ProFSL: Pro Fantasy Sports Leagues
Fantasy Leagues => Franchise GM: Archives => Franchise GM: History Books => Franchise GM => MLB Leagues => Franchise GM: FGM Commissioner News & Tid Bits => Topic started by: Dan Wood on November 01, 2010, 07:05:28 PM
-
Although we aren't even at Free Agency yet, many teams have been making moves to strengthen their chances at winning their division. I am hoping that this article, coupled with Colby's weekly power rankings will increase the interactivity within this league. The following is just my opinion on how the teams in their divisions stack up at the time that the article was written.
AL East
1. Yanks - World Series runner ups in 2010. Corey has wasted little time in improving what was an aging team. Adding Buster Posey, Roy Halladay, and Zack Grienke.
Team Weakness: OF and CI. With 70 mil to spend I think these holes will be filled, Fielder anyone?
2. Red Sox - In his short tenure as GM, Jeff has made more moves than daddypadre ever did. Adding Cargo, Uggla, Torres, and DeJesus.
Weakness: Starting pitching
3. Blue Jays - Daniel keeps the magic going by landing Vmart and Brett Anderson.
Weakness: Line-Up may be a problem.
4. Devil Rays - Mike has been relatively quiet thus far. Still has some of the best young players in the sport, in Longoria, Wieters, Hanley, Price, Hellickson, Jennings.
Weakness: Depth could end up being a problem
5. Orioles - Outside of her 1,000 player trade with Colby, Laura also has been very quiet. With the unenviable task of making the O's a contender in this division, she figures to spend heavy during FA. Kendry Morales should be a cornerstone for a squad.
Weakness: Quite a few.
AL Central
1. Twins - Adding Texiera and Posada, to Roberts, Jones, Abreau, Cain, and Hudson was a ballsy move, and should pay dividends in this very tight division.
Weakness: OF might need some help if Bobby Abreau realizes he is almost 40.
2. Indians - Added Olivo and resigned AL MVP Joey Votto. He still comes to the table with a very deep team that is left over from 2010.
Weakness: Carlos Quentin and Matt LaPorta need to show up plain and simple otherwise it'll be the Votto and Choo show on offense.
3. White Sox - Rick has added a few pieces in Mike dirty Naps and Brennan Boesch to a solid young core. This teams strenght however will be its pitching.
Weakness: Line up. The addition of one legitimate star makes his the best team in the division.
4. Tigers - New GM hank has made several moves to clear some payroll.
Weakness: This team will need another bat to help Crawford out.
5. Royals - life imitating fantasy. Respect the process. Freddy still has a bunch of blue chip studs that should make this team move up in the rankings in, most likely 2012.
Weakness: Major league ready talent. Bet the farm on the farm.
AL West
1. A's - Still #1 in this division.
Weakness: A lot of money tied up in ARam. Needs Gordon, Smoak and a few others to produce as capable.
2. Rangers - I am still a fan of this team. Injuries hurt them last year, but Roy still has LaRoche, Cruz, Kinsler, Andrus and Sizemore.
Weakness: CI and C but Roy finally has money to spend.
3. Angels - One of our newest GMs took over one of the oldest teams in the league. Additions of Ichiro and Charleston Chew Sabathia are expensive, but bring star power.
Weakness: Money, not enough of it
4. Mariners - This team was poorly constructed from the get go after last years FA. Too much money spent on little to no production. However they do have one of the better farm systems.
Weakness: Too many to list
NL East
1. Phillies - Ended on top, start on the top. With one of the higher payrolls in the league lets see if they can stay there.
Weakness: Age and huge contracts.
2. Braves - Have a very good pitching staff, Jason Heyward, Justin Morneau, and 300 minor league catchers. Aubrey is always looking to upgrade, and I doubt this current squad will resemble the one at the end of the year.
Weakness: Outfield regression. Tyler Colvin and Austin Jackson are doubtful to repeat their 2010 success (not me saying it, all the experts are)
3. Nats - In a weak division, Jake has put together a very good line-up with Dusty P, Chris Young(just realized he had both the ebony and ivory versions), and Ike Davis.
Weakness: Pitching and depth. Wonder boy Strasburghs injury will hurt this year.
