Post by Red Sox GM (Ty) on May 9, 2008 4:30:35 GMT -5
Chin Music Inaugural Power Rankings
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a guru. This is mostly for entertainment purposes and to create interest and chatter in the league again, so don’t take it too personally. Secondly, if you want to cut through all of my BS analyses, there’s a summary at the end.
30 St. Louis Cardinals: Talk about tough luck, the poor Redbirds look like a triage unit. This year does not look promising for St. Louis fans; however, the future holds a lot of promise with one of the best farm systems in the league. They’ve also got very solid ML pitching- their offense, though, is another story.
29 Kansas City Royals: Here's a team where the numbers don’t really tell the whole story. The situation isn’t all that awful in KC, despite the string of owners that came before. A respectable farm system to build upon and some key names like Eva Longoria (who knew she could hit), Mike Napoli (who’s absolutely raking right now), Brian Bannister and Joaquin Soria give hope to hapless Royals faithful. George Brett and Brett Saberhagen they are not yet, but give it time and the Royals may be poised for a comeback.
28 Cleveland Indians: I liken the situation in Cleveland to sorting through a train wreck. It takes a brave soul to take control when things are as bad as they were. There are some decent players left- Guillen, Scott, Betancourt, Nathan- but the road ahead won’t be easy. Kudos to the Tribe if they’re able to salvage the mess they inherited.
27 Florida Marlins: The fish are not nearly as bad as the score next to their name indicates. These guys have good production all through their lineup. Pitching is a problem, but with their LOADED farm system (it’s ridiculous, I implore you to look for yourself), filling that need won’t be a problem. Whether the new GM decides to sit on that raw potential or move some for a few proven contributors, they are sure to make a big splash by this time next year.
26 San Francisco Giants: Taking the reigns of such a decrepit franchise is a task not meant for just anyone. I tip my cap to the Giants’ GM. Barry Zito’s contract epitomizes pissing money down the drain. Injuries to Capuano and Lowry certainly didn’t help matters either. However the insightful signing of Barmes and the acquisitions of Liz, Adenhart and Vitters provide a bit of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.
25 Washington Nationals: I don’t get some of the thinking behind the Nat’s decisions, but it’s a fun saga to follow. The Matt Cain departure raised some eyebrows, but I’m sure there’s a plan. They’ve got some talent in both the lineup and the rotation, so things could turn at any time- someone just needs to get hot. We’ll stay tuned to see how this one turns out.
24 Toronto Blue Jays: Bueller?...Bueller?
23 Oakland Athletics: …Bueller?
22 San Diego Padres: Three absolute studs: Hanley, Hamels and Peavy. Unlike in basketball, 3 stars and scrubs won’t win you any titles in baseball. There’s plenty of value there and a wise trade or two can easily right the ship and secure a bright future in SoCal.
21 Texas Rangers: I like this team more than the ranking would suggest. Again, we’re not talking title this year, but there’s a quality foundation in Arlington (Salty, Gonzalez, Lopez.) I think they’re overachieving right now- especially their pitching staff, which they’ve supplemented wonderfully via free agency. Good ownership and a clear vision for the future will spell success for the Rangers.
20 Baltimore Orioles: This team is stacked in terms of potential. I don’t see them doing much this season, but in time they could develop into the dynasty in our league. Their offense is just plain scary- Carlos Gomez is a personal favorite. They could stand to add some proven pitching, but they’ve got plenty of time. I foresee Baltimore becoming a major player in 2009 and beyond. Thankfully Peter Angelos doesn’t run his outfit this way, otherwise it could get crowded at the top of the AL East.
19 Chicago White Sox: The knock on the South Siders is that a good portion of their offense belongs on a geriatric ward. They’re still productive though and their pitching has been surprisingly good- especially Gavin “If I could only get a few well-timed downpours I’d be a no-hit machine” Floyd. A major question mark: what will Cordero provide if/when he gets healthy? If the White Sox can convert some of their productive vets into some youngsters with upside, they’ll be in good shape for the future.
