Fansided

Each MLB team’s season success or failure?

By Nathaniel Reeves

Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Jarrod Dyson shows off the Commissioners Trophy to fans after defeating the New York Mets in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. The Royals win the World Series four games to one. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Jarrod Dyson shows off the Commissioners Trophy to fans after defeating the New York Mets in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. The Royals win the World Series four games to one. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia Phillies

Aug 10, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 10, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

63-99, 5th in NL East

Nobody around baseball expected the Phillies to have any shot of contending in 2015, and many thought they would be the worst team in baseball. Philadelphia has been declining steadily for years behind some bad veteran contracts, but general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. still did not take the opportunity to blow things up in 2014 or last offseason.

Philadelphia played exactly as expected, finishing with the worst record in baseball. However bad that record was, the Phillies still had enough positives to make the losing worth it.

The Phillies finally fully committed to the future in 2015. Cole Hamels was traded for a strong package that will help kickstart a rebuild, while a few other young players got some nice experience.

In particular, Philadelphia has to be happy with Maikel Franco, who posted a 128 wRC+ in his debut season per FanGraphs. There’s some other young talent in the system, so the future is finally looking a little bright in Philadelphia.

Amaro Jr. was finally relieved of his duties, and Klentak will have some pieces to work with in his first offseason. There’s a long way to go, but 2015 marked the first year of a huge rebuild that has been a long time coming.

Success. The Phillies finally acknowledged that a rebuild was in order and made a necessary change at GM, which is aboutall fans could have hoped for entering the season.

Next: Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates

Sep 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

98-64, first NL Wild Card, lost NL Wild Card Game

The script is becoming a little too familiar for Pittsburgh, but the club should still be thrilled with a very successful regular season.

Pittsburgh was again fantastic in the regular season, posting the second-best record in baseball and earning the top NL Wild Card spot for the third consecutive year. Much like in 2014, the Pirates ran into the wrong pitcher in a one-game playoff, as Arrieta shut them down in another early exit.

The Pirates have to be very upset with that result and the fact that they were unable to catch the Cardinals for the division. Still, Pittsburgh is set up very nicely for the present and future, and should be among the best teams in the Majors again next season.

Just about everybody contributed to an offense that was one of the best in the NL. Andrew McCuthcen put up 5.8 WAR per FanGraphs after a slow start, rookie Jung-Ho Kang was excellent before suffering a broken leg, and Francisco Cervelli was able to replace the production of Russell Martin.

The Pirates also continued their track record of great pitching development. Gerrit Cole’s transformation into an ace bodes particularly well for the future.

Pittsburgh deserved better than a sudden death situation against Arrieta, but the club is a long way removed from the dark times of years past.

Success. Losing to unhittable aces in a one-game playoff is frustrating, but the Pirates continued to show why they are one of the most well-run teams in the league.

Next: San Diego Padres

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