4. Marlins - Nice pick up of Zimmerman.
Weakness: Lots
5. Mets - Best player was Eric Hinske in 2010. Loaded on the farm, but this team was burned to the ground by previous GMs leaving Greene to pick up the pieces.
Weakness: MLB players until the young uns are ready. Has money to play with though.
NL Central
1. Pirates - Our fearless leader has assembled a very good squad from top to bottom in both hitting and pitching. Many of his players have high ceilings.
Weakness: Can his players reach their ceilings?
2. Reds - It was a toss up here between me and the Cards, so I vote for myself. Excellent line up, with blue chippers ready to contribute as well.
Weakness - Anyone see any pitching? Which Adam Lind will show up?
3. Cardinals - As always a very well assembled team with no obvious weaknesses.
Weakness: See above. Just nitpicking but he could use another star to compliment AGon.
4. Brewers - Last years destroyer of teams has had many players get really expensive. Ben has been very quiet so far, hence this ranking, but I never count him out.
Weakness: Right now, just needs to add to JD, Braun, Albert, Haren, and Sanchez.
5. Stros - After last years playoff run that surprised everyone but Kent, the Stros have done very little so far this offseason. Thome has been RFA'd as has Callaspo.
Weakness: The Stros could use some power, but pitching is more than taken care of.
6. Cubbies - ARod, Swisher and not much else. Trading Drew away will hurt.
Weakness: Could use and ace, and a few bats, but has a butt load of cash burning a hole in his pocket.
NL West
1. Rockies - Howe has made quite a few deals that have improved a team that lacked depth last year. Adding Youk and Lester was to his All Star squad was a fantastic move.
Weakness - I don't see any. This years Brewers.
2. Dodgers - MJ won it all last year and now has to deal with Howe. Solid young roster.
Weakness: This team may need Matt Kemp to be a star again just in case all of the young guys don't progress as expected.
3. D'Backs - Also quiet this offseason. Bruce, Reynolds, and Buatista will once again lead this team.
Weakness: Which Jose Bautista shows up in 2011. Line up will need some bodies if he doesn't produce exactly like he did in 2010.
4. Giants - A team lacking anything resembling hitters. I am interested to see what the new GM can do.
Weakness: Bats, plain and simple. Staff is nothing to worry about.
5. Padres - Added Tori Hunter in a surprise move. This team may sneak up on a few people if Jimmy Rollins can pull it together.
Weakness: Still light on many categories, but moving in the right direction.
-
Excellent rankings... I doubt my Pirates win the AL Central. There is a lot of potential with my team but they are very young. My quick two cents... I feel the Rangers can take the AL West and the White Sox, not the Twins, will be atop the AL Central... I take it the Astros were contracted?
-
The AL east will battle, as will most. I think the Braves and Nats will really challenge the Phils this year. I agree with you that the Twins and Rockies two teams left out last year can definately win there divisions. The great thing is, you cannot guarantee that any team is for sure going to win there division. A lot of parity and that is awesome! Only a few teams have actually gotten worse this off-season but many have majorly improved.
-
Cant wait to see the rankings post offseason Free Agency. And then after spring training. My guess is that things might change before the season begins.
-
I like my spot according to Dan. Not expecting to get 1st or 2nd in my division, but am hopeful to be over or at .500 next season. Just want to increase that cap in '13, baby!
-
Good read Dan. My teams have a habit of underachieving, so I wouldnt start with the Brewers comparison just yet.
-
You missed your calling, Dan. You should be writing for a major publication. Well written.
-
You missed your calling, Dan. You should be writing for a major publication. Well written.
:iatp: Dan should blog for ProFSL! :win:
-
:iatp: Dan should blog for ProFSL! :win:
:iatp:
-
I would be more than happy too. Thank you Rick and Colb for the vote of confidence. Just show me where to start, and get me a spell check mechanism.
-
Mr. Wood, very nice piece of work, job well done, not as good as jakes mom as we know but well done. Now don't let that get to your head.
-
Very well done, Dan. I would like to say that my MI duo feels a bit left out though.
~MTK
-
That's why Jake's mom gets paid for what she does, and I don't...
Edger :soapbox: Renteria, unreal, totally unreal.
-
Very well done, Dan. I would like to say that my MI duo feels a bit left out though.
~MTK
Fair enough, but when you watch Jose Reyes for several years, you too would leave him out when possible.
