Post by Red Sox GM (Ty) on Apr 9, 2012 23:51:38 GMT -5
The much beloved, critically acclaimed, award winning Chin Music Power Rankings are back with their most recent early season installment complete with playoff predictions. As always, these represent absolute, unquestioned mortal locks. If you have a different opinion, you are wrong, but don't let that stop you from sharing. Enjoy, and best of luck to all this season.
Rebuilding
30 (30) Los Angeles Dodgers-[/b] There’s not a whole lot to be excited about in Dodgerland these days. They do have tons of money to spend, so maybe they can leverage that flexibility on an overextended franchise to pick up some marketable pieces. Regardless, they won’t get the money back, so they might as well do something. New management has a formidable task in front of them, but they have a pretty clean slate and nowhere to go but up.
29 (25) Chicago White Sox- The South Siders are also under new management as Rich takes the helm with aspirations of turning around their recent misfortune. He’s got his hands full, but Jered Weaver is my sleeper candidate for AL Cy Young, so he should be able to convert him into multiple useful pieces for rebuilding. The silver lining to ARod’s contract is that he only gets cheaper from here, and I won’t count him out for another 30 HR season.
28 (21) Seattle Mariners- Rather than stay stuck in the middle for the next several years, Mike has decided to bite the bullet and enter full on rebuild mode. They sold off most of their impact MLBers for top tier prospects this offseason, so the growing pains begin. There’s plenty to be excited about in Seattle, but they’re 2 years away- reminiscent of Mike’s Twins 2 years ago.
27 (24) Philadelphia Phillies- The Phils are a team with no stars, but they boast a respectable collection of offense with Daniel Murphy, Josh Reddick and last year’s breakout performers Francoeur and Freese. Their utter lack of pitching is worrisome, however. They do have some help on the horizon, but this roster screams rebuild.
26 (28) Houston Astros- Houston’s roster is vastly improved over last year, but there’s still quite a ways to go. Votto and Cano make an excellent core, but they lack quality depth and pitching. Johan’s Opening Day performance was very encouraging, but even 2004 Johan can’t deliver pitching categories by himself. The Stros are definitely a team on the rise, and next year’s move out of the NL Central can only help things.
25 (26) Oakland A’s- Bird has the A’s headed in the right direction. Pujols is obviously a huge addition, but I’m personally very high on the supporting characters- Lind, Espinosa, and Arencibia. It seems like Phil Hughes is back, Volquez should greatly benefit from a move out of Great American and into PETCO, and the Shark seems to finally be realizing his lofty potential. After a few years in the cellar, I can see Oakland challenging for the division in the not-so-distant future.
24 (19) Cleveland Indians- Like the A’s, recently departed Robin suffered as a bottom dweller for years, stockpiling top picks and smartly pinching pennies, and it’s finally begun to pay off. They seriously lack depth, but their headliners are good ones- Miggy and Sandoval, Hellickson and Strasburg- with phenom Bryce Harper waiting in the wings. While I’m sure it was a painful process, Robin’s strategy was the right one, and a great blueprint for other rebuilding teams.
Mired in Mediocrity
23 (7) St. Louis Cardinals-[/b] This team should probably rank a bit higher, but their aging roster and injuries are a huge concern. Losing VMart, a true middle-of-the-order bat, set them back in a big way this offseason. Rollins, Ordonez, Michael Young, and Corey Hart are all on the wrong side of 30, and there aren’t any arms to get too excited about. They’re ownerless right now, and they could use a facelift, but there is a lot to work with here.
22 (15) Detroit Tigers- Their immediate future will be decided by the performances of Mauer and Morneau. If they can return to pre-injury production levels, the Tigers are a dark horse playoff team. If they miss 80 games apiece, they’ve got a lot of money in underperforming assets, which is tough to overcome. They’re rotation is nothing to write home about, though Jake Arrieta looked like an ace in his first start- albeit against the aforementioned Twinkies, so that’s both encouraging and depressing. They do, however, boast a very solid bullpen led by every closer in New York. I believe this is a pivotal year for the Tigers, but they’re in good hands.
