Originally Posted by
moonslav59
I think the whole "were better on paper" argument was faulty.
We won 108 games. It wasn't luck. It wasn't by mistake.
On paper, our catchers looked like the worst in MLB. That is so far from the truth, it makes me laugh. (And this from a "numbers guy".)
On paper, JBJ was just a 2.8 WAR guy. His weak start at the plate muddied the numbers.
On paper, Pearce is just a role player. Holt is just a sub. Our pen is weak beyond Kimbrel. Price wilts under pressure. Verlander and Severino are Gods.
Many of us knew better.
We won 108 games and lost just 54. In the playoffs, versus tougher opponents, we are now 7 and 2. There should be no surprises here.