-
Jose Reyes is one of my favorite players which means a lot because in case you have forgotten, DAN, I'm a braves fan.
-
Honestly, I wish the Mets would just trade him away. I cannot stand him. Maybe we should put some heat on Sandy and Wren to make a deal. Let the letter writing campaign begin.
-
Nate McLouth and Kyle Farnsworth sound fair?
~MTK
-
Nate McLouth and Kyle Farnsworth sound fair?
~MTK
I think Mr. Wren would be willing to go Glaus and McLouth for him. Glaus is great for a month and the Mets are used to getting a month of production per year out of their guys.
Well done Dan.
-
D'Backs - Also quiet this offseason
Quiet but not sleeping, just waiting for the right move I have a very good team I still have some room to grow, so don't under look at the Arizona organization. :win:
-
No love for the Brewers huh? Let's see how things shake out :toth:
-
would that trade w/ the Brewers put me on top of the AL Central?
-
Id say yes. Simply because you gave absolutely nothing to get him. Great deal, you stole the carpet right out from under his legs. Good trade Chad :toast:
-
Id say yes. Simply because you gave absolutely nothing to get him. Great deal, you stole the carpet right out from under his legs. Good trade Chad :toast:
I am a big fan of Laporta, and Cabrera is a serviceable, cheap middle infielder... two decent acquisitions for a player who may have been lost to free agency.
-
I am a big fan of Laporta, and Cabrera is a serviceable, cheap middle infielder... two decent acquisitions for a player who may have been lost to free agency.
Colby you are dead on with this comment.
-
Colby you are dead on with this comment.
I think Corey sees that, but I think what he means is that with that being said, he still could have gotten a little more and I have to agree. What the trade boils down to is Matt LaPorta and your trust in him.
~MTK
-
I think Corey sees that, but I think what he means is that with that being said, he still could have gotten a little more and I have to agree. What the trade boils down to is Matt LaPorta and your trust in him.
~MTK
Funny thing about this trade is that LaPorta goes back to the Brewers... Remember, the real-life Indians sent Sabathia to the Brew Crew in 2008 for a package that included LaPorta.
-
Funny thing about this trade is that LaPorta goes back to the Brewers... Remember, the real-life Indians sent Sabathia to the Brew Crew in 2008 for a package that included LaPorta.
This is true. Maybe I can get Elvis Andrus back on my squad...
~MTK
-
I agree with Corey and MTK on this one. I myself root for LaPorta to succeed, but he really hasn't shown anything yet in his limited time in the bigs(barely .300 OBP), that he is the middle of the order bat that everyone thought he was going to be, plus he will be 26 by the start of opening day. Obviously if Gallardo isn't an FA this trade never happens, which brings into question the true value of a soon to be expensive FA owned by a small to mid market team. However if LaPorta does become a big time power threat, and assdribble returns to the form of his one really good season, then Cleveland weakened their team, and the Brew Crew undeniably made their team stronger, since hitting is so much more valuable in this league. Plus Chad ends up relying on a guy who more or less got the bat knocked out of his hands by big league pitching. But this also goes back to potential. The potential is there for this trade to be a massive steal for both teams, but right now Cleveland comes out ahead.
But in my opinion, the rankings don't change by much, since the Indians pitching was strong already, and outside of Votto and Choo, their hitting was unreliable(Quentin - performance, Fowler - PT, etc). The Twins hitting is more of a guarantee, hence the higher ranking.
-
Dan touched on something in describing the value of players in the Gallardo deal that I want to run by you guys.
Should we continue to allow free agent rights to be owned by their teams AFTER the season is over? For example, in real life the Rangers lost the rights to Cliff Lee the second that the World Series ended. In our league, we control their rights until December 15th. Colby explained to me that this works like a "sign and trade", but those kind of deals only happen in basketball and never in baseball. I'm not crazy the current rule, because it allows teams to play out the season with their free agents and never have to make the painful real life choice of whether or not to trade them for something before the trade deadline.
-
I agree 100% with Roy.
~MTK
-
Dan touched on something in describing the value of players in the Gallardo deal that I want to run by you guys.
Should we continue to allow free agent rights to be owned by their teams AFTER the season is over? For example, in real life the Rangers lost the rights to Cliff Lee the second that the World Series ended. In our league, we control their rights until December 15th. Colby explained to me that this works like a "sign and trade", but those kind of deals only happen in basketball and never in baseball. I'm not crazy the current rule, because it allows teams to play out the season with their free agents and never have to make the painful real life choice of whether or not to trade them for something before the trade deadline.