21 (23) Los Angeles Angels- The Angels are owners of arguably the best offensive player (Matt Kemp) and pitcher (Roy Halladay) in baseball. They also have some very solid complimentary parts in Bourjos and Asdubal Cabrera, however their pitching is seriously lacking. A Roy Oswalt return would help, but they could really use more depth. If Chone Figgins has actually remembered how to play baseball, their offense is in good shape, but unless they get a Cy Young performance out of Joe Blanton, they’ll probably be watching the playoffs from home come September.
20 (27) New York Yankees- The Bronx Bombers spent a TON of money this offseason, handcuffing themselves for the short-term, but acquiring some quality pieces along the way. They’re a little light on pitching, and they’re in a tough division, so a playoff berth would surprise me. They do, however, have a distinct financial advantage that will always make them a threat.
19 (29) San Francisco Giants- Under Adkins’ leadership, the Giants have gone from bottom-dweller to middle of the pack and heading in the right direction in less than a year- truly a remarkable turnaround. Even without George Herman ‘Babe’ Overbay, they figure to finish much higher this year- and in future years- than they have in the past. The early favorite for GM of the Year has got to be the man at the helm of the Giants.
Stuck in the Middle
18 (13) San Diego Padres-[/b] The Fathers lay claim to one of the best pitching staffs in the league. Hamels, CJ Wilson, James Shields, Shaun Marcum and Daniel Bard is an incredible rotation, and Heath Bell should see plenty of save opportunities. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they’re relying very heavily on Carlos Gonzalez and Dan Uggla. While I like Matt Joyce, I’d prefer if he wasn’t my 3rd best offensive player. Mike Trout could be the key to their season, as they clearly need more offensive help. The newcomer, White Kevin, will have to add a few semi-productive bats if he wants to take home a division crown in his rookie campaign.
17 (16) New York Mets- The Mets had their work cut out for them a few years ago, and have done well turning things around. They have assembled a top-notch bullpen, which should help cover some of the deficiencies in their rotation. Injuries to Howard, Sizemore and Carp have severely challenged an offense that had pretty good depth. They’ll need to rely on role players for a while to keep them afloat until they get healthy. I don’t know if the playoffs are in the cards this year, but I wouldn’t count them out in 2013.
16 (22) Toronto Blue Jays- Jordan has accumulated an incredible amount of minor league talent that has begun to graduate and produce in the majors. Like the Yankees, they lack pitching and are looking up at the East’s elite, but they’re definitely a team on the rise that could develop into a contender sooner than later. They took a big risk opening the vault for Darvish, and if he pans out, could be a rotation anchor north of the border for years to come.
15 (14) Tampa Bay Rays- The Rays are in pretty good shape overall. They’ve got a solid core on offense, made up of Granderson, Morse, Cruz, Choo and Phillips, and a respectable contingent of starters. They definitely need more pitching depth (and a true ace), otherwise they’re asking a lot of Masterson, Pelfrey and Anibal. The Bailey injury definitely stings, but they’ll be fine long term.
14 (18) Miami Marlins- Pitching is definitely the strength in Miami. Josh Johnson, Romero, Bumgarner, Pineda and Porcello is a formidable first five, and while the bullpen is missing a closer, it is otherwise is pretty good. The lineup lacks punch, outside of Napoli, but should be enough to keep them in contention in the NL East for most of the summer.
Dark Horses
13 (12) Arizona Diamondbacks-[/b] I think this team is a year and some pitching away, but they’re set up to contend for a long, long time. Offensively, they’re stacked with prime, young, cheap talent. Jennings, Alonso, Moustakas and Cain should be fixtures in their lineup for years to come. An excellent bullpen should help make up for a lack of starters, but they would be well served to add another arm or two. The NL West is winnable, but I’ve got the Rox just edging out the DBacks this year. It should be a great race all year long.
12 (9) Chicago Cubs- The Cubbies have done their part to put together a very good team, but have been stuck in a division with the league’s elite. A healthy Chase Utley- which is probably no more- and a few more arms would push them into the top 10, but for now they’ll have to continue looking up at the same few teams ahead of them in a stacked NL Central. The Curse of the Billy Goat remains.
11 (6) Baltimore Orioles- The O’s have 3 huge wildcards in their rotation in Jhoulys Chacin, Beachy, and Wandy. If they all pan out, they could conceivably win a very competitive division. Bautista swings some pretty serious lumber, but I don’t think there’s quite enough offense to get them over the hump this year. A wild card berth seems more likely.
10 (11) Texas Rangers- There isn’t a single star on the roster, but time and again it’s been proven that depth is what wins titles, and the Rangers have that in spades. They have pitching for days and no real weaknesses on offense- especially if Carlos Pena continues to challenge for a batting title. If Huston Street stays healthy and the closer in San Diego, I’m penciling the Rangers in as AL West champs.
9 (20) Minnesota Twins- After years of stockpiling the best of the best in the minors, the Twins have begun to graduate (or deal for current help) their prized assets. I don’t anticipate ranking the Twins much lower than this for quite a while. They’ve still got a top flight system, and enough current production to keep Black Kevin looking nervously over his shoulder all season.
Contenders
8 (10) Colorado Rockies-[/b] The Rox are my favorites to win the NL West with tons of pitching and a healthy (finally) Kendrys Morales to pair with an already solid lineup. It should be a competitive rivalry between Colorado and Arizona for years to come, as each are well positioned going forward. Another legitimate outfielder would make them a serious contender for a title.
7 (17) Pittsburgh Pirates- The Pirates will go as far as offensive variables Hanley Ramirez, Ryan Zimmerman and Pedro Alvarez will take them. I think they’re a bat away from Cincinnati (and a wild card spot), but the pitching staff is remarkable. Larry has his team well positioned, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Buccos pacing the storied NL Central in the coming years.
6 (8) Atlanta Braves- The race for the NL East should be a tight one all year. The Braves offense is solid as long as Beltran stays healthy and could be excellent if Dunn becomes a .250, 25 HR guy again. They could use another starter, but the bullpen is very good. This one is too close to call, and could very well go down to the wire.
5 (4) Washington Nationals- Last year’s coming out party was just the beginning. The Nationals have a quality, all-around ball club that should keep them near the top of the leaderboard for a while. They don’t have a closer on their roster, and I’d like them a lot more if they had another starter or two, but they’re in great shape.
4 (3) Boston Red Sox- The league titles are a distant memory in Boston, and they’re hungry to reclaim the crown. The core continues to age, but there’s still time for another run or two. While former Red Sox closers Ryan Madson and Andrew Bailey (casualties of the RFA market) are on the shelf, the glaring deficiency remains a lack of saves. As the Sox learned the hard way last season, punting a category rarely works out. I have the Sox as the class of the East for now, but the gap is closing.
3 (5) Kansas City Royals- Black Kevin was victorious last year, and I have them as the AL favorites this year. The strategy seems to be: win with volume. They have some excellent players, but no ace in the rotation. We’ll see if they can repeat with 3, 4 and 5 starters anchoring their rotation.
2 (2) Cincinnati Reds- After last season’s heartbreaking World Series loss, the Reds appear poised to get the job done this year. The lineup is downright scary, and I think they’d be better served by converting a bat into some pitching, but they’ll be fine regardless. I’d be shocked if they’re not in the playoffs- either as a wild card, or edging out our #1 team as NL Central champs.
The Favorites
1 (1) Milwaukee Brewers-[/b] The Brew Crew are still unquestionably the most talented team in the league. The most talented team doesn’t always win, but they’re my pick to unseat Black Kevin and the Royals as league champs. Storen’s health is the only real question mark I see- saves could become a minor issue if his absence becomes protracted.
Predictions
AL East- Red Sox
AL Central- Royals
AL West- Rangers
AL Wild Card- Twins
AL Champ- Royals
NL East- Nationals
NL Central- Brewers
NL West- Rockies
NL Wild Card- Reds
NL Champ- Reds
World Series Champs- Reds
Rebuilding
30 (30) Los Angeles Dodgers-[/b] There’s not a whole lot to be excited about in Dodgerland these days. They do have tons of money to spend, so maybe they can leverage that flexibility on an overextended franchise to pick up some marketable pieces. Regardless, they won’t get the money back, so they might as well do something. New management has a formidable task in front of them, but they have a pretty clean slate and nowhere to go but up.
29 (25) Chicago White Sox- The South Siders are also under new management as Rich takes the helm with aspirations of turning around their recent misfortune. He’s got his hands full, but Jered Weaver is my sleeper candidate for AL Cy Young, so he should be able to convert him into multiple useful pieces for rebuilding. The silver lining to ARod’s contract is that he only gets cheaper from here, and I won’t count him out for another 30 HR season.
28 (21) Seattle Mariners- Rather than stay stuck in the middle for the next several years, Mike has decided to bite the bullet and enter full on rebuild mode. They sold off most of their impact MLBers for top tier prospects this offseason, so the growing pains begin. There’s plenty to be excited about in Seattle, but they’re 2 years away- reminiscent of Mike’s Twins 2 years ago.
27 (24) Philadelphia Phillies- The Phils are a team with no stars, but they boast a respectable collection of offense with Daniel Murphy, Josh Reddick and last year’s breakout performers Francoeur and Freese. Their utter lack of pitching is worrisome, however. They do have some help on the horizon, but this roster screams rebuild.
26 (28) Houston Astros- Houston’s roster is vastly improved over last year, but there’s still quite a ways to go. Votto and Cano make an excellent core, but they lack quality depth and pitching. Johan’s Opening Day performance was very encouraging, but even 2004 Johan can’t deliver pitching categories by himself. The Stros are definitely a team on the rise, and next year’s move out of the NL Central can only help things.
25 (26) Oakland A’s- Bird has the A’s headed in the right direction. Pujols is obviously a huge addition, but I’m personally very high on the supporting characters- Lind, Espinosa, and Arencibia. It seems like Phil Hughes is back, Volquez should greatly benefit from a move out of Great American and into PETCO, and the Shark seems to finally be realizing his lofty potential. After a few years in the cellar, I can see Oakland challenging for the division in the not-so-distant future.
24 (19) Cleveland Indians- Like the A’s, recently departed Robin suffered as a bottom dweller for years, stockpiling top picks and smartly pinching pennies, and it’s finally begun to pay off. They seriously lack depth, but their headliners are good ones- Miggy and Sandoval, Hellickson and Strasburg- with phenom Bryce Harper waiting in the wings. While I’m sure it was a painful process, Robin’s strategy was the right one, and a great blueprint for other rebuilding teams.
Mired in Mediocrity
23 (7) St. Louis Cardinals-[/b] This team should probably rank a bit higher, but their aging roster and injuries are a huge concern. Losing VMart, a true middle-of-the-order bat, set them back in a big way this offseason. Rollins, Ordonez, Michael Young, and Corey Hart are all on the wrong side of 30, and there aren’t any arms to get too excited about. They’re ownerless right now, and they could use a facelift, but there is a lot to work with here.
22 (15) Detroit Tigers- Their immediate future will be decided by the performances of Mauer and Morneau. If they can return to pre-injury production levels, the Tigers are a dark horse playoff team. If they miss 80 games apiece, they’ve got a lot of money in underperforming assets, which is tough to overcome. They’re rotation is nothing to write home about, though Jake Arrieta looked like an ace in his first start- albeit against the aforementioned Twinkies, so that’s both encouraging and depressing. They do, however, boast a very solid bullpen led by every closer in New York. I believe this is a pivotal year for the Tigers, but they’re in good hands.
