Post by New Orleans GM on Apr 12, 2012 3:01:16 GMT -6
Power Rankings Week 1
What an exciting first week. There were plenty of quality pitching matchups and thrilling walk off victories. Some expected basement dwellers have been solid and perennial contenders have gotten off to slow starts. It is still extremely early, but here is my assessment of the first week of the season.
30. Minnesota Twins (1-4)
It is never good to get swept at Camden Yards. The Twins have looked very bad at the plate and the pitching hasn’t been much better.
29. Houston Astros (3-3)
Off to a good start but I’m not buying it. Beating up on senior citizen Jaime Moyer is not all that impressive.
28. Baltimore Orioles (3-3)
They followed up the high of sweeping the Twins in the opening series by getting swept by the Yankees. They played the Yanks tough as usual but close losses are still losses. It doesn’t get any easier going to Toronto.
27. Oakland A’s (3-4)
Back to back walk off hit by pitches are the only thing keeping the A’s from a 1-6 record. They do scrap and stay in games, but the offense just isn’t there. On the positive side Cespedes has some impressive power.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20443361&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20443361&v=3
26. San Diego Padres (2-4)
About what one would expect. Pretty good pitching, not a lot of offense. Cameron Maybin may be one the biggest break out stars this year though.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20395223&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20395223&v=3
25. Chicago Cubs (1-5)
I may be a little biased but they have had a chance to win all six games. The bullpen has been atrocious. The starting pitching has been very good with the exception of Paul Maholm. Jeff Samardzija could be the key to a decent season. Is it time to call up Brett Jackson and Anthony Rizzo yet?
24. Chicago White Sox (3-2)
The starting pitching has been pretty good. Even going to Texas didn’t make them look terrible. Chris Sale looked fantastic in his first career start.
23. Seattle Mariners (4-3)
Four games against Oakland make them look better than they are. The pitching has been solid but Neftali Feliz and Yu Darvish (after his first inning) made the offense look pretty bad.
22. New York Mets (4-2)
The sweep of the Braves was impressive but they dropped two in a row to Washington. Nothing to be ashamed of but it proves they are human. David Wright didn’t take long to accumulate his first injury of the year, but the real story in Queens is how good Johan Santana has looked in his first two starts.
21. Pittsburgh Pirates (2-3)
They managed back to back walkoff wins against the Phils, but the offense hasn’t really clicked yet. The pitching has been better than most would expect. Pedro Alvarez’s bomb is a good sign for Bucs fans.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20455449&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20455449&v=3
20. Miami Marlins (2-4)
Six games in and South Beach is already a mess. Even if you ignore Ozzie’s comments the play on the field hasn’t been good. Heath Bell looked awful, Hanley isn’t a great third baseman and Josh Johnson looks really off.
19. Colorado Rockies (2-3)
Losing 2 in Houston is a bad sign. But then they put up 17 on a night Lincecum starts. Maybe that kick starts the offense. Tulo did go HAM on a pitch in Houston though.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20409241&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20409241&v=3
18. Cleveland Indians (1-4)
They have some crushing losses already this year. Chris Perez makes every outing interesting. They ran into a Toronto buzz saw and some hot White Sox pitching.
17. Los Angeles Dodgers (5-1)
Playing the Padres and Pirates will help most teams winning percentage. Kemp, Ethier, and Kershaw are all off to good starts. I’m still not a believer.
16. Atlanta Braves (2-4)
They ran into hot Mets and Astros teams, but getting Chipper Jones back was a huge boost. They won the last two on the backs of their starters and bullpen. As bad as they looked to start the season, they are still a talented squad.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20510483&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20510483&v=3
15. Cincinnati Reds (3-3)
Say what you will about the Reds, but they are what they are. They play good defense, the pitching is good some times and awful sometimes, and the offense has power in the small ballpark, and they disappear sometimes. It’s always fun to watch Homer Bailey give up 3 home runs in an inning.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20497907&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20497907&v=3
14. Kansas City Royals (3-3)
Losing two to Oakland looks bad but this is a young team on the road. They took two from the Angels and should have swept the A’s if the bullpen didn’t shit the bed.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20537429&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20537429&v=3
13. San Francisco Giants (1-4)
The Giants have taken some tough losses already and now Buster Posey has Shingles. Tim Lincecum has looked really bad in his first two starts, but this is still a really good team. The pitching will get going and Posey and the offense will be better.
12. Boston Red Sox (1-5)
It’s better than the 0-6 start in 2011. They have played two very good teams so far, and this is still a talented roster. The loss of Andrew Bailey has already hurt the Sox.
11. Washington Nationals (4-2)
They easily could have been swept by the Cubs but they are getting some very good pitching. Strasburg is back to 100% and Adam LaRoche’s big week covered up the hole from Mike Morse being out. There should be some concern about Drew Storen’s elbow, but the bullpen is pretty deep.
10. Milwaukee Brewers (4-2)
The Brew Crew’s pitching took a beating from the Cardinals, but they have shut the Cubs down the last three games. Greinke looked very good in his first start. Corey Hart is off to a scorching start.