18 New York Yankees: Hands down the best pen in the league, but the offense is sputtering. Partially because Cano couldn’t hit in slow pitch softball right now and partially because A-Rod is sipping Labatt Blue and stuffing Benjamins in Canadian strippers’ G-strings while he rehabs from a hangnail and an over-frosting of his tips. Then you’ve got little Hank Steinbrenner, who just had his training wheels taken off and thinks he’s ready to be an owner/GM/manager/talent evaluator/ambassador/PR Rep. ‘What a bunch of $#!& that is!’ He reminds me of Spaulding Smails when the Judge isn't around. Anyone else get that vibe??? The future looks bright. Anyway, I digress...back to Chin Music…the Bronx Bombers are an ace in the rotation and a quality bat away from being contenders.
17 Minnesota Twins: It’s tough to find much bad to say about the Twinkies. After inheriting an iffy situation, new ownership has done a fine job picking up the pieces. There’s no real ace in the rotation, but they’ve got a few serviceable starters. Good lineup with several desirable pieces. I foresee a few more moves before the deadline, and think that things are headed in the right direction.
16 Colorado Rockies: Last years NL champs have seriously underperformed offensively to date. With phenom SS Troy Tulowitzki out for the foreseeable future, improving on their offensive numbers seems a daunting task. That said I still really like their lineup. They’re really in need of a bona fide ace and some saves, though they’ve got decent depth in their rotation. If they plan on making it Rocktober again this year, they’ve got a long road ahead of them.
15 Milwaukee Brewers: Chase Utley is to the Brewers what Berkman is to the Astros (see #14). Easily the MVP to date, Utley should get help from a potent lineup as soon as Prince Fielder starts eating meat again- seriously, get that man a Brat or something. The offense will come around (I say this as the Brew Crew lead the league in long balls), but they could really use a healthy Francisco Liriano and Kelvim Escobar in their rotation.
14 Houston Astros: Two words for you- Lance Berkman. He’s hotter than a firecracker right now and almost single handedly carrying their offense. The ‘Stros seem like a virtual lock to run away with steals (pun intended) thanks to speedy newcomer Michael Bourn. I just don’t know how long Jeff Keppinger can keep up the tremendous play. I mean, we're talking about JEFF KEPPINGER, right? Solid pitching staff though- that ought to keep them competitive.
13 Detroit Tigers: To be honest, I’m shocked that the Tigers don’t have a top 5 spot locked up. The offense is stout and they have a few excellent starters. The obvious need is in the pen, where they are dead last in holds and saves. They’re a move or two away from really climbing the leaderboard, so don’t count these paper Tigers out just yet.
12 Tampa Bay Rays: Another preseason favorite that just never really got off the ground. Injuries to the Rays’ pitching staff have put them at a serious disadvantage to start the year. They’ve got some big names, though, and should start gaining a lot of ground in the not so distant future.
11 Philadelphia Phillies: Solid all around club. If Burrell can stay hot and Coco can find regular Abs and Verlander gets his ERA down around the price of diesel, the Phils will be in good shape. That’s a lot of ‘Ifs’ though.
10 Seattle Mariners: The youthful M’s were quick out of the gate but seem to have cooled a bit. They’ve got a ton of highly touted youth who should develop nicely and make them contenders sooner than later. Another quality arm in the rotation would be very helpful.
9 New York Mets: A personal favorite going into the season, their pitching has been OK despite injuries to Pedro and JoBo, but their offense desperately needs a spark. If Wright and Beltran get hot, watch out.
8 Pittsburgh Pirates: The new management has finally given Pittsburgh a reason to pay attention to the sports world between January and September. The Pirates GM is making an early case for Executive of the Year, but I really think the Buccos are playing a bit over their heads. How long can McLouth and Furcal maintain their hot bats?
7 Los Angeles Dodgers: The good news: Joey Votto, Russell Martin, Matt Kemp. The bad news: there’s 6 pitching categories! Top notch offense, but the pitching looks like a potential Achilles heel. If Penny doesn’t make a push for the Cy Young or the Big Eunuch falters, they could be in real trouble.
6 Cincinnati Reds: Thanks to Carlos Quentin, the Big Red Machine is off to a hot start. With a great core of young guys like Mauer, Reyes, CoJack and Hermida as well as smoke slingers Volquez, King Felix and Billingsly, the Reds should be very good for a long time.
5 Chicago Cubs: There aren’t many weaknesses with this club. They’ve got a hot hitting rookie behind the dish and notoriously productive vets up and down the lineup. Couple that with a few very nice arms and you’ve got a real contender. Could this finally be the lovable losers’ year?
