Instead of power rankings this time around, let's dig a little deeper into FACTS instead of OPINIONS...
Currently leading the AL is the Oakland A's. There is no question that they are the unquestioned leader in the AL at this point of the season. Domi's guys have scored 642 runs (5.73 rpg) while allowing a league low 442 (3.94 rpg). With a 12 game lead at this point in the season, you can expect the A's to beat down the league and earn either a 1 or 2 seed going into the playoffs.
The other team that should walk into the playoffs is jnew's White Sox. The south side sluggers have scored 553 runs (4.93 rpg), and allowing (4.45 rpg). They hold a 9 game lead for the division. Neither Toronto or Minnesota should challenge for the division.
The AL South is a little more open than people think. Texas has led from the beginning. But akg's boys have shown occasional signs of weakness. While having a solid offense, their pitching has allowed 609 runs (5.4 rpg). The door is open for tk's Kansas City club as they rebounded from a very poor start to be only 6 games back. If their offense can pick up, they could close that gap even more. Even though the Rays have climbed out of a BIG hole to start the season, don't expect them to make a run on the division.
And now the most exciting division, the AL East. It's been a three way battle between crabman's Orioles, oe's Yankees, and jclark's Red Sox. Let's spend some time and break down the three teams:
Orioles:
Strengths: solid defense, high number of K's from pitchers, hits a lot of HR
Questions: allow a lot of HR (150), 13 blown saves, allow a LOT of walks, lowest amount of steals (10 vs 8 caught)
Yankees:
Strengths: A lot of successful steals (131 w/79% success), best fielding team in the AL (98.9% FP, 274 double plays), highest number of saves (43)
Questons: below average in hitting HR/2b, very high # of strikeouts (worst in AL), below avg OBP, 16 blown saves, lowest strikeout rate
Red Sox:
Strengths: Saved 35 of 45, worst of the 3 teams in defense (still 98.7%), Currently leading the three teams in runs scored (over Orioles by 1 run), Best OBP of the three (.342)
Questions: Most stolen bases, but not a good caught % (73%), only hit 122 hr.
Summary: the three teams mirror one another on paper. They are built the same way and very little separates them.
Wild Card Teams:
New York Yankees (would currently get 1st wc)
Boston Red Sox (would currently get 2nd wc)
Seattle Mariners - Only one game out. Better than expected offense. Potential 40/40 man Craig Frazier leads James Hunter, Rodney Magee, and Rodrigo Marin. Pitching staff questionable.
Kansas City Royals - Three games out. A team coming on strong and could even take their division. Inability to score runs consistently has been a problem. Great pitching.
Toronto Blue Jays - Six games out. Best offense outside of Texas. One of the worst pitching staffs.
Minnesota Twins - Eight games out. Pitching is a HUGE concern. Has allowed 42 more runs than they have scored.
Tampa Bay Rays - Eight games out. The ultimate dark horse. A team that played in the .300 range and had the worst...well...everything. Suddenly ranking with the best. A lot of teams stacked on top, but the talent that can overcome. Bullpen still a concern.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Power Rankings 3/16
It's about time you idiots had someone who knew what the hell he was talking about share some wisdom. You're welcome!
1. Florida Marlins: 57-32
These fishy bastards are going to make quite a run at it this season. Trading for next season's $110M man Lorenzo was a bold move. The guy is a bigtime stud on the mound, not unlike yours truly back in the day. With some pop in the lineup and another Baxter-like bullpen guy in Alicea to help as well, look out for the Marlins in October.
2. Oakland Athletics: 58-31
Are the other AL teams ever going to pull their heads out of their asses long enough to put together a team to stop these fuckers from rolling over them every year? It seems like they keep reloading with new Joses every few seasons. Is there a tunnel from Oakland to the Dominican Republic?
3. San Diego Padres: 55-34
This team is trying to test to see if there is such a thing as having too many ace pitchers. With a staff full of guys who pitch almost as good as I did, their playoff prospects look bright. I could come out of retirement and strike out most of the miserable excuses for hitters they roll up to the plate, but a few of them got enough pop to score a little and thanks to the pitchers, that is usually all they need.
4. Milwaukee Brewers: 55-34
Are they trying to win or collect former MVPs to hang out with Bobby Simmons? Sure, No Teeth Cressend is showing that his previous MVP might not have been a fluke. But dragging out Dee Dee's tired bones and thinking he still has anything left to help seems a bit desperate? Sure, this team can hit, but I don't see any Baxters on the pitching staff and that doesn't bode well for a playoff run.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks: 55-34
Led by Stone at the plate and FA pickup Ozzie on the mound, my old ball club looks like legitimate contenders. Throw in Sal Shea comin out of the pen, they just might have enough Baxter quotient to be sippin the bubbly in the end.
