Post by Red Sox GM (Ty) on Jul 22, 2013 20:43:38 GMT -5
Welcome back to our latest edition of our critically acclaimed series, Chin Music Power Rankings. Thanks to all for your patience. The latest installment comes with a BONUS set of post-season predictions AT NO EXTRA COST. That's right, your membership in our glorious league entitles you to not only an astoundingly insightful and biting analysis of all 30 teams, but a fully guaranteed prediction of how the rest of the year will play out. That's quite a deal if you ask me.
Anyway, I also wanted to post a reminder about our playoff system in here, and I assume more people will read this than an actual announcement, so just as a refresher: nothing has changed about how we'll run the playoffs. I know there was some confusion earlier in the year because I tried to get cute and segregate standings by division on Fantrax. Your playoff destiny will, in fact, be determined by how you perform against your division; however, it's your cumulative score against the entire league that gets compared to your division rivals' to determine whether or not you make the playoffs. The team from each division with the most points will make the playoffs, along with the team with the highest point total that is NOT a division winner from either league. We then have head-to-head matches for the final 3+ weeks of the season to determine our champion. We did NOT change the way we do our playoffs when MLB made their changes. If you have questions about that, please direct them to me so I can get you squared away.
Back to business. Unfortunately, I was unable to spend 2 full work weeks compiling a list of customized you tube clips or authoring haikus for each team, so for your re-enjoyment, here is our prior installment (chinmusicupin.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=history&action=display&thread=6914). Without further ado, here's our latest, and as always, feel free to comment, condescend, dispute, pontificate, or otherwise disparage our efforts or offer a prediction of your own. Best of luck to all in the 2nd half.
30. (30) Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers still have a long road ahead to return to relevance. There are some pieces in their system that should provide some optimism, but they’re years away from making an impact. They have deep pockets, which, if used properly, can accelerate the process, and the early draft picks should help provide value one way or another. While things look pretty bleak right now, there’s only one way to go from rock bottom.
29. (27) Oakland Athletics
Bird chose the wrong superstar to build his team around. It seems as though Pujols’ elite years are behind him, and with the money he’s getting, it will be difficult to add the necessary pieces to turn this team into a contender. The high draft picks should help, and the relatively weak state of the AL West should be encouraging, but finding a new home for Albert should be priority one. On the bright side, Adam Lind may have slugged himself into a quality asset that could fetch some cost-controlled talent.
28. (29) Chicago White Sox
The South Siders need to add pieces to their farm system, and they have some pretty desirable pieces to make that happen. Everybody needs pitching, so Scherzer and Weaver could command a sizable return on the trade market, and even Carl Crawford has proven a decent buy-low option as he gets his career back on track. I’d imagine Graham will try to swing a few deals heading into the trade deadline to acquire players that make sense for a team in rebuild mode.
27. (25)San Francisco Giants
Despite their relatively low ranking in these Power Rankings, the Giants are in decent shape moving forward. They hold plenty of valuable trade chips, and a very good farm system. This is a team on the rise, and while they’re still probably at least two years away, Adkins has done an admirable job attempting to put together some semblance of a team out of what was a pretty difficult situation. They’re a few wise trades and shrewdly utilized capital away from being a middle-of-the-pack type team.
26. (28) Seattle Mariners
Mike’s is still mired in a tough rebuild, but his future is as bright as anyone’s. Despite losing prized prospect Dylan Bundy to TJ (why did the O’s wait so long??), their system is chock full of future production. They’ve leveraged every bit of their financial resources, drafted well, accumulated tradable assets, and they’re well on their way to contention in a wide open AL West. I’d expect to see the Mariners taking home a slew of division titles starting in a few years, barring an unreasonably high flameout rate of his prospects.
25. (26) Houston Astros
Kudos to the Stros for their rebuild effort as well. They’ve quietly developed a very respectable farm system, highlighted by one of the game’s most exciting prospects in Oscar Taveras. They also boast a handful of other quality minor leaguers who don’t get a ton of press. Considering the state of the franchise when John took over, this looks like a success story in the making. Colby Rasmus seems to have finally found his groove, and the ageless Juan Pierre is on pace to swipe 30+ bags, giving them assets to trade. The real question will be what to do with Joey Votto. Will he still be in his prime when the Astros are ready to make a run at a division title, or is he a trade candidate in the coming years once his contract becomes a bit more palatable?