4 Los Angeles Angels: Keep an eye on this team in the not so distant future. When Kendrick gets healthy and CC gets into midseason form, the Orange County Angels should have what it takes to make a serious run- watch out for Big Wlad too. One of my favorite top to bottom rosters in the league.
3 Atlanta Braves: The back end of the bullpen seems to be taken care of via an injury- figure that one out. Meanwhile Chipper Jones seems to have found the fountain of youth. The biggest question mark-as always- is how many games will he miss? Anyway, their only substantial problem is that their front office has the managerial wherewithal of Allan Baird.
2 Boston Red Sox: Despite Papi’s extended Spring Training, the Sox appear to be a pretty solid all around club at this point. Dice-Ks pitch count and walk totals have to catch up with him sometime though, right? Joe Saunders is looking like one of the steals of the player draft.
1 Arizona Diamondbacks: Break up the D-Backs! Seriously, what’s in the water out in the desert? There’s plenty to like about the snakes: young bats with tremendous upside and multiple aces in the rotation could mean a dynasty in the desert for a long time. All they need now is for their GM to pay a bit more attention.
Well, that’s all for this the inaugural edition of the Chin Music Power Rankings. Depending on how well they’re received and how many feelings are hurt, you may be lucky enough for a monthly installment. Feel free to comment/criticize.
Summary:
The Favorites
1 Arizona
The Contenders
2 Boston
3 Atlanta
4 LAA
5 Chicago NL
The Dark Horse
6 Cincinnati
The Enigmas
7 LAD
8 Pittsburgh
9 NYM
10 Seattle
11 Philly
Sleepers
12 Tampa Bay
13 Detroit
Stuck in the middle
14 Houston
15 Milwaukee
16 Colorado
17 Minnesota
18 NYY
19 Chicago AL
Playing for next year
20 Baltimore
21 Texas
22 San Diego
Wait…What?
23 Oakland
24 Toronto
You Can’t Make Chicken Salad Out Of Chicken $#!&
25 Washington
26 San Francisco
The Redheaded Stepchildren
27 Florida
28 Cleveland
29 Kansas City
The Walking Wounded
30 St. Louis Cardinals
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a guru. This is mostly for entertainment purposes and to create interest and chatter in the league again, so don’t take it too personally. Secondly, if you want to cut through all of my BS analyses, there’s a summary at the end.
30 St. Louis Cardinals: Talk about tough luck, the poor Redbirds look like a triage unit. This year does not look promising for St. Louis fans; however, the future holds a lot of promise with one of the best farm systems in the league. They’ve also got very solid ML pitching- their offense, though, is another story.
29 Kansas City Royals: Here's a team where the numbers don’t really tell the whole story. The situation isn’t all that awful in KC, despite the string of owners that came before. A respectable farm system to build upon and some key names like Eva Longoria (who knew she could hit), Mike Napoli (who’s absolutely raking right now), Brian Bannister and Joaquin Soria give hope to hapless Royals faithful. George Brett and Brett Saberhagen they are not yet, but give it time and the Royals may be poised for a comeback.
28 Cleveland Indians: I liken the situation in Cleveland to sorting through a train wreck. It takes a brave soul to take control when things are as bad as they were. There are some decent players left- Guillen, Scott, Betancourt, Nathan- but the road ahead won’t be easy. Kudos to the Tribe if they’re able to salvage the mess they inherited.
27 Florida Marlins: The fish are not nearly as bad as the score next to their name indicates. These guys have good production all through their lineup. Pitching is a problem, but with their LOADED farm system (it’s ridiculous, I implore you to look for yourself), filling that need won’t be a problem. Whether the new GM decides to sit on that raw potential or move some for a few proven contributors, they are sure to make a big splash by this time next year.
26 San Francisco Giants: Taking the reigns of such a decrepit franchise is a task not meant for just anyone. I tip my cap to the Giants’ GM. Barry Zito’s contract epitomizes pissing money down the drain. Injuries to Capuano and Lowry certainly didn’t help matters either. However the insightful signing of Barmes and the acquisitions of Liz, Adenhart and Vitters provide a bit of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.
