What is the Biggest MLB Pennant-Race Choke Job of the last 25 years?

[Quid Pro Clowe]

No 2012 Rangers?

Led al west by 5 with 9 left and 2 with 3 left. Not only did they lose the west, they got dominated by Joe Saunders in the wc when they had Darish pitching.

 

[Fish on The Sand]

How are the 2005 Indians up here when they weren't even in a pennant race?

 

[Terry Yake]

No 2012 Rangers?

Led al west by 5 with 9 left and 2 with 3 left. Not only did they lose the west, they got dominated by Joe Saunders in the wc when they had Darish pitching.

probably because technically they made the "playoffs"

nonetheless, still a brutal collapse. hamilton dropping that fly ball is still hilarious to watch

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

probably because technically they made the "playoffs"

nonetheless, still a brutal collapse. hamilton dropping that fly ball is still hilarious to watch

But the odds of them not winning the west with 9, and even 3 games left were astronomically low. Then they blew the play in game game in which they had a huge pitching advantage.

Add in 2011 ws, that year, this year and I don't feel too bad about the A's shortcomings in the playoffs.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

How are the 2005 Indians up here when they weren't even in a pennant race?

That is a good point

White Sox led the division wire to wire that year

 

[Fish on The Sand]

That is a good point

White Sox led the division wire to wire that year

I know the Indians got to within a tie in August that year but they never passed the White Sox and were never a serious threat to pass them in the final weeks of the season. The Indians did screw up royally in the final weekend of the season by virtue of getting swept by the White Sox who were resting starters and it cost them a Wild Card, but this was specifically for a pennant race. In fact, its even in bold in the OP.

 

[robert terwilliger]

so what you're saying is that hawkman can't even make polls right now?

 

[Say Hey Kid]

so what you're saying is that hawkman can't even make polls right now?

You're never gonna get over him, are you?

 

[BackToTheBrierePatch]

07 Mets. they had that 7 game lead with 17 left and finished 4-13 or whatever it was.
they also decided to rest some of their starting pitching for the post season. Mainly Pedro Martinez and paid the price. They were also playing bottom feeders in the final 3 weeks and still blew it.

 

[Fenway]

 

[Sarcastic]

2011 Red Sox AINEC. They were hyped as possibly the greatest Red Sox team ever is the cherry on top.

 

[Big Phil]

I picked 2008 Mets, meant to pick 2007. Yeah, that was awful. Letterman had a field day with that.

If we're going back before that I would say the 1951 Dodgers.

I don't think the 1993 Giants belong here. They were going against the Braves who were an excellent team and they actually won most of their games at the end of the season. They went 14-4 to end the season. There was a lot of ground they lost in the July and August months but when I think of a collapse I think of a team that has it in the bag in, say, September and finds a way to lose it.

 

[Big Phil]

Just double checking the 2007 Mets and it really is as bad as we remember. They were up 7 games on September 12th. Then the collapse happens. They finish the season 5-11. So basically it goes from feeling very comfortable and a manager starting to think about how he should rotate his pitching staff to prepare for the playoffs to being completely out of it at the end. All within two and a half weeks.

 

[HisIceness]

I was going to vote for the '07 Mets considering not only their blown lead but also the fact that the eventual division winner Phillies got off to such a piss-poor start, but yeah I remember experts were hyping up the '11 Red Sox as one the best teams ever. So I guess it has to be them.

 

[Fenway]

I was going to vote for the '07 Mets considering not only their blown lead but also the fact that the eventual division winner Phillies got off to such a piss-poor start, but yeah I remember experts were hyping up the '11 Red Sox as one the best teams ever. So I guess it has to be them.

 

[BMOK33]

More than 30 years but the 1964 Phillies have the biggest collapse ever. They were 6 up with 12 to play and went 2-10. That even beats the 2007 Mets...the 2007 Phillies went 13-4 to catch the Mets. The 1964 Reds or Cardinals (I forgot who) caught the Phillies only going like 8-4

 

[Blitzkrug]

2011 Sox. Even more hilarious is that they had Baltimore on the ropes in game 162 and they still blew it.

 

[Rocko604]

2011 Red Sox. The baseball gods were so mad at us that they sent Bobby Valentine to manage us the following season.

 

[EpochLink]

If I can go way back past 25 years, the 1987 Blue Jays choked so bad down the stretch it was terrible...all they had to do was win 1, lost em all and Detroit won the AL East.

 

[BMOK33]

2011 Sox. Even more hilarious is that they had Baltimore on the ropes in game 162 and they still blew it.

The Yankees imploding down in Tampa was funny too. They blew a 7-0 or 8-0 lead with 5 outs to go. There are many people who think the Yankees did it intentionally too...I find that hard to believe.

 

[optimus2861]

If I can go way back past 25 years, the 1987 Blue Jays choked so bad down the stretch it was terrible...all they had to do was win 1, lost em all and Detroit won the AL East.

Very painful memory. They lost their last 7 straight, including being swept in Detroit to hand the Tigers the crown. Lost all three of the final series to the Tigers by 1 run, including 1-0 in the final game.

 

[Mightygoose]

Voted the 2011 Red Sox, that last day of the regular season was legendary on so many fronts.

Expanding past 25 years....yes the '87 Jays we're sooooo painfull

 

[TNT87]

'07 Mets definitely.

 

[NJDevs26]

07 Mets. they had that 7 game lead with 17 left and finished 4-13 or whatever it was.
they also decided to rest some of their starting pitching for the post season. Mainly Pedro Martinez and paid the price. They were also playing bottom feeders in the final 3 weeks and still blew it.

That's really why I still think it's '07 but I won't argue against anyone who wants to say the Red Sox, the chicken and beer one was brutal too.

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

More than 30 years but the 1964 Phillies have the biggest collapse ever. They were 6 up with 12 to play and went 2-10. That even beats the 2007 Mets...the 2007 Phillies went 13-4 to catch the Mets. The 1964 Reds or Cardinals (I forgot who) caught the Phillies only going like 8-4

6 with 12 to play is still less odds than 5 with 9 to go.

Still don't see an argument against 2012 Texas.