24. (23) Detroit Tigers
Nobody tries harder to keep his team competitive than Dale- always scouring the FA pool for the latest hot platoon player to help bolster his lineup. Last year he overachieved to the point where he was in playoff contention until very late in the summer. Unfortunately, this year’s gambles just haven’t worked out with the same success rate. Madsen hasn’t pitched this year, and League has accumulated some saves, but at what cost? Lackey (my irrational smoldering hatred for him aside) has pitched exceedingly well, but there aren’t many success stories on the roster this year. The Tigers have pieces if they want to tear it down and start again, but I don’t expect that from never-say-die Dale. We’re pulling for him to turn it around.
23. (16) New York Yankees
The Bronx Bombers aren’t in bad shape, but they’re not in particularly good shape either. They’ve got a decent core that should continue to develop, but they lack the firepower necessary to hang with the playoff contenders. When you have money, you have options, and the Yankees have a ton of it. If deployed wisely, it shouldn’t take too long to add a franchise cornerstone or two to compliment the Kyle Seagers on their roster and make them a contender once again. Mike Minor has been a revelation, it’s fortunate for them (and pretty unlucky for the Reds) that he’s still in pinstripes after this past offseason’s near-deal.
22. (24) Tampa Bay Rays
I like what the Rays have done so far in their limited tenure. They desperately need depth, pitching especially, but they’ve got an excellent core to build around. Being a small-market team, it will be interesting to see if they’ll be able to keep the band together, and add the pieces necessary to take them to the next level when McCutchen and Lucroy get expensive. They were dealt a pretty tough blow when they weren’t able to unload Andrew Bailey before his season-ending surgery- the cap space would have done wonders for them next season. Even with the limited financial resources, this team could very easily find itself in the running for a playoff spot next year.
21. (21) Atlanta Braves
Much to Swo’s chagrin, his team is actually playing pretty well. El Oso Blanco has been a tremendously pleasant surprise, but what happens with he and McCann for next year. He has an elite farm system that would look even better if he knew when to stop spending money, but for every Roy Oswalt, there’s a Matt Joyce that should yield some nice assets a year from now. Between his prospects, a ridiculous stockpile of draft picks, and some decent major leaguers, the Braves have the flexibility to re-tool, should they decide that waiting for their players in the lower minors to graduate. All in all, he’s in pretty good shape- don’t cry for Swo.
20. (22) Philadelphia Phillies
Raul Ibanez’s career year has helped mask the stench of Middlebrooks and Montero (both former Red Sox- sorry about that), but they still find themselves firmly entrenched in mediocrity. Big Dickey hasn’t been able to replicate his success in the AL, but he’s still an asset. Aside from Machado, and possibly Middlebrooks if he finds his swing, I don’t see much that will likely help the Phils win their next pennant, but if Andy works the phones, he should be able to get a lot accomplished, as there are plenty of guys that a contender could use for the stretch run.
19. (19) Miami Marlins
Another middling team in the NL East, the Marlins’ Madison Bumgarner represents possibly the best value for a pitcher in the league. Around him are some serviceable parts, but nobody who will help him fill the seats in Marlins’ Park or carry the Fish to the playoffs. Napoli, Altuve and Moreland present some decent value, and they’ve got some nice relief arms, but without a commitment to fundamentally changing the roster, I see many years like the last few in their future. Not bad, not great, not where you want to be for an extended period of time.
18. (17) Texas Rangers
The Rangers have decided to pack it in for the year and pursue a rebuild. I admire the resignation at this point, because they still have a respectable team headlined by outfielders Cruz and Gordon and the resurgent Hanley Ramirez. With those types of assets to move, it shouldn’t take forever for them to present a serious challenge to Craig for AL West superiority. Their biggest asset, Hanley, picked an ideal time to reach peak value. If Jared can get a fair haul for him before the deadline, it would go a long way to hastening his return to dominance of the division.
17. (15) Baltimore Orioles
I like this team. They’ve got a young stud, on a very reasonable contract, to carry their offense, the best pitcher in baseball (though it’ll be costly to retain him) and quality depth. Iglesias has exceeded even the most optimistic projections, albeit with the general SSS caveat. They don’t have a ton of help down on the farm, but they’re good enough to reload this offseason and make a run at the playoffs should they want to go that route. There’s also plenty to work with should they decide to ship off pieces to contenders, so they’ve got options. With the Red Sox aging, there could be a power struggle brewing between the Rays, Jays and O’s for division dominance.
