The 2013 Houston Astros:
The 2013 Astros went 105-57 and won the NL Central. They scored 975 runs (by far the best in the league that year) behind a lineup fueled by two speedy players at the top: CF Charles Blacmon (.319 16 HR 52 SB 117 runs 74 RBI .890 OPS) and RF Ryan Westmoreland (.254 13 HR 45 SB 97 R 69 RBI .788 OPS) and a middle of the order that feature slugging catcher Taylor Teagarden. (.287 33HR 92 R 83 RBI .946 OPS) and 3B Neftali Soto (.303 31 HR 95 R 131 RBI .883 OPS).
Their pitching staff was also the fifth best in all of baseball behind future HOFer Josh Lindbolm (14-6 2.94 ERA in 198 IP 180k) and Aroldis Chapman (14-9 2.82 ERA 188 IP 219K).
Houston was also one of the best defensive teams with a .710 defensive average. They lead all of baseball in team batting average, homeruns, and OPS. They lost in the NLCS to the Giants.
The 2023 Florida Marlins:
The 2023 Marlins had the best record in all of baseball that year with 115 wins. They were lead by their pitching staff which allowed the fewest runs in baseball by a wide margin. Their 486 runs allowed that season were 160 fewer than the next closest team. Not surprisingly the staff was lead by FCM's best all-time pitcher Donovan Pace who would go on to win the Cy Young award with a 2.39 ERA in 249 innings while striking out 254 and posting a 21-5 record.
Also in the rotation were future HOFers RJ Seidel and Brett Hunter who had a 2.81 and 2.06 ERA respectively. The bullpen was also dominant with another future HOFer in Alan Jackson saving 53 games with a 2.07 ERA.
The lineup was less spectacular, posting a roughly league average number of runs, but they were boosted by the top of the lineup in the form of HOFer Rafeal Romero who played LF and put up a .328, 8 HR, 65 SB, 103 R, 48 RBI season from the top of the lineup.
The Marlins lost in 4 games to the Chicago Cubs in the opening round of the playoffs.
The 2032 Los Angeles Angels:
The 2032 Angels were a few years removed from their back-to-back title wins, but still had the same core of great players to work with. (We'll be seeing more of them in the main list) This version managed an 111 win season and a run differential of 300 better than their opponents.
The team had good balance, they were one of the better run scoring teams while also one of the better pitching teams in the league. They weren't dominant in any one area, but were very good at most everything. The lineup was lead by HOFer Peter Carson at the top who hit .329 with 12 HR, 44 SB, 130 R, and 76 RBI on the way to an .886 OPS along with his elite CF defense. In the middle of the order Tim Vandyke had a solid season hitting .301 with 23 HR 90 R 86 RBI and a .926 OPS.
The pitching staff had four starters with ERAs under 3.20, lead by D-Train (Demont Williams) and his 201 masterful innings of 2.78 ERA ball and a 13-7 record.
The Angels went on to the World Series to face a surprising Pirates team and won their third title in 5 years.
The 2027 Florida Marlins: 772-527 +245 111-51
WS Title CY
Well, this is going to sound a lot like the last Florida team: best pitching staff in baseball but this time it lead them to a World Series victory. The team wasn't as dominant pitching as it had been in 2023, but it was still number 1 in all of baseball. Once again that effort was lead by Cy Young winner Donovan Pace who posted a 1.90 ERA in 203 innings with 181 ks and a 19-2 record. Alan Jackson was still holding down the bullpen with 47 saves and a 2.40 ERA. The rest of the rotation all had ERAs under 3.50.
CF Rafeal Romero had 73 steals and 120 runs scored to lead the offense which also got 28 HR and 117 RBI from their 3B Julio Ramos. They also got 26 HR and 102 RBI from their catcher Watamaro Suzuki. It was also the season that RF Jamie Marinkovich busted out with a .322 average and 37 steals to help an effort in swiping bags that lead all of baseball that year with 229.
The team managed to finally break through in the playoffs behind Donovan Pace, OF Fredric Baez, and SS Joel Block. They defeated the Los Angeles Angels in 5 games to take their second FCM title.
Well, this is going to sound a lot like the last Florida team: best pitching staff in baseball but this time it lead them to a World Series victory. The team wasn't as dominant pitching as it had been in 2023, but it was still number 1 in all of baseball. Once again that effort was lead by Cy Young winner Donovan Pace who posted a 1.90 ERA in 203 innings with 181 ks and a 19-2 record. Alan Jackson was still holding down the bullpen with 47 saves and a 2.40 ERA. The rest of the rotation all had ERAs under 3.50.
CF Rafeal Romero had 73 steals and 120 runs scored to lead the offense which also got 28 HR and 117 RBI from their 3B Julio Ramos. They also got 26 HR and 102 RBI from their catcher Watamaro Suzuki. It was also the season that RF Jamie Marinkovich busted out with a .322 average and 37 steals to help an effort in swiping bags that lead all of baseball that year with 229.
