Monday, June 01, 2009

On Losing Streaks And The Lack Thereof

Much has been made about the Dodgers avoiding a three-game losing streak so far this season. Six times, the Dodgers have lost two in a row, and all six times, they've won their next game. Which got me thinking, how long are other teams' worst losing streaks, through the first two months of play? Is this really that remarkable of a feat?

Below, the data. Though the Dodgers are the only team to have avoided a three-game losing streak, the other five divisions all have a team who has not lost more than three consecutive games, so the Dodgers' feat is neat, but not crazy, and frankly, to-be-expected for the team with the best record in baseball. Looking at the other five teams that have only lost three in a row: all of these five teams (Cardinals, Phillies, Angels, Tigers, and Red Sox) are either first or second in their divisions. When you don't have long losing streaks, you end up doing well. What a concept!

Longest
Losing
Streak
(games)
NL
West
NL
Central
NL
East
AL
West
AL
Central
AL
East
2
LAD (6x)
3
STL (2x)
PHI
LAA (2x)
DET (2x)
BOS (3x)
4
ARI, COL
MIL, CIN
NYM (2x)
5
ATL
TEX, OAK
CWS, CLE
NYY, TAM
6
SFG, SDP (2x)
SEA
MIN, KC
BAL
7
HOU
FLA, WAS
8
PIT, CHC
9
TOR

1 comments:

Unknown said...

To give a Bill Walton quote:

"In baseball, when you don't lose games, you might win some games."