16. (7) Pittsburgh Pirates
Larry appears to be out of the race for a playoff spot as early in the season as I remember in the last handful of years. He played second (or third) fiddle in a grueling division for quite some time, and all he’s got to show for it is a mantle full of GM of the Year trophies. I have full faith in his abilities to right the ship, but Matt Cain needs to get his shit together, or else the Buccos will be hamstrung for the next half decade. An overall solid farm should continue to graduate productive players, including wunderkind Xander Bogaerts, so I’m not too worried about the Pirates. Hopefully the next time they peak, his path to September will be a bit less difficult.
15. (18) Cleveland Indians
After 5 years in the cellar, the Indians are finally shaping up to be a contending ballclub for the first time in league history! It’s a testament to Robin, who took a wicked beating for several years, but stuck with it, got somewhat lucky, and built a foundation upon which Ryan has assembled a credible threat in the AL Central. Cleveland deserves a winner, and I’m glad to see the progression of a franchise from the depths of despair to quality ball club. It can be done. The Tribe are not a playoff team this year, but going forward the Royals and Twins would do well to take them seriously. They don’t need much of anything except a healthy Strasburg. This team has sleeper written all over it.
14. (8) Toronto Blue Jays
Jordan’s Jays looked like they’d at least challenge for, if not win, an AL East crown about a month into the season. They’ve cooled off substantially since then, but they remain the gold standard in accumulating minor league talent. Like the Twins a few years ago, the Jays are likely to climb up these rankings pretty quickly and become a mainstay near the top for years. The Red Sox should be (and are) anxious about their standing in the division beyond this year, and Toronto is the #1 reason for that anxiety.
13. (20) Los Angeles Angels
It appears as though we will have a new AL West champion this year. After years of Ranger dominance, the Craig’s Angels have built a comfortable lead that they’re unlikely to relinquish. With the Rangers beginning a self-described rebuild and the Mariners, Astros, and A’s in a similar state, this could be the beginning of a new era. It’s difficult to see them advancing too far in the playoffs, but in a weak AL, you never know. They should have another year or so before the rest of the West closes the gap.
12. (3) Milwaukee Brewers
Once the preeminent franchise in the league, the Brewers now find themselves in re-tooling mode. The league has caught up with them, though, and their wheeling and dealing has all but ceased, leaving many to wonder if the mighty Brew Crew will sit idly by while a powerhouse crumbles around them. Don’t feel too bad for them, though. They’ve still got a ridiculous amount of talent, but they’re getting older and don’t have anyone in the minors now that Zunino has graduated. Braun's recent suspension all but eliminates them from playoff consideration this year- he should have taken to the seas- but an active offseason, or trade deadline, could easily revitalize this club and make them serious contenders again for next year. For now, though, they have officially been unseated as the class of the NL.
11. (14) Chicago Cubs
The Cubbies always seem to find themselves in this position- way too good to throw in the towel and rebuild, and not quite good enough to make a real push for the playoffs. In large part, this is due to their tragic imprisonment in the NL Central. However, a new dawn is breaking. The Brewers and Pirates have lost a step, and the Reds appear to be in danger of following suit. If Scott is able to find suitors for some of his superfluous pieces, it’s very plausible that Scott will break the Curse of the Central and bring joy to all of Chicago by making the playoffs! Next year. They’ve been too good for too long not to have won anything, that can’t continue forever. Right?
10. (13) Arizona Diamondbacks
The DBacks find themselves in contention about a year ahead of what I thought was a reasonable expectation. It helps that Big Papi continues to absolutely mash baseballs even as he approaches his 38th birthday. Tyler will have to decide pretty quickly whether to make a run at a playoff spot (he trails in the wild card by less than 20 pts), or try to move a few pieces that don’t fit into the long-term plan. Myers appears to be a legit franchise cornerstone, and they have loads of solid young pitching. They seem poised to remain contenders for years to come.
9. (12) Minnesota Twins
Have Mike’s Twins finally arrived? It seems that they’ve been just on the outside looking in for the past few years, but as of now they hold a 45 point advantage in the AL Wildcard. They’re young and talented, but unless they benefit from minor league promotions or decide to deal some prospects, I don’t think they’ll have enough to make too much noise in the playoffs this year. While I’m somewhat surprised it’s taken this long, we all knew the Twinkies would grow into contenders at some point. Black Kevin’s stranglehold on the division may be in jeopardy as soon as next season.
8. (10) New York Mets
17 points, 15 DL stints and 2 superhuman Nationals’ performances are all that’s currently keeping Barney out of the playoffs this year. Despite their immense efforts, finding saves has, until recently, proven a nearly insurmountable task for the Metropolitans. The Nats seem more vulnerable than in recent years, but the Mets will have their work cut out for them if they want to break new ground by sneaking into the playoffs. They could pose a real threat in a head-to-head matchup due to the sheer volume of players, particularly pitchers, on their roster. Watch out for the Mets if they secure a playoff spot.
7. (9) Colorado Rockies
Where are my $@!*% avatar rankings, shirtless updates, or Carol memos, you tease? Damnit Kyle!
P.S. If you're on the Twitter and are not following Kyle, your life is incomplete.
6. (2) Cincinnati Reds
Chris Davis’s mammoth 1st half has dwarfed BJ Upton’s pathetic ineptitude and single-handedly kept the Reds in the playoff picture. They have a strong team, especially if BJ can elevate his game from ‘I-award-you-no-points-and-may-God-have-mercy-on-your-soul’ bad to just ‘embarrassed-to-attend-family-functions-with-Justin’ bad. Either way, they need more players. Without a concerted effort to add warm bodies, their playoff spot, despite a 20 point lead in the wild card race, will remain in jeopardy.
5. (5) Washington Nationals
To quote the incomparable Eric Byrnes: ‘When I grow up I want to be Yaisel Puig.’ Among his many accomplishments since his promotion to The Show, perhaps his most important is his revitalization of a proud Nationals squad that was languishing near the middle of the standings prior to his arrival. I think it’s unreasonable to expect Puig to continue his MVP worthy production for the remainder of the season, and Jeff Locke screams regression, so the race is far from won. Barring injury, I expect the margin between the Nats and Mets to narrow significantly in the coming weeks. It should be one of the more entertaining storylines of our 2nd half.
4. (4) Boston Red Sox
The Sox will need starters and bench bats to pose any realistic threat to elite teams in the playoffs, but they’re pretty well positioned for the remainder of the regular season. Matt Carpenter’s emergence as a legitimate producer has been instrumental in keeping them at or near the top in the offensive categories, but unless he develops a mid-nineties heater, they’re still an arm or two from reclaiming their rightful place atop the league.
3. (11) St. Louis Cardinals
Jason has a really good team- good enough to lead the vaunted NL Central by an astonishing 20+ points. It’s a pretty safe bet that the Cards will waltz into the playoffs. Like the Red Sox, their Achilles’ heel will undoubtedly be their lack of warm bodies at the major league level. They’re a bit light on starting pitching, though if Wily Peralta continues his recent string of success it would go a long way to addressing that issue. The offensive outlook is considerably more worrisome, however. Without swinging a trade, they’re going to be leaning pretty heavily on their starting nine. A single poorly timed injury could completely derail their title dreams. That being said: Miggy, Cano, Gomez, Jackson and Jennings combined with a resurgent Headley and continued development from Gyorko gives the Cards a staggering amount of firepower.
2. (6) San Diego Padres
There was a time, a time after White Kevin took control of the Padres, when the local athlete reigned supreme. When people couldn’t believe what they were witnessing on the diamond. This was an age when only real men were in contention for the NL West. And in San Diego, one center fielder was more man then the rest. His name was Mike Trout. He was like a god walking amongst mere mortals. He had a hit tool that could make a coed purr and suits so fine they made Sinatra look like a hobo. In other words, Mike Trout was the balls.
1. (1) Kansas City Royals
Kansas City: rich Civil War history, tremendous barbeque, transcendent baseball dynasty. Black Kevin remains the odds-on favorite to take home the title again this year. They’re not incredibly flashy, but they’re incredibly deep- the calling card of all BK’s teams. He went back to the well with Bartolo Colon (!) and it’s paid off big time. With his two high-upside arms struggling to produce, Colon has provided reliably good starts every 5th day. It’s scary to think how dominant the Royals would be if/when Bauer and Gausman hit their strides. The playoffs are a crap shoot, but no team is better suited for the challenge.
