http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/79921/your-team-is-in-first-place-but-is-there-reason-to-panicFound this interesting, and a lesson to not count your chickens.
Congratulations, your team is in first place! What does that mean about 50 games into the season? Let’s check the standings for the past five seasons at a similar point in the schedule and see how many first-place teams ended up winning their divisions:
2016: Four of six (Red Sox, Rangers, Nationals, Cubs) won the division. The Indians were 0.5 games behind the Royals; the Dodgers were 4.5 behind the Giants.
2015: Two of six (Cardinals, Dodgers). The Blue Jays were 3.5 games behind the Yankees and Rays; the Royals were 0.5 games behind the Twins; the Rangers were five games behind the Astros; the Mets were 0.5 behind the Nationals.
2014: One of six (Tigers). The Orioles were 3.5 behind the Blue Jays; the Angels were 1.5 behind the A’s; the Nationals were three behind the Braves; the Cardinals were 1.5 behind the Brewers; the Dodgers were five behind the Giants.
2013: Four of six (Red Sox, Tigers, Braves, Cardinals). The A’s were three games behind the Rangers; the Dodgers were 7.5 behind the Diamondbacks (and in last place).
2012: Two of six (Nationals, Reds). The Yankees were 1.5 behind the Orioles and Rays; the Tigers were 5.5 behind the White Sox; the A’s were nine behind the Rangers; the Giants were 5.5 behind the Dodgers.
Thirteen teams held on to first place. That's about half of them. That history suggests that three of the current division leaders won’t hold on to their leads. What areas should fans of those teams panic about? Let’s take a look:
