Post by Red Sox GM (Ty) on Sept 2, 2010 17:17:00 GMT -5
After a few month hiatus, we’re back with the latest installment of everybody’s favorite gimmick, the Chin Music Dynasty League Power Rankings- Playoff Push Edition. Despite the long absence, we have still managed to fit in two actual power rankings before Kyle could release a single Avatar Ranking, just saying. I’m giving him a pass, though, because he’s getting married and his thespianic prowess is unmatched- everybody check out his filmography on Netflix. Anyway, I digress.
With the trade deadline passed and less than a week until the playoffs, we thought it appropriate to dissect each team and their chances for September and early October glory. As always, these prognostications are to be accepted as unquestioned fact- other opinions are welcome, however. Enjoy, and best of luck to everyone as the season winds down. Numbers in parenthesis are last editions rank.
30. (30) Cleveland Indians- Robin has as much of my respect as anybody, as he has manned the proverbial cellar of Chin Music for almost 3 seasons now with nary a complaint about his situation. His team is awful, but he’s a hell of a manager and a good guy that I wish better luck going forward. He’s seen his top prospect accused of murder in the Dominican and his pride and joy, beast Steven Strausburg, go under the knife for TJ. Even Kung Fu Panda has lost the magic. They do boast one of the top systems in the league, comprised of: Flowers, Stassi, Chisenhall, Hellickson, Gamel, Weglarz, Scheppers, de la Cruz and Ynoa. If one third of those guys pan out, they should be in OK shape to compete in 2-3 years. I think Robin’s patience will pay off.
29. (27) Oakland Athletics- An offense whose most productive player is Nyjer Morgan AKA the dude who runs catchers over, starts brawls and throws balls at fans, can’t be expected to compete. Bird took over a tough situation in Oaktown, but it could be worse. Not much worse though. Brett Cecil and Jordan Zimmerman are encouraging, and if Volquez rebounds from TJ, the rotation could be OK. Pitching is a rare commodity, so maybe they have enough pieces to turn it around.
28. (22) Philadelphia Phillies- Offensively, there isn’t much to be excited for in the long-term aside from Freese and Smoak, however, there are a handful of potentially interesting arms who should see time as soon as next year. A rotation of Haren, Tazawa, McDonald and Hagadone could prove to be a formidable one. Also, keep an eye on Bobby Borchering, a hometown favorite of mine. He’s had a very average first full season of professional ball, but with some polish could blossom into a middle of the order bat.
27. (28) Chicago White Sox- This is a team not entirely bereft of hope. As bad as the numbers might indicate, they do have a few legitimate major league bats like Ludwick and Rios to go with an aging and juiceless ARod. A 1-2 punch of Jered Weaver (having a wonderful statistical season) and Jake Arrieta is a decent start. They’ve got a long way to go if they want to catch Kevin, though.
26. (26) Los Angeles Dodgers- It’s pretty depressing in LA. Jason Bay has been an expensive abject failure. They’ve got a lot of money tied up in depreciating assets, which is never a recipe for success. Ethier and Tabata may live to see a successful Dodgers team, but the rest will not. One bright spot is a group of minor league arms that may provide some relief in the next year or so. The Dodgers have a long road to mediocrity.
25. (23) New York Yankees- In a tough division, the Yankees are currently looking up at a handful of much better teams. Bad contracts have crippled them to this point, but slowly but surely they are ridding themselves of those toxic assets. They have deep pockets and a few desirable building blocks like Brett Anderson, Brandon Allen, Gaby Sanchez and Gordon Beckham, so never count them out.
24. (18) Houston Astros- And the winner of the 2005 Chin Music World Series is… The Stros rotation of Johan, Oswalt, Lackey, Zambrano and Bedard would have been an absolute powerhouse a few years back, but now they’re just above average. With nothing on the other side of the ball, it will take a lot of work to mold this team back into a contender. They may have the pieces to make a swift turnaround, but the window is rapidly closing. Good luck to Trev, or whomever takes them over for next season.
23. (11) Chicago Cubs- There’s no way this team should be this bad. They’ve had some tough breaks with disappointing performances from their offensive cornerstones, and aside from another solid, yet unfreakish, showing from Lincecum, the staff is pretty barren. There is reason for hope, as they have some pretty exciting young players that should develop nicely (Jennings, Tillman, Revere, etc.)