Bonus Playoff Prediction
AL East- Boston Red Sox
AL Central- Kansas City Royals
AL West- Los Angeles Angels
Wildcard- Minnesota Twins
NL East- Washington Nationals
NL Central- St. Louis Cardinals
NL West- San Diego Padres
Wildcard- New York Mets
Divisional Round
Royals over Angels
Red Sox over Twins
Padres over Mets
Cardinals over Nationals
League Championship Round
Royals over Red Sox
Padres over Cardinals
World Series
Royals over Padres
Anyway, I also wanted to post a reminder about our playoff system in here, and I assume more people will read this than an actual announcement, so just as a refresher: nothing has changed about how we'll run the playoffs. I know there was some confusion earlier in the year because I tried to get cute and segregate standings by division on Fantrax. Your playoff destiny will, in fact, be determined by how you perform against your division; however, it's your cumulative score against the entire league that gets compared to your division rivals' to determine whether or not you make the playoffs. The team from each division with the most points will make the playoffs, along with the team with the highest point total that is NOT a division winner from either league. We then have head-to-head matches for the final 3+ weeks of the season to determine our champion. We did NOT change the way we do our playoffs when MLB made their changes. If you have questions about that, please direct them to me so I can get you squared away.
Back to business. Unfortunately, I was unable to spend 2 full work weeks compiling a list of customized you tube clips or authoring haikus for each team, so for your re-enjoyment, here is our prior installment (chinmusicupin.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=history&action=display&thread=6914). Without further ado, here's our latest, and as always, feel free to comment, condescend, dispute, pontificate, or otherwise disparage our efforts or offer a prediction of your own. Best of luck to all in the 2nd half.
30. (30) Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers still have a long road ahead to return to relevance. There are some pieces in their system that should provide some optimism, but they’re years away from making an impact. They have deep pockets, which, if used properly, can accelerate the process, and the early draft picks should help provide value one way or another. While things look pretty bleak right now, there’s only one way to go from rock bottom.
29. (27) Oakland Athletics
Bird chose the wrong superstar to build his team around. It seems as though Pujols’ elite years are behind him, and with the money he’s getting, it will be difficult to add the necessary pieces to turn this team into a contender. The high draft picks should help, and the relatively weak state of the AL West should be encouraging, but finding a new home for Albert should be priority one. On the bright side, Adam Lind may have slugged himself into a quality asset that could fetch some cost-controlled talent.
28. (29) Chicago White Sox
The South Siders need to add pieces to their farm system, and they have some pretty desirable pieces to make that happen. Everybody needs pitching, so Scherzer and Weaver could command a sizable return on the trade market, and even Carl Crawford has proven a decent buy-low option as he gets his career back on track. I’d imagine Graham will try to swing a few deals heading into the trade deadline to acquire players that make sense for a team in rebuild mode.
27. (25)San Francisco Giants
Despite their relatively low ranking in these Power Rankings, the Giants are in decent shape moving forward. They hold plenty of valuable trade chips, and a very good farm system. This is a team on the rise, and while they’re still probably at least two years away, Adkins has done an admirable job attempting to put together some semblance of a team out of what was a pretty difficult situation. They’re a few wise trades and shrewdly utilized capital away from being a middle-of-the-pack type team.
26. (28) Seattle Mariners
Mike’s is still mired in a tough rebuild, but his future is as bright as anyone’s. Despite losing prized prospect Dylan Bundy to TJ (why did the O’s wait so long??), their system is chock full of future production. They’ve leveraged every bit of their financial resources, drafted well, accumulated tradable assets, and they’re well on their way to contention in a wide open AL West. I’d expect to see the Mariners taking home a slew of division titles starting in a few years, barring an unreasonably high flameout rate of his prospects.
25. (26) Houston Astros
Kudos to the Stros for their rebuild effort as well. They’ve quietly developed a very respectable farm system, highlighted by one of the game’s most exciting prospects in Oscar Taveras. They also boast a handful of other quality minor leaguers who don’t get a ton of press. Considering the state of the franchise when John took over, this looks like a success story in the making. Colby Rasmus seems to have finally found his groove, and the ageless Juan Pierre is on pace to swipe 30+ bags, giving them assets to trade. The real question will be what to do with Joey Votto. Will he still be in his prime when the Astros are ready to make a run at a division title, or is he a trade candidate in the coming years once his contract becomes a bit more palatable?
