Sporting News contributor Gerry Fraley, who covered the Texas Rangers for the STATS Scouting Notebook back in the day, presented some interesting research last week.

Fraley’s work suggests that the likes of the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays may be in serious trouble following slow starts this spring. Since the advent of the wild card at the start of the 1995 season, 161 big league clubs have had losing records through 10 games. Among those 161 teams, Fraley discovered only 21 of them secured playoff berths.

Those are staggering numbers. Perhaps a look at those 21 teams will shed some light on the significance of a slow start.

Postseason Teams with Losing Records through 10 Games, since 1995

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thru 10. . . .Record
1995 Reds. . . . . . . . . . 2-8. . . . . . . 85- 59
1996 Braves. . . . . . . . .4-6. . . . . . . 96- 66
1996 Dodgers. . . . . . . .4-6. . . . . . . 90- 72
1999 Diamondbacks. . . .4-6. . . . . . 100- 62
2000 Athletics. . . . . . . 4-6. . . . . . . 91- 70
2000 Mets. . . . . . . . . .4-6. . . . . . . 94- 68
2000 Giants. . . . . . . . . 3-7. . . . . . . 97- 65

2001 Diamondbacks. . . .4-6. . . . . . .92- 70
2001 Braves. . . . . . . . .4-6. . . . . . .88- 74
2001 Athletics. . . . . . . 2-8. . . . . .102- 60
2002 Angels. . . . . . . . . 3-7. . . . . . 99- 63
2003 Twins. . . . . . . . . 4-6. . . . . . .90- 72
2003 Braves. . . . . . . . .4-6. . . . . .101- 61
2003 Marlins. . . . . . . . 4-6. . . . . . .91- 71

2004 Cardinals. . . . . . .4-6. . . . . .105- 57
2005 Yankees. . . . . . . 4-6. . . . . . 95- 67
2006 Padres. . . . . . . . 3-7. . . . . . 88- 74
2007 Cubs. . . . . . . . . 4-6. . . . . . .85- 77
2007 Phillies. . . . . . . .2-8. . . . . . .89- 73
2008 Dodgers. . . . . . . 4-6. . . . . . 84- 78
2008 Phillies. . . . . . . .4-6. . . . . . .92- 70

Surprisingly, four of those 21 clubs still won 100 games despite struggling in the early going. The 2004 Cardinals were the winningest team among the group, with 105 victories, but more noteworthy were the 2001 A’s. Oakland lost eight of its first 10 games that spring, but then went 100-52 the rest of the way.

You may have noticed that the reigning World Series champions make the list. Yes, the 2008 Phillies started 4-6, but went on to beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the Fall Classic.

In fact, seven of these teams reached the World Series during this 14-year span. Four of them, including last year’s Phillies, were on the field to record the last out and celebrate a World Series title. All four have won in the last eight years, as the 2001 Diamondbacks, 2002 Angels and 2003 Marlins accomplished the feat in successive seasons.

Three other clubs -- the 1996 Braves, 2000 Mets and 2004 Cardinals -- lost out on a championship in the final series of the season. In an added twist, the 2004 Cardinals were the only 100-win team in the group to play in the Fall Classic. The other three -- the 1999 Diamondbacks, 2000 Mets and 2003 Braves -- didn’t follow up on 100-win campaigns with a World Series appearance. So, 10 of the 21 teams either won 100 games or played in the World Series.

Obviously not all teams below .500 after 10 games are alike. Many of them were destined to post losing records, and did so right from the start.

The teams on the above list clearly were loaded with talent. If the talent is there, the lesson is there’s still plenty of time for it to surface. The catch, though, even for a talented team, is to not let a slow start snowball. That’s a lesson learned first-hand by last year’s Detroit Tigers.