22. (24) Minnesota Twins- The Twinkies boast the league’s most impressive farm system by a long shot. I think they are at least a year or two away, but the Central better keep its eye to the north as Minnesota will be a force. It’s not a matter of if, but when.
21. (10) Seattle Mariners- I was sure that the M’s would be in the fight for the West down to the wire this year. Injuries to Peavy and Morneau and ineffectiveness from Holland have set them back at least a year. There isn’t much in the way of prospects, but the core of Mauer, Morneau and Butler is a sufficient one. As usual, pitching is not plentiful and for the Mariners, as well as most teams, acquiring some arms before next season will undoubtedly be a priority.
20. (15) Los Angeles Angels- Here’s a team that is better than the numbers indicate. They have a wealth of talent, albeit aging, on offense and a true ace in Halladay. Pitching and dates of birth seem to be the problem in Anaheim. Roger better move fast if he wants to recoup any value from assets like Huff, Hunter and Figgins.
19. (17) Detroit Tigers- Seven players in their starting lineup are current or former Yankees, which means I loathe them. It also means that they have a respectable offense. They’re getting older, though, and their pitching sans Carl Pavano is mediocre at best. This team needs an overhaul and some fresh, anti-Yankee perspective. Says the homer who hoards an equal amount of Red Sox.
18. (19) Toronto Blue Jays- I really like this team, but it appears that statistics do not. I wouldn’t say that they’re ideally suited for the long run, but they have an abundance of desirable pieces to reposition. The bad news for the Jays, aside from the fact they’re in Canada, is that they’re in the AL East where the O’s and Rays seem to have the brightest futures. This will be a critical offseason for the BJs.
17. (21) Washington Nationals- The Nats have done a commendable job rolling out a respectable club year after year. The fact that they are the Nationals makes this an even greater accomplishment. Unfortunately, I think they will have to decide this offseason if they want to be an also ran forever, or if they want to sacrifice the short term and convert pieces like Matt Holliday and Marco Scutaro into viable pieces for the long haul. I, for one, have faith in their managerial abilities, and maybe Aaron can make it work without suffering through a few miserable seasons.
16. (29) San Francisco Giants- The Giants pitching, headlined by flamethrowing southpaw Aroldis Chapman is right where it needs to be, but the offense is abysmal. Aside from super rookie Buster Posey and an aging Chase Utley, there is nothing to get excited about. Unfortunately, there isn’t much help on the way either. With a surplus of high quality arms, one would think that the Giants would be able to acquire a slugger or two to help them compete down the road.
15. (20) Arizona Diamondbacks- The Snakes are very short on players at the moment, but they do have a very nice core of up and coming talent. The Upton brothers in the outfield are a good start on offense, and a rotation anchored by King Felix and Wainwright is well on its way. Add Feliz to the back end of the bullpen, and you’ve got yourself the makings of a contender. This is a desirable team that will no doubt find a manager sooner than later, and with a little commitment to rounding out the roster, they could conceivably be a playoff team this time next year.
14. (6) Colorado Rockies- Kyle’s Rox have disappointed me this year. Kendry Morales’s unfortunate walk-off celebration, Joe Nathan’s lost season, and Edwin Jackson returning to earth all contributed to a subpar season by Colorado’s standards. Beltre in a contract year is usually a pretty good bet, and Ubaldo made Bob Gibson look like Oliver Perez before cooling off of late, but that wasn’t nearly enough to contend for a playoff spot. With sluggers Carlos Santana and Kendry Morales returning next year, the offense looks to be competitive, but the rotation and pen could use an overhaul if they want to challenge the Pads in the West.
13. (23) New York Mets- Under rookie GM Barney and Co., the Mets have far exceeded expectations, as they remained in the hunt for the NL East for most of the season thanks to monster years from VW and Vlad. Going forward, the offense looks good, but the pitching is definitely deficient. Wells’s contract is an albatross, but fortunately New York’s big pocketbook can absorb it better than most clubs. With continued shrewd acquisitions- like Guerrero and Ryan Howard- the Chin Music Mets should fare far better than their Major League counterparts.
12. (2) Boston Red Sox- Has there ever been a more promising group derailed by injuries more ruthlessly than the Red Sox (both MLB and CMDL)? The following are the games played totals for the Sawx 4 best offensive players: Ellsbury (18), Manny (66), Pedroia (75) and Youk (102). In addition, when the staff hasn’t been abysmal it’s because they’re injured as well. When Rajai Davis is the anchor of your offense and your best pitcher (Papelbon) gives you ulcers, things could be going better for you. I’ll go out on a limb and say that the league’s first three-pete will not happen this year.
