The biggest chokes in MLB history...

[Upton]

This based on a club's POFF (% chance of making the playoffs) the date it was at it's highest..and that particular team's subsequent failure to get into the postseason....

1. 1995 California Angels-99.9% 8/24/1995

2. 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers-99.7% 8/13/1951

3. 2007 New York Mets-99.5% 9/13/2007

http://www.coolstandings.com/Collapses.asp?col=&sort=&showteam=&sim=s&sn=2011

Big long list at the link, encompassing several hundred clubs and more than a century..The reason I'm focusing on the top three is because on 9/3 of this year, the Red Sox had a 9 game lead in the Wild Card and a POFF of 99.6%...http://www.coolstandings.com/baseball_standings.asp

So, if Boston continues to falter, it will be the 3rd largest collapse in MLB history..

[joeybee12]

1. Well, the question is no longer IF they continue to falter...they will...

they will probably go 0-6 their last six games, maybe 1-5, and that won't be enough.

[Upton]

2. I sure hope they don't..

I'm rooting for them to make it....only because I hate the Yankees so much, plus I enjoy watching playoff games telecast from Fenway.

I was watching last night and after Beckett gave up the tying HR in the 7th, Francona brought him out again for the 8th and even left him in there after he gave up a lead off hit. Doesn't make much sense to me, particularly with Beckett coming off an injury, but I guess it's because the Red Sox appear to have absolutely nobody who can shut down the opposition..

[joeybee12]

3. They have no real pitching and they have a lousy manager...

a recipe for disaster. Although i do think they're the only ones who can beat satan in the playoffs, so I see your point.

[wilt the stilt]

4. Phillies 1964

I'm sorry but Phillies in 1964 were up 6 and 1/2 games with 13 games. That is a collapse.

[Upton]

5. They're right up there..

'64 Phillies are #8, having had a POFF of 96.3% on 9/20/1964..

[wilt the stilt]

6. I was alive then

and if you look closely at a lot of those standings they had leads in August. The Phils had a big lead with 13 games left. Sorry but cal angels isn't even close. Angels were 67-47 on 8/24. that is 20 games over .500 but that is only 114 games into the season. They had 48 games left. That is a lot of games. Phils had played 149 games.

[Upton]

7. You're entitled to your opinion...

I'll go with these folks though...POFF is based on simulations run 1 million times on the balance of the season which calculate the odds of a team winning it's div and/or wild card.

Obviously, there are a lot of variables involved which must be taken into consideration, much more so than who was up by how many games on what date..

[wilt the stilt]

8. Yogi must have a good one for statistics

sometime statistics can lie.

[Faygo Kid]

9. I remember that one well. As a Tigers' fan, I prefer to remember 1987.

That was some comeback. Great list. Thanks for posting.

Can't wait for the playoffs and Verlander pitching the opener.

[Ishoutandscream2]

10. My Rays are two back in the wildcard

They need to close these last six hard. Plus, the Rangers (the hometown team) is fixin' to clinch. Life is good.

[HuckleB]

11. What if the Brewers or Braves blow it?

They've both been in a free fall, as well.

[Upton]

12. Brewers aren't going to blow it..

they have a 5 game lead in the div with 6 to play, all at home against the Marlins and Pirates.

If the Brewers did though, they'd be tied for first in historic collapses, since their POFF as of today is 99.9%..

[HuckleB]

13. Well, this Brewers fan hopes you're right, but I'm still nervous.

One reason why:

Standings in the AL East on September 29, 1982:

Mil 94-63
Bal 90-67

Standings in the AL East on October 2, 1982:

Mil 94-67
Bal 94-67

Yes, the Brewers pounded Baltimore on October 3, to take the division, but nonetheless...

[Redbear]

14. It is a interesting question about what is the biggest collapse

The '64 Phillies just stepped off a cliff. They lost TEN straight.

The '95 Angels were really good for a long stretch winning more than 60% of their first 111 games ... and then really bad for a long stretch losing more than 67% of their last 34 games (only 145 games played that season due to the strike.)