Post by Red Sox GM (Ty) on Aug 7, 2012 0:20:31 GMT -5
Trade Deadline Power Rankings
Gather 'round boys and girls, the world renowned Chin Music Power Rankings are back and better than ever with their latest edition. After a few months’ hiatus, it’s time again to recap the state of our beloved league’s franchises in time for the trade deadline. As usual, this publication is replete with poignant analysis, biting wit, and obscure pop culture references. These represent the finest, deepest contemplations of which we are capable. For your re-enjoyment, we invite you to gaze back in awe at our previous installment in all of its spectacularity here: chinmusicupin.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=5750
Previous ranking in parentheses.
Ownerless, or Otherwise in Need of Help
30 (30) Los Angeles Dodgers- Like their real-life counterparts, new ownership can do wonders for this franchise considering it’s financial might. As it stands there is a lot of hard work and patience between the Dodgers and mediocrity.
29 (27) Philadelphia Phillies- There are some good pieces here- thanks in large part to the fleecing of the Red Sox 2 years ago: chinmusicupin.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ta&thread=4470&page=1. A new GM will have his work cut out, as the Phils occupy a very difficult division, but rapid improvement is certainly possible.
28 (23) St. Louis Cardinals- Another ownerless franchise with respectable pieces to work with. They need an infusion of youth, and the NL Central, like the NL East, will be a tall mountain to climb, but it could be a lot worse.
27 (21) Los Angeles Angels- The Roy Halladay contract is problematic, and will probably prevent them from being a real threat in the AL for the next few years. Matt Kemp is a legitimate superstar, Asdrubal has proven himself a solid building block, and Aaron Hill is playing very well, but there isn’t a ton of impact prospects to provide much hope for the immediate future. Craig has his work cut out.
26 (28) Seattle Mariners- Mike has truly embraced the rebuilding process. He appears to be doing all the right things (avoiding long-term capital commitments, converting older assets into high-upside prospects, etc.), but there will undoubtedly be some growing pains for the next year or two. I’d recommend any GM that isn’t a contender look at the blueprint being followed in Seattle.
25 (29) Chicago White Sox- The South Siders have given a herculean effort this year and have greatly outperformed expectations. Kyle Seager has been a pleasant surprise, but you don’t want him as the centerpiece of your offense. Jered Weaver is elite, but probably won’t be on the next successful White Sox roster. Rich has done an admirable job to this point, but he doesn’t have much to work with.
Making Progress
24 (19) San Francisco Giants- Adkins' wheeling and dealing ways have the Giants headed in the right direction. Shedding Crawford’s terrible contract provides very valuable financial flexibility for the coming seasons, and there is enough talent on the current roster to provide a much better showing next year. It may not be in ’13, but the Giants will soon return to relevance.
23 (25) Oakland Athletics- There’s more good news than bad in Oakland. They have substantially outperformed their talent level this year, and the AL West lacks a runaway favorite going forward. The entire roster is solid, but not deep, and acquiring a contingent of role players would go a long way towards closing the gap between Oakland and Texas.
22 (16) Toronto Blue Jays- Another team who has committed to the rebuilding process, the Blue Jays have stockpiled a ton of minor league talent. I really like what they’re doing, but as we all know prospects have a high attrition rate and things could look much differently a year from now- for better or worse. Jordan is on the right track, and skillfully using his assets to rapidly improve his franchise.
21 (24) Cleveland Indians- Robin left this team in much better shape than he found it, that’s for sure. He’s got some tremendous young talent in Sandoval, Harper, Hellickson and Strasburg to pair with perennial fantasy stud Miggy Cabrera. While we had hoped Robin would return, it appears as though his absence is permanent. Whoever gets the Tribe will inherit a team on the rise.