11. (3) Tampa Bay Rays- Tampa has probably the best top-to-bottom lineup in the league. Depth has been an issue, however. The Rays staff has been very forgettable, and ironically, Jonathan Broxton’s demotion may be Brett’s luckiest break all year. With his $14M closer returning from a DL stint, saves don’t appear to be a problem, making Broxton’s holds more valuable. If they stay healthy and play to potential, the offense can cover up some mediocre pitching performances and challenge for the crown this year.
10. (14) Florida Marlins- The Fish are a very talented rudderless ship at the moment. They own cheap youth both in the lineup and on the staff. Votto, the Canadian Sensation, looks to be a mainstay among the NL MVP favorites for years to come, and he’s in good company in the offense with the Pride of the Pirates, Andrew McCutcheon. Lester and Morrow make up a potent 1-2 punch atop the rotation. The only piece that doesn’t quite seem to fit is Ichiro San, though he should have a few more productive years left in him as well. Under proper management, the Marlins have the potential to challenge Swo’s Braves and the rest of the NL in the years to come.
9. (8) Texas Rangers- Jose Bautista. That’s it- from scrap heap to MVP candidate. The Rangers have an adequate supporting cast, but without the early-season acquisition of the burgeoning slugger, Texas is not among the AL favorites. While one Ranger is the first big leaguer to 40 hrs this year, another lays claim to another interesting first- the first to putt from the rough with announcer Joe Buck. (You’re welcome. I just provided some hilariously entertaining internet research for you.)
8. (5) Atlanta Braves- Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Atlanta looks to be a cinch for the post-season again this year in a very average NL East, but don’t expect the Bravos to be hoisting the illustrious Chin Music Bobblehead Trophy this year. Pitching has been absolutely dominant, offense very pedestrian. I just can’t see them competing with the big boys in the NL. Anything can happen in September though.
7. (9) St. Louis Carindals- A victim of alignment, the Cards would be leading 3 other divisional races, but as it stands there are looking up at 3 teams within their own division. It’s easy to understand why KRod is furiously violent. Punching out your in-laws is only customary when you’re playing on a terrible team in real life and a good one in fantasy that won’t even sniff the post-season. They’ve got an all around good ballclub that should stay competitive for the foreseeable future.
6. (7) Baltimore Orioles- The O’s have finally come into their own. For a few years now, they have been assembling quality young ballplayers, and this year it’s all coming together. Pitching is the strength, with both quantity and quality of starters, but any offense anchored by Prince Albert is more than respectable. The AL East is tough division, and Baltimore is the team to beat this year as well as a favorite going forward.
5. (12) Cincinnati Reds- Like the Orioles, Cinci has been a favorite of the Power Rankings for some time. Despite a lackluster performance from their middle infield, the Reds have managed to stay competitive in the Central- by far the most competitive in the league. Pitching has kept them afloat all season, but strong performances from their role players have made for a respectable lineup as well.
4. (4) Kansas City Royals- In addition to powerhouses Schlongoria and Gonzalez, the Royals boast an unexciting, yet very sufficient supporting cast. An unmatched quantity of hurlers has proven a winning strategy. Kudos to Kevin for a tremendous turnaround.
3. (13) San Diego Padres- The Pads have flown under the radar and amassed a very competitive squad. With the resurgence of Konerko in Chicago and the emergence of superstud Carlos Gonzalez in Colorado, the offense has kept pace despite next to nothing from Grady Sizemore and pre-season sleeper candidate Kyle Blanks. San Diego also owns one of the most consistent pitching staffs in the league. Garza, Hamels and Lilly provide a quality contingent of starters, and Bard and Bell are a nice core for the bullpen. This team should be tough to beat this year, but expect even better things in the future.
2. (16) Pittsburgh Pirates- A perennial GM of the year candidate, Larry, has assembled an impressive collection of productive miscellaneous parts. Who’d have thought McGehee, Prado, Pagan, Choo and Torres would slug their team to the top of the league? The emergence of Latos, Romero and CJ Wilson has provided the Buccos with a nice core for the rotation as well. I’d say this is a fluke, but Larry always seems to find the diamonds in the rough.