9. Toronto Blue Jays (4-2)
I thought this team was good coming into the season but they might be even better. Edwin Encarnacion is off to a decent start, and Lind and Bautista haven’t even started to hit. Once the offense clicks the pitching won’t even matter, but they have been good so far.
8. Philadelphia Phillies (2-3)
There is no doubt they miss Howard and Utley. If they are in the lineup they don’t lose two one run games to Pittsburgh. Roy Halladay has been himself, but the offense had been downright pathetic. They still have 3 aces and Vance Worley so I’m not writing them off yet.
7. Los Angeles Angels (2-3)
Pujols hasn’t started to hit yet but when the offense gets going this will be a dangerous team. They got beat twice by a solid Royals club but losing to the Twins right now is almost inexcusable
6. Arizona Diamondbacks (4-1)
They have picked up right where they left off in 2011. Sweeping the Giants to start the season was a major boost to start the year. I’m ready to see Tyler Skaggs and Trevor Bauer instead of Joe Saunders and Josh Collmenter.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20406999&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20406999&v=3
5. Texas Rangers (4-2)
This offense is even better than I remember. Hamilton’s homer off Gavin Floyd was downright impressive. Joe Nathan blowing a save to Seattle is no reason to panic yet, but they have to make sure he is up to the task of closing for a full season. Feliz, Darvish, Harrison, and Holland have been impressive.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20472389&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20472389&v=3
4. St. Louis Cardinals (5-2)
Albert Who? They are putting up over 5 runs a game. Beltran and David “The Big Chill” Freese are tearing the cover off the ball. Kyle Lohse has looked like a Cy Young candidate through two starts, and Wainwright looked pretty good in his first start.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20405503&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20405503&v=3
3. New York Yankees (3-3)
They looked really bad in Tampa, and pretty good in Baltimore. The O’s played them close but the Yankees came away with all 3 games. Mo Rivera looked really bad on opening day, but he shut it down last night. Jeter and Swisher are off to hot starts.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (4-1)
The Rays came away with a big sweep to start the season, and then they went to Detroit and stole a game from the reigning AL MVP. Carlos Pena looks relieved to be home in Tampa again, and Longo has come up with some big hits.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20402275&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20402275&v=3
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20403525&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20403525&v=3
1. Detroit Tigers (4-1)
So putting Cabrera and Fielder in the same lineup is dangerous…who knew? Verlander has thrown two fantastic games and has come out 0-1. The defense hasn’t been a problem as of yet, but the bullpen has been suspect. I expect Valverde to bounce back just fine. Porcello had a great first outing and we get to see the big league debut of Drew Smyly tomorrow.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20430573&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20430573&v=3
What an exciting first week. There were plenty of quality pitching matchups and thrilling walk off victories. Some expected basement dwellers have been solid and perennial contenders have gotten off to slow starts. It is still extremely early, but here is my assessment of the first week of the season.
30. Minnesota Twins (1-4)
It is never good to get swept at Camden Yards. The Twins have looked very bad at the plate and the pitching hasn’t been much better.
29. Houston Astros (3-3)
Off to a good start but I’m not buying it. Beating up on senior citizen Jaime Moyer is not all that impressive.
28. Baltimore Orioles (3-3)
They followed up the high of sweeping the Twins in the opening series by getting swept by the Yankees. They played the Yanks tough as usual but close losses are still losses. It doesn’t get any easier going to Toronto.
27. Oakland A’s (3-4)
Back to back walk off hit by pitches are the only thing keeping the A’s from a 1-6 record. They do scrap and stay in games, but the offense just isn’t there. On the positive side Cespedes has some impressive power.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20443361&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20443361&v=3
26. San Diego Padres (2-4)
About what one would expect. Pretty good pitching, not a lot of offense. Cameron Maybin may be one the biggest break out stars this year though.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20395223&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20395223&v=3
25. Chicago Cubs (1-5)
I may be a little biased but they have had a chance to win all six games. The bullpen has been atrocious. The starting pitching has been very good with the exception of Paul Maholm. Jeff Samardzija could be the key to a decent season. Is it time to call up Brett Jackson and Anthony Rizzo yet?
24. Chicago White Sox (3-2)
The starting pitching has been pretty good. Even going to Texas didn’t make them look terrible. Chris Sale looked fantastic in his first career start.
23. Seattle Mariners (4-3)
Four games against Oakland make them look better than they are. The pitching has been solid but Neftali Feliz and Yu Darvish (after his first inning) made the offense look pretty bad.
22. New York Mets (4-2)
The sweep of the Braves was impressive but they dropped two in a row to Washington. Nothing to be ashamed of but it proves they are human. David Wright didn’t take long to accumulate his first injury of the year, but the real story in Queens is how good Johan Santana has looked in his first two starts.
21. Pittsburgh Pirates (2-3)
They managed back to back walkoff wins against the Phils, but the offense hasn’t really clicked yet. The pitching has been better than most would expect. Pedro Alvarez’s bomb is a good sign for Bucs fans.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20455449&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20455449&v=3
20. Miami Marlins (2-4)
Six games in and South Beach is already a mess. Even if you ignore Ozzie’s comments the play on the field hasn’t been good. Heath Bell looked awful, Hanley isn’t a great third baseman and Josh Johnson looks really off.
