Shea’s MLB Power Rankings (as of 27/04/2011)
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The first instalment of the MLB power rankings is here! In case you’re new to reading power rankings, the main principles to know are that (a) they reflect relative strength of a team and (b) they’ll diverge from the standings more as the season progresses. Let’s get to it.
Things are still pretty topsy-turvy in our second instalment of the 2011 MLB power rankings. Parity continues to rule.
(Previous rankings in brackets)
1. (3) Colorado Rockies (16-7): They have baseball’s best record and it could be sustainable considering Ubaldo Jimenez and Carlos Gonzalez aren’t in peak form yet.
2. (21) Florida Marlins (15-7): Don’t laugh. Only the Rockies have more wins and the Marlins are an MLB-best 8-2 over their last 10 games.
3. (5) Philadelphia Phillies (15-8): Many pundits and bettors think Roy Oswalt’s health could make or break the Phillies’ season. His back looked dynamite last week but he sure was bad this past Tuesday. Is the injury flaring up?
4. (2) Cleveland Indians (14-8): I still don’t believe the hot start but it’s nice to see the Indians still flourishing even when Carlos Santana and Shin Soo-Choo, their two best hitters, are struggling.
5. (9) Los Angeles Angels (14-10): Jered Weaver and Dan Haren look like Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in Arizona’s heyday.
6. (7) New York Yankees (12-8): Is there any pitching to be had on the trade market? Phil Hughes’ dead arm is a major concern.
7. (1) Texas Rangers (14-9): Josh Hamilton’s injury already took them down a peg. Seeing unproven Matt Harrison get lit up is a reminder that the pitching staff could come back to Earth, too.
8. (23) Tampa Bay Rays (11-11): Surging back into AL East contention, not surprisingly. David Price continues to dominate, James Shields is totally dealing and Evan Longoria’s return isn’t too far away.
9. (24) Boston Red Sox (10-12): The BoSox had won eight of nine before losing last night – largely because Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka are enjoying huge resurgences. If only Carl Crawford could get his bat going.
10. (10) Milwaukee Brewers (12-11): Prince Fielder is predictably mashing the ball in his contract year. But the Brewers’ aces have to be better. That means Yovani Gallardo has to figure out what’s wrong and Zack Greinke needs to return from the DL.
11. (29) St. Louis Cardinals (12-11): Albert Pujols is leading the Cards out of their slump. But what happens when Jaime Garcia’s numbers take a second-half swoon and Lance Berkman gets hurt? Both are virtual guarantees.
12. (28) New York Mets (10-13): The Mets own baseball’s longest active winning streak at five games. Is Jason Bay, back from injury, the catalyst?
13. (18) Detroit Tigers (12-11): Victor Martinez is on the shelf but surprising offensive contributions from Brennan Boesch and Alex Avila are keeping the Tigers afloat.
14. (11) San Francisco Giants (11-11): They haven’t been terrible but two many of their regulars have been easy outs (Aubrey Huff, Miguel Tejada) and Brian Wilson hasn’t fully sorted himself out yet following his return from his return from injury. But the defending champs should be fine.
15. (16) Toronto Blue Jays (11-12): Apparently Jose Bautista didn’t get the memo about 2010 being a fluke. He leads the American league in average, homers, walks, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS.
16. (4) Cincinnati Reds (12-12): The struggles of their rotation are enough to make you wonder if Cincy would consider converting Aroldis Chapman to a starter.
17. (8) Kansas City Royals (12-11): The 12-7 start was nice but K.C. has lost four straight. And so it begins.
18. (19) Atlanta Braves (12-13): I still think it’s only a matter of time before the Braves head north in the standings. Their bullpen and starting staff look excellent. It’s just a matter of the offense heating up.
19. (12) Los Angeles Dodgers (12-13): Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have been very nice stories but the Dodgers are a hot mess aside from that. The bullpen is a zoo and even Clayton Kershaw has gotten off track.
20. (17) Minnesota Twins (9-12): We can’t sleep on the Twinkies. Joe Mauer will return from the DL soon enough, Justin Morneau is showing signs of life and Francisco Liriano is finally in the win column.
21. (26) Arizona Diamondbacks (10-12)
22. (6) Chicago White Sox (10-14)
23. (15) Pittsburgh Pirates (10-13)
24. (22) Oakland Athletics (11-13)
25. (14) Seattle Mariners (9-15)
26. (20) Washington Nationals (10-12)
27. (30) Houston Astros (9-14)
28. (25) Chicago Cubs (10-13)
29. (13) Baltimore Orioles (9-12)
30. (27) San Diego Padres (9-15)
