I happened to be looking on ESPN and noticed they posted their "power rankings" for the opening weekend of the baseball season. After looking up and down it, getting more and more agitated with every extra second spent on the page I decided I am going to do my own top 10 with a little reason why after each one. The ESPN one can be found here if you feel like wasting your time with terribly biased rankings: http://espn.go.com/mlb/powerrankings/_/season/2011/week/1
POWER RANKINGS - APRIL 4, 2011
TOP 10:
1. Texas Rangers
I came in to this season doubting the Rangers big time and so far I have been wrong completely. This team came out and not only beat the WS Favorite Red Sox, they destroyed them. They faced Jon Lester, Jon Lackey, and Clay Buchholz. They scored 5, 9, and 4 runs respectively off the starters. That is impressive against any starters especially these ones.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
This team came in to the year with so many doubts hanging over them about the offense cause of the Chase Utley injury and responded with 8 terrible innings to start the season. Since then they have played 19 innings, and scored 19 runs. The pitching did exactly as advertised, 2-0 (1 ND), 19 IP, 23 K'S, 1 BB.
3. New York Yankees
I still don't like their pitching staff but right now there isn't a hotter offense in the league. Alex Rodriguez looks locked in, and for the first time Mark Teixeira is actually getting off to a good start. He already had 3 homers on the year.
4. Cincinnati Reds
3 up, 3 down. The offense looks to be in top-form again. Walk-off win to start the year, last year they led the league in walk-off wins, and they look to repeat again.
5. LA Dodgers
The Dodgers took on the defending WS champs and took 3 of 4 from them. The Giants came out and pounded them game 3, but the Dodgers were able to rebound in game 4. This might be a little high for them but I am giving them the benefit of the doubt for taking 3 of 4 from the defending champs.
6. Atlanta Braves
The Braves pitching looked good again to start the year granted it was against the Washington Nationals. Their offense is what surprised me coming out and scoring 16 runs in the 3 game series. If the offense can stay at that pace this will be a tough team to beat.
7. Chicago White Sox
2-1 and the offense looks deadly currently ranked 2nd in the league in runs scored, if this offense can stay in the top 5 this team could have the best record in the AL with their pitching.
8. Baltimore Orioles
I know, it's the Orioles, but this team is 3-0, and they have the second best record in the ENTIRE league since Buck Showalter became their manager. 1 weekend is a fluke, 2 months isn't a fluke. Only allowing 1 run in 3 games is also not a fluke.
9. Toronto Blue Jays
There 2-1 and young phenom Kyle Drabek dominated in his first start of the season going 7 innings allowing 1 HIT and 1 run. Jose Bautista again is hitting the ball hard every time it’s in the strike zone, this team could make a run if the Yankees or Red Sox go in a funk.
10. Boston Red Sox
I really hate to put them here as they have not done anything to deserve to be ranked in the top 10 in baseball right now. 0-3, their pitchers got absolutely torched and they just looked dead out there. They are this high based on potential currently, not on what they have accomplished. Its one thing to start the season 0-3 it’s another when you get embarrassed like the Sox did.
BOTTOM 5:
5. St. Louis Cardinals
They went 1-2 over the weekend but with the injuries already to their ace, they could ill-afford an injury to another big piece. Well Matt Holliday is now out indefinitely which should really cripple them for the next few weeks. I don't think there is another offense in the league that will solely go through 1 player like the Cardinals will have to now. It’s time for Albert Pujols to earn that contract he desires.
4. Washington Nationals
They also went 1-2 and looked pretty bad against the Braves. Ian Desmond as stated on ESPN is 0-13 out of the leadoff spot which is completely unacceptable. The pitching hasn't been very good either against the Braves. My prediction of them creeping out of the cellar of the NL East is looking pretty incorrect right about now.
3. Tampa Bay Rays
They were only able to muster 1 run in 3 games vs. their division rival Baltimore Orioles. That spells trouble. Even more troublesome is the injury to Evan Longoria, if he misses significant time expects the Rays to stay in this bottom 5.
2. Houston Astros
The Astros had game 1 in the bag and the bullpen imploded against Philadelphia which left them the tall task of beating Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt to win the series instead of just beating 1 of them. I actually feel bad for the Astros as they are 0-3 but they had to face some great pitching and just looked out matched for most of the series. They won't be a strong team this year but I don't think they will be bottom 5 all year, just bad luck with the schedule.
