Most Recent Playoff Appearance: 2023 (Lost NLCS to Arizona, 4-3)
What is the purpose of baseball? There are no wrong answers. Maybe you love grass-cutting patterns or you’re into watching grown men spit sunflower seeds and wads of gum. That’s all fine, but for most people, it’s some combination of the following:
- To win. The chart at the top of this preview says “Recent Performance,” and lists three-digit decimals such as .556 and .537 without saying what these numbers mean. You recognize a winning percentage when you see one because it’s the most important statistic in a game—and a website—overflowing with them. It’s the genesis of all other stats because, in the end, they all connect back to helping a team win games and championships.
- To make money. This is for the owners, the high-level front office folks, and Rob Manfred. The first paragraph lied—this is the wrong answer.
- To have fun. If you’re not enjoying yourself and you’re not under contract with the Angels through 2026, what’s the point? From kids playing tee ball all the way up to MLB, this is meant to be fun for the players, the fans, and everyone involved. What you appreciate about it is up to you, but you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t derive joy at some level of the game.
When we talk about MLB, we tend to focus on winning first and foremost. Analyzing defensive positioning, evaluating prospects, and measuring pitch shapes help us discern which players and teams will be better than others. We talk about money a lot too, especially as it connects to winning, such as contract extensions, free agency, luxury tax thresholds, and John Fisher becoming the antagonist from Major League.
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