6. Chicago White Sox : 52-37
And my lazy mother fuckers of the year award goes to the White Sox! After four straight years of 100+ wins, 3 LCS appearances, and 1 title, these guys have been sittin on their asses this season and not getting the job done. If I was their manager (Anyone lookin for a new manager next season or sooner?), I'd be screamin at these SOBs every day until I was blue in the face and they'd be winning alot more games.
7. Baltimore Orioles: 53-36
I would fire their manager if they don't widen the gap. With a power packed lineup and decent pitching, these guys should be winning this shitty division by at least 10 games. Russ Byrne, you need to steer clear of any random testing, cause whatever you are doing this season, it is working.
8. Texas Rangers: 52-37
Runs scored: 13 million. Runs allowed: 12.999999 million. If chicks really do dig the long ball, they must be creaming their panties every night watching these games. Note to self: Time to visit Arlington.
9. San Francisco Giants: 50-39
The defending champs have been on the rise. They can't hit great but they got a bunch of speedy bastards that make things happen when they get on base. Other than that, Denny Watson is a bad ass mofo.
10. New York Yankees: 50-39
These old geezers can't hit for shit. Their pitching staff looks like a bunch of tired bags of bones. No surprise their record has been dropping like a rock thrown off a skyscraper. The only surprise here is that they ever made it up to the top of the damn skyscraper in the first place.
1. Florida Marlins: 57-32
These fishy bastards are going to make quite a run at it this season. Trading for next season's $110M man Lorenzo was a bold move. The guy is a bigtime stud on the mound, not unlike yours truly back in the day. With some pop in the lineup and another Baxter-like bullpen guy in Alicea to help as well, look out for the Marlins in October.
2. Oakland Athletics: 58-31
Are the other AL teams ever going to pull their heads out of their asses long enough to put together a team to stop these fuckers from rolling over them every year? It seems like they keep reloading with new Joses every few seasons. Is there a tunnel from Oakland to the Dominican Republic?
3. San Diego Padres: 55-34
This team is trying to test to see if there is such a thing as having too many ace pitchers. With a staff full of guys who pitch almost as good as I did, their playoff prospects look bright. I could come out of retirement and strike out most of the miserable excuses for hitters they roll up to the plate, but a few of them got enough pop to score a little and thanks to the pitchers, that is usually all they need.
4. Milwaukee Brewers: 55-34
Are they trying to win or collect former MVPs to hang out with Bobby Simmons? Sure, No Teeth Cressend is showing that his previous MVP might not have been a fluke. But dragging out Dee Dee's tired bones and thinking he still has anything left to help seems a bit desperate? Sure, this team can hit, but I don't see any Baxters on the pitching staff and that doesn't bode well for a playoff run.
5. Arizona Diamondbacks: 55-34
Led by Stone at the plate and FA pickup Ozzie on the mound, my old ball club looks like legitimate contenders. Throw in Sal Shea comin out of the pen, they just might have enough Baxter quotient to be sippin the bubbly in the end.
6. Chicago White Sox : 52-37
And my lazy mother fuckers of the year award goes to the White Sox! After four straight years of 100+ wins, 3 LCS appearances, and 1 title, these guys have been sittin on their asses this season and not getting the job done. If I was their manager (Anyone lookin for a new manager next season or sooner?), I'd be screamin at these SOBs every day until I was blue in the face and they'd be winning alot more games.
7. Baltimore Orioles: 53-36
I would fire their manager if they don't widen the gap. With a power packed lineup and decent pitching, these guys should be winning this shitty division by at least 10 games. Russ Byrne, you need to steer clear of any random testing, cause whatever you are doing this season, it is working.
8. Texas Rangers: 52-37
Runs scored: 13 million. Runs allowed: 12.999999 million. If chicks really do dig the long ball, they must be creaming their panties every night watching these games. Note to self: Time to visit Arlington.
9. San Francisco Giants: 50-39
The defending champs have been on the rise. They can't hit great but they got a bunch of speedy bastards that make things happen when they get on base. Other than that, Denny Watson is a bad ass mofo.
10. New York Yankees: 50-39
These old geezers can't hit for shit. Their pitching staff looks like a bunch of tired bags of bones. No surprise their record has been dropping like a rock thrown off a skyscraper. The only surprise here is that they ever made it up to the top of the damn skyscraper in the first place.
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