20 (26) Houston Astros- A change of scenery will do this franchise a lot of good. Getting out of the brutal NL Central and into the more wide-open AL West will afford the Stros an opportunity to challenge for a playoff spot in a year or two. Cano, Olt and Votto is a great start, and some sneaky good arms have hastened their rebuilding process. They’re a far cry from a contender, but they’re headed in the right direction.
Stuck in the Middle
19 (15) Tampa Bay Rays- Another ownerless franchise, the Rays are in very good shape all things considered. They have an offensive core of Choo, Granderson, Cruz, Morse and Phillips who, while not the youngest bunch, still have some good years ahead of them. Pedestrian is a word I’d use to describe their hurlers, but a return to prior glory is not out of the question in the near future.
18 (22) Detroit Tigers- Dale has done an admirable job trying to field a playoff-caliber team, but the window has closed on this group of Tigers. His aged core players still retain some value, but their contracts present a real challenge for a swift rebuilding process. They’re in capable hands, but expect some growing pains for the next year or so.
17 (12) Chicago Cubs- The poor Cubbies just can’t stop the rain. They haven’t caught a break since Merkle’s Boner (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle%27s_Boner). The Billygoat. The Black Cat. Bartman. Despite consistently fielding a very good team, the Cubs are perpetually looking up at the Brewers, Reds and even the Pirates. With the recent departure of a 2 time Cy Young winner still theoretically in his prime, via the waiver wire, (the Curse of Big Time Timmy Jim?) the North Siders are understandably bereft of hope. They have the personnel to make a top 10 showing in these rankings next year, but it will take quite a bit of luck to crack the postseason for a few years. Scott, you have my sympathy, but you’ve got a lifetime worth of experience enduring this torture- nobody is better suited for it than you.
16 (9) Minnesota Twins- It turns out that the Twinkies youngsters needed another year. Hosmer is suffering through the dreaded sophomore slump, and the likes of Dee Gordon and Dominic Brown haven’t produced at the level we expected. The Royals have a stranglehold on the division, but Minnesota is still loaded and in great position to make a run in the not-too-distant future.
15 (11) Baltimore Orioles- It’s hard to see why the O’s aren’t fairing better than this, but I'm chalking it up to lack of depth. There is plenty to work with, headlined by Kershaw and Joey Bats, so the retooling process shouldn’t be too prolonged. However, the roster needs a face lift and more warm bodies accumulating Abs and IPs. If Boston doesn’t improve on this year’s point total, expect a challenge for the division crown in 2013.
14 (8) Colorado Rockies- The Rox are a few seasons removed from being the envy of the NL West, but they still have a quality squad, not to mention a part-time secretary for league correspondence and general administrative duties. If not for injuries to Tulowitzki, Jaime Garcia and Brandon McCarthy and general horribleness from Ubaldo and Liriano, we’d be talking about this team as a pretty serious contender. With a little luck, they’ll be back in the hunt next season.
Dark Horses
13 (10) Texas Rangers- The Rangers are cruising to another AL West crown, but aren’t equipped for making a serious run at a title unless they get healthy and catch a few breaks. I like the recent addition of Marcum, but Ogando’s move from rotation to pen has really hurt. They have stockpiled enough talent to field a competitive squad for the foreseeable future and make them a fixture atop their division and in the playoffs for years.
12 (14) Miami Marlins- The Fish have fielded another competitive ball club again this season, though it appears as though they will fall just short of a playoff berth. Their pitching is good enough, highlighted by young studs Bumgarner and Chapman, but the offense isn’t enough to get them over the hump. Altuve is a good start, but they’ll need to add some pieces to become serious contenders for next year.
11 (17) New York Mets- This year’s Dustin Pedroia Award winner for making the most of the least goes to the Mets. Despite battling injuries and pitching ineptitude for the first 4 months of the season, they remain in the hunt- as an extreme underdog- for the NL Wildcard. Tim Lincecum instantly becomes their best starter, and with a month left, there may be just enough time to sneak into the postseason for the first time in franchise history.
