Last Power Rankings of 2009 (AL)

[Cardinals]

So I've decided to do the last power rankings of the year, but a little differently. AL and NL will be separate and by tiers since it's too tough to really rank them now 1-30. Of course a lot can change between now and April, but here's how I see the AL as of now:


The Favorites.
Tier 1: New York, Detroit

New York. What is there to really say about the Yankees? While I think this is going to be their most vulernable year, the team will still win 100+ games. CC, Vazquez, Felix, Lester, Feliz, Joba... SP won't be an issue. Papelbon and Rivera? Looks like the closers are ok. Pujols, ARod, Mauer, Cano, Jeter, Howard, Ramirez? Not too bad. The only knock I have on the Yanks is the OF- Soriano, Ramirez, DeJesus, Magglio and Damon is one of the most underwhelming outfields we've seen JB offer, and half of us would still kill for it. The Yanks will remain the favorite in the AL and likely the entire IBC for awhile. It helps that the AL East has been weakened considerably with the departure of longtime rival Bren.

Detroit. The defending champs have to be included in the upper tier if by nothing else by default. Still, how could an offense that boasts Utley, Cabrera, Fielder, Hanley, Reyes, Markakis, Wieters, Bradley and Bourn not be anything but awesome? The SP is the achilles heel of this team. Shields and Oswalt remains a nice 1-2, but then relying on Pedro, Braden and Cecil 3-5 is dicey. Still, Braden is better than he gets credit for and Pedro looked pretty good last year. The bullpen is shored up nicely with Nathan, Mike Gonzalez and Mijares. Some trade bait still exists with players like Mazarro, Chris Young, Alex White, Gillies and Bethancourt as well as others. Look for the Tigers to repeat as AL Central champs especially with Zalaski packing up shop for the NL.


The Contenders
Tier 2: Toronto, Chicago, Texas, Minnesota

Toronto. The Jays have been on a roll the past couple years. In 07 they won the AL East, 08 the Wild Card and the World Series and last year repeating as Wild Card champs. Somehow, the Jays always seem to get it done. After trading Johan Santana for Cliff Lee and Brian Wilson, Toronto looks different than years past. We're all used to seeing Johan in Toronto but that will be no more. The offense, despite some down years from players, will likely be very good again next year with Ludwick, Abreu, Granderson, Pena, Branyan, Escobar, Polanco, Ruiz and Cust. The pitching is where we are going to run into some problems. Lee is nice, but then we've got Contreras, Wakefield, Uehara and Smoltz. Luckily for Pat, Duchscherer should be healthy and if he gets a good projection, then I would be betting on Toronto taking the AL Wild Card for a third straight year.

Chicago. Is it the White Sox year to finally break through? Could be. Youk and Zimmerman manning the corners is pretty nice, then throw in Gordan Beckham and you've got three really nice hitters. They're ssurrounded by some solid talents in Reimold and Alexei Ramirez as well. The pitching is solid albeit not spectacular with Jimenez, Danks, Niemann and Lannan having staked a claim to four rotation spots. The bullpen lacks a true closer which could be the downfall of the White Sox. Still, Chicago has some trade chips and if used wisely, Jim may be able to challenge Pat for the Wild Card.

Texas. Seth's Rangers pulled off one hell of a miracle run to make the playoffs last year, go up 2-0 on the Yankees and then fall to Goliath. It happens, but just getting to the playoffs is something to be proud of. Texas looks like the early favorite again in the AL West. Derrek and Carlos Lee will help anchor the offense while Harden and Zambrano lead the rotation. While the Rangers are anything but spectacular all around, they are likely the most sound team in the AL West which is why they sneak into this second tier- a likely playoff team. A lot will depend on the projections that Wood, Santana, Millwood and Wade receive, but as things stand right now I see the Rangers still the team to beat in the AL West.

Minnesota. The Twins run on division titles ended this past year. A threepeat is nothing to sneeze at with division titles from 06-08, including a trip to the World Series in 2007. This version of the Twins is an interesting one and I'm not quite sure what to make of them yet. As a Cards fan it's tough for me to say something good or bad on Pineiro- I'm not sure sure what he is. Still, he should sim pretty well. Blackburn, Happ and Bumgarner should round out what looks to be a pretty sound rotation. Bell, Wuertz and Betancourt will make a pretty solid bullpen. The offense is anchored by Matt Kemp who is a bad ass. Thome will likely be the DH, and contributions from Gomes and Cuddyer will help the offense. The team isn't bad and it's not great. It's tough to place the Twins anywhere right now, but at the end of the day this looks like a team that will win it's fair share of games and I could see the Twins - who have the ammo in Crosby, Montgomery and Gibson- making a move or two to sneak into the playoff picture once again.

The Dark Horses
Tier Three: Anaheim, Kansas City, Seattle, Oakland, Tampa Bay

Anaheim. The Angels did the wise move and went into the minidraft this past year. Dave has been busy making move after move with his new team. The result so far is a really nice rotation and a really mediocre offense. The Angels have Beckett, Weaver, Kuroda and Wolf - probably one of the better staffs in the entire league. The problem is the offense and defense. Juan Rivera in LF and Pat Burrell in RF with David Murphy in CF is just asking for trouble especially with Posada behind the plate. The BABIP and SB% could be the highest of all time if that is what the starting outfield ends up looking like. Franklin, Capps and Ni are pretty solid in the bullpen. The SP is very, very good, but the problem is that could be negated by the defense and the offense isn't good enough to compensate. With a couple more moves, the Angels could easily steal the AL West from Seth. The pieces are there, but it's just not a finished product yet. Luckily for Dave, he's in the AL West where nothing is impossible (See: '09 Rangers).


