Players to Root for in the Playoffs

No player in the postseason has more career wins without a title than Carlos Beltran.
(Photo: Keith Allison)

For fans of 10 (and soon to be eight) teams, finding a club for which to root in the playoffs presents little difficulty: just keep doing what you’ve been doing for the last six months. For the rest of us, though, manufacturing some interest in a team or two can be a useful device for cultivating drama in the postseason.

There are a few ways to go about this, of course. For some, the solution is just as simple as rooting against a rival. For others, supporting a team with lengthy curse or championship drought — like the Red Sox or Cubs in recent years or Cleveland, still, this season — might make sense. Backing an underdog is always popular, obviously, as is pulling for all the small-market teams to beat the larger-market ones. There’s no wrong way to do this. What I’d like to discuss here is another alternative, though — namely, rooting for a specific player.

Perhaps you’ve been already been doing this in some capacity. There’s a player who maybe used to play for your favorite team or one whom you always wished would wear your team’s uniform. For me, the easy answer in year’s past has been Adrian Beltre. He’s a future Hall of Famer and a joy to watch. Add in that he was oh-so-close to a title in 2011, and it’s easy to actively support a scenario in which Beltre finally gets a ring. The Rangers failed to qualify for the playoffs this year, though, so rooting for Beltre isn’t an option.

While the Rangers third baseman will be absent from the postseason, there are a handful of other future Hall of Famers who have yet to win a World Series title and will be playing games that count this October.

To begin this exercise, let’s first take a look at the best players with a shot at that elusive ring. The tables below includes the top-25 position players by career WAR who will be participating in the postseason.

Position Players Without a World Series Ring: Career WAR
Name Team G PA HR wRC+ WAR
Carlos Beltran Astros 2584 11025 435 118 67.1
Joe Mauer Twins 1729 7410 137 124 48.0
Curtis Granderson Dodgers 1794 7533 319 117 46.1
Hanley Ramirez Red Sox 1605 6864 263 127 40.8
Adrian Gonzalez Dodgers 1875 7859 311 128 37.8
Brian McCann Astros 1605 6310 261 112 36.4
Ryan Zimmerman Nationals 1549 6608 249 117 36.1
Paul Goldschmidt D-backs 931 4008 176 145 31.8
Edwin Encarnacion Indians 1666 6866 348 127 30.5
Chase Headley Yankees 1406 5692 130 108 29.3
Bryce Harper Nationals 765 3249 150 142 27.9
Jose Altuve Astros 978 4297 84 124 26.1
Andre Ethier Dodgers 1452 5420 162 122 24.0
Daniel Murphy Nationals 1185 4778 110 117 23.2
Carlos Santana Indians 1112 4765 174 124 23.2
Carlos Gonzalez Rockies 1198 4874 214 114 22.8
Jonathan Lucroy Rockies 972 3777 96 108 22.0
Todd Frazier Yankees 934 3756 175 111 21.1
Nolan Arenado Rockies 717 3012 147 115 20.7
Anthony Rendon Nationals 631 2672 77 119 20.2
Jay Bruce Indians 1412 5790 275 108 20.2
Brian Dozier Twins 849 3762 150 109 20.1
Ian Desmond Rockies 1175 4834 139 99 19.9
Austin Jackson Indians 997 4270 62 103 19.7
Mookie Betts Red Sox 505 2297 77 122 19.7

Carlos Beltran is likely to make the Hall of Fame someday, and he’s not without his share of good postseason memories. Back in 2004, he was a force on a Houston Astros club that nearly made it to the World Series but were cut down by the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2006, he made the final out of the Mets’ postseason, again stopped just short of the World Series, again against the Cardinals. In 2013, after joining the team that had thwarted him twice, he made it to the World Series. The Red Sox took home the crown in that World Series, however. The last two seasons have featured short playoff appearances for Beltran. And while his most recent season has also been his worst, he has another shot at a title with the Astros.

