AL Power Rankings: Week 3
Well guys, I'm releasing a new feature, and that's MLB power rankings (I did these last year, but for the whole league). This year, I will be doing just the AL teams. I know a lot more about the AL, as an Orioles guy, and I don't know enough about the NL rosters to feel comfortable evaluating those teams (I've even considered not picking games with NL teams in them, but I've been doing OK at it so far so I won't stop that).
Anyways, here we go!
1. Boston Red Sox 12-6
The Red Sox are red-hot right now. I'm still skeptical about the ability of some of their keys guys to stay off the DL, but with a healthy roster, this is the best team in the American League right now.
2. Oakland A's 12-7
The A's are very capable of riding their meager $60 M payroll to the AL West crown over the big spenders in Los Angeles and the experience in Texas. A.J. Griffin and Bartolo Colon both have 3 QS in 3 outings.
3. Texas Rangers 12-6
Ian Kinsler is red-hot and approaching an offensive WAR of 1. However, the concern remains in the fact that the Rangers have not yet played a team with the winning record (although the Rays will almost surely be better than this).
4. Baltimore Orioles 10-8
Yeah, I'm going to be a bit of a homer here (although the next few teams are pretty interchangeable in my mind). Jones and Davis are red-hot, but the rotation is a concern (especially Arrieta and Tillman).
5. Detroit Tigers 9-9
This roster still has all of the key parts needed for a World Series run. Porcello needs to go from the rotation, but Scherzer and Fister have looked just as good as Verlander so far.
6. New York Yankees 10-7
Somebody woke up Travis Hafner! As currently assembled, these Yankees are very, very sub-par. The big question here is how much of a boost they will receive when A-Rod, Jeter and company return from their various ailments. I don't think it'll be much.
7. Tampa Bay Rays 8-10
The Rays got a crucial sweep in Oakland to lift themselves from the AL East cellar. Matt Moore and Alex Cobb are leading the way in the rotation, and oddly enough Rodney and Price are off to shaky starts.
8. Kansas City Royals 10-7
No standout hitters so far, Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon are doing quite well though. The rotation has delivered an outstanding 10 quality starts in 17 games, and Shields is starting off his Royals career well.
9. Los Angeles Angels 7-10
The rotation has to be considered a concern. Blanton and Vargas have been downright awful, and Wilson and Hanson have been servicable. Even with this line-up, you're not going to get close to 5 runs a game all year.
10. Toronto Blue Jays 8-11
I feel that a lot of people don't understand how much Jose Reyes' injury is going to affect the team. Solid shortstops like him are most definitely not a dime a dozen, though the return of Lawrie helps shore up the Blue Jays' infield and my fantasy team.
11. Chicago White Sox 7-11
I just feel like this is a team destined for 70-75 win mediocrity. If Adam Dunn and Jeff Keppinger keep playing like this, it'll be worse than that (Dunn is hitting .108 and Keppinger has an OPS of .315).
12. Minnesota Twins 8-7
I just can't give the Twins a solid bearing when they've played 5 games less than some teams. Almost half of their regulars have an oWAR below 0 (Dozier, Doumit, Hicks). Then again, those 3 are about replacement level themselves.
13. Cleveland Indians 7-10
If the Indians are not in contention in mid-July, they are certainly creating a trade market for Carlos Santana. Ubaldo Jiminez has really taken a tumble since his time in Denver. Let's just hope Francona can find the stadium for the rest of this year, though he might not want to the way the rotation is shaping up.
14. Seattle Mariners 7-13
Iwakuma and King Felix are looking very good, as is Wilhelmsen. That's about it, as the rest of this team ranges from OK (Morse, Seager) to downright dreadful (back of the rotation, Raul Ibanez's defense)
15. Houston Astros 5-13
Don't be shocked if this is a permanent roost for the AL newcomers. Phillip Humber looks far removed from his perfect game in Chicago last year, and not a single starter has an ERA under 4.5. At least they're creating a trade market for Jose Altuve.
Anyways, here we go!
1. Boston Red Sox 12-6
The Red Sox are red-hot right now. I'm still skeptical about the ability of some of their keys guys to stay off the DL, but with a healthy roster, this is the best team in the American League right now.
2. Oakland A's 12-7
The A's are very capable of riding their meager $60 M payroll to the AL West crown over the big spenders in Los Angeles and the experience in Texas. A.J. Griffin and Bartolo Colon both have 3 QS in 3 outings.
3. Texas Rangers 12-6
Ian Kinsler is red-hot and approaching an offensive WAR of 1. However, the concern remains in the fact that the Rangers have not yet played a team with the winning record (although the Rays will almost surely be better than this).
4. Baltimore Orioles 10-8
Yeah, I'm going to be a bit of a homer here (although the next few teams are pretty interchangeable in my mind). Jones and Davis are red-hot, but the rotation is a concern (especially Arrieta and Tillman).
5. Detroit Tigers 9-9
This roster still has all of the key parts needed for a World Series run. Porcello needs to go from the rotation, but Scherzer and Fister have looked just as good as Verlander so far.
6. New York Yankees 10-7
Somebody woke up Travis Hafner! As currently assembled, these Yankees are very, very sub-par. The big question here is how much of a boost they will receive when A-Rod, Jeter and company return from their various ailments. I don't think it'll be much.
7. Tampa Bay Rays 8-10
The Rays got a crucial sweep in Oakland to lift themselves from the AL East cellar. Matt Moore and Alex Cobb are leading the way in the rotation, and oddly enough Rodney and Price are off to shaky starts.
8. Kansas City Royals 10-7
No standout hitters so far, Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon are doing quite well though. The rotation has delivered an outstanding 10 quality starts in 17 games, and Shields is starting off his Royals career well.
9. Los Angeles Angels 7-10
The rotation has to be considered a concern. Blanton and Vargas have been downright awful, and Wilson and Hanson have been servicable. Even with this line-up, you're not going to get close to 5 runs a game all year.
10. Toronto Blue Jays 8-11
I feel that a lot of people don't understand how much Jose Reyes' injury is going to affect the team. Solid shortstops like him are most definitely not a dime a dozen, though the return of Lawrie helps shore up the Blue Jays' infield and my fantasy team.
11. Chicago White Sox 7-11
I just feel like this is a team destined for 70-75 win mediocrity. If Adam Dunn and Jeff Keppinger keep playing like this, it'll be worse than that (Dunn is hitting .108 and Keppinger has an OPS of .315).
12. Minnesota Twins 8-7
I just can't give the Twins a solid bearing when they've played 5 games less than some teams. Almost half of their regulars have an oWAR below 0 (Dozier, Doumit, Hicks). Then again, those 3 are about replacement level themselves.
13. Cleveland Indians 7-10
If the Indians are not in contention in mid-July, they are certainly creating a trade market for Carlos Santana. Ubaldo Jiminez has really taken a tumble since his time in Denver. Let's just hope Francona can find the stadium for the rest of this year, though he might not want to the way the rotation is shaping up.
14. Seattle Mariners 7-13
Iwakuma and King Felix are looking very good, as is Wilhelmsen. That's about it, as the rest of this team ranges from OK (Morse, Seager) to downright dreadful (back of the rotation, Raul Ibanez's defense)
15. Houston Astros 5-13
Don't be shocked if this is a permanent roost for the AL newcomers. Phillip Humber looks far removed from his perfect game in Chicago last year, and not a single starter has an ERA under 4.5. At least they're creating a trade market for Jose Altuve.
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