I disagree with this. We do have to make a choice to trade them before the deadline or not. Everyone knows that a team with a pending free agent is not in a good negotiating position when they are in a trade or RFA situation, therefore value offered is lower (as seen in this trade and documented by several). If the Brewers had traded Gallardo at the deadline, the value would have been greater than the return that he got now. Especially from a contender.
It is a choice of higher value before the deadline or trading from a bad negotitating position.
-
You might be right that the value of an impending FA goes down dramatically after the season, but that does not negate the fact that the Rangers would *never* do a "sign and trade" with Cliff Lee to the Yankees in the manner that Gallardo was traded from the Brewers to the Indians. If we think that this way is more fun and we're willing to look past realism, so be it, but I wanted everyone to think about it.
-
I like this post a lot, and I do hope to compete in 2012.
-
With all the discussion, I'll chime in on why I made this deal. Gallardo is a very good SP, but I have a personal objection to giving out big-money / long-term contracts to any pitchers but the best of the best (see Haren, Lee). He's close, but given my other options to re-sign he wasn't going to make the cut.
Personally I have been very high on LaPorta for a long time, and ~500 MLB at bats with a solid BB/K, decent ISO and terrible BABIP are not enough to change my mind - I still expect him to be an impact bat at CI. Cabrera is still very young (24) and was a top 20 MI in 2009 - any uptick in his power output and he is a very solid starter at MI.
As some have pointed out, the range of opinions on this trade is an indicator that our league has not really yet defined how the market should value expiring contracts. The seller has the option to RFA big name expiring's and receive up to 2 first round picks (the only way to add picks), which can be stashed on the EDR (saving roster and cap space) - this is in addition to the option of re-signing the player (in which case the buyer has no opportunity to acquire the player). The buyer gets the player at a known cost and does not need to win an FA bidding war, does not need to give up the compensation picks, and can go into FA with more certainty (not to be underestimated) - this is in addition to preventing the seller from re-signing or trading the player to another team.
-
Here is how I evaluate this deal:
Suppose CLE is willing to spend 15M on Gallardo during FA bidding. Then, in exchange for the 3M and a first round pick, he gave up the rights to Laporta and Cabrera. If you think Laporta, Cabrera is worth 3M + 1st rounder, then CLE came out ahead.
-
I do have to agree with Roy to a certain extent on the point that he made. Granted MLB doesn't have RFA's, but I think in this league it is needed and a great addition. I think what Roy is getting at, and what I agree with, is making the time between the end of the season and the amount of time we can hold onto our pending FAs less. In MLB, teams have a window of opportunity where they can negotiate with their pending FAs, before they are made available to other teams to bid on. I think a case can be made to shorten what we currently have in place to more resemble MLB. I also think any further discussion involving this should be moved to its own post.
And as far as the trade goes, I think I have chimed in on this. Ben was in a tough spot and he got a very good return for someone he could have lost completely. LaPorta does have upside, as does Cabrera. Although I will say this, the one really good season that Cabrera had his BABIP was .360. The question was posed from Chad if this makes him the favorite in the Central. If there is a lesson we can learn from the FGM Giants last year, is that in this league, it is difficult to win when a majority of your points come from pitching. Good starters and great starters have a difference of about 20(50-70) points a week. Generally that difference will not win you a week. Where as a really good power hitter, what LaPorta's pedigree was/is, can score a lot more than that. So, I don't think this was a slam dunk for Cleveland as some have pointed out, but if LaPorta doesn't pan out, then Ben is getting the short end of the deal, and Chad made a very good trade. I just don't think any of us can answer that until a few months into the season. Funny that Colby brought up the CC trade, because this is very similar to what was said when that deal happened, that the success of the trade relies on LaPorta's ability to become a middle of the order bat.
As I said earlier, I still think the Twins come out on top at this juncture because of the known production that he will get, where as two of the big bats on Cleveland are question marks for various reasons. The AL Central is very close, the top 3 teams are but an elevator fart away from each other. Going into free agency, and the rest of the trading season, it will be interesting to see how these teams fill their needs. For the most part, every division is close right now, because we don't have fully formed teams, and guys with expired contracts are still sitting on rosters waiting to be resigned, dealt, or RFA'd. So those player's fate is still TBD. As we move along we will get a clearer picture of what each team's strengths and weaknesses are.