Joe Mauer has played in nine playoff games: his team has gone 0-9 in those games. Mauer isn’t the perennial MVP candidate he was a decade ago, but after a few down years, he is having a mini-resurgence with an above-average hitting line. Curtis Granderson, for his part, has come close to winning a title, reaching the World Series with the Tigers early in his career, joining the Yankees the year after they won, and playing on a Mets team that fell to Kansas City two years ago. The 36-year-old has had a very good career and is having another solid season. Hanley Ramirez hasn’t been good this year, but a 40-WAR career is nothing to sneeze at for the 34-year-old.

Of course, WAR isn’t the only criteria by which to judge a player’s appeal. Let’s if there might be some longtime favorites who’ve hung around despite recording fewer wins in their career. Here’s the list of active players without a title, sorted by plate appearances.

Position Players Without a World Series Ring: Plate Appearances
Name Team G PA HR wRC+ WAR
Carlos Beltran Astros 2584 11025 435 118 67.1
Adrian Gonzalez Dodgers 1875 7859 311 128 37.8
Curtis Granderson Dodgers 1794 7533 319 117 46.1
Joe Mauer Twins 1729 7410 137 124 48.0
Edwin Encarnacion Indians 1666 6866 348 127 30.5
Hanley Ramirez Red Sox 1605 6864 263 127 40.8
Ryan Zimmerman Nationals 1549 6608 249 117 36.1
Brian McCann Astros 1605 6310 261 112 36.4
Mark Reynolds Rockies 1522 5838 280 104 10.9
Jay Bruce Indians 1412 5790 275 108 20.2
Howie Kendrick Nationals 1432 5787 104 107 28.5
Chase Headley Yankees 1406 5692 130 108 29.3
Andre Ethier Dodgers 1452 5420 162 122 24.0
Chris Young Red Sox 1407 5184 185 96 18.3
Adam Lind Nationals 1341 5021 200 111 9.4
Carlos Gonzalez Rockies 1198 4874 214 114 22.8
Ian Desmond Rockies 1175 4834 139 99 19.9
Starlin Castro Yankees 1150 4834 99 97 14.1
Daniel Murphy Nationals 1185 4778 110 117 23.2
Carlos Santana Indians 1112 4765 174 124 23.2
Gerardo Parra Rockies 1202 4432 73 90 9.3
Rajai Davis Red Sox 1316 4358 60 88 11.8
Jose Altuve Astros 978 4297 84 124 26.1
Austin Jackson Indians 997 4270 62 103 19.7
Paul Goldschmidt D-backs 931 4008 176 145 31.8
Matt Wieters Nationals 1002 3923 127 93 17.7

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Adrian Gonzalez will get a chance to play in this postseason, though he could have a Frank Thomas 2005-type situation with the Dodgers. Ryan Zimmermann has been with some good and bad teams as a career Nationals player and has rebounded this season. Brian McCann has been on some good teams, but will have his best shot at a title in some time. Mark Reynolds has been around for quite a while, and he keeps swinging for the fences, finding an ideal home in Colorado.

Switching our focus, here are the best pitchers without a title on playoff teams.

Pitchers Without a World Series Ring: Career WAR
Name Team GS IP ERA FIP WAR
Clayton Kershaw Dodgers 289 1931.0 2.35 2.59 58.1
Justin Verlander Astros 385 2545.0 3.46 3.47 56.9
Zack Greinke D-backs 380 2451.2 3.40 3.36 53.2
Bartolo Colon Twins 527 3309.0 4.05 4.09 51.4
Max Scherzer Nationals 295 1893.2 3.30 3.25 43.5
David Price Red Sox 259 1743.2 3.23 3.27 37.8
Chris Sale Red Sox 180 1324.1 2.98 2.96 35.4
Corey Kluber Indians 162 1086.0 3.13 2.93 28.5
Ervin Santana Twins 375 2378.1 4.03 4.24 28.1
Stephen Strasburg Nationals 183 1092.0 3.09 2.83 28.0
Gio Gonzalez Nationals 274 1638.2 3.61 3.57 27.7
Scott Kazmir Dodgers 297 1689.2 4.01 4.01 25.1
Francisco Liriano Astros 274 1609.2 4.15 3.75 24.3
Jose Quintana Cubs 182 1135.0 3.51 3.52 23.2
Rick Porcello Red Sox 274 1671.2 4.25 4.02 22.5
Doug Fister Red Sox 213 1351.0 3.68 3.79 19.8
Yu Darvish Dodgers 131 832.1 3.42 3.30 19.0

This list is a bit heavier on star power than the one featuring position players. You start with the best pitcher in baseball, add in Cy Young- and MVP-winner Justin Verlander, other Cy Young-winner Zack Greinke, and two-time (maybe soon three-time) Cy Young-winner Max Scherzer, and you have a very impressive list. Oh and David Price, Rick Porcello, Corey Kluber, and Bartolo Colon have won pitching’s top award as well. These players are in varying stages of their career with varying postseason reputations. From a general fan’s perspective, I hope for greatness out of all them this postseason.