1. (1) Milwaukee Brewers- The Brew Crew have amassed an enormous amount of talent and are the unquestioned favorites to unseat the reining two-time champion Red Sox from the throne. Milwaukee probably had the best team a year ago as well, if you recall, but fell victim to Michael Cuddyer’s post-season for the ages. Anything can happen in the playoffs, but it will take a minor miracle to keep the Brewers from taking home the crown.
With the trade deadline passed and less than a week until the playoffs, we thought it appropriate to dissect each team and their chances for September and early October glory. As always, these prognostications are to be accepted as unquestioned fact- other opinions are welcome, however. Enjoy, and best of luck to everyone as the season winds down. Numbers in parenthesis are last editions rank.
30. (30) Cleveland Indians- Robin has as much of my respect as anybody, as he has manned the proverbial cellar of Chin Music for almost 3 seasons now with nary a complaint about his situation. His team is awful, but he’s a hell of a manager and a good guy that I wish better luck going forward. He’s seen his top prospect accused of murder in the Dominican and his pride and joy, beast Steven Strausburg, go under the knife for TJ. Even Kung Fu Panda has lost the magic. They do boast one of the top systems in the league, comprised of: Flowers, Stassi, Chisenhall, Hellickson, Gamel, Weglarz, Scheppers, de la Cruz and Ynoa. If one third of those guys pan out, they should be in OK shape to compete in 2-3 years. I think Robin’s patience will pay off.
29. (27) Oakland Athletics- An offense whose most productive player is Nyjer Morgan AKA the dude who runs catchers over, starts brawls and throws balls at fans, can’t be expected to compete. Bird took over a tough situation in Oaktown, but it could be worse. Not much worse though. Brett Cecil and Jordan Zimmerman are encouraging, and if Volquez rebounds from TJ, the rotation could be OK. Pitching is a rare commodity, so maybe they have enough pieces to turn it around.
28. (22) Philadelphia Phillies- Offensively, there isn’t much to be excited for in the long-term aside from Freese and Smoak, however, there are a handful of potentially interesting arms who should see time as soon as next year. A rotation of Haren, Tazawa, McDonald and Hagadone could prove to be a formidable one. Also, keep an eye on Bobby Borchering, a hometown favorite of mine. He’s had a very average first full season of professional ball, but with some polish could blossom into a middle of the order bat.
27. (28) Chicago White Sox- This is a team not entirely bereft of hope. As bad as the numbers might indicate, they do have a few legitimate major league bats like Ludwick and Rios to go with an aging and juiceless ARod. A 1-2 punch of Jered Weaver (having a wonderful statistical season) and Jake Arrieta is a decent start. They’ve got a long way to go if they want to catch Kevin, though.
26. (26) Los Angeles Dodgers- It’s pretty depressing in LA. Jason Bay has been an expensive abject failure. They’ve got a lot of money tied up in depreciating assets, which is never a recipe for success. Ethier and Tabata may live to see a successful Dodgers team, but the rest will not. One bright spot is a group of minor league arms that may provide some relief in the next year or so. The Dodgers have a long road to mediocrity.
25. (23) New York Yankees- In a tough division, the Yankees are currently looking up at a handful of much better teams. Bad contracts have crippled them to this point, but slowly but surely they are ridding themselves of those toxic assets. They have deep pockets and a few desirable building blocks like Brett Anderson, Brandon Allen, Gaby Sanchez and Gordon Beckham, so never count them out.
24. (18) Houston Astros- And the winner of the 2005 Chin Music World Series is… The Stros rotation of Johan, Oswalt, Lackey, Zambrano and Bedard would have been an absolute powerhouse a few years back, but now they’re just above average. With nothing on the other side of the ball, it will take a lot of work to mold this team back into a contender. They may have the pieces to make a swift turnaround, but the window is rapidly closing. Good luck to Trev, or whomever takes them over for next season.
23. (11) Chicago Cubs- There’s no way this team should be this bad. They’ve had some tough breaks with disappointing performances from their offensive cornerstones, and aside from another solid, yet unfreakish, showing from Lincecum, the staff is pretty barren. There is reason for hope, as they have some pretty exciting young players that should develop nicely (Jennings, Tillman, Revere, etc.)
22. (24) Minnesota Twins- The Twinkies boast the league’s most impressive farm system by a long shot. I think they are at least a year or two away, but the Central better keep its eye to the north as Minnesota will be a force. It’s not a matter of if, but when.