21 (23) Los Angeles Angels- The Angels are owners of arguably the best offensive player (Matt Kemp) and pitcher (Roy Halladay) in baseball. They also have some very solid complimentary parts in Bourjos and Asdubal Cabrera, however their pitching is seriously lacking. A Roy Oswalt return would help, but they could really use more depth. If Chone Figgins has actually remembered how to play baseball, their offense is in good shape, but unless they get a Cy Young performance out of Joe Blanton, they’ll probably be watching the playoffs from home come September.
20 (27) New York Yankees- The Bronx Bombers spent a TON of money this offseason, handcuffing themselves for the short-term, but acquiring some quality pieces along the way. They’re a little light on pitching, and they’re in a tough division, so a playoff berth would surprise me. They do, however, have a distinct financial advantage that will always make them a threat.
19 (29) San Francisco Giants- Under Adkins’ leadership, the Giants have gone from bottom-dweller to middle of the pack and heading in the right direction in less than a year- truly a remarkable turnaround. Even without George Herman ‘Babe’ Overbay, they figure to finish much higher this year- and in future years- than they have in the past. The early favorite for GM of the Year has got to be the man at the helm of the Giants.
Stuck in the Middle
18 (13) San Diego Padres-[/b] The Fathers lay claim to one of the best pitching staffs in the league. Hamels, CJ Wilson, James Shields, Shaun Marcum and Daniel Bard is an incredible rotation, and Heath Bell should see plenty of save opportunities. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they’re relying very heavily on Carlos Gonzalez and Dan Uggla. While I like Matt Joyce, I’d prefer if he wasn’t my 3rd best offensive player. Mike Trout could be the key to their season, as they clearly need more offensive help. The newcomer, White Kevin, will have to add a few semi-productive bats if he wants to take home a division crown in his rookie campaign.
17 (16) New York Mets- The Mets had their work cut out for them a few years ago, and have done well turning things around. They have assembled a top-notch bullpen, which should help cover some of the deficiencies in their rotation. Injuries to Howard, Sizemore and Carp have severely challenged an offense that had pretty good depth. They’ll need to rely on role players for a while to keep them afloat until they get healthy. I don’t know if the playoffs are in the cards this year, but I wouldn’t count them out in 2013.
16 (22) Toronto Blue Jays- Jordan has accumulated an incredible amount of minor league talent that has begun to graduate and produce in the majors. Like the Yankees, they lack pitching and are looking up at the East’s elite, but they’re definitely a team on the rise that could develop into a contender sooner than later. They took a big risk opening the vault for Darvish, and if he pans out, could be a rotation anchor north of the border for years to come.
15 (14) Tampa Bay Rays- The Rays are in pretty good shape overall. They’ve got a solid core on offense, made up of Granderson, Morse, Cruz, Choo and Phillips, and a respectable contingent of starters. They definitely need more pitching depth (and a true ace), otherwise they’re asking a lot of Masterson, Pelfrey and Anibal. The Bailey injury definitely stings, but they’ll be fine long term.
14 (18) Miami Marlins- Pitching is definitely the strength in Miami. Josh Johnson, Romero, Bumgarner, Pineda and Porcello is a formidable first five, and while the bullpen is missing a closer, it is otherwise is pretty good. The lineup lacks punch, outside of Napoli, but should be enough to keep them in contention in the NL East for most of the summer.
Dark Horses
13 (12) Arizona Diamondbacks-[/b] I think this team is a year and some pitching away, but they’re set up to contend for a long, long time. Offensively, they’re stacked with prime, young, cheap talent. Jennings, Alonso, Moustakas and Cain should be fixtures in their lineup for years to come. An excellent bullpen should help make up for a lack of starters, but they would be well served to add another arm or two. The NL West is winnable, but I’ve got the Rox just edging out the DBacks this year. It should be a great race all year long.
12 (9) Chicago Cubs- The Cubbies have done their part to put together a very good team, but have been stuck in a division with the league’s elite. A healthy Chase Utley- which is probably no more- and a few more arms would push them into the top 10, but for now they’ll have to continue looking up at the same few teams ahead of them in a stacked NL Central. The Curse of the Billy Goat remains.
