were easily overshadowed when the top four hitters in the lineup were all hitting well enough to be in the MVP conversation. No one is in that conversation now.  No one is driving the bus as it careens downhill toward disaster but there is still time for someone or multiple drivers to take control.

The Dodger will right the ship, but will it simply be floating toward the shoals of October disaster, or have all oars rowing together?