Kansas City. Jason took his team and ran from the AL East and into the comfort of the AL Central where there is no JB, but there's still a BP. This team is in no mans land to be blunt. Braun, Jennings and Brett Anderson comprise a nice young base of talent. Bartlett and Loney are pretty good players as well, though I think Loney is overrated. KC also has Chipper Jones and Garrett Anderson on the payroll. Lowrie and Davis are nice young players/ prospects as well. The team has a good offense but the pitching after Anderson falls off considerably. I am not a believer in Joe Saunders as some of you already know. Reckling is a nice prospect but probably not ready for IBC use in 2010. Laffey and Hunter are iffy bets for '10 as well to say the least. Either KC needs to make a move to solidify the pitching or scale back and deal some of the vets and aim for 2011. Still, if KC pushes the right buttons their offense could carry them to Wild Card contention in 2010.


Seattle. The M's are a tough team to figure out. The top half of the offense looks like it will be pretty good with Cabrera, Adam Jones, Zobrist, Ethier and Delgado. After that it's a bit dicey with Freese, Joyce, Ankiel/Thames and Thole. Still, a good offense. The pitching is relying on Ben Sheets which is tough to do. His 2008 is pretty good but how will projection systems look on him after missing a year? Plus, is he healthy? Bergesen, Sanchez, Alderson and Rowland-Smith fill out the rotation and that is just not that scary. Sherrill is the closer with Troncoso and Thatcher setting up. The M's have some pretty good prospects in Sizemore, Lawrie, Scheppers and I still like Walden. As is, I don't see the M's being able to get into the playoffs with the pitching staff as is. Still, as with Seth, Hamlin and Dave, Ropers should be thankful for his division. With a move or two, the M's could easily swipe the division led by the offense. The pitching just leaves too much to be desired as of now to predict a return to October baseball in Seattle for 2010.


Oakland. Just like Andrew and his Twins had their run of postseason glory come to an end, Jake and his A's could not complete the threepeat this past year. Oakland has been in a strange rebuilding mode this past year. Giambi, Mulder and Hall are still employed but the A's have a farm system that has Posey and Inoa as well as Holland and Davis. Jason Bay and JD Drew lead the offense but the pitching is iffy. Meche, Holland, Myers, Gallagher, Badenhop isn't too scary. Still, it's the AL West. With a move or two, the A's can be back in the postseason.


Tampa Bay. Martin left the biggest pitchers park in the league in Petco and has moved into the AL East. Possibly a tragic error, but with Bren moving the AL East isn't quite what it once was. Martin is not likely to contend next year and I doubt that's his goal after dealing Beltran for Turner and Ellsbury. That said, I could easily see this team winning a fair share of games this year with the right moves. Hamels, Zito, Floyd, Daisuke isn't a bad front four in the rotation. Arrendondo already out for the year hurts the pen, but Valverde is a pretty good closer. Kendrick should be able to contribute in some role as well. The offense leaves plenty to be desired. McCann is a bad ass but after that it isn't the prettiest group. Ellsbury is good and Delmon might be coming around. Drew and Hudson comprise the double play duo. The team isn't going to contend seriously unless a few moves are made, but I doubt that's what Martin is focused on doing for 2010.


The Rebuilders:
Tier Four: Boston, Baltimore, Cleveland

Boston. Tullar has done a pretty good job rebuilding but it looks like 2010 will be another year of that. The team is loaded with young talent. Sandoval, Rasmus, Carter, Bell, Alvarez and Ackley with Price, Cahill, Garcia, Miller, Drabek among other arms in the farm. The future is certainly bright for the Red Sox, but it will take patience generally all prospects have their warts they have to battle through. Still, there probably isn't a team with as much young talent in the league than the new Red Sox.

Baltimore. Steven is new to the league and has done a really, really good job so far. Baltimore boasts a stable of young arms including Hughes, Matusz, Zimmerman, Jackson, Gonzalez, Miller, Elbert, Lincoln, Litsch, Duffy and Carrasco. Baltimore doesn't have a ton of offense quite yet. Fowler is a dynamic young CF and Saunders has a pretty good bat. Lars is coming off a down year as is Moustakas, and it's unknown what kind of role Conger will ultimately have. Still, Baltimore will be at an advantage when those arms pan out and should be able to either draft or build his offense with ease.

Cleveland. Looks like another down year in Cleveland. There's not a ton to get excited about and the move to trade for Vlad - giving up Duffy and Lincoln- is a bit confusing. Arencibia is a nice prospect and McGee might turn into something yet. The 09 draft class is pretty good though with Green, Arguelles and Tate leading the way. The Indians really need to bite the bullet and deal off the vets if they want to taste IBC success. Rowand, Padilla, Wells and Vlad aren't going to really help the Indians do too much.


The NL will come either tonight or tomorrow as the first rankings of 2010.