10 (20) New York Yankees- The Evil Empire has begun it’s phoenix-like ascension from mediocrity to respectability. They’re still probably at least a year away from challenging for a pennant, but a playoff appearance, which they’re currently on pace for, is quite an accomplishment. Cespedes isn’t earning his gargantuan paycheck, but he’s still been a very pleasant surprise and the Melk man is proving to the doubters (myself included) that last year’s breakout performance is no fluke.
The Contenders
9 (6) Atlanta Braves- The pitching is very good, but as they say: “chicks dig the longball.” Truer words were never spoken, and if not for the long balls of Carlos Beltran and Adam Dunn, the Bravos postseason ambitions would have died long ago. As it stands, they remain a longshot, and it will be interesting to see whether they’re buying or selling at the deadline.
8 (13) Arizona Diamondbacks- Tyler has the DBacks poised for a sustained run of success, but I don’t think a playoff berth is in the cards for this year. A core of Jennings, Alonso, Moustakas and Parker is enviable and should keep them relevant for the foreseeable future. Buchholz has been a tremendous disappointment, and unless he returns to 2010 form the staff will need some work before they can think about overtaking the Pads as the class of the division.
6b (7) Pittsburgh Pirates- I’ve gone back and forth on these next two about a dozen times. I always underrate Larry, and in the name of keeping with tradition, I’ll do so again. The injury to Brandon Morrow has severely hampered their postseason chances, though I’d still put them at even money. Their pitching staff has quality and depth, but I don’t think there’s enough firepower on offense. If the move to Tinseltown renews Hanley’s floundering career, I can see the Buccos in the playoffs, where they’ll be a formidable foe for someone with all their pitching.
6a (2) Cincinnati Reds- AGon is finally starting to wake up, and if Upton can get on base enough to swipe some bags the Redlegs could find themselves in the playoffs again. Chris Sale’s performance this year has justly created Cy Young buzz, but I don’t think there are enough arms to compete with the NL’s elite and carry them deep into September.
5 (4) Boston Red Sox- Pitching has been Boston’s Achilles Heel for half a decade now. Management has taken to the ‘throw decrepit hurlers at the wall and see what sticks’ philosophy with mostly lugubrious results. That, coupled with the ‘don’t pay for saves’ mantra has resulted in a paltry 90 points in pitching categories. The fact that Beantown will still be celebrating a playoff berth (almost certainly an AL East title, no less) speaks to the quality of the lumber. It’ll take a tremendous stroke of luck to secure another AL pennant, but the Sox are in the hunt.
The Elite
4 (18!) San Diego Padres- Mike. Trout.
3 (5) Washington Nationals- To quote contemporary poet Duane Charles Parcells, this late in the season “You are what your record says you are.” Cork has quietly constructed a truly dominant squad. Every year, they outperform my expectations, and this year is certainly no different. NL MVP shoo-in Andrew McCutchen headlines a solid, though otherwise unassuming roster. On paper, they are good everywhere, but not spectacular anywhere. Despite that, they rank in the top 4 in every offensive category. Their kryptonite is at the back of the bullpen, where saves have been problematic thanks to the fact that closer Rafael Betancourt has been given exactly 2 more save opportunities than I have since his acquisition a month ago.
2 (1) Milwaukee Brewers- Milwaukee boasts the most gaudy roster in the league, just as it has for much of the past 3 years. MVPs Ryan Braun and Josh Hamilton anchor a star-studded lineup, and the emergence of Gio Gonzalez as a bona fide ace to pair with David Price. If Wainwright returns to his pre-TJ dominance, and Lester recaptures his former brilliance, they will be an incredibly tough draw in the playoffs- expect another NLCS for the ages.
1 (3) Kansas City Royals- Kevin has built a perennial powerhouse in KC, but unlike the Brewers, the Royals have done it without a ton of big names. Rather they skillfully deploy their assets to acquire incredible depth- a true model for sustained success. Anything can happen in September, but the Royals are the odds-on favorite to take the AL and become only the second franchise to repeat in league history.