24. (23) Detroit Tigers
Nobody tries harder to keep his team competitive than Dale- always scouring the FA pool for the latest hot platoon player to help bolster his lineup. Last year he overachieved to the point where he was in playoff contention until very late in the summer. Unfortunately, this year’s gambles just haven’t worked out with the same success rate. Madsen hasn’t pitched this year, and League has accumulated some saves, but at what cost? Lackey (my irrational smoldering hatred for him aside) has pitched exceedingly well, but there aren’t many success stories on the roster this year. The Tigers have pieces if they want to tear it down and start again, but I don’t expect that from never-say-die Dale. We’re pulling for him to turn it around.
23. (16) New York Yankees
The Bronx Bombers aren’t in bad shape, but they’re not in particularly good shape either. They’ve got a decent core that should continue to develop, but they lack the firepower necessary to hang with the playoff contenders. When you have money, you have options, and the Yankees have a ton of it. If deployed wisely, it shouldn’t take too long to add a franchise cornerstone or two to compliment the Kyle Seagers on their roster and make them a contender once again. Mike Minor has been a revelation, it’s fortunate for them (and pretty unlucky for the Reds) that he’s still in pinstripes after this past offseason’s near-deal.
22. (24) Tampa Bay Rays
I like what the Rays have done so far in their limited tenure. They desperately need depth, pitching especially, but they’ve got an excellent core to build around. Being a small-market team, it will be interesting to see if they’ll be able to keep the band together, and add the pieces necessary to take them to the next level when McCutchen and Lucroy get expensive. They were dealt a pretty tough blow when they weren’t able to unload Andrew Bailey before his season-ending surgery- the cap space would have done wonders for them next season. Even with the limited financial resources, this team could very easily find itself in the running for a playoff spot next year.
21. (21) Atlanta Braves
Much to Swo’s chagrin, his team is actually playing pretty well. El Oso Blanco has been a tremendously pleasant surprise, but what happens with he and McCann for next year. He has an elite farm system that would look even better if he knew when to stop spending money, but for every Roy Oswalt, there’s a Matt Joyce that should yield some nice assets a year from now. Between his prospects, a ridiculous stockpile of draft picks, and some decent major leaguers, the Braves have the flexibility to re-tool, should they decide that waiting for their players in the lower minors to graduate. All in all, he’s in pretty good shape- don’t cry for Swo.
20. (22) Philadelphia Phillies
Raul Ibanez’s career year has helped mask the stench of Middlebrooks and Montero (both former Red Sox- sorry about that), but they still find themselves firmly entrenched in mediocrity. Big Dickey hasn’t been able to replicate his success in the AL, but he’s still an asset. Aside from Machado, and possibly Middlebrooks if he finds his swing, I don’t see much that will likely help the Phils win their next pennant, but if Andy works the phones, he should be able to get a lot accomplished, as there are plenty of guys that a contender could use for the stretch run.
19. (19) Miami Marlins
Another middling team in the NL East, the Marlins’ Madison Bumgarner represents possibly the best value for a pitcher in the league. Around him are some serviceable parts, but nobody who will help him fill the seats in Marlins’ Park or carry the Fish to the playoffs. Napoli, Altuve and Moreland present some decent value, and they’ve got some nice relief arms, but without a commitment to fundamentally changing the roster, I see many years like the last few in their future. Not bad, not great, not where you want to be for an extended period of time.
18. (17) Texas Rangers
The Rangers have decided to pack it in for the year and pursue a rebuild. I admire the resignation at this point, because they still have a respectable team headlined by outfielders Cruz and Gordon and the resurgent Hanley Ramirez. With those types of assets to move, it shouldn’t take forever for them to present a serious challenge to Craig for AL West superiority. Their biggest asset, Hanley, picked an ideal time to reach peak value. If Jared can get a fair haul for him before the deadline, it would go a long way to hastening his return to dominance of the division.
17. (15) Baltimore Orioles
I like this team. They’ve got a young stud, on a very reasonable contract, to carry their offense, the best pitcher in baseball (though it’ll be costly to retain him) and quality depth. Iglesias has exceeded even the most optimistic projections, albeit with the general SSS caveat. They don’t have a ton of help down on the farm, but they’re good enough to reload this offseason and make a run at the playoffs should they want to go that route. There’s also plenty to work with should they decide to ship off pieces to contenders, so they’ve got options. With the Red Sox aging, there could be a power struggle brewing between the Rays, Jays and O’s for division dominance.
