MLB Power Rankings (as of 4/24/09)

MLB Power Rankings: Version 2

The 2009 MLB season has been underway for a couple weeks now, and Scott Orgera weighs in with his weekly MLB Power Rankings article for the MLB baseball season.

Movers and Shakers:  Cincinnati Reds (+15) – Baltimore Orioles (-15)

Check Out Our #1 MLB Handicappers 2009 Picks Packages? We’ve Got Your Back —–>

Ratings (as of 4/24/09) 

Rank	Team	Previous Ranking	Up/Down	Comments
1	Toronto Blue Jays	6	+5	The Jays are definitely the talk of baseball this week.  The first team in the Majors to score 100 runs, Toronto has displayed a well-balanced attack over the season’s first 17 games.  Aggressive hitting and effective starting pitching from Roy Halladay and a supporting cast of lesser-known youngsters has put this club on top of the tough AL East.  B.J. Ryan is still having his troubles in the 9th, and needs to put together a stretch of clean saves.
2	St. Louis Cardinals	2	0	The loss of Chris Carpenter after tearing an oblique muscle was a big disappointment, especially considering how good he looked.  Nevertheless, the Redbirds are still one of the Majors’ hottest clubs.  Second only to Toronto in runs scored and boasting an almost-perfect starting rotation, St. Louis has made it clear that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the NL Central.  Kyle Lohse and Joel Pineiro are both a perfect 3-0, with Adam Wainright right behind them with two wins and no losses.  Albert Pujols is already putting up MVP-caliber numbers, and Ryan Ludwick is pulling off a pretty close imitation.  Round that out with the fact that both Yadier Molina and Chris Duncan are hitting well over .300 and you have yourself a downright frightening opponent.
3	Florida Marlins	1	-2	After looking unbeatable the Marlins hit a bump in the road in Pittsburgh, suffering a 3-game sweep at the hands of the young Bucs.  Even with that minor slipup, the team still holds a decent lead atop the NL East.  Emilio Bonifacio has come back to Earth, and Cameron Maybin and Dan Uggla continue to struggle offensively.  Ricky Nolasco has had three mediocre starts in a row.  Even with these key players scuffling, the Fish are still in charge – at least for now.
4	Los Angeles Dodgers	10	+6	Joe Torre’s squad looks like they have the stuff to run away with the NL West early.  Manny is being Manny again with the Louisville, recently hitting four bombs in as many games and raising his average to .345.  The starting pitching has been tremendous top to bottom, with Chad Billingsley winning all four of his starts.  There have even been rumors of a Pedro Martinez reunion with the City of Angels.
5	Boston Red Sox	17	+12	Dice-K’s arm fatigue, most likely a side effect of the WBC, is only a mild concern to a team which won seven straight coming into a weekend series against the rival Yankees at Fenway Park.  This sudden hot stretch can be attributed largely to the torrid hitting of Kevin Youkilis and two complete games from ageless knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. The Nation appears to be back in business.  The left side of the infield took a hit, however, with Jed Lowrie on his way to wrist surgery.
6	Seattle Mariners	8	+2	Despite scoring the 3rd-least runs in the American League, the M’s continue to roll.  Their 1st place standing is due largely in part to phenomenal pitching by their top three guns – King Felix, Erik Bedard, and Jarrod Washburn.  A combined 7-1 with 67 K’s, the Big Three have unequivocally dominated opposing lineups each time out.  The offense will have to pick it up eventually, though, or this team will start to slip.  Having four regulars hitting under .200 is not part of a winning formula.
7	New York Yankees	5	-2	After a topsy-turvy homestand in which the team finished 4-2 at a ballpark which is playing more like Coors Field than a building in the South Bronx, the Bombers head into Fenway on a high note.  C.C. Sabathia has not impressed, and was bailed out by a gutsy 14-inning comeback vs. Oakland on Wednesday.  It’s too soon to worry, however, as he did start 2008 with an 0-4 record.  Chien-Ming Wang struck out 11 in extended Spring training against a bunch of kids this week, part of a “rehab” program to address his grotesque 34.50 ERA through three starts.  In other pitching news, Andy Pettitte has been great.  It looks like the 37-year old southpaw still has something left in the tank.  By the way, A-Rod could be back in less than two weeks.
8	Kansas City Royals	19	+11	This club boasts arguably the best pitching staff in baseball over 15 games, allowing an ML-leading 51 runs with a cumulative 3.37 ERA.  What makes those numbers even more impressive is the fact that journeyman Kyle Farnsworth has managed to lose three games and give up seven runs in just six relief appearances all by his ineffective self.  If you take him out of the equation, KC’s pitching numbers become eye-popping.  The offense, for the most part, has been pathetic.  Gil Meche and Zack Greinke can match up with any team’s #1 and #2 so, if this lineup can find a way to gel, the Royals will contend.
