MLB Power 14
(Last Week’s Rank)
1. Boston Red Sox(1)- A lethal combination of hitting and pitching in beantown has this team 12.5 games up on their only real contention in the AL East.
2. New York Mets(2)- The Mets continue to look like the team to beat in the NL, due in large part to a pitching staff that doesn’t include Ace Pedro Martinez. Just imagine when he returns.
3. LA Angels(5)- A Walk of home run by Vlad Guerrero this week proved to be the difference between the Halo’s being 3rd or 4th, but does it really matter? This team continues to make you wonder if the Red Sox are really the best team in the AL.
4. Cleveland Indians(4)- Sure the Indians dropped 2 out of 3 to the Tigers this weekend, but they lead the Central by 2.5 games and have won 6 of their last 10.
5. Detroit Tigers(3)- At the beginning of the year I thought this team would not repeat it’s 2006 performance. I was wrong and if they don’t make the playoffs it’s because they play in the toughest division in baseball.
6. LA Dodgers(8)- LA’s “other” team is 7-3 in their last 10 and lead the best division in the NL by percentage points. Not to mention Jason Schmidt returns this week. The NL
7. San Diego Padres(9)- Last weeks analysis: This team is sitting pretty right now, and Adrian Gonzalez seems like he could be the real deal. If the rest of their young bats catch up the Padres could give the Dodgers a real push.
This week: Ditto
8. Arizona Diamondbacks(11)- 9-1 in their last 10 gives them the edge over the Braves. It’s sad that one or two of these NL West teams won’t make the playoffs.
9. Atlanta Braves(6)- A 5-5 record just won’t get it done. The Braves are young, but they better watch that they don’t fall too far behind the Mets, because the Wildcard will be a dogfight this year. What are the chances that Chipper Jones really is THAT valuable to this team? When is Andruw Jones going to wake up?
10. Milwaukee Brewers(7)- This team has hit a valley, lucky for them their division sucks.
11. Seattle Mariners (NR): Watch out Angels, there’s a new player out west. The Mariners have done a good job so far, but are another team that can’t fall too far back in their division because the Wildcard is likely coming out of the Central.
12. Minnesota Twins (NR): You know everyone always praises Billy Beane and the job he does in Oakland, yet overlook just how good the Twins are every year, with their own mix of Moneyball players. If they turn it around and make the playoffs again this year, Joe Mauer may win MVP. Remember Morneau really only had a great Half Season and still won the award.
13. Oakland A’s(13)- 6-4 in their last ten, too bad the two teams ahead of them in the West had better stretches.
14. Philadelphia Phillies (12): They need Ryan Howard to return to MVP form if they stand any chance.
Top 3
AL MVP: Magglio Ordonez, Vlad Guererro, Mike Lowell
NL MVP: Jose Reyes, Jake Peavy, Vlad Guererro
AL CY Young: Lackey, Haren, Beckett
NL CY Young:Peavy, Brad Penny, John Smoltz
Wow. Looks like a great summer for baseball. Absolutely don’t forget the White Sox (as well as the Cards). Red Sox are for real, (I get to see them Sunday vs the Braves from the owners box maybe?) so I’ll be a fan for a week. I kind of hesitate to say it but….the Mets are the real deal. Gotta love what Omar and Willie have done in Flushing. Gotta hate what Met fans are doing to the rest of us. How are Hoss’ Bucs doing? The A’s and thee Halo’s should battle to the end. Don’t worry about the Yanks, they still have 75 or so games against the Royals and the like (although Bobby Ocean is in panic mode).
All in all, looks like a great year. It has the makings of some real drama come September. Stay tuned.
pmryder
May 16, 2007
My $0.02…
1. Boston Red Sox (26-12, 1st AL East) – With the Red Sox, it’s always great entertainment! Beckett’s injury is no good, though.
2. New York Mets (25-14, 1st NL East) – They plug away better than any team in the majors. How long will Gomez stay with the big club?
3. Detroit Tigers (24-12, 1st AL Central) – Leyland has this squad primed to make another deep run. The bats (Sheff, Mags, etc.) are starting to get hot.
4. Atlanta Braves (25-15, 2nd NL East) – Looks like the Braves are definitely back in it for the long haul. Hudson has been superb, but Smoltz has an injured finger.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (25-16, 1st NL West) – The NL West should be a competitive race to the very end. Furcal is on fire!
6. Cleveland Indians (23-14, 2nd AL Central) – Sizemore is as good as anyone in the majors. Martinez, Hafner, Sabathia, etc. all seem to be producing, which is scary for the rest of the league.
7. Milwaukee Brewers (25-15, 1st NL Central) – Lost 2 of 3 at Shea last weekend, but you have to be impressed with this bunch. Who knew J.J. Hardy had A-Rod power?
8. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (23-18, 1st AL West) – Like the NL, here’s guessing that the AL West will also be a close race to the end. K-Rod is the difference maker in this division, especially with Street now on the DL in Oakland.
9. Chicago White Sox (19-17, 3rd AL Central) – Flying quietly under the radar…but I am sure it’s only a matter of time before Ozzie changes that!
10. New York Yankees (18-20, 2nd AL East) – I refuse to believe that they are not 1 of the top 10 teams in baseball. Moose has looked pretty solid since his return, but Abreu, Cano, and Matsui need to start picking it up.
11. San Diego Padres (22-19, 2nd NL West) – Peavy might be the nastiest pitcher in the bigs.
12. Oakland Athletics (20-19, 3rd AL West) – Jack Cust?!?! Never question the work of Billy Beane!
13. Houston Astros (20-19, 2nd NL Central) – This team is starting to come along nicely. Carlos Lee looks like money well spent, and Hunter Pence has been impressive.
14. Philadelphia Phillies (20-20, 3rd NL East) – Have rebounded nicely since their bad start, but no Howard for awhile.
Raible
May 17, 2007