No, the team they have didn't win the WS. The team they had last year had a closer and another bullpen pitcher capable of throwing 100 MPH. Kelly was hit and miss, but last year's pen was not the same as this tire fire. Couple that with below expectation performances by players like Sale, JD, and Mookie and you have a mediocre team. It doesn't take much to go from a champion to a wild card contender.
Top six relievers listed by # of appearances, one is 2018 and one is 2019. Which one looks like a tire fire and which one looks like a championship bullpen?
1.70 ERA, 2.87 FIP, 280 ERA+, 1.027 WHIP
3.41 ERA, 4.71 FIP, 140 ERA+, 1.136 WHIP
4.93 ERA, 2.85 FIP, 97 ERA+, 1.356 WHIP
3.48 ERA, 3.36 FIP, 137 ERA+, 1.114 WHIP
4.08 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 117 ERA+, 1.755 WHIP
2.51 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 190 ERA+, 1.116 WHIP
4.39 ERA, 3.57 FIP, 101 ERA+, 1.355 WHIP
4.20 ERA, 4.19 FIP, 105 ERA+, 1.333 WHIP
2.74 ERA, 3.13 FIP, 161 ERA+, 0.995 WHIP
3.65 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 121 ERA+, 1.265 WHIP
3.18 ERA, 4.15 FIP, 139 ERA+, 1.447 WHIP
3.27 ERA, 4.42 FIP, 136 ERA+, 1.210 WHIP
Is it really as simple as not having Kelly and Kimbrel? Kelly's sporting an ERA north of 6 (4.30 FIP) in LA. Many of the blown saves everyone is bemoaning have come before the 9th inning so I fail to see how much of a difference Kimbrel would make in that regard.