9	Cincinnati Reds	24	+15	Dusty’s crew has arrived, and this is no fluke.  Aaron Harang appears to be back in form after a miserable 2008.  Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez have looked electric at times.  Joey Votto is on a tear at the plate.  If Brandon Phillips can get it going offensively, this team will be even tougher to beat.  The back end of the pen has been lights out, led by Francisco Cordero’s perfect 6-for-6 in save opportunities.
10	Atlanta Braves	3	-7	The offense has sputtered over the past 10 days, resulting in a 2-7 stretch against the the Marlins, Pirates, and Nationals.  Aside from Kenshin Kawakami, who has struggled after an impressive debut, the rotation has done its job but has been hurt by a lack of run support.  The bullpen, especially closer Mike Gonzalez, has been atrocious.  The 9th inning could belong to Rafael Soriano, who already has two saves, soon enough.
11	Chicago Cubs	4	-7	It took Milton Bradley less than three weeks to find himself in the doghouse with the Chicago media and, quite possibly, his manager.  This team needs a physically and mentally stable Bradley to balance out the lineup.  Kosuke Fukudome’s production so far has been a pleasant surprise.  Ryan Dempster’s 27 baserunners over 18 innings must improve.
12	Pittsburgh Pirates	21	+9	The young starters on the Bucs’ staff have really opened some eyes.  Each member of the rotation has pitched extremely well through three turns.  After cooling off red-hot Florida in a three-game sweep at PNC, some baseball insiders are starting to talk about the Pirates in a very positive light.  Almost forgot to mention — former batting champ Freddy Sanchez is hitting over .350.  A return to form by Sanchez would be key.
13	Chicago White Sox	16	+3	If GM Kenny Williams can find a suitable replacement for Jose Contreras in the rotation, this team could be tough to beat.  Contreras looks finished and, at his age (which is anybody’s guess), this may be the end of the line.  John Danks has been nearly unhittable as the staff ace.  The old guard is holding it down with the lumber, led by Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko.  Alexei Ramirez appears to be showing signs of a classic sophomore slump.
14	Tampa Bay Rays	7	-7	Don’t let the fact that the Rays sit in the AL East basement at the moment fool you.  This team is much better than its record shows.  Half of their losses have been by one run, and the normally reliable Dan Wheeler and Grant Balfour have been ineffective thus far in relief.  Scott Kazmir and Andy Sonnanstine have struggled at times in the rotation, but even they have respectable strikeout numbers.  Dioner Navarro needs to swing a better bat.
15	Detroit Tigers	12	-3	Curtis Granderson’s five bombs out of the leadoff spot have been a nice sparkplug for an offense led by Miguel Cabrera’s .400-plus average and Brandon Inge’s 17 RBIs.  Justin Verlander, even through his struggles, is still striking out more than one batter an inning.  This is a good sign about where he may be headed.
16	San Diego Padres	14	-2	Even with Jake Peavy’s struggles, the Padres are still playing winning baseball.  Chris Young has stepped up as an ace-type starter, and Heath Bell is still perfect in the 9th.  Adrian Gonzalez, possibly the most underrated player in baseball, has slugged five homers in the middle of a somewhat underwhelming lineup.  Pesky vet David Eckstein is hitting at a good clip and causing an offensive spark to those around him.
17	Philadelphia Phillies	9	-8	To add insult to injury, struggling ace Cole Hamels took a line drive off of his shoulder on Thursday and had to leave the game.  This hard-luck smash off the bat of Prince Fielder typifies the early season woes of the defending World Champs.  The rotation, a sign of strength last season, has been brutal through three turns yielding over twenty home runs.  Closer Brad Lidge blew his first save since 2007.  He has served up three dingers of his own while compiling an ERA above 8.00.  To make matters worse, Jimmy Rollins is hitting at a clip well below the Mendoza Line.
18	New York Mets	13	-5	This team is in dire straits already.  Without Johan Santana’s starts factored in, the rotation is sporting a 7.62 ERA.  To make matters worse, the lineup can’t seem to hit with runners in scoring position and Gary Sheffield hasn’t contributed much aside from hitting his 500th home run against the Brewers at Citi Field.  It may be too soon to panic in Flushing, but the holes in this pitching staff look real.
19	Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	15	-4	The arms of Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver have done a good job keeping this team afloat after losing most of their pitching staff to injury and, in the sad case of Nick Adenhart, tragedy.  Vets Bobby Abreu and Torii Hunter have been playing inspired ball and getting on base at a good clip.  If not for these four players, the Halos would find themselves a lot worse than 6-9 at this point.  John Lackey and Ervin Santana will each see live action in extended Spring training this weekend, a positive sign of things to come.
20	Texas Rangers	18	-2	Aside from Toronto and Cleveland, nobody has scored more runs in the AL.  The Rangers can flat out mash, even with Josh Hamilton enduring an early season slump.  Kevin Millwood has been impressive, and Brandon McCarthy’s outings so far can be labeled as better than serviceable.  That is where the compliments end for a pitching staff that has served up 27 home runs in just over 133 innings.  It looks like the same old story in Texas… big bats, weak arms.