Gather 'round boys and girls, the world renowned Chin Music Power Rankings are back and better than ever with their latest edition. After a few months’ hiatus, it’s time again to recap the state of our beloved league’s franchises in time for the trade deadline. As usual, this publication is replete with poignant analysis, biting wit, and obscure pop culture references. These represent the finest, deepest contemplations of which we are capable. For your re-enjoyment, we invite you to gaze back in awe at our previous installment in all of its spectacularity here: chinmusicupin.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=5750
Previous ranking in parentheses.
Ownerless, or Otherwise in Need of Help
30 (30) Los Angeles Dodgers- Like their real-life counterparts, new ownership can do wonders for this franchise considering it’s financial might. As it stands there is a lot of hard work and patience between the Dodgers and mediocrity.
29 (27) Philadelphia Phillies- There are some good pieces here- thanks in large part to the fleecing of the Red Sox 2 years ago: chinmusicupin.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ta&thread=4470&page=1. A new GM will have his work cut out, as the Phils occupy a very difficult division, but rapid improvement is certainly possible.
28 (23) St. Louis Cardinals- Another ownerless franchise with respectable pieces to work with. They need an infusion of youth, and the NL Central, like the NL East, will be a tall mountain to climb, but it could be a lot worse.
27 (21) Los Angeles Angels- The Roy Halladay contract is problematic, and will probably prevent them from being a real threat in the AL for the next few years. Matt Kemp is a legitimate superstar, Asdrubal has proven himself a solid building block, and Aaron Hill is playing very well, but there isn’t a ton of impact prospects to provide much hope for the immediate future. Craig has his work cut out.
26 (28) Seattle Mariners- Mike has truly embraced the rebuilding process. He appears to be doing all the right things (avoiding long-term capital commitments, converting older assets into high-upside prospects, etc.), but there will undoubtedly be some growing pains for the next year or two. I’d recommend any GM that isn’t a contender look at the blueprint being followed in Seattle.
25 (29) Chicago White Sox- The South Siders have given a herculean effort this year and have greatly outperformed expectations. Kyle Seager has been a pleasant surprise, but you don’t want him as the centerpiece of your offense. Jered Weaver is elite, but probably won’t be on the next successful White Sox roster. Rich has done an admirable job to this point, but he doesn’t have much to work with.
Making Progress
24 (19) San Francisco Giants- Adkins' wheeling and dealing ways have the Giants headed in the right direction. Shedding Crawford’s terrible contract provides very valuable financial flexibility for the coming seasons, and there is enough talent on the current roster to provide a much better showing next year. It may not be in ’13, but the Giants will soon return to relevance.
23 (25) Oakland Athletics- There’s more good news than bad in Oakland. They have substantially outperformed their talent level this year, and the AL West lacks a runaway favorite going forward. The entire roster is solid, but not deep, and acquiring a contingent of role players would go a long way towards closing the gap between Oakland and Texas.
22 (16) Toronto Blue Jays- Another team who has committed to the rebuilding process, the Blue Jays have stockpiled a ton of minor league talent. I really like what they’re doing, but as we all know prospects have a high attrition rate and things could look much differently a year from now- for better or worse. Jordan is on the right track, and skillfully using his assets to rapidly improve his franchise.
21 (24) Cleveland Indians- Robin left this team in much better shape than he found it, that’s for sure. He’s got some tremendous young talent in Sandoval, Harper, Hellickson and Strasburg to pair with perennial fantasy stud Miggy Cabrera. While we had hoped Robin would return, it appears as though his absence is permanent. Whoever gets the Tribe will inherit a team on the rise.
20 (26) Houston Astros- A change of scenery will do this franchise a lot of good. Getting out of the brutal NL Central and into the more wide-open AL West will afford the Stros an opportunity to challenge for a playoff spot in a year or two. Cano, Olt and Votto is a great start, and some sneaky good arms have hastened their rebuilding process. They’re a far cry from a contender, but they’re headed in the right direction.