16. (7) Pittsburgh Pirates
Larry appears to be out of the race for a playoff spot as early in the season as I remember in the last handful of years. He played second (or third) fiddle in a grueling division for quite some time, and all he’s got to show for it is a mantle full of GM of the Year trophies. I have full faith in his abilities to right the ship, but Matt Cain needs to get his shit together, or else the Buccos will be hamstrung for the next half decade. An overall solid farm should continue to graduate productive players, including wunderkind Xander Bogaerts, so I’m not too worried about the Pirates. Hopefully the next time they peak, his path to September will be a bit less difficult.
15. (18) Cleveland Indians
After 5 years in the cellar, the Indians are finally shaping up to be a contending ballclub for the first time in league history! It’s a testament to Robin, who took a wicked beating for several years, but stuck with it, got somewhat lucky, and built a foundation upon which Ryan has assembled a credible threat in the AL Central. Cleveland deserves a winner, and I’m glad to see the progression of a franchise from the depths of despair to quality ball club. It can be done. The Tribe are not a playoff team this year, but going forward the Royals and Twins would do well to take them seriously. They don’t need much of anything except a healthy Strasburg. This team has sleeper written all over it.
14. (8) Toronto Blue Jays
Jordan’s Jays looked like they’d at least challenge for, if not win, an AL East crown about a month into the season. They’ve cooled off substantially since then, but they remain the gold standard in accumulating minor league talent. Like the Twins a few years ago, the Jays are likely to climb up these rankings pretty quickly and become a mainstay near the top for years. The Red Sox should be (and are) anxious about their standing in the division beyond this year, and Toronto is the #1 reason for that anxiety.
13. (20) Los Angeles Angels
It appears as though we will have a new AL West champion this year. After years of Ranger dominance, the Craig’s Angels have built a comfortable lead that they’re unlikely to relinquish. With the Rangers beginning a self-described rebuild and the Mariners, Astros, and A’s in a similar state, this could be the beginning of a new era. It’s difficult to see them advancing too far in the playoffs, but in a weak AL, you never know. They should have another year or so before the rest of the West closes the gap.
12. (3) Milwaukee Brewers
Once the preeminent franchise in the league, the Brewers now find themselves in re-tooling mode. The league has caught up with them, though, and their wheeling and dealing has all but ceased, leaving many to wonder if the mighty Brew Crew will sit idly by while a powerhouse crumbles around them. Don’t feel too bad for them, though. They’ve still got a ridiculous amount of talent, but they’re getting older and don’t have anyone in the minors now that Zunino has graduated. Braun's recent suspension all but eliminates them from playoff consideration this year- he should have taken to the seas- but an active offseason, or trade deadline, could easily revitalize this club and make them serious contenders again for next year. For now, though, they have officially been unseated as the class of the NL.
11. (14) Chicago Cubs
The Cubbies always seem to find themselves in this position- way too good to throw in the towel and rebuild, and not quite good enough to make a real push for the playoffs. In large part, this is due to their tragic imprisonment in the NL Central. However, a new dawn is breaking. The Brewers and Pirates have lost a step, and the Reds appear to be in danger of following suit. If Scott is able to find suitors for some of his superfluous pieces, it’s very plausible that Scott will break the Curse of the Central and bring joy to all of Chicago by making the playoffs! Next year. They’ve been too good for too long not to have won anything, that can’t continue forever. Right?
10. (13) Arizona Diamondbacks
The DBacks find themselves in contention about a year ahead of what I thought was a reasonable expectation. It helps that Big Papi continues to absolutely mash baseballs even as he approaches his 38th birthday. Tyler will have to decide pretty quickly whether to make a run at a playoff spot (he trails in the wild card by less than 20 pts), or try to move a few pieces that don’t fit into the long-term plan. Myers appears to be a legit franchise cornerstone, and they have loads of solid young pitching. They seem poised to remain contenders for years to come.
9. (12) Minnesota Twins
Have Mike’s Twins finally arrived? It seems that they’ve been just on the outside looking in for the past few years, but as of now they hold a 45 point advantage in the AL Wildcard. They’re young and talented, but unless they benefit from minor league promotions or decide to deal some prospects, I don’t think they’ll have enough to make too much noise in the playoffs this year. While I’m somewhat surprised it’s taken this long, we all knew the Twinkies would grow into contenders at some point. Black Kevin’s stranglehold on the division may be in jeopardy as soon as next season.