1. Cleveland Indians
Wow. The Indians pitching staff gave up 23 runs in the first 2 games. That's really all that needs to be said about their performance this weekend. Everything that could go wrong...did.
POWER RANKINGS - APRIL 4, 2011
TOP 10:
1. Texas Rangers
I came in to this season doubting the Rangers big time and so far I have been wrong completely. This team came out and not only beat the WS Favorite Red Sox, they destroyed them. They faced Jon Lester, Jon Lackey, and Clay Buchholz. They scored 5, 9, and 4 runs respectively off the starters. That is impressive against any starters especially these ones.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
This team came in to the year with so many doubts hanging over them about the offense cause of the Chase Utley injury and responded with 8 terrible innings to start the season. Since then they have played 19 innings, and scored 19 runs. The pitching did exactly as advertised, 2-0 (1 ND), 19 IP, 23 K'S, 1 BB.
3. New York Yankees
I still don't like their pitching staff but right now there isn't a hotter offense in the league. Alex Rodriguez looks locked in, and for the first time Mark Teixeira is actually getting off to a good start. He already had 3 homers on the year.
4. Cincinnati Reds
3 up, 3 down. The offense looks to be in top-form again. Walk-off win to start the year, last year they led the league in walk-off wins, and they look to repeat again.
5. LA Dodgers
The Dodgers took on the defending WS champs and took 3 of 4 from them. The Giants came out and pounded them game 3, but the Dodgers were able to rebound in game 4. This might be a little high for them but I am giving them the benefit of the doubt for taking 3 of 4 from the defending champs.
6. Atlanta Braves
The Braves pitching looked good again to start the year granted it was against the Washington Nationals. Their offense is what surprised me coming out and scoring 16 runs in the 3 game series. If the offense can stay at that pace this will be a tough team to beat.
7. Chicago White Sox
2-1 and the offense looks deadly currently ranked 2nd in the league in runs scored, if this offense can stay in the top 5 this team could have the best record in the AL with their pitching.
8. Baltimore Orioles
I know, it's the Orioles, but this team is 3-0, and they have the second best record in the ENTIRE league since Buck Showalter became their manager. 1 weekend is a fluke, 2 months isn't a fluke. Only allowing 1 run in 3 games is also not a fluke.
9. Toronto Blue Jays
There 2-1 and young phenom Kyle Drabek dominated in his first start of the season going 7 innings allowing 1 HIT and 1 run. Jose Bautista again is hitting the ball hard every time it’s in the strike zone, this team could make a run if the Yankees or Red Sox go in a funk.
10. Boston Red Sox
I really hate to put them here as they have not done anything to deserve to be ranked in the top 10 in baseball right now. 0-3, their pitchers got absolutely torched and they just looked dead out there. They are this high based on potential currently, not on what they have accomplished. Its one thing to start the season 0-3 it’s another when you get embarrassed like the Sox did.
BOTTOM 5:
5. St. Louis Cardinals
They went 1-2 over the weekend but with the injuries already to their ace, they could ill-afford an injury to another big piece. Well Matt Holliday is now out indefinitely which should really cripple them for the next few weeks. I don't think there is another offense in the league that will solely go through 1 player like the Cardinals will have to now. It’s time for Albert Pujols to earn that contract he desires.
4. Washington Nationals
They also went 1-2 and looked pretty bad against the Braves. Ian Desmond as stated on ESPN is 0-13 out of the leadoff spot which is completely unacceptable. The pitching hasn't been very good either against the Braves. My prediction of them creeping out of the cellar of the NL East is looking pretty incorrect right about now.
3. Tampa Bay Rays
They were only able to muster 1 run in 3 games vs. their division rival Baltimore Orioles. That spells trouble. Even more troublesome is the injury to Evan Longoria, if he misses significant time expects the Rays to stay in this bottom 5.
2. Houston Astros
The Astros had game 1 in the bag and the bullpen imploded against Philadelphia which left them the tall task of beating Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt to win the series instead of just beating 1 of them. I actually feel bad for the Astros as they are 0-3 but they had to face some great pitching and just looked out matched for most of the series. They won't be a strong team this year but I don't think they will be bottom 5 all year, just bad luck with the schedule.
1. Cleveland Indians
Wow. The Indians pitching staff gave up 23 runs in the first 2 games. That's really all that needs to be said about their performance this weekend. Everything that could go wrong...did.
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