Stuck in the Middle
19 (15) Tampa Bay Rays- Another ownerless franchise, the Rays are in very good shape all things considered. They have an offensive core of Choo, Granderson, Cruz, Morse and Phillips who, while not the youngest bunch, still have some good years ahead of them. Pedestrian is a word I’d use to describe their hurlers, but a return to prior glory is not out of the question in the near future.
18 (22) Detroit Tigers- Dale has done an admirable job trying to field a playoff-caliber team, but the window has closed on this group of Tigers. His aged core players still retain some value, but their contracts present a real challenge for a swift rebuilding process. They’re in capable hands, but expect some growing pains for the next year or so.
17 (12) Chicago Cubs- The poor Cubbies just can’t stop the rain. They haven’t caught a break since Merkle’s Boner (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle%27s_Boner). The Billygoat. The Black Cat. Bartman. Despite consistently fielding a very good team, the Cubs are perpetually looking up at the Brewers, Reds and even the Pirates. With the recent departure of a 2 time Cy Young winner still theoretically in his prime, via the waiver wire, (the Curse of Big Time Timmy Jim?) the North Siders are understandably bereft of hope. They have the personnel to make a top 10 showing in these rankings next year, but it will take quite a bit of luck to crack the postseason for a few years. Scott, you have my sympathy, but you’ve got a lifetime worth of experience enduring this torture- nobody is better suited for it than you.
16 (9) Minnesota Twins- It turns out that the Twinkies youngsters needed another year. Hosmer is suffering through the dreaded sophomore slump, and the likes of Dee Gordon and Dominic Brown haven’t produced at the level we expected. The Royals have a stranglehold on the division, but Minnesota is still loaded and in great position to make a run in the not-too-distant future.
15 (11) Baltimore Orioles- It’s hard to see why the O’s aren’t fairing better than this, but I'm chalking it up to lack of depth. There is plenty to work with, headlined by Kershaw and Joey Bats, so the retooling process shouldn’t be too prolonged. However, the roster needs a face lift and more warm bodies accumulating Abs and IPs. If Boston doesn’t improve on this year’s point total, expect a challenge for the division crown in 2013.
14 (8) Colorado Rockies- The Rox are a few seasons removed from being the envy of the NL West, but they still have a quality squad, not to mention a part-time secretary for league correspondence and general administrative duties. If not for injuries to Tulowitzki, Jaime Garcia and Brandon McCarthy and general horribleness from Ubaldo and Liriano, we’d be talking about this team as a pretty serious contender. With a little luck, they’ll be back in the hunt next season.
Dark Horses
13 (10) Texas Rangers- The Rangers are cruising to another AL West crown, but aren’t equipped for making a serious run at a title unless they get healthy and catch a few breaks. I like the recent addition of Marcum, but Ogando’s move from rotation to pen has really hurt. They have stockpiled enough talent to field a competitive squad for the foreseeable future and make them a fixture atop their division and in the playoffs for years.
12 (14) Miami Marlins- The Fish have fielded another competitive ball club again this season, though it appears as though they will fall just short of a playoff berth. Their pitching is good enough, highlighted by young studs Bumgarner and Chapman, but the offense isn’t enough to get them over the hump. Altuve is a good start, but they’ll need to add some pieces to become serious contenders for next year.
11 (17) New York Mets- This year’s Dustin Pedroia Award winner for making the most of the least goes to the Mets. Despite battling injuries and pitching ineptitude for the first 4 months of the season, they remain in the hunt- as an extreme underdog- for the NL Wildcard. Tim Lincecum instantly becomes their best starter, and with a month left, there may be just enough time to sneak into the postseason for the first time in franchise history.
