Robert Jenkins
This will be my first set of Division Power Rankings this season, and for that matter ever, and I will probably update it twice a month. I am putting combined division data into a spreadsheet and looking at the raw numbers as whole divisions, and I am using total runs scored, total runs allowed, run differential, overall wins, and inter-division records to paint a picture of where each team falls, and I can see what is going on inside the division too. Anyhow these are based off of last season with consideration to injuries and trades, as I get the data from this season, I will go with new data. If you disagree because you are a Nats or Philly fan, I could care less.
- AL East: It is a stacked division where 4 teams right now could have a shot at seeing games in October. The Yankees did what they always do and dumped out an absurd amount of money which might still land them in 4th place. Baltimore upgraded their rotation which was a major weakness last year, Tampa has literally depleted their Farm system (a combination of low payroll and getting to the playoffs 4 or 5 times out of the last 6 years will do that when the fanbase always looks like empty seats at their games), and then Boston is also the reigning champs and have a stocked farm system to cover the positions deserted in the offseason. the only team I would write off altogether in this division is Toronto, I just do not see them competing anytime soon after their bonehead move of purchasing the remnants of the 2012 Marlins…..
- NL Central : This is the division that sent three teams to October last year and also had three teams win 90 or more games, not to mention they have 3 of the best farm systems in baseball within this one division. The Cardinals upgraded their team and has a replacement for every replacement in their 25 man roster for every position save for Catcher. The Cardinals look like they could be a 100 win team this year. Meanwhile the Reds have had some injuries to deal with throught Spring so they might start the season with a limp, but the only player they are going to miss is Choo, and because without him their production might dip some and still rank in the top half of all NL teams. The Pirates on the other hand did not lose too many impact players that played a whole season there other than AJ Burnett, but they have an amazing farm system and have the luxury of a park that plays big and some solid defense. I could see the Brewers finishing the year breaking 500 as well, they have been flying under the radar, but if they can stay off the juice and stay healthy, they might shock some people. Then you have the Cubs, they might be relevant in 1-2 seasons after the reds run out of money to pay some of their soon to be free agents (Latos, Cueto, Chapman).
- AL Central: They had three teams last year with winning records. Detroit should be fine with one of the more lethal pitching staffs in the game and considering they are making defensive upgrades this year that should only make them better, plus they still have a nasty lineup even without Fielder in it. The Royals made some moves and might actually get to 90 wins this year. They have some underrated players that do not get any attention because lets face it the Royals have been a laughing stock since 1985 (exceptions were 2003 and last year). I have a feeling some of their wonder prospects like Mike Moustakas that have withered are due for some breakout years this season. The Indians also made some moves one of which was picking up Closer Axford. Axford was a beast in 2011 into parts of 2012, then it all went downhill and he was demoted then eventually traded to the Cardinals. However I think the Cardinals fixed him, they showed him how he was tipping his pitches, and after that he became a lights out reliever again. Cleveland has some exciting young players as well to watch this season, and they had an issues deciding where they would let Carlos Santana play as a side effect, which is a good problem to have. Then you have the Twins and the White Sox, and they both look like works in progress teams this year.
- NL West: This division was brutal last year, every team but the Padres had first place at one point last season (the Padres did make it close but got as high as second). They beat the tar out of each other until the Dodgers finally got things going. The Dodgers are supposedly the best team money can buy, or the team best compensated with money, I cannot really tell. All jokes aside they have a nasty 1,2,3 in their rotation and they do have the star power to put up a good fight deep into October. The Dbacks have seen their best pitcher sidelined for the tare along with other hits to their rotation, they play a defensively sound game though in a hitters park, so I still put them near the 500 mark. Honestly I could see the Padres going on a rampage this season, and unlike the one last year led by Carlos Quentin where he broke Greinke’s collarbone, this year they have the farm power to surprise people and if they can find some way for Chase Headley to become relevant again then they look like a wild card for sure. That leaves the Giants and the Rockies, and as for the Giants, after two down years handed in by Posey and Sandoval, the new theory is a change of weight will fix the results. Meanwhile their biggest hole last year was pitching, something they expected to be their backbone. The question is can the Giants pitching bounce back this season, and I would give that a maybe. Lastly the Rockies have to stay healthy and need better pitching if they want to have a realistic shot at anything.
- AL West: With as many injuries the Rangers and the A’s have seen so far this year, it will be interesting to see if the overpaid Angels and the underrated Mariners can take advantage of that and do something this year in October. A bounce back year by Pujols and Hamilton is ⅗ of what the Angels need to make it to the postseason this year assuming the rest of the lineup plays to potential, the last ⅖ is on the rotation being better than a year ago. The Mariners have emptied their farm system, and made some interesting and better signings this off-season, and given the their rotation after Iwakuma gets healthy with King Felix and youngsters Erasmo Ramirez, Taijuan Walker, and James Paxton; I see them being the dark horse of not just their division, but the whole AL. Back to the Rangers, who have some money to play with and a rich farm system, I see them better suited to face their challenges from all the injuries than the A’s. I will not count either of those teams out, but they are going to come out gimping this year. Lastly the Astros won't lose more than 97 games this season, and come the end of the season will not have the worst record in baseball.
- NL East: With as many pitchers and injuries and the likely repeat Upton Brother failures that the Braves will have to deal with this year, there are zero reasons for the Nationals to reach the playoffs. This is still the worst division in baseball, the Nats are the talented bunch of players to either fail in the playoffs or not even make it there. The Phillies are old and for as much as they are paying to be a sub 500 team (which is outright embarrassing, they only need 90 million dollars for their payroll to win it all in ‘08), when will their front office learn to stop trading away their farm system, and spending big on aging players dumbly. If they break 500 this year it will only be due to how injured Atlanta is. The Mets and the Marlins should be better this season though, they both have some interesting pitchers on the way that will make an impact as much as Harvey and Fernandez made last season, so instead of wanting to watch those teams every 5 games, you might want to watch them a second or third time each week. I honestly do not see Miami finishing last this season. I also think Daniel Murphy is one of the most underrated second basemen in the game.
As Always I encourage comments, or direct feedback via Email at [email protected].