Streaks

Start 2-7, then go 10-1. Yes, I know, it's probably chance, but I've been wondering whether some team characteristics might lead to streakiness and, if there are, whether they're positive or negative, and what it might say about our Giants. For instance, it seems like a winning streak relies on not having a very soft back of the rotation. Good fourth and fifth starters mean being in every game. That'd be a positive.

Any thoughts? I just got this response at a BP chat, but I bet the collective wisdom of the chroniclers might shed more insight.

lyricalkiller (The OC): The Giants have been ridiculously streaky so far. Maybe it's just sample, but are there factors that would make a team prone to streakiness, and would they be positive or negative qualities?

Dan Fox: What comes to mind to me is the bullpen. They have an inordinate amount of control over tight games and so a bad bullpen can blow games that were otherwise won and a good one can keep your team in there and allow them to just get over the top. That said, I don't know of any studies that show this particular relationship or any other based on team attributes.

I think for the most part team streaks, just like hitter's streakiness, can be explained by chance.