21	Milwaukee Brewers	26	+5	Ryan Braun had a monster week, but three other regulars have sub-.200 batting averages (Prince Fielder, JJ Hardy, and Jason Kendall).  The top half of the rotation has been impressive, with Dave Bush taking a no-no into the 8th in Philly.  Manny Parra and Jeff Suppan have almost single-handedly cost the team five losses out of the last two slots, however.  Todd Coffey has done a great job keeping the 9th inning warm for the injured Trevor Hoffman.
22	San Francisco Giants	28	+6	The rotation is starting to come around, with Tim Lincecum and even Barry Zito throwing the ball extremely well over the past week.  Closer Brian Wilson has done a nice job in limited duty.  Unfortunately, the offense has scored the least runs in all of MLB.  A look up and down the lineup shows no real reasons why this fact is going to change by much over the coming weeks.  The staff is going to have throw a lot of 1 and 2 run games for this team to win its fair share.
23	Minnesota Twins	20	-3	What is wrong with Francisco Liriano?!?  If you figure it out, the Twins would like to know!  Without him, this team does not have much of a shot to contend.  Not only is he 0-4, but he’s having a hard time finding the plate.  Justin Morneau has been solid – no surprise there.  However, most of the offense has struggled.
24	Cleveland Indians	27	+3	The revival of Victor Martinez was a key part of an offensive barrage that included a record-setting four game set in the Bronx in which the Tribe averaged 10 runs per game and scored 14 in one inning.  The pitching staff, on the other hand, has struggled to the tune of a 6.31 ERA.  Fausto Carmona and Cliff Lee will have to show some consistency or Cleveland could find themselves in a world of trouble.
25	Oakland Athletics	23	-2	Losers of four straight, including a heart breaking 14-inning epic in the Bronx and a 1-0 defeat in Toronto, the A’s find themselves at the bottom of the AL West looking up.  Catcher Kurt Suzuki has looked great, both behind the dish and at the plate.  The inexperienced staff has been hit or miss, but Dallas Braden and Trevor Cahill have really pitched well.  As a whole, the team has only allowed 64 runs through 14 games.  However, no lineup has scored less in the entire AL.
26	Baltimore Orioles	11	-15	Koji Uehara has been impressive in two starts sandwiching his bad outing against the Rangers.  O’s fans wish they could say the same about the rest of the rotation.  Even the normally reliable Jeremy Guthrie has been hit hard and has also been wild.  Five guys in the starting lineup are hitting above .300, and the team has scored more runs than both the Yankees and the Red Sox.  That isn’t going to matter much, unfortunately, with this patchwork pitching staff toeing the rubber.
27	Arizona Diamondbacks	25	-2	We knew this team would have trouble scoring runs, and that has been their downfall so far.  Take a look at some of these losses: 3-0, 3-1, 2-1, 2-0, 2-0.  The only teams that have crossed the plate less are the Astros and Giants.  Someone besides Felipe Lopez and Mark Reynolds needs to start hitting or it isn’t going to matter how stacked the starting rotation might be.
28	Colorado Rockies	22	-6	The Rockies will be looking forward to playing in Coors Field after enduring a rough 2-6 road trip which included getting swept in LA.  Brad Hawpe has been the only one to really take charge offensively so far.  The starting rotation, meanwhile, hasn’t been that bad.  The major disappointment out of the five so far has to be 2008 All-Star Aaron Cook, who has a 10.22 ERA after three outings.  The closer situation is already in flux, with Huston Street getting knocked around early and losing his job.
29	Houston Astros	29	0	One of the worst teams in baseball so far offensively, the Astros are in serious danger of falling behind early if they don’t get it together fast.  Miguel Tejada has been getting on base at an impressive clip but he, like the rest of the lineup with the exception of Carlos Lee, is not driving in runs.  Lance Berkman, Kaz Matsui, and Pudge have been anemic at the plate.  Mike Hampton (yes, Mike Hampton) has struck out just over a batter an inning across his three starts.
30	Washington Nationals	30	0	I can’t recall the last time a team replaced the majority of its bullpen in one fell swoop, especially in mid-April.  That is exactly what the Nats did last week after their relievers blew one too many close games.  After the mass exodus, the team actually won its first two games of the season against the Braves.  There aren’t too many positive signs in DC, but it is definitely worth noting that Cristian Guzman is hitting over .500 in 30+ at-bats.

 

Scott wants to hear from you!!! Hit him up with a comment below!!! Scott Orgera is a regular contributor to the Capper’s Picks Blog and can be reached at scottorgera @ hotmail.com

Log onto the Betus sportsbook and get your wagers down on MLB Action today! The Best Online Baseball Betting Odds Are At Betus Sportsbook Online!! CLICK HERE NOW TO JOIN FOR FREE >>>