25 Washington Nationals: I don’t get some of the thinking behind the Nat’s decisions, but it’s a fun saga to follow. The Matt Cain departure raised some eyebrows, but I’m sure there’s a plan. They’ve got some talent in both the lineup and the rotation, so things could turn at any time- someone just needs to get hot. We’ll stay tuned to see how this one turns out.
24 Toronto Blue Jays: Bueller?...Bueller?
23 Oakland Athletics: …Bueller?
22 San Diego Padres: Three absolute studs: Hanley, Hamels and Peavy. Unlike in basketball, 3 stars and scrubs won’t win you any titles in baseball. There’s plenty of value there and a wise trade or two can easily right the ship and secure a bright future in SoCal.
21 Texas Rangers: I like this team more than the ranking would suggest. Again, we’re not talking title this year, but there’s a quality foundation in Arlington (Salty, Gonzalez, Lopez.) I think they’re overachieving right now- especially their pitching staff, which they’ve supplemented wonderfully via free agency. Good ownership and a clear vision for the future will spell success for the Rangers.
20 Baltimore Orioles: This team is stacked in terms of potential. I don’t see them doing much this season, but in time they could develop into the dynasty in our league. Their offense is just plain scary- Carlos Gomez is a personal favorite. They could stand to add some proven pitching, but they’ve got plenty of time. I foresee Baltimore becoming a major player in 2009 and beyond. Thankfully Peter Angelos doesn’t run his outfit this way, otherwise it could get crowded at the top of the AL East.
19 Chicago White Sox: The knock on the South Siders is that a good portion of their offense belongs on a geriatric ward. They’re still productive though and their pitching has been surprisingly good- especially Gavin “If I could only get a few well-timed downpours I’d be a no-hit machine” Floyd. A major question mark: what will Cordero provide if/when he gets healthy? If the White Sox can convert some of their productive vets into some youngsters with upside, they’ll be in good shape for the future.
18 New York Yankees: Hands down the best pen in the league, but the offense is sputtering. Partially because Cano couldn’t hit in slow pitch softball right now and partially because A-Rod is sipping Labatt Blue and stuffing Benjamins in Canadian strippers’ G-strings while he rehabs from a hangnail and an over-frosting of his tips. Then you’ve got little Hank Steinbrenner, who just had his training wheels taken off and thinks he’s ready to be an owner/GM/manager/talent evaluator/ambassador/PR Rep. ‘What a bunch of $#!& that is!’ He reminds me of Spaulding Smails when the Judge isn't around. Anyone else get that vibe??? The future looks bright. Anyway, I digress...back to Chin Music…the Bronx Bombers are an ace in the rotation and a quality bat away from being contenders.
17 Minnesota Twins: It’s tough to find much bad to say about the Twinkies. After inheriting an iffy situation, new ownership has done a fine job picking up the pieces. There’s no real ace in the rotation, but they’ve got a few serviceable starters. Good lineup with several desirable pieces. I foresee a few more moves before the deadline, and think that things are headed in the right direction.
16 Colorado Rockies: Last years NL champs have seriously underperformed offensively to date. With phenom SS Troy Tulowitzki out for the foreseeable future, improving on their offensive numbers seems a daunting task. That said I still really like their lineup. They’re really in need of a bona fide ace and some saves, though they’ve got decent depth in their rotation. If they plan on making it Rocktober again this year, they’ve got a long road ahead of them.
15 Milwaukee Brewers: Chase Utley is to the Brewers what Berkman is to the Astros (see #14). Easily the MVP to date, Utley should get help from a potent lineup as soon as Prince Fielder starts eating meat again- seriously, get that man a Brat or something. The offense will come around (I say this as the Brew Crew lead the league in long balls), but they could really use a healthy Francisco Liriano and Kelvim Escobar in their rotation.
14 Houston Astros: Two words for you- Lance Berkman. He’s hotter than a firecracker right now and almost single handedly carrying their offense. The ‘Stros seem like a virtual lock to run away with steals (pun intended) thanks to speedy newcomer Michael Bourn. I just don’t know how long Jeff Keppinger can keep up the tremendous play. I mean, we're talking about JEFF KEPPINGER, right? Solid pitching staff though- that ought to keep them competitive.
13 Detroit Tigers: To be honest, I’m shocked that the Tigers don’t have a top 5 spot locked up. The offense is stout and they have a few excellent starters. The obvious need is in the pen, where they are dead last in holds and saves. They’re a move or two away from really climbing the leaderboard, so don’t count these paper Tigers out just yet.
