Let me say this about the rankings: They are a mixture of team's talent and how they have done so far. Let me explain. The Detroit Tigers will not be one of the worst teams in the league despite their record, and the Baltimore Orioles will not be the best team in the American League. The top teams, though, will be based on how they have been playing this week.
1. Milwaukee Brewers (5-1)-The Brewers concluded a great week by sweeping the lifeless Giants. They started the week with a nice series win in Chicago. I don't believe that Milwaukee is the best team in baseball right now, but they had the best week.
2. Toronto Blue Jays (4-2)-The Blue Jays lost a tough opening series to the Yankees but rebounded to demolish the World Series champions Red Sox. The Blue Jays pitching staff was great and they proved that they should be considered in the talk for the AL East. Consider that they only lost the two games to the Yankees by two runs, and this team could have gone 6-0 with that hard opening schedule.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (4-2)-The Diamondbacks bounced back from a disappointing opening series against Cincinnati to sweep the Rockies in Colorado. The Diamondbacks got two great starts from Brandon Webb, and could easily be 5-1 if Lyons had not blow that save. Justin Upton has had a great starts to his season.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2)-The Dodgers went 4-2 against their NL West rivals in the Giants and Padres. Hiroki Kuroda was fantastic in his debut. Rafael Furcal has had a nice start to his season, but Andruw Jones is again slumping. This doesn't take away from the week they had though.
5. St. Louis Cardinals (5-1)-Do I believe the Cardinals are the fifth best team in baseball? No. But did they start the season in great fashion? Yes. The Cardinals took 2 of 3 from Colorado and then swept the Nationals behind solid pitching from what is not considered a strong rotation. Winning five games in a row is a nice start to a season.
6. Cincinnati Reds (4-2)-The Reds had a great opening week by winning series from the Diamondbacks and Phillies, both of whom have been picked to go to the playoffs this year. Everyone's favorite rookie Johnny Cueto was brilliant in his start, and Jeff Keppinger is hitting the ball solidly. They could be a sleeper in that division.
7. New York Yankees (3-3)-The Yankees won their opening series against the Blue Jays, but then faltered a little against the Rays. Considering the Yankees went 3-3 in those gamges, despite only scoring 17 runs (2.84) per game, it has to be considered a good week for the Bronx Bombers.
8. Boston Red Sox (3-4)-The World Champions ran into some great pitching this weekend down in Toronto. They looked solid to open the season by winning three of four against the A's, but then faltered. The bullpen appears to be a little bit shaky. Jacoby Ellsbury is going to be the real deal.
9. Cleveland Indians (3-3)-C.C. Sabathia is not exactly following up his Cy Young campaign by pitching two awful games against the Indians and A's. Fausto Carmona on the other hand, looked great. This team will be there the whole season, and if the Tigers continue to falter, will be the strong favorites in the Central.
10.Tampa Bay Rays (3-2)-This team is for real. They could be 5-0 right now, but their bullpen blew a lead against the Orioles and they couldn't score against Chien-Mien Wang. The Rays have a good blend of speed and power and will be able to catch some teams this year.
11. Atlanta Braves (3-3)-Atlanta rebounded from a terrible 1-3 start to sweep the Mets behind strong pitching performances from Tim Hudson and John Smoltz. The key, though, will be the hitting as right now, everyone on that team is hitting for a good average. The bullepn also needs to shape up a little as they blew several games early on.
12. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (4-3)-This team has been shaky so far. They won 3 of from the Twins, but then lost 2 of 3 to the Rangers at home. They have a solid club, but without Escobar and Lackey the pitching needs to step up. John Garland looked brilliant in one start, and then got shelled today. There is still plenty of time though.
13. New York Mets (2-3)-The Mets absolutely tore the facing off the ball against the Marlins, and then hit a wall against the Braves. The Mets will take Johan's sevin inning against the Braves any day of the week. This team will rebound, though. Ryan Church has been a pleasant surprise.
14.Chicago White Sox (4-2)-After starting the season with two tough losses, the White Sox rebounded to win the final game against the Indians and take the series from Detroit. I think this team has alot of potential this season. Orlando Cabrera needs to get going at the top of the lineup. The outing by John Danks was a nice indication of what he can do.
15.Chicago Cubs (3-3)-The Cubs, everyone's pre-season pick to win the NL Central has faltered to start this season, losing two of three to their rivals the Brewers, and then having to struggle to get by the Astros. Derek Lee has been hitting the ball tremendously, but Soriano and Ramirez have been struggling. This team has too much talent to falter.
16.Kansas City Royals (4-2)-The Royals started the season in dominant fashion, sweeping three games in Detroit, but then lost two of three to the Twins. This team needs to be consistent if they want to prove themselves in the AL. Alex Gordon has been stroking the ball real well.
17.San Diego Padres (4-3)-The Padres were able to 4-3 this week, but three of those wins came against the punchless Astros. They lost a tough series to the Dodgers. The big question with them at this point in the season is Trevor Hoffman. The all-time leader i saves hasn't exactly been great, getting two losses in their first seven games. They need him.