21. (10) Seattle Mariners- I was sure that the M’s would be in the fight for the West down to the wire this year. Injuries to Peavy and Morneau and ineffectiveness from Holland have set them back at least a year. There isn’t much in the way of prospects, but the core of Mauer, Morneau and Butler is a sufficient one. As usual, pitching is not plentiful and for the Mariners, as well as most teams, acquiring some arms before next season will undoubtedly be a priority.
20. (15) Los Angeles Angels- Here’s a team that is better than the numbers indicate. They have a wealth of talent, albeit aging, on offense and a true ace in Halladay. Pitching and dates of birth seem to be the problem in Anaheim. Roger better move fast if he wants to recoup any value from assets like Huff, Hunter and Figgins.
19. (17) Detroit Tigers- Seven players in their starting lineup are current or former Yankees, which means I loathe them. It also means that they have a respectable offense. They’re getting older, though, and their pitching sans Carl Pavano is mediocre at best. This team needs an overhaul and some fresh, anti-Yankee perspective. Says the homer who hoards an equal amount of Red Sox.
18. (19) Toronto Blue Jays- I really like this team, but it appears that statistics do not. I wouldn’t say that they’re ideally suited for the long run, but they have an abundance of desirable pieces to reposition. The bad news for the Jays, aside from the fact they’re in Canada, is that they’re in the AL East where the O’s and Rays seem to have the brightest futures. This will be a critical offseason for the BJs.
17. (21) Washington Nationals- The Nats have done a commendable job rolling out a respectable club year after year. The fact that they are the Nationals makes this an even greater accomplishment. Unfortunately, I think they will have to decide this offseason if they want to be an also ran forever, or if they want to sacrifice the short term and convert pieces like Matt Holliday and Marco Scutaro into viable pieces for the long haul. I, for one, have faith in their managerial abilities, and maybe Aaron can make it work without suffering through a few miserable seasons.
16. (29) San Francisco Giants- The Giants pitching, headlined by flamethrowing southpaw Aroldis Chapman is right where it needs to be, but the offense is abysmal. Aside from super rookie Buster Posey and an aging Chase Utley, there is nothing to get excited about. Unfortunately, there isn’t much help on the way either. With a surplus of high quality arms, one would think that the Giants would be able to acquire a slugger or two to help them compete down the road.
15. (20) Arizona Diamondbacks- The Snakes are very short on players at the moment, but they do have a very nice core of up and coming talent. The Upton brothers in the outfield are a good start on offense, and a rotation anchored by King Felix and Wainwright is well on its way. Add Feliz to the back end of the bullpen, and you’ve got yourself the makings of a contender. This is a desirable team that will no doubt find a manager sooner than later, and with a little commitment to rounding out the roster, they could conceivably be a playoff team this time next year.
14. (6) Colorado Rockies- Kyle’s Rox have disappointed me this year. Kendry Morales’s unfortunate walk-off celebration, Joe Nathan’s lost season, and Edwin Jackson returning to earth all contributed to a subpar season by Colorado’s standards. Beltre in a contract year is usually a pretty good bet, and Ubaldo made Bob Gibson look like Oliver Perez before cooling off of late, but that wasn’t nearly enough to contend for a playoff spot. With sluggers Carlos Santana and Kendry Morales returning next year, the offense looks to be competitive, but the rotation and pen could use an overhaul if they want to challenge the Pads in the West.
13. (23) New York Mets- Under rookie GM Barney and Co., the Mets have far exceeded expectations, as they remained in the hunt for the NL East for most of the season thanks to monster years from VW and Vlad. Going forward, the offense looks good, but the pitching is definitely deficient. Wells’s contract is an albatross, but fortunately New York’s big pocketbook can absorb it better than most clubs. With continued shrewd acquisitions- like Guerrero and Ryan Howard- the Chin Music Mets should fare far better than their Major League counterparts.
12. (2) Boston Red Sox- Has there ever been a more promising group derailed by injuries more ruthlessly than the Red Sox (both MLB and CMDL)? The following are the games played totals for the Sawx 4 best offensive players: Ellsbury (18), Manny (66), Pedroia (75) and Youk (102). In addition, when the staff hasn’t been abysmal it’s because they’re injured as well. When Rajai Davis is the anchor of your offense and your best pitcher (Papelbon) gives you ulcers, things could be going better for you. I’ll go out on a limb and say that the league’s first three-pete will not happen this year.
