It was asked in a recent thread if the Jays this year have swept many series and how that is vs what a division leader should do. Figured lets check.
Using good old Baseball Reference and Excel. I'm not counting playoffs for Jay playoff teams.
2016 Jays: 4 sweeps so far in 43 series (just starting #44 now with a loss).
2015 Jays: 10 sweeps in total, 9 by September. 51 series in total
1993 Jays: 11 sweeps, of note - never were swept. Only 6 by September (7th ended on Sept 1st).
1992 Jays: 13 sweeps, 11 by Sept 1st, 52 series total
1989 Jays: 9 sweeps, 7 by Sept 1st, 52 series total
1985 Jays: 12 sweeps, 10 by Sept 1st, 52 series total
Hmm. Seems 4 by September 1st is unusual in Jays reaching the playoffs history.
Lets see some other teams this year - division leaders and AL East opponents with a shot at playoffs.
Cubs: 14 sweeps
Red Sox: 7 sweeps
Orioles: 7 sweeps
NYY: 3 sweeps (even fewer than the Jays)
Cleveland: 12 sweeps
Texas: 9 sweeps
Washington: 9 sweeps
Dodgers: 5 sweeps
So, what does this all tell us? Not a lot unless we start digging into individual teams and try to see what commonalities the teams with lots of sweeps have vs those without.
Using good old Baseball Reference and Excel. I'm not counting playoffs for Jay playoff teams.
2016 Jays: 4 sweeps so far in 43 series (just starting #44 now with a loss).
2015 Jays: 10 sweeps in total, 9 by September. 51 series in total
1993 Jays: 11 sweeps, of note - never were swept. Only 6 by September (7th ended on Sept 1st).
1992 Jays: 13 sweeps, 11 by Sept 1st, 52 series total
1989 Jays: 9 sweeps, 7 by Sept 1st, 52 series total
1985 Jays: 12 sweeps, 10 by Sept 1st, 52 series total
Hmm. Seems 4 by September 1st is unusual in Jays reaching the playoffs history.
Lets see some other teams this year - division leaders and AL East opponents with a shot at playoffs.
Cubs: 14 sweeps
Red Sox: 7 sweeps
Orioles: 7 sweeps
NYY: 3 sweeps (even fewer than the Jays)
Cleveland: 12 sweeps
Texas: 9 sweeps
Washington: 9 sweeps
Dodgers: 5 sweeps
So, what does this all tell us? Not a lot unless we start digging into individual teams and try to see what commonalities the teams with lots of sweeps have vs those without.