-
I would still rank the Brewers 1st in the NL Central with a lineup that has Pujols, Braun, and Utley (let alone the other guys). Their rotation has Haren, Sanchez, and Masterson. They have RFA tags on Danks and Wigginton and $9.5m in cap space to either sign them or some other guys.
-
I will put Milwaukee in the mix. I think there the 3rd best team in the division. However I now say the Phils will win the division and the Braves will fall short. Phils become clear front-runners in the East.
-
I will put Milwaukee in the mix. I think there the 3rd best team in the division. However I now say the Phils will win the division and the Braves will fall short. Phils become clear front-runners in the East.
Brewers are in the Central.
-
Corey was just adding to what he had said earlier about the NL east. It was two statements in one post
-
Correct Mr. Wood. BrewCrew is third best in the Central. Earlier I stated that the Nats and Braves could challenge the Phils. At this point I do not think that will happen.
-
However I now say the Phils will win the division and the Braves will fall short. Phils become clear front-runners in the East.
Don't count me out, I'll put a team together that is worthy of the NL East title.
~MTK
-
Correct Mr. Wood. BrewCrew is third best in the Central.
To each their own, but I think by the time the season starts the Brewers will be better than they were last year...
-
I think it is now time for another addition of Ranking the Divisions. It has been long enough and I am in a writing mood (speaking of writing, check out Kris's recently started baseball blog - thefourthstarter.com - I contribute). Now I must preface the upcoming post - I will not be doing an NL Central version. If someone would like to do one, be my guest. But My opinion could be considered tainted, since I am in the thick of the soon to be 5 team race. So without further ado...
AL East
1. Yankees - Again the cream of the crop
Positives - Roster is solid. Both pitching and hitting. Arod and Youk are top of the line CIs, and his outfield is very good. His pitching staff is loaded.
Negatives - Age could be a factor with the possibility of Arod missing time, Johan starting on the DL, and Youk hasn't been the picture of health either, freak injuries or not. His Middle Infield is a glaring weakness.
2. Bosox - Jeff has built a very solid team, adding depth to a team that was crucified by injuries last year.
Positives - MCab is a stud, plain and simple. Possibly the second most dangerous hitter outside of Albert. Cargo turned himself into a star last year. Reyes has star potential, but really needs to get over himself and just play. Dejesus, Torres, and Montero fill out his line-up with solid players.
Negatives - Money could become a problem next year. Jeff spent a lot of money to get his team where it is. Is Jason Bay done? Is Cargo really that good? His rotation lacks a true ace.
3. Tampa Bay - Mike has a bunch of really good young players, his depth is a bit thin.
Positives - Longoria, Price, and Hanley are all stars. Youth is also on this teams side. Best minor league system in the division.
Negatives - Playing time could be an issue. Will Jennings start in the minors? Will Nady get enough at-bats to help this club. Will Matt Wieters turn into the star that everyone thought he would? Is Hellickson as good as he is supposed to be? Where youth is a positive, it is also a negative. You really don't know what you are getting. If everything hits right, they could battle it out with the sawx, and Yanks for the AL East crown. Depth will still be needed, and they have money unlike their MLB counterparts.
4. Baltimore - New GM has rocked the FA market, building a competitive team from a pile of dung.
Positives - He has some very decent players in Kendry, Michael Young, Juan Pierre, and Melvin Mora. He also has some guys that could turn into solid regulars with Bourjous, Gillaspie, EY Jr, and Torrealba.
Negatives - Pitching is not a strength. The guys that I mentioned above could get very little PT, making them useless. But, I think we can all agree that the new GM has finally started something in Baltimore.
5. Toronto - It kills me to put Daniel here considering what he accomplished last year, but his line-up and rotation are riddled with question marks.
Positives - He has a foundation of a good team with V-Mart, Zobrist, Huff, and Brett Anderson.
Negatives - The best way to put it is his team has many question marks. Is Lopez the 2B in Colorado (or is Michael Young)? Is Scott Sizemore the 2B in Detroit? Is Huff as good as 2010? Was Zobrist's 2009 or 2010 a fluke? This team could also be very good, the potential is there. But, what made Daniel's team so good last year could be his undoing this year. Everything hit last year. Every move paid off. It could very well be the same this year, but only time will tell.