11. (3) Tampa Bay Rays- Tampa has probably the best top-to-bottom lineup in the league. Depth has been an issue, however. The Rays staff has been very forgettable, and ironically, Jonathan Broxton’s demotion may be Brett’s luckiest break all year. With his $14M closer returning from a DL stint, saves don’t appear to be a problem, making Broxton’s holds more valuable. If they stay healthy and play to potential, the offense can cover up some mediocre pitching performances and challenge for the crown this year.
10. (14) Florida Marlins- The Fish are a very talented rudderless ship at the moment. They own cheap youth both in the lineup and on the staff. Votto, the Canadian Sensation, looks to be a mainstay among the NL MVP favorites for years to come, and he’s in good company in the offense with the Pride of the Pirates, Andrew McCutcheon. Lester and Morrow make up a potent 1-2 punch atop the rotation. The only piece that doesn’t quite seem to fit is Ichiro San, though he should have a few more productive years left in him as well. Under proper management, the Marlins have the potential to challenge Swo’s Braves and the rest of the NL in the years to come.
9. (8) Texas Rangers- Jose Bautista. That’s it- from scrap heap to MVP candidate. The Rangers have an adequate supporting cast, but without the early-season acquisition of the burgeoning slugger, Texas is not among the AL favorites. While one Ranger is the first big leaguer to 40 hrs this year, another lays claim to another interesting first- the first to putt from the rough with announcer Joe Buck. (You’re welcome. I just provided some hilariously entertaining internet research for you.)
8. (5) Atlanta Braves- Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Atlanta looks to be a cinch for the post-season again this year in a very average NL East, but don’t expect the Bravos to be hoisting the illustrious Chin Music Bobblehead Trophy this year. Pitching has been absolutely dominant, offense very pedestrian. I just can’t see them competing with the big boys in the NL. Anything can happen in September though.
7. (9) St. Louis Carindals- A victim of alignment, the Cards would be leading 3 other divisional races, but as it stands there are looking up at 3 teams within their own division. It’s easy to understand why KRod is furiously violent. Punching out your in-laws is only customary when you’re playing on a terrible team in real life and a good one in fantasy that won’t even sniff the post-season. They’ve got an all around good ballclub that should stay competitive for the foreseeable future.
6. (7) Baltimore Orioles- The O’s have finally come into their own. For a few years now, they have been assembling quality young ballplayers, and this year it’s all coming together. Pitching is the strength, with both quantity and quality of starters, but any offense anchored by Prince Albert is more than respectable. The AL East is tough division, and Baltimore is the team to beat this year as well as a favorite going forward.
5. (12) Cincinnati Reds- Like the Orioles, Cinci has been a favorite of the Power Rankings for some time. Despite a lackluster performance from their middle infield, the Reds have managed to stay competitive in the Central- by far the most competitive in the league. Pitching has kept them afloat all season, but strong performances from their role players have made for a respectable lineup as well.
4. (4) Kansas City Royals- In addition to powerhouses Schlongoria and Gonzalez, the Royals boast an unexciting, yet very sufficient supporting cast. An unmatched quantity of hurlers has proven a winning strategy. Kudos to Kevin for a tremendous turnaround.
3. (13) San Diego Padres- The Pads have flown under the radar and amassed a very competitive squad. With the resurgence of Konerko in Chicago and the emergence of superstud Carlos Gonzalez in Colorado, the offense has kept pace despite next to nothing from Grady Sizemore and pre-season sleeper candidate Kyle Blanks. San Diego also owns one of the most consistent pitching staffs in the league. Garza, Hamels and Lilly provide a quality contingent of starters, and Bard and Bell are a nice core for the bullpen. This team should be tough to beat this year, but expect even better things in the future.
2. (16) Pittsburgh Pirates- A perennial GM of the year candidate, Larry, has assembled an impressive collection of productive miscellaneous parts. Who’d have thought McGehee, Prado, Pagan, Choo and Torres would slug their team to the top of the league? The emergence of Latos, Romero and CJ Wilson has provided the Buccos with a nice core for the rotation as well. I’d say this is a fluke, but Larry always seems to find the diamonds in the rough.
1. (1) Milwaukee Brewers- The Brew Crew have amassed an enormous amount of talent and are the unquestioned favorites to unseat the reining two-time champion Red Sox from the throne. Milwaukee probably had the best team a year ago as well, if you recall, but fell victim to Michael Cuddyer’s post-season for the ages. Anything can happen in the playoffs, but it will take a minor miracle to keep the Brewers from taking home the crown.