WAR is going to provide a big advantage to starters. To get some relievers their due, let’s sort by games played.

Pitchers Without a World Series Ring: Career Games
Name Team SV G IP ERA FIP WAR
Fernando Rodney D-backs 300 826 819.2 3.73 3.73 8.0
Joe Smith Indians 30 696 623.1 2.97 3.53 6.0
Matt Belisle Twins 13 659 893.1 4.19 3.79 10.7
Tyler Clippard Astros 60 623 683.1 3.12 3.85 7.1
Luke Gregerson Astros 66 622 598.0 3.01 3.13 9.0
Boone Logan Indians 3 619 431.1 4.47 3.99 2.8
Oliver Perez Nationals 3 550 1366.0 4.45 4.60 10.2
Bartolo Colon Twins 0 536 3309.0 4.05 4.09 51.4
Tony Sipp Astros 7 525 443.2 3.83 4.49 0.0
Matt Albers Nationals 2 514 663.2 4.14 4.40 1.6
Mike Dunn Rockies 4 501 401.0 3.66 3.81 2.2
Pat Neshek Rockies 8 494 445.2 2.75 3.50 6.1
Craig Kimbrel Red Sox 291 477 468.1 1.79 1.79 17.6
Kenley Jansen Dodgers 229 473 475.2 2.08 1.84 17.2
Bryan Shaw Indians 11 473 445.2 3.13 3.51 4.0
Tony Watson Dodgers 30 473 452.0 2.69 3.61 3.5

Bartolo Colon is 44 years old. He’s pitched in a lot of games. Rodney’s been slinging arrows for a decade and a half and the 40-year-old leads all active pitchers in games played. Not all players on the list here will be active for the postseason, but the playoffs will at least give them a shot at getting a World Series ring. Another chart showing innings doesn’t seem necessary, but I should note that both Jorge de la Rosa and Charlie Morton have exceeded 1,000 MLB innings and haven’t yet won.

There probably isn’t a wrong way to pull for a postseason team, but it’s going to be very hard to root against Carlos Beltran, along with Justin Verlander and the not-quite-as-easy-to-cheer-for-even-though-he-enforces-the-right-way-to-play-the-game Brian McCann. Cleveland is perhaps a more compelling figure team-wise given their small-market status and proximity to a championship last season. Redemption for Clayton Kershaw or a heroic performance from Max Scherzer would be fantastic, too. Postseason baseball is here, and whether your team made it, there’s always something for which to cheer. Especially Carlos Beltran.





Craig Edwards can be found on twitter @craigjedwards.

19 Comments
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Original Greaser Bob
6 years ago

I guess I haven’t looked at career WAR for active pitchers in awhile. If Verlander is considered a HOFer is Greinke with 1 or 2 more good seasons?

emrldwpnmember
6 years ago

And what about Scherzer? He’s only at 43 WAR, but presumably about to win his 3rd Cy Young

Edward2715
6 years ago

I think that he is on his way to be a Hall of Famer if he can keep on pitching good for a few more seasons. His WAR is 56.2 the AVG of the 62 HOF pitchers is 73.9, Also he is on his way to finish his career with more than 200 Wins and maybe 3000 Strikeouts being one of only 10 pitchers to win the Cy Young and the MVP on the same year and Greinke 60.1 WAR (33 years old) a year younger than Verlander on his way to finish his career with more than 200 Wins and 3000 Strikeouts too Cy Young winner he is also going to be a Hall of Famer in my opinion both have a very similar career stats

Jon
6 years ago
Reply to  Edward2715

Punctuation is your friend.