MLB Power Rankings: The "So What if it’s April?" Edition

I know what you are thinking. The baseball season just got underway, why should anyone be making a list of the top teams now? The short answer is, because I want to see how accurate I was in determining who was a legitimate team later in the season. Basically I’m doing this list for myself and less so for the 6-8 family members of the writers on this  blog that actually read these. It is a testament to my sporting knowledge if, at the summation of this baseball season, most of the teams on my list make the playoffs. The following will do one of two things for me; either it shows off an unmatched comprehension of all things baseball or highlight an unfounded sense of pride. Either way these Power Rankings all about me, and baseball I guess.

1. Texas Rangers:

Why: The Rangers have the best record in baseball at 15-4. Everything seems to be going right for the team that has lost the last two World Series. Last season they came up just short to the St. Louis Cardinals and a year before it was the San Francisco Giants who dashed the Rangers championship aspirations. This years team seems poised to make it three straight to the fall classic. However this may be the year that they finally take the crown and put a fat World Series ring on their fingers. Led by all-star veterans like outfielder Josh Hamilton and the do-it-all infielder Michael Young the Rangers should be sitting pretty come October.

Rangers look strong

Strengths: Their batting numbers are outrageous. They are leading the entire league in average, hits, home runs, RBI, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The Ranger hitters are making opposing pitching staffs looks just awful. Hamilton and Young are a big part of that but you can’t ignore the numbers second baseman Ian Kinsler (5 HR, 12 RBI) and catcher Mike Napoli (7 HR, 14 RBI) are putting up.

Weaknesses: Right now it doesn’t appear that they have any. Their pitching staff in also leading the league with a paltry 2.62 ERA.

Will win the World Series if? They keep doing what they are doing and they don’t get bit by the injury big. Even so, the only injury that would be of great concern to take down this early season juggernaut would be Hamilton.

2.Tampa Bay Rays:

Why: The 12-7 Rays, after a slow start are back on track, winners of 5 straight games. They have a young team but also one with a lot of talent. For years they were the American League East’s whipping boy, but nowadays they are a team to fear. They have pitching, they have power and they have a manager in John Madden that always seems to make the right moves. With the Yankees and Red Sox hovering around mediocrity the Rays are in position to be atop the division for the third time in five years.

Rays 2nd baseman Ben Zobrist

Strengths: The pitching staff is the catalyst for the Rays. With able pitchers like James Shields and David Price at the helm they are always in games. With the emergence of Jeremy Hellickson (3-0, 2.84 ERA), their staff has a proverbial three-headed dragon that can guide the Rays to the promise land.

Weaknesses: Their closer Kyle Farnsworth is on the DL. An essential position for every team, the Rays need this as a strength in order to make a push towards the playoffs. So far, MLB journeyman, Fernando Rodney has stepped in nicely in Farnsworth’s absence, converting all six of his save opportunities.

Will win the World Series if? They stay healthy and make the playoffs. If this teams gets into the postseason, it’s game over. Trying to combat a pitching staff like the Rays in a short series would be overwhelming to say the least.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers:

Why: My first National League team on the list, the Dodgers are 13-6 so far this season and outfielder Matt Kemp is leading the charge. The MVP runner-up last season, Kemp is off to a FEROCIOUS start. The power-hitting centerfielder is batting a staggering .449 at the plate with 10 home runs and 23 RBI all league leading numbers. Kemp is literally carrying the Dodgers on his back as he continues to exhibit an unbelievable mastery of the game.  

Kemp has been an absolute Monster

Strengths: (See Above). Along with Kemp the Dodgers have a solid pitching staff with 2011 Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw and reliable veterans Ted Lilly and Chad Billingsley. On the offensive side of the ball Kemp’s fellow outfielder Andre Ethier has proved he can hit the ball too, with 22 RBI to date.

Weaknesses: Subtract Kemp from this team and you have a middle of the pack National League team. Batting wise, other Dodgers are going to have to step it up in order to keep them atop the league.  

Will win the World Series if? Someone other than Kemp and Ethier step up and provide some runs. This team has the pitchers to go far this season, they’ll just need some run support. Eventually teams are going to stop pitching to Kemp and that is the time when the Dodgers not named here will have to produce. If they do, look out for them this fall.

4. Washington Nationals:

Why: No, you’re not dreaming, I did just say the Washington Nationals and for good reason. The 14-5 Nats are cruising along so far this season and they are showing no signs of slowing down. I was confused as to their success until I took a glance at their revamped roster from a year ago. When a team is normally a bottom-feeder like the Nationals have been, you tend not to notice when they sign someone in the off-season. They made some big-time acquisitions in the winter and they are paying off dividends. The additions of pitchers Edwin Jackson from Arizona and Gio Gonzalez from Oakland have made the Nats pitching staff one of the most formidable in all of Baseball.

Strasburg tossing some hot stinky cheese

Strengths: Hands down the pitching leads this team to victory. Stephen Strasburg heads the staff and has been straight filthy so far, showing everyone why he was the first overall pick in the 2009 draft. The man has been basically unhittable this season, posting a 1.08 ERA with 25 strikeouts in only 25 innings pitched. Combine this with a healthy Ryan Zimmerman at 3^rd base and 1^st baseman Adam LaRoche’s torrid  batting numbers this season and it’s not hard to see why the Nationals are performing at such a high level.

Weaknesses: This is an inexperienced team. They are young in the same way as the Rays are, but not quite as talented. I would also worry that they don’t quite have it in the batting department to keep up with this pace.

Will win the World Series if? They continue to get quality outings from their pitching staff and someone other than LaRoche can provide some “pop” for this lineup. I wouldn’t bet money on the Nats, but don’t be surprised if they keep on winning.

5. Detroit Tigers:

Why: Although they may be under-producing right now the Tigers have all the pieces to take the title this year. At 10-9, they don’t look great but I can’t ignore the facts. Not only do they have the reigning the AL MVP, starting pitcher Justin Verlander to turn to, but the three and four hitters in their batting lineup are Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. It is just unfair to have all these guys on your team. Verlander was so dominant last season that he was the first starting pitcher to claim the MVP award since Roger Clemens in 1986! Cabrera may be the best pure hitter in the league with a career average of .317, 283 home runs and 999 RBI in his nine seasons and change. He is well on his way to a Hall of Fame career and with Fielder batting behind him, his numbers should only get better. Fielder is a monster at the plate and has already hit 232 home runs in a just over six seasons. Do the math, he is an absolute beast at the plate.

Can Cabrera lead the Tigers?

Strengths: I think I laid that out pretty clearly just above this. They have talent, they have veterans, they have a good manager in Jim Leyland, this team has it all.

Weaknesses: I’m not sure what’s going on with them right now but they haven’t looked as spectacular as their roster looks on paper. They may just be struggling to work out the kinks.

Will win the World Series if? If they play the way they are capable of playing. Right now they are number five on the list because they aren’t performing but they have the players to turn this .500 team into a bona fide winning machine.

Teams that almost made the cut: San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies

Thundergun’s World Series Prediction:

Detroit Tigers 4 games to 3 over the Philadelphia Phillies

*I realize I didn’t put the Phillies on my list but I am not confident with the Dodgers or the Nats, plus, how can you argue with a pitching staff that includes Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels?

So now I wait and see how my predictions will turn out. Will I be able to live up to my self-made hype???