Power Rankings

This is the last regular season power rankings, next week I'll start ranking the playoff teams.  

1. Rays (3): They have the best record in the league and have won 4 of their last 5.  While they are undoubtedly a great team that will likely play in the ALCS, complete with a full rotation of above average starters, I wonder if in a playoff format their rotation is that much better than the Yankees.  During the course of a season having 5 pitchers is huge, but in the playoffs are guys like Wade Davis or James Shields really going to be the difference?


2. Twins (1): Losers of their last 3 but had won 3 in a row before that.  They get the Royals and Blue Jays next so maybe I'm putting them here in anticipation of them finishing better than  the Yankees.  Not much else to say about them, they've been the best team in baseball in the 2nd half and anyone who pays attention is aware of this.  And just by the way, Carl Pavano, WTF!  In what world did we ever expect to hear Carl Pavano and rotation horse in the same sentence.  He has 214 ip and 7 complete games this year.  In 4 years on the Yankees he had 26 starts and an ERA of 5.  Now it's like the Twins go "hey we need 8 innings to give the bullpen some rest, let's throw Pavano tonight."  Again, what the fuck...


3. Yankees (2): Looked pretty bad against the Sox, enough to rank them behind the Rays and Twins.  The concerns about the Yankees playoff rotation are legitimate, but mostly if they lose a game one.  If the Yankees are up 1-0 in a series I don't think anyone will be saying wow Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes are so much worse than Matt Garza and Wade Davis, or CJ Wilson and Colby Lewis, or Carl Pavano and Kevin Slowey.  Every other playoff team's 2, 3 and 4 starters are better, but considering the Yankees have a better lineup and won't be blowing leads in the 9th, I'm not really as concerned as I was previously about them when I look at the above matchups.  


4. Phillies (4): They had won 11 in a row before losing the last 2 and there are many arguments to be made that they should be #1.  However, as much as recent performance matters, I just can't put an NL team above these guys. Still, they are pretty, pretty sick right now.


5. Rangers (5): Clinched the division and since home field isn't an option this next week will be all about aligning the rotation and getting Hamilton on track.  For a young team finally making the playoffs the Rangers seem rather unexciting, especially compared to the excitement that was around during the Rays 2007 season.  I said this last week about the Reds, maybe during the post season the media will try to give the young teams some oomph, but right now it's lacking.  


6. Giants (9): I figured I would regret overrating the Rockies, but so be it, it was worth a shot.  The Giants currently have a .5 game lead over the Padres in the revolving NL West leader door.  For all the talk about the Phillies rotation, the Giants still have Cain and Lincy and a closer who I would actually trust in a big spot.  Would you be surprised if I told you the Giants had the 2nd best run differential in the NL?  If they can make the playoffs, they are the sleeper.


7. Padres (UR):  Won their last 2 series, and have stopped the bleeding where it seemed like they were going to collapse to 3rd place.  They've had such a surprising season it would suck to miss the postseason especially when you consider they will likely finish 3rd in the division next year.  It's not too often a team that wins the division or falls just a game or two short trades their best player the following offseason, but that seems likely with Adrian Gonzalez.  If the Red Sox get AGon what are the odds they are the favorite in 2011?  Not the favorite by smart people, but by like SI and ESPN who will think their injuries cost them 15 games rather than a few?


8 & 9 Braves (6) Reds (10): Meh. Unfortunately dece teams get into the playoffs and both of these may end up getting there, the Reds are already in.  The interesting thing could be that these teams are exact opposites of one another.  The Braves rely on pitching and the Reds mash.  Tulo and CarGo's MVP chances die with the Rockies missing the playoffs, I think Votto is now a lock to win the NL MVP.  


10. Red Sox (8): The obligatory ode to the AL East spot.  With their record right now they would be 1 game out of a playoff spot in the NL.  If their schedule was played in the NL they would be 5 games up, no joke.