11 (6) Baltimore Orioles- The O’s have 3 huge wildcards in their rotation in Jhoulys Chacin, Beachy, and Wandy. If they all pan out, they could conceivably win a very competitive division. Bautista swings some pretty serious lumber, but I don’t think there’s quite enough offense to get them over the hump this year. A wild card berth seems more likely.
10 (11) Texas Rangers- There isn’t a single star on the roster, but time and again it’s been proven that depth is what wins titles, and the Rangers have that in spades. They have pitching for days and no real weaknesses on offense- especially if Carlos Pena continues to challenge for a batting title. If Huston Street stays healthy and the closer in San Diego, I’m penciling the Rangers in as AL West champs.
9 (20) Minnesota Twins- After years of stockpiling the best of the best in the minors, the Twins have begun to graduate (or deal for current help) their prized assets. I don’t anticipate ranking the Twins much lower than this for quite a while. They’ve still got a top flight system, and enough current production to keep Black Kevin looking nervously over his shoulder all season.
Contenders
8 (10) Colorado Rockies-[/b] The Rox are my favorites to win the NL West with tons of pitching and a healthy (finally) Kendrys Morales to pair with an already solid lineup. It should be a competitive rivalry between Colorado and Arizona for years to come, as each are well positioned going forward. Another legitimate outfielder would make them a serious contender for a title.
7 (17) Pittsburgh Pirates- The Pirates will go as far as offensive variables Hanley Ramirez, Ryan Zimmerman and Pedro Alvarez will take them. I think they’re a bat away from Cincinnati (and a wild card spot), but the pitching staff is remarkable. Larry has his team well positioned, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Buccos pacing the storied NL Central in the coming years.
6 (8) Atlanta Braves- The race for the NL East should be a tight one all year. The Braves offense is solid as long as Beltran stays healthy and could be excellent if Dunn becomes a .250, 25 HR guy again. They could use another starter, but the bullpen is very good. This one is too close to call, and could very well go down to the wire.
5 (4) Washington Nationals- Last year’s coming out party was just the beginning. The Nationals have a quality, all-around ball club that should keep them near the top of the leaderboard for a while. They don’t have a closer on their roster, and I’d like them a lot more if they had another starter or two, but they’re in great shape.
4 (3) Boston Red Sox- The league titles are a distant memory in Boston, and they’re hungry to reclaim the crown. The core continues to age, but there’s still time for another run or two. While former Red Sox closers Ryan Madson and Andrew Bailey (casualties of the RFA market) are on the shelf, the glaring deficiency remains a lack of saves. As the Sox learned the hard way last season, punting a category rarely works out. I have the Sox as the class of the East for now, but the gap is closing.
3 (5) Kansas City Royals- Black Kevin was victorious last year, and I have them as the AL favorites this year. The strategy seems to be: win with volume. They have some excellent players, but no ace in the rotation. We’ll see if they can repeat with 3, 4 and 5 starters anchoring their rotation.
2 (2) Cincinnati Reds- After last season’s heartbreaking World Series loss, the Reds appear poised to get the job done this year. The lineup is downright scary, and I think they’d be better served by converting a bat into some pitching, but they’ll be fine regardless. I’d be shocked if they’re not in the playoffs- either as a wild card, or edging out our #1 team as NL Central champs.
The Favorites
1 (1) Milwaukee Brewers-[/b] The Brew Crew are still unquestionably the most talented team in the league. The most talented team doesn’t always win, but they’re my pick to unseat Black Kevin and the Royals as league champs. Storen’s health is the only real question mark I see- saves could become a minor issue if his absence becomes protracted.
Predictions
AL East- Red Sox
AL Central- Royals
AL West- Rangers
AL Wild Card- Twins
AL Champ- Royals
NL East- Nationals
NL Central- Brewers
NL West- Rockies
NL Wild Card- Reds
NL Champ- Reds
World Series Champs- Reds