AL Central
1. Twins - Taking a cue from the real life Twins, this GM has thrown money around like a drunken billionaire.
Positives - Tex, Big Papi, Posada (now out from behind the plate), Abreu, and Brian Roberts are all excellent hitters. Cahill, Hudson, Wainwright could soon be supplemented by Beckett.
Negatives - This may have to be the year because father time is not on the side of this team. All of this team's best players are north of 30, and some are a fart away from 40. Adam Jones needs to step up and realize his potential. If that happens, age might not be such a factor. His minor league system is Kate Moss thin.
2. White Sox - Rick has had maybe the best off-season of any GM.
Positives - A lot of power on this team. Excellent young, cheap pitching.
Negatives - And this is nit-picking, the White Sox lack one true game changer. A true star. Eithier is very good, as are Stubbs and Chris B. Young. Pena needs to learn how to lay off a change up. If this isn't the year for Rick, then I think next year will be. Wigginton's contract was excessive for someone who could be a part timer in Colorado.
3. Cleveland - This team could easily be in 1st if everything breaks right.
Positives - Joey Votto, Choo, 3 very good starters, 2 excellent ready now prospects in Montero and Kipnis.
Negatives - Carlos Quentin - could be a star, could be a dud. Sandoval and Escobar could also be very good, or useless. As I said if everything breaks right, and Montero reaches the majors this year, look out for the Injuns.
4. Royals - This placement is on potential alone. The depth in the minors is astounding, but they may not reach the bigs this year, making the Royals #5, but they will be a team to be reckoned with sooner than later.
Positives - Prince, Carlos Santana, and a decent if uninspiring pitching staff
Negatives - a lot of question marks. They get #4 on potential alone. Maybin could finally break out, Morel could be very solid, Espinosa could be very good, or they could all stink. That is the problem with potential. However, Freddy has 3 or 4 aces on the horizon, and a very powerful if not patient CI. Add that to two of the best players at their position and this team has nowhere to go but up.
5. Detroit - Could easily be ahead of KC, but the talent level is lacking to jump over CHW, MIN, and CLE.
Positives - Crawford is a beast, a very good pitching staff.
Negatives - Fairly average at most positions. If Loney and Kazmir can rebound, if Damon still has something left in the tank, and Danny Valencia is the real deal, this team could also be very tough, but like I said...if.
AL West
1. Oakland - Should I even bother giving positives and negatives? The trade for Ike put this team over the top in my book. No team is perfect - JJ could get injured, Ike could go into a sophomore slump, Smoak could be a dud, Kila could also be a dud, and Swisher had a career year last year. That is a lot to go wrong in one season to bring the A's back to the pack.
2. Texas - Roy has assembled a very good team plain and simple
Positives - A very strong line-up, and a very solid pitching staff
Negatives - Sizemore's health, Cruz's health, Kinsler's health. All three of those guys are integral to the success of this team. If they spend a lot of time on the trainer's table, then that could sink this team. CI2 could be a problem. Will Thome get enough PT? Will Dan Johnson finally prove he is MLB worthy, and worthy of a 3 year 4 million dollar contract?
3. Seattle - They get the nod over the Angels because of the potential of some of their kids.
Positives - King Felix, Beltre, Ackley (if the scouting reports are to be believed), and McCann.
Negatives - Just about everything else. Seattle has a lot of bad money tied up in useless longterm deals, that were inherited from a previous GM. Lots of holes in the Line-up and rotation.
4. Angels - they could easily be better than Seattle, but they too have their own problems.
Positives - Sabathia, Ichiro, Jeter are still tops at their respective positions. Vlad may still have something in the tank. A decent rotation.
Negatives - No starting CI. Age. A lot of money tied up in their stars, and Jorge Cantu. The former GM built this team in a way similar to filling a retirement community.
NL East
1. Phillies - Lots of hitting, lots of pitching
Positives - A lot of stars on both sides of the ball.
Negatives - a very expensive team to run. Not a lot of youth. Contracts to several players could end up killing this team, if the players cannot remain productive into their more formative years.