12 Tampa Bay Rays: Another preseason favorite that just never really got off the ground. Injuries to the Rays’ pitching staff have put them at a serious disadvantage to start the year. They’ve got some big names, though, and should start gaining a lot of ground in the not so distant future.
11 Philadelphia Phillies: Solid all around club. If Burrell can stay hot and Coco can find regular Abs and Verlander gets his ERA down around the price of diesel, the Phils will be in good shape. That’s a lot of ‘Ifs’ though.
10 Seattle Mariners: The youthful M’s were quick out of the gate but seem to have cooled a bit. They’ve got a ton of highly touted youth who should develop nicely and make them contenders sooner than later. Another quality arm in the rotation would be very helpful.
9 New York Mets: A personal favorite going into the season, their pitching has been OK despite injuries to Pedro and JoBo, but their offense desperately needs a spark. If Wright and Beltran get hot, watch out.
8 Pittsburgh Pirates: The new management has finally given Pittsburgh a reason to pay attention to the sports world between January and September. The Pirates GM is making an early case for Executive of the Year, but I really think the Buccos are playing a bit over their heads. How long can McLouth and Furcal maintain their hot bats?
7 Los Angeles Dodgers: The good news: Joey Votto, Russell Martin, Matt Kemp. The bad news: there’s 6 pitching categories! Top notch offense, but the pitching looks like a potential Achilles heel. If Penny doesn’t make a push for the Cy Young or the Big Eunuch falters, they could be in real trouble.
6 Cincinnati Reds: Thanks to Carlos Quentin, the Big Red Machine is off to a hot start. With a great core of young guys like Mauer, Reyes, CoJack and Hermida as well as smoke slingers Volquez, King Felix and Billingsly, the Reds should be very good for a long time.
5 Chicago Cubs: There aren’t many weaknesses with this club. They’ve got a hot hitting rookie behind the dish and notoriously productive vets up and down the lineup. Couple that with a few very nice arms and you’ve got a real contender. Could this finally be the lovable losers’ year?
4 Los Angeles Angels: Keep an eye on this team in the not so distant future. When Kendrick gets healthy and CC gets into midseason form, the Orange County Angels should have what it takes to make a serious run- watch out for Big Wlad too. One of my favorite top to bottom rosters in the league.
3 Atlanta Braves: The back end of the bullpen seems to be taken care of via an injury- figure that one out. Meanwhile Chipper Jones seems to have found the fountain of youth. The biggest question mark-as always- is how many games will he miss? Anyway, their only substantial problem is that their front office has the managerial wherewithal of Allan Baird.
2 Boston Red Sox: Despite Papi’s extended Spring Training, the Sox appear to be a pretty solid all around club at this point. Dice-Ks pitch count and walk totals have to catch up with him sometime though, right? Joe Saunders is looking like one of the steals of the player draft.
1 Arizona Diamondbacks: Break up the D-Backs! Seriously, what’s in the water out in the desert? There’s plenty to like about the snakes: young bats with tremendous upside and multiple aces in the rotation could mean a dynasty in the desert for a long time. All they need now is for their GM to pay a bit more attention.
Well, that’s all for this the inaugural edition of the Chin Music Power Rankings. Depending on how well they’re received and how many feelings are hurt, you may be lucky enough for a monthly installment. Feel free to comment/criticize.
Summary:
The Favorites
1 Arizona
The Contenders
2 Boston
3 Atlanta
4 LAA
5 Chicago NL
The Dark Horse
6 Cincinnati
The Enigmas
7 LAD
8 Pittsburgh
9 NYM
10 Seattle
11 Philly
Sleepers
12 Tampa Bay
13 Detroit
Stuck in the middle
14 Houston
15 Milwaukee
16 Colorado
17 Minnesota
18 NYY
19 Chicago AL
Playing for next year
20 Baltimore
21 Texas
22 San Diego
Wait…What?
23 Oakland
24 Toronto
You Can’t Make Chicken Salad Out Of Chicken $#!&
25 Washington
26 San Francisco
The Redheaded Stepchildren
27 Florida
28 Cleveland
29 Kansas City
The Walking Wounded
30 St. Louis Cardinals
