1. Phillies 92-70 (2008 record)
Champs remain champs until further notice.
2. Rays 97-65
Ditto for World Series runners-up.
3. Red Sox 95-67
Bosox young talent still improving
4. Yankees 89-73
An aging lineup and A-Rod are concerns
5. Mets 89-73
Rotation still a question mark
6. Cubs 97-64
Billy goat cares not for regular season
7. Angels 100-62
Great spring doesn’t always translate
8. Diamondbacks 82-80
Couldn’t sustain great start last year
9. Braves 72-90
Were embarrassed by last year’s finish
10. Marlins 84-77
Always competitive with Han-Ram and no-name starters
11. Dodgers 84-78
Return of Manny and addition of Hudson help
12. Indians 81-81
Need Fausto and Pavano to step up
13. Giants 72-90
Three Cys in rotation and Beach Boy closer
14. Brewers 90-72
Iffy rotation and aging closer
15. Twins 88-75
Forever find a way to hang in top half
16. White Sox 89-74
Rotation and closer
17. Astros 86-75
Contenders in weak division
18. Cardinals 86-76
Any team with Albert Pujols
19. Royals 75-87
Say what??
20. Tigers 74-88
Start clawing out of last year’s hole
21. Reds 74-88
Exciting offence led by Joey Votto
22. Mariners 61-101
Healthy Bedard and King Felix help
23. Rangers 79-83
We don’t need no stinkin’ pitching
24. Blue Jays 86-76
Until they can prove otherwise
25. A’s 75-86
Others playing Moneyball better
26. Pirates 67-95
Pointed in the right direction
27. Rockies 74-88
Rockie Mountain low
28. Orioles 68-93
Score a lot; give up a lot
29. Nationals 59-102
Even Adam Dunn could lose will to play
30. Padres 63-99
Petco Park new Ellis Island
a team with Roy Halladay, 7th worse team in the majors?
Posted by: DaveInTO | March 30, 2009 at 11:53 AM
A few of teams that will drop quickly include:
Seattle Mariners - They've got nothing outside of Ichiro, one of the worst bullpens in the league, little power, and a weak rotation. I've got them as the worst team in the American League.
Houston Astros - I don't think their spring training is a coincidence, they've got a poor offense and not much pitching outside of Oswalt, who was shaky in the WBC.
Atlanta Braves - I'm not buying into their new revamped rotation, although I feel I'm the only one. Derek Lowe was a disaster outside of Chavez Ravine last season, so look for him to struggle. Javy Vazquez has proven one thing in his career, that he's consistantly inconsistent. He'll give the team strike outs and innings, but will end up the season with a mediocre ERA and a .500 record. Finally, who knows what to expect from Kenshin Kawakami, his early returns are promising, but I expect major league hitters to figure him out fairly quickly.
Posted by: Peter D | March 30, 2009 at 11:56 AM
The Giants are 11 spots ahead of the Jays and the Royals are 5 spots ahead? come on! what are you basing this on?
Posted by: Chris | March 30, 2009 at 11:57 AM
The Jays will be terrible. How JP is still employed is a mystery. 1 All-Star means nothing
Posted by: WB | March 30, 2009 at 02:29 PM
Hard to believe that the Green A's are so far down. I can't think of a team that did more to address their needs in the off-season. Add Holliday. Add Giambi. Add Nomaaa. That's a good ball-club right there. Quaere - what did the Braves do in the off-season (lose John Smoltz) that qualifies them for Top 10 status?
As for the earlier poster, I'd fear the Royals. In that ever so parodied AL Central, they got as good a shot as anyone.
Posted by: CheChore | March 30, 2009 at 05:16 PM
If you go with your "until they prove otherwise" the Jays should be a lot higher. They were in the top 10 in the whole league last year. I'm not saying they won't be worse than last year but having the Giants and Royals ahead of a +.500 team is strange.
Again Richard you have given us your bias against the home team.
Posted by: Cameron | March 30, 2009 at 06:05 PM
All Pre Season rankings are garbage, its basically a best guess. Who knows Richard could actually be right with some of these.
Posted by: Dennis | March 30, 2009 at 07:59 PM
Hey. I've got no bias against the home team. I want them to succeed because the baseball beat at this paper struggles enought for prime time status. I want them to compete. If anything, my prediction of the Jays as 24th overall is a case of logic overcoming positive bias. I like Cito. I like the coaches. I like many of the players on a personal basis. Why would I possibly be hoping they fail? If the GM turned it around and made some great moves, I would givbe him his props. But show me the honey.
R-Griff
Posted by: R-Griff | March 31, 2009 at 09:36 AM
I wanted to argue but "But show me the honey." broke me down and I just laughed. Good job Griff.
Posted by: SillyEric | March 31, 2009 at 01:22 PM