2. Braves - Slowly closing the gap between them and the Phils, it may have to wait until 2012.
Positives - Heyward, Dunn, Morneau, Prado, and Uggla. Excellent young pitching staff.
Negatives - Very few, but this team need Morneau to be himself, Uggla to prove that 2010 wasn't a career year (same with Prado), and Heyward to become a star in order to go toe to toe with the Phils this year. Like I said 2012 could be different.
3,4,5 - Marlins, Mets, Nats - order doesn't really matter
Marlins - This team was gutted of it's 2009 playoff glory. Their is help on the way, and the Molinator has been agressive this off-season, but the pieces just aren't there.
Mets - This team is a mess, by no fault of the past two GMs. They now have an excellent minor league system, which will be Greene's legacy, and they have a ton of money, but this goes to show you what one bad GM, and a month of control can do to a team. The current GM has his work cut out for him.
Nats - Jake built it up, then tore it down, all in the span of one off-season. The Nats are now loaded for war in 2013. They could finish above the Marlins and Mets if some of their AAA prospects reach the majors before September.
NL West
1. Rockies - Howe has assembled an All-Star team
Positives - Wright, Zimmerman, Pedroia, Mauer, Tulo, Rasmus, and 2.5 aces. This is also what happens when good GMs take advantage of bad GMs
Negatives - Could use another bat or 2, but has the prospects to make that happen, when someone falls out of contention. Can Mauer stay on the field? Can Granderson hit lefties? Minor stuff - this is the best team in the NL.
2. Dodgers - Last years champs, could very well repeat, but have to get past the Rox.
Positives - A fantastic young ball club. This team is going to be good for a very long time, if the press clippings are to be believed.
Negatives - Again, this is nit-picking... Can Johnson and Weeks sustain there career years? Can Corey Hart? Can Matt Kemp return to elite status. Is Brett Wallace washed up as a prospect as many are saying? Are Brown and Morrison ready to be above average, or even average MLB players. Is Manny done? Those questions are why I give the nod to the Rox, over the Dodgers. Personally I think MJ should make a play for Hanley, he has the specs.
3. D'Backs - Building a good nucleus, but the two teams above them are elite, and will be hard to leap frog.
Positives - Jose Bautista, Jay Bruce, and Mark Reynolds build a formative core of their line-up. A very decent 1-5 rotation.
Negatives - Omar could have adopted a very different team had it nor been for the previous GM. He did a good job of assembling talent from a team that was lacking outside of Reynolds and Ubaldo. They will still need help in the hitting department. Plus is Bautista for real? Can Reynolds go back to being a monster? Is Pagan for real? Again, only time will tell.
4. Padres - Chris went and cut the fat, and is on his way to assembling a cost effective competitive team.
Positives - Matt Latos is the one proven star on this team. Tori Hunter is good but the sun is setting on his career. They have a few other decent bats and arms
Negatives - This team is in the process of being built from the ground up. This is another situation where from GMs have hindered the current GM. I have faith in Chris but it is going to take a while, and a lot of losing.
NL Central...
This is where we come to the Mad Libs portion of our rankings.... You fill in the blanks because I ain't.
-
Good stuff Dan, will read again. A+++++
-
this is just my opinion.
1. Pittsburgh Pirates - Colbs got one hec of lineup. Hes great on the corners and really good up the middle. OF is solid but could be better. Good young arms as well for the Buccos. Deep staff.
2. St. Louis Cardinals - Another team with a good offense. The best part for the Cards is some of his offense players are still developing. Lots of potential here.
Toss up on the next two
3. Cincinnati Reds - Cinci goes ahead of the Brewers simply because we all know GM Dan Wood will make a few more moves to put his team in better position to win. Sooner Brandon Belt gets called up the better.
4. Milwaukee Brewers - Could easily be #3. Pujols is a horse. But outside of a select few players the team is loaded with question marks.
5 -6 Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs - Its almost unfair to rate the Cubs. KDOC inherited a flat out horrible team and has made the future have light. Hes done a fabulous job turning trash to recycled products. The stros flat out surprised alot of people last year with there playoff push. Im just not sold they can do it again.
-
Great write-ups on the divisions, but I doubt my Pirates do that well.
-
Great write-ups on the divisions, but I doubt my Pirates do that well.
When are we getting the first power rankings of 2011?
-
When are we getting the first power rankings of 2011?
After FA