19. Colorado Rockies (2-3)
Losing 2 in Houston is a bad sign. But then they put up 17 on a night Lincecum starts. Maybe that kick starts the offense. Tulo did go HAM on a pitch in Houston though.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20409241&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20409241&v=3
18. Cleveland Indians (1-4)
They have some crushing losses already this year. Chris Perez makes every outing interesting. They ran into a Toronto buzz saw and some hot White Sox pitching.
17. Los Angeles Dodgers (5-1)
Playing the Padres and Pirates will help most teams winning percentage. Kemp, Ethier, and Kershaw are all off to good starts. I’m still not a believer.
16. Atlanta Braves (2-4)
They ran into hot Mets and Astros teams, but getting Chipper Jones back was a huge boost. They won the last two on the backs of their starters and bullpen. As bad as they looked to start the season, they are still a talented squad.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20510483&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20510483&v=3
15. Cincinnati Reds (3-3)
Say what you will about the Reds, but they are what they are. They play good defense, the pitching is good some times and awful sometimes, and the offense has power in the small ballpark, and they disappear sometimes. It’s always fun to watch Homer Bailey give up 3 home runs in an inning.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20497907&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20497907&v=3
14. Kansas City Royals (3-3)
Losing two to Oakland looks bad but this is a young team on the road. They took two from the Angels and should have swept the A’s if the bullpen didn’t shit the bed.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20537429&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20537429&v=3
13. San Francisco Giants (1-4)
The Giants have taken some tough losses already and now Buster Posey has Shingles. Tim Lincecum has looked really bad in his first two starts, but this is still a really good team. The pitching will get going and Posey and the offense will be better.
12. Boston Red Sox (1-5)
It’s better than the 0-6 start in 2011. They have played two very good teams so far, and this is still a talented roster. The loss of Andrew Bailey has already hurt the Sox.
11. Washington Nationals (4-2)
They easily could have been swept by the Cubs but they are getting some very good pitching. Strasburg is back to 100% and Adam LaRoche’s big week covered up the hole from Mike Morse being out. There should be some concern about Drew Storen’s elbow, but the bullpen is pretty deep.
10. Milwaukee Brewers (4-2)
The Brew Crew’s pitching took a beating from the Cardinals, but they have shut the Cubs down the last three games. Greinke looked very good in his first start. Corey Hart is off to a scorching start.
9. Toronto Blue Jays (4-2)
I thought this team was good coming into the season but they might be even better. Edwin Encarnacion is off to a decent start, and Lind and Bautista haven’t even started to hit. Once the offense clicks the pitching won’t even matter, but they have been good so far.
8. Philadelphia Phillies (2-3)
There is no doubt they miss Howard and Utley. If they are in the lineup they don’t lose two one run games to Pittsburgh. Roy Halladay has been himself, but the offense had been downright pathetic. They still have 3 aces and Vance Worley so I’m not writing them off yet.
7. Los Angeles Angels (2-3)
Pujols hasn’t started to hit yet but when the offense gets going this will be a dangerous team. They got beat twice by a solid Royals club but losing to the Twins right now is almost inexcusable
6. Arizona Diamondbacks (4-1)
They have picked up right where they left off in 2011. Sweeping the Giants to start the season was a major boost to start the year. I’m ready to see Tyler Skaggs and Trevor Bauer instead of Joe Saunders and Josh Collmenter.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20406999&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20406999&v=3
5. Texas Rangers (4-2)
This offense is even better than I remember. Hamilton’s homer off Gavin Floyd was downright impressive. Joe Nathan blowing a save to Seattle is no reason to panic yet, but they have to make sure he is up to the task of closing for a full season. Feliz, Darvish, Harrison, and Holland have been impressive.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20472389&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20472389&v=3
4. St. Louis Cardinals (5-2)
Albert Who? They are putting up over 5 runs a game. Beltran and David “The Big Chill” Freese are tearing the cover off the ball. Kyle Lohse has looked like a Cy Young candidate through two starts, and Wainwright looked pretty good in his first start.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20405503&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20405503&v=3
3. New York Yankees (3-3)
They looked really bad in Tampa, and pretty good in Baltimore. The O’s played them close but the Yankees came away with all 3 games. Mo Rivera looked really bad on opening day, but he shut it down last night. Jeter and Swisher are off to hot starts.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (4-1)
The Rays came away with a big sweep to start the season, and then they went to Detroit and stole a game from the reigning AL MVP. Carlos Pena looks relieved to be home in Tampa again, and Longo has come up with some big hits.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20402275&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20402275&v=3
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20403525&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20403525&v=3
1. Detroit Tigers (4-1)
So putting Cabrera and Fielder in the same lineup is dangerous…who knew? Verlander has thrown two fantastic games and has come out 0-1. The defense hasn’t been a problem as of yet, but the bullpen has been suspect. I expect Valverde to bounce back just fine. Porcello had a great first outing and we get to see the big league debut of Drew Smyly tomorrow.
mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=20430573&topic_id=&c_id=mlb&tcid=vpp_copy_20430573&v=3