On a long enough timeline the survival rate drops to zero. Baseball analysts began using the Pythagorean method back in the 1970s. Essentially the idea is that when you look at a team’s runs scored and runs allowed you should be able to reasonably predict their record. If you collect enough data you will realize that most teams will finish around where they should be.
As logical and common sensical as that sounds, it flew in the face of the prevailing wisdom at the time. The experts would utter adages like, “the great teams win the close ones.