D-backs and Rangers: From 100 Losses to the World Series
The Diamondbacks will take on the Texas Rangers for the 2023 World Series. Both teams represent historically quick turnarounds from rock bottom, coming off 100+ losses in the 2021 season. In fact, those two teams were second and third in the reverse order standings after the season. They join the 1914 Boston Braves, 1967 Red Sox, 1969 New York Mets, and 2008 Tampa Bay Rays as the only teams in MLB history to go from 100+ losses to a World Series in just two seasons. The D-backs have the most losses of that group with 110.
So how did they achieve such a quick turnaround? They added the right combination of players, picked the right manager to lead their players, and played with an underdog mentality in the postseason. The avenues in which they got there are different, as the Rangers were much bigger spenders in the free agent market and have a Top 10 payroll. The D-backs are a bottom 10 payroll team, but have shaped their roster through developing talent and clever trades. However there are a lot of similarities between the two teams that has fueled their championship run.
They started by investing a lot of money on their roster. For the Rangers, that meant making free agent additions while the D-backs decide to use that money to keep their best players around. While Texas went out and got Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Jacob deGrom for nine-figure contracts, Arizona signed Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll to $76 million and $111 million extensions. Seager and Semien have been two of the top five position players in the American League and likely to get MVP votes while Carroll and Marte have been the D-backs best two hitters this season with the latter taking home the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player award.
Both teams boast a star rookie outfielder. Carroll immediately became the face of the franchise the minute he signed his extension. His exploits have been covered here all season, as he became the first rookie to ever compile a 25 home run and 50 stolen base season. The Rangers have Evan Carter, who has taken the baseball world by storm since debuting on September 8th. Both players have put up exceptional numbers in the postseason, with Carroll slashing .295/.396/.455 and a .308/.449/.538 line for Carter. While Carroll is more essential for his own team's success, it would be a mistake to discount the impact that Carter has provided his team.
Additionally they both have a compelling story about perseverance to root for, with a former castoffs Christian Walker and Adolis García becoming key players for their respective teams. Perhaps it's fitting, as both players wear the number 53, offer a similar offensive skill set, and play good defense at their respective positions.
Walker was blocked by Chris Davis in Baltimore, then Paul Goldschmidt in Arizona before the first base job opened up in the 2019 season. Since that season, the D-backs first baseman has hit .253 with 115 home runs and an adjusted OPS+ of 114. He's really blossomed the past two seasons, slugging 69 home runs and could potentially win consecutive Gold Glove Awards at the position.
García was sold to the Rangers by the St. Louis Cardinals following the 2019 season and was outrighted off the 40-man roster after failing to carve out a role in 2020. However he made his mark after getting added to the roster the following April. Since then he's been one of baseball's better players with 97 home runs, a 111 OPS+, and 11.6 Baseball Reference WAR. After a monstrous final three games, he was named ALCS MVP. His combination of light tower power, strong arm, and solid defense could play a factor in the World Series.
The final similarity is the team is led by their 1-2 punch in the rotation. The D-backs have rode Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly all year, as the duo have been Top 15 National League starters for the past two seasons. The Rangers originally planned for Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi to anchor their rotation, but deGrom underwent Tommy John surgery in June. They found a capable replacement in left-hander Jordan Montgomery at the trade deadline. Montgomery has been great for the Rangers, pitching to a 2.79 ERA in the regular season followed by a 1.95 ERA in the postseason. The four games between these four pitchers could decide how the World Series goes.
The World Series will begin tomorrow night at Globe Life Field. What this series could ultimately represent is teams that build their roster and coaching staff the right way can enjoy future success.
