Though football is often thought to be the king of parity, recent history has shown that to not be the case. According to Jayson Stark at ESPN, from 2006 to 2011 50% of NFL teams made it back to the playoffs the following year, compared to less than 40% of baseball teams. Though it is true that the Yankees play nearly every October, the turnover for nearly all other teams is pretty significant.

That being said, some baseball teams are certainly more consistent performers from year to year than others. The following table shows the most consistent teams in baseball from 1998 (last expansion) to 2012. (For example, Baltimore’s figure of 5.3 means on average their win total went either up or down 5.3 every year from 1998 to 2012, which represents the lowest fluctuation in all of baseball over that time period.)







Of course, being the most consistent team in baseball can be either good or bad, as evidenced by the teams at the top of the list. Both Baltimore and Pittsburgh have been among baseball’s most consistently poor performers since 1998, whereas the Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies have been among baseball’s best teams over the same time frame. (It is interesting to note, however, that of those five teams only the Yankees played up – or down- to their reputation in 2012 with the Orioles and Pirates posting quality seasons and the Phillies and Red Sox not living up to expectations.)

Here’s a breakdown of the top 5 most and least consistent teams:

Most Consistent:

1. Baltimore Orioles (5.3)

Despite’s Baltimore 24-win increase from 2011 to 2012, the Orioles remain baseball’s most consistent team, due to the fact that since 1998 their win total only changed by 10 or more twice (also in 2001 when they won 63 games, compared to 74 in 2000).

2. Pittsburgh Pirates (5.7)

It is somewhat surprising that the Pirates are not at the top of the list, considering their 21-year playoff drought. However, they have often fluctuated enough between really bad (win totals in the 60s) to somewhat competitive (win totals in the mid-70s) to just miss out on the top spot.

3. Boston Red Sox (5.8)

Similar to the Orioles, the Red Sox saw a jump in their average difference in wins in 2012 due to winning 21 fewer games than in 2011. Otherwise, the Red Sox only saw two other seasons with a change in their win total of more than 10: 2002 and 2007 when their win total jumped from the 80s the previous season to the 90s.

4. New York Yankees (6.2)

The Yankees on this list because their win total dipped below 94 in only two seasons since 1998 (2000 and 2008). Had they not won so many games in 1998 (114) they would be even higher on this list.

5. Philadelphia Phillies (6.4)

Since 1998 the Phillies have had two seasons in which their win totals jumped 21 games from the previous year (2012 and 2011), but otherwise have had win totals mostly in the 80s (through 2007) or in the 90s or higher (since 2008 with the exception of 2012).

Least Consistent

1. Arizona Diamondbacks (15.6)

A review of Arizona’s relatively brief history since 1998 explains why they have been baseball’s least consistent team. Like all expansion teams they lost a lot of games in their first year. However, they surprisingly became a good team quickly, winning 100 games in their second year of existence and winning the World Series in their fourth season. However, three years later (2004) they dropped all the way to 54 wins yet three more years later (2007) they were back up to 90 wins. After another three years (2010) naturally they won just 65 games, and of course followed that up with 94 wins a year later. Fans of the Diamondbacks rarely have a good idea of what they are in for year in and year out.

2. Seattle Mariners (14.8)

Though Seattle has not been good for some time, when they were good they were really good. And when they have been bad they are generally pretty bad. Since 1998 the Mariners have had four seasons (all in a row) of 90 or more wins, including 116 in 2011. However, over that same time span they have only had two seasons with win totals in the 80s, and from 2007 to 2010 jumped back and forth between win totals in the 60s and 80s.

3. Chicago Cubs (12.9)

While the last few years have been pretty consistently ugly for Cubs’ fans (call it the curse of Alfonso Soriano), there have been some good seasons sprinkled in. The Cubs have also had enough win totals in the 60s to bounce back from that have led to their inclusion on this list.

4. Detroit Tigers (11.6)

Detroit may be something of a surprise to make this list. Generally speaking through 2005 the Tigers were not at all good, but have been competitive in most seasons since 2006. However, the Tigers have had changes in their win total in the double digits four times in the last seven years and nine times total since 1998.

5. San Diego Padres (11.3)

I was surprised to see San Diego on this list, however their win total fluctuation was quite pronounced from 2008 to 2011 when they averaged a whopping 18 game difference in their win total from the previous year.