10 (20) New York Yankees- The Evil Empire has begun it’s phoenix-like ascension from mediocrity to respectability. They’re still probably at least a year away from challenging for a pennant, but a playoff appearance, which they’re currently on pace for, is quite an accomplishment. Cespedes isn’t earning his gargantuan paycheck, but he’s still been a very pleasant surprise and the Melk man is proving to the doubters (myself included) that last year’s breakout performance is no fluke.
The Contenders
9 (6) Atlanta Braves- The pitching is very good, but as they say: “chicks dig the longball.” Truer words were never spoken, and if not for the long balls of Carlos Beltran and Adam Dunn, the Bravos postseason ambitions would have died long ago. As it stands, they remain a longshot, and it will be interesting to see whether they’re buying or selling at the deadline.
8 (13) Arizona Diamondbacks- Tyler has the DBacks poised for a sustained run of success, but I don’t think a playoff berth is in the cards for this year. A core of Jennings, Alonso, Moustakas and Parker is enviable and should keep them relevant for the foreseeable future. Buchholz has been a tremendous disappointment, and unless he returns to 2010 form the staff will need some work before they can think about overtaking the Pads as the class of the division.
6b (7) Pittsburgh Pirates- I’ve gone back and forth on these next two about a dozen times. I always underrate Larry, and in the name of keeping with tradition, I’ll do so again. The injury to Brandon Morrow has severely hampered their postseason chances, though I’d still put them at even money. Their pitching staff has quality and depth, but I don’t think there’s enough firepower on offense. If the move to Tinseltown renews Hanley’s floundering career, I can see the Buccos in the playoffs, where they’ll be a formidable foe for someone with all their pitching.
6a (2) Cincinnati Reds- AGon is finally starting to wake up, and if Upton can get on base enough to swipe some bags the Redlegs could find themselves in the playoffs again. Chris Sale’s performance this year has justly created Cy Young buzz, but I don’t think there are enough arms to compete with the NL’s elite and carry them deep into September.
5 (4) Boston Red Sox- Pitching has been Boston’s Achilles Heel for half a decade now. Management has taken to the ‘throw decrepit hurlers at the wall and see what sticks’ philosophy with mostly lugubrious results. That, coupled with the ‘don’t pay for saves’ mantra has resulted in a paltry 90 points in pitching categories. The fact that Beantown will still be celebrating a playoff berth (almost certainly an AL East title, no less) speaks to the quality of the lumber. It’ll take a tremendous stroke of luck to secure another AL pennant, but the Sox are in the hunt.
The Elite
4 (18!) San Diego Padres- Mike. Trout.
3 (5) Washington Nationals- To quote contemporary poet Duane Charles Parcells, this late in the season “You are what your record says you are.” Cork has quietly constructed a truly dominant squad. Every year, they outperform my expectations, and this year is certainly no different. NL MVP shoo-in Andrew McCutchen headlines a solid, though otherwise unassuming roster. On paper, they are good everywhere, but not spectacular anywhere. Despite that, they rank in the top 4 in every offensive category. Their kryptonite is at the back of the bullpen, where saves have been problematic thanks to the fact that closer Rafael Betancourt has been given exactly 2 more save opportunities than I have since his acquisition a month ago.
2 (1) Milwaukee Brewers- Milwaukee boasts the most gaudy roster in the league, just as it has for much of the past 3 years. MVPs Ryan Braun and Josh Hamilton anchor a star-studded lineup, and the emergence of Gio Gonzalez as a bona fide ace to pair with David Price. If Wainwright returns to his pre-TJ dominance, and Lester recaptures his former brilliance, they will be an incredibly tough draw in the playoffs- expect another NLCS for the ages.
1 (3) Kansas City Royals- Kevin has built a perennial powerhouse in KC, but unlike the Brewers, the Royals have done it without a ton of big names. Rather they skillfully deploy their assets to acquire incredible depth- a true model for sustained success. Anything can happen in September, but the Royals are the odds-on favorite to take the AL and become only the second franchise to repeat in league history.