8. (10) New York Mets
17 points, 15 DL stints and 2 superhuman Nationals’ performances are all that’s currently keeping Barney out of the playoffs this year. Despite their immense efforts, finding saves has, until recently, proven a nearly insurmountable task for the Metropolitans. The Nats seem more vulnerable than in recent years, but the Mets will have their work cut out for them if they want to break new ground by sneaking into the playoffs. They could pose a real threat in a head-to-head matchup due to the sheer volume of players, particularly pitchers, on their roster. Watch out for the Mets if they secure a playoff spot.
7. (9) Colorado Rockies
Where are my $@!*% avatar rankings, shirtless updates, or Carol memos, you tease? Damnit Kyle!
P.S. If you're on the Twitter and are not following Kyle, your life is incomplete.
6. (2) Cincinnati Reds
Chris Davis’s mammoth 1st half has dwarfed BJ Upton’s pathetic ineptitude and single-handedly kept the Reds in the playoff picture. They have a strong team, especially if BJ can elevate his game from ‘I-award-you-no-points-and-may-God-have-mercy-on-your-soul’ bad to just ‘embarrassed-to-attend-family-functions-with-Justin’ bad. Either way, they need more players. Without a concerted effort to add warm bodies, their playoff spot, despite a 20 point lead in the wild card race, will remain in jeopardy.
5. (5) Washington Nationals
To quote the incomparable Eric Byrnes: ‘When I grow up I want to be Yaisel Puig.’ Among his many accomplishments since his promotion to The Show, perhaps his most important is his revitalization of a proud Nationals squad that was languishing near the middle of the standings prior to his arrival. I think it’s unreasonable to expect Puig to continue his MVP worthy production for the remainder of the season, and Jeff Locke screams regression, so the race is far from won. Barring injury, I expect the margin between the Nats and Mets to narrow significantly in the coming weeks. It should be one of the more entertaining storylines of our 2nd half.
4. (4) Boston Red Sox
The Sox will need starters and bench bats to pose any realistic threat to elite teams in the playoffs, but they’re pretty well positioned for the remainder of the regular season. Matt Carpenter’s emergence as a legitimate producer has been instrumental in keeping them at or near the top in the offensive categories, but unless he develops a mid-nineties heater, they’re still an arm or two from reclaiming their rightful place atop the league.
3. (11) St. Louis Cardinals
Jason has a really good team- good enough to lead the vaunted NL Central by an astonishing 20+ points. It’s a pretty safe bet that the Cards will waltz into the playoffs. Like the Red Sox, their Achilles’ heel will undoubtedly be their lack of warm bodies at the major league level. They’re a bit light on starting pitching, though if Wily Peralta continues his recent string of success it would go a long way to addressing that issue. The offensive outlook is considerably more worrisome, however. Without swinging a trade, they’re going to be leaning pretty heavily on their starting nine. A single poorly timed injury could completely derail their title dreams. That being said: Miggy, Cano, Gomez, Jackson and Jennings combined with a resurgent Headley and continued development from Gyorko gives the Cards a staggering amount of firepower.
2. (6) San Diego Padres
There was a time, a time after White Kevin took control of the Padres, when the local athlete reigned supreme. When people couldn’t believe what they were witnessing on the diamond. This was an age when only real men were in contention for the NL West. And in San Diego, one center fielder was more man then the rest. His name was Mike Trout. He was like a god walking amongst mere mortals. He had a hit tool that could make a coed purr and suits so fine they made Sinatra look like a hobo. In other words, Mike Trout was the balls.
1. (1) Kansas City Royals
Kansas City: rich Civil War history, tremendous barbeque, transcendent baseball dynasty. Black Kevin remains the odds-on favorite to take home the title again this year. They’re not incredibly flashy, but they’re incredibly deep- the calling card of all BK’s teams. He went back to the well with Bartolo Colon (!) and it’s paid off big time. With his two high-upside arms struggling to produce, Colon has provided reliably good starts every 5th day. It’s scary to think how dominant the Royals would be if/when Bauer and Gausman hit their strides. The playoffs are a crap shoot, but no team is better suited for the challenge.
Bonus Playoff Prediction
AL East- Boston Red Sox
AL Central- Kansas City Royals
AL West- Los Angeles Angels
Wildcard- Minnesota Twins
NL East- Washington Nationals
NL Central- St. Louis Cardinals
NL West- San Diego Padres
Wildcard- New York Mets
Divisional Round
Royals over Angels
Red Sox over Twins
Padres over Mets
Cardinals over Nationals
League Championship Round
Royals over Red Sox
Padres over Cardinals
World Series
Royals over Padres