18.Texas Rangers (3-3)-The Rangers could easily be 5-1 had they given Kevin Millwood any runs during his starts. They gave the Mariners all they could handle despite losing 2 of 3 to them and won 2 of 3 in Anaheim. Although I don't think they can compete in the AL West, 3-3 to start against LAA and Seattle is good.
19.Washington Nationals (3-4)-The Nationals started the season with a nice first four games by taking three of those against the Braves and the Phillies. But they then proceeded to get swept by the Cardinals. I think this team could give some teams problems if they can get good pitching.
20.Baltimore Orioles (4-1)-Yes, this team is in first in the AL East, but that shouldn't last that long. I will admit that I am impressed by how this team played its first few games, but that doesn't take away from how bad they are. There is no pitching on this team, and the offense is all old. I expect by the end of the month for them to be where they belong: last place.
21.Minnesota Twins (3-4)-The Twins won their first game of the season, then lost three in a row to the Angels, before taking two of three from the Royals. This team just doesn't have enough offense in the AL to compete, and will have a hard time competing in that division.
22.Seattle Mariners (2-4)-After making a big splash to acquire Erik Bedard, all this team has to show for it is a 2-4 record that includes three losses in a row to the awful Baltimore Orioles. The offense isn't delivering, and Batista and Washburn were shaky in their first starts. An that great bullpen: it's already blown two games.
23.Philadelphia Phillies (2-4)-The Phillies seem as if they want to duplicate last season's slow start which turned into a NL East title. Althought I do not think this team will finish the season this low, they just have been playing bad baseball. Brett Myers looks as if he should stay in the pen. Thank God they still have Chase Utley to do some damage offensively.
24.Oakland Athletics (3-4)-Oakland looked hapless to start the season by losing its first three of four games to the Red Sox, but then rebounded to take two of three from the Indians. Although this team's record is ok, they just are not a good team. How many people have actually heard of Jack Hannahan?
25.Florida Marlins (3-3)-The Marlins lost two of three to the Mets and looked bad in dong so, and then took two of 3 from the Pirates. This team has some quality young guys like Ramirez and Uggla, but is not built for successful. At least fans have the Manatees to dance for them.
26.Detroit Tigers (0-6)-I never thought that I would be putting my predicted World Series champions this low, but they have played that awful. The bats have not been able to come to life as predicted, and the pitching staff has been shaky. Every team in the AL is salivating at the chance to get to that Tigers bullpen. They need to get it together quick.
27.Pittsburgh Pirates (3-3)-The Pirates had a nice opening series against the Braves, but then proceeded to lose two of three to the Marlins. The Pirates don't have much punch in their line-up and their starting pitching can be awfully shaky at times. This team doesn't inspire you.
28.Colorado Rockies (1-5)-I like this team, I really do, but they way they have been playing they deserve to be this low. The offense has not been able to get anything going and Matt Holliday has had a big part to do with that. Paair that with how the pitching staff has been shaky, and you have a team with lots of potential off to a 1-5 start.
29.Houston Astros (2-5)-I thought this team would be able to make up for its bad pitching staff, but instead, the offense has been putrid. The sluggers in the lineup are not hitting consistently, and leadoff man Michael Bourn hasn't been a table-setter at the top of the line-up. The bullpen has also blown several games.
30. San Francisco Giants (1-5)-This team will probably lose 100 games this year and no one will be surprised. The lineup has no punch and despite having two great starters in Lincecum and Cain, they will not get enough run support to win any games. Barry Zito looks like a worse and worse signing as he pitches.
Some thoughts from the opening week:
Although I picked them to win the AL, the Tigers are looking awfully vulnerable right now. Sheffield already has sustained an injury, Cabrera has missed days, the bullpen looks like a nightmare, and the starting pitching hasn't been efficient.
My thoughts:
-Toronto's pitching staff is the real deal. To go 4-2 against the Yanks and Sawx is not an easy task. This team has pitching that wins in October.
-Chien-Mien Wang IS AN ACE. Say what you want, but the man delivers.
-The Red Sox are going to have a hard time getting the ball to Okie-Doke and Papelbon. Their middle relief is really suspect.
-Billy Butler is a player that everyone will come to know on the Royals
-Orlando Cabrera has not been the spark that the White Sox hoped for
-The Indians sure do miss the presence of Victor Martinez behind the plate, they are 2-4 without him
-Kevin Millwood has a reason to complain-He pitched great games against Seattle and LAA and got losses despite not giving up more than two runs in each
-Erik Bedard has already missed a start
-Rafael Soriano has filthy stuff, but needs to learn how to be a closer-His demeanor on the mound today was rather shaky and didn't instill confidence
-Lastings Milledge is going to the make the Mets regret that trade
-The Phillies have no pitching
-Adam Wainwright will turn into the top ace on the Cardinals staff
-Hunter Pence has fallen down to earth this season
-Brandon Webb is just filthy...but you already know that
-Juan Pierre needs to look for a trade....I'm sure Houston wouldn't mind having him
-I could probably hit in the Giants lineup
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