The team managed to finally break through in the playoffs behind Donovan Pace, OF Fredric Baez, and SS Joel Block. They defeated the Los Angeles Angels in 5 games to take their second FCM title.
The 2042 Baltimore Orioles: 976-677 +299 CY 107-55
The 2043 Orioles lead all of baseball in scoring and were fifth in all of baseball in runs allowed. That combination pushed them to the best record in FCM in 2042 and a chance at winning their second title in three years. Unfortunately, the team was swept out by the eventual champion Texas Rangers in the first round.
The O's league leading offense was lead by a very balanced attack with 6 players that recorded at least 20 HRs. Their leadoff hitter and CF Paul Turkenitz hit .335 with 10 HR 36 SB 113 R a .407 OBP and 55 RBI. The middle of their order was supported by their corner outfielders Joe Rousseau and Tom Kalmbach. Rousseau posted 26 HR and 111 RBI while Kalmbach had 30 HR and 109 RBI.
The 2043 Orioles lead all of baseball in scoring and were fifth in all of baseball in runs allowed. That combination pushed them to the best record in FCM in 2042 and a chance at winning their second title in three years. Unfortunately, the team was swept out by the eventual champion Texas Rangers in the first round.
The O's league leading offense was lead by a very balanced attack with 6 players that recorded at least 20 HRs. Their leadoff hitter and CF Paul Turkenitz hit .335 with 10 HR 36 SB 113 R a .407 OBP and 55 RBI. The middle of their order was supported by their corner outfielders Joe Rousseau and Tom Kalmbach. Rousseau posted 26 HR and 111 RBI while Kalmbach had 30 HR and 109 RBI.
The pitching staff also featured a balanced attack with all 5 members of the staff having ERAs below 4, led by John Haller who went 19-5 with a 3.12 ERA in 181 IP. Luis Valarcel, Ricky Metheny, Scott Jones, and Dylan Mills combined for 59-26 record as part of a very effective rotation.
The team lead all of baseball in homeruns, OPS, and home wins with 60.
The 2019 New York Yankees:
Our last runner up team was a very successful Yankee team from early in the history of FCM. This core group will appear again a few times on our top 25 list and this team was one of the last in their run of success. They won 111 games but finished second to another team we'll see later on, but they outscored their opponents by 367 runs behind the second best offense in baseball and the third best pitching staff.
The team's offense was very deep but relied primarily on power. 5 regulars hit for over 20 homeruns and the team's .283 batting average and .372 OBP were the best in baseball. Their attack was lead by 1B Alan Bent, C Jon Lucroy, and 2B Enrique Rodriguez. Bent had a 302/430/516 slash line to go with 23 HR, 145 BBs, and 106 RBI. Lucroy had a slash line of 309/401/521 to go with 29 HRs, 121 RBI and 106 runs scored. Rodriguez was the team's most balanced hitter with a 115 runs scored, 23 HR, 16 SB, and a slash line of .284/413/468.
The team's pitching was dominated at the top end by two fantastic pitchers that helped keep the staff together despite all-stars Pat Venditte and Tim Lincecum missing half the season due to injury. Those two men were Blake Beavan and Michael Stutes. Stutes went on to win the Cy Young that year with an 18-6 record, 209 Ks in 216 innings, and an ERA of 2.92. Blake Beavan pitched 179 innings with 159 Ks and a record of 15-4.
The team, however, couldn't overcome their injuries and fell in 4 games to the Kansas City Royals in the first round of the playoffs.
Next up The 25th Best Team in FCM History: Royalty and a King
Our last runner up team was a very successful Yankee team from early in the history of FCM. This core group will appear again a few times on our top 25 list and this team was one of the last in their run of success. They won 111 games but finished second to another team we'll see later on, but they outscored their opponents by 367 runs behind the second best offense in baseball and the third best pitching staff.
The team's offense was very deep but relied primarily on power. 5 regulars hit for over 20 homeruns and the team's .283 batting average and .372 OBP were the best in baseball. Their attack was lead by 1B Alan Bent, C Jon Lucroy, and 2B Enrique Rodriguez. Bent had a 302/430/516 slash line to go with 23 HR, 145 BBs, and 106 RBI. Lucroy had a slash line of 309/401/521 to go with 29 HRs, 121 RBI and 106 runs scored. Rodriguez was the team's most balanced hitter with a 115 runs scored, 23 HR, 16 SB, and a slash line of .284/413/468.
The team's pitching was dominated at the top end by two fantastic pitchers that helped keep the staff together despite all-stars Pat Venditte and Tim Lincecum missing half the season due to injury. Those two men were Blake Beavan and Michael Stutes. Stutes went on to win the Cy Young that year with an 18-6 record, 209 Ks in 216 innings, and an ERA of 2.92. Blake Beavan pitched 179 innings with 159 Ks and a record of 15-4.
The team, however, couldn't overcome their injuries and fell in 4 games to the Kansas City Royals in the first round of the playoffs.
Next up The 25th Best Team in FCM History: Royalty and a King
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