Sunday, May 4, 2008

AL Power Rankings, Week 2

The first week's rankings meant virtually nothing, but now we're starting to see some stratification develop. Oklahoma City is clearly the #1 team this week. #2 Madison has a nice, shiny record, but their run differential suggests that they may have a tough time maintaining their current pace.

Spots #7 through #14 are pretty much interchangeable. An extra run or two scored or given up by any of those teams could have shot them up or down a handful of spots. After that, there's a very steep plunge to the bottom.


1 Oklahoma City Chickens


Last Week: #4
Record: 22-6 (16-3 this week)
Expected Win %: .739
Interesting, But Meaningless: On pace for 127 wins. That would, like, be a record or something. Expected win total is a mere 120.
Yikes: Donnie DuBose woke up. In this space last week, he was singled out for hitting .114 with a .527 OPS. Now: .312 average, 11 HR, 1.088 OPS.

2 Madison Massas


Last Week: #5
Record: 20-8 (14-6 this week)
Expected Win %: .566
Interesting, But Meaningless: Want to stay well ahead of your expected win %? Just go 8-1 in one-run games. Here's something that's not meaningless: It helps to have four relievers with ERAs under 3.
Yikes: Ryan World's perpetual bullpen disappointment, Ellis Watson has spent years making owners angry. His ratings say he should be a stud but his career ERA was above 7 entering the year. This season, he's a perfect 10-for-10 in save opportunities and has a sparkling 1.56 ERA despite his 1.50 WHIP.

3 Mexico City Reds


Last Week: #3
Record: 17-11 (11-9 this week)
Expected Win %: .613
Interesting, But Meaningless: Torey Samuel is enjoying a career year in the altitude of Mexico City. He has an ERA of 2.58 despite giving up 6 HRs in 6 outings. As the guy who traded him away, I couldn't be happier for him. (not true)
Yikes: Juan Guerrero is on pace for 92 steals, and only get caught 6 times.

4 New York Bombers


Last Week: #8
Record: 18-11 (14-6 this week)
Expected Win %: .610
Interesting, But Meaningless: Timothy Dye has 21 steals in 21 attempts (on pace to steal 117 without getting caught). The rest of the Bombers have 13 steals, while getting caught 10 times.
Yikes: Speaking of guys who've flourished since I traded them away, Bill Darwin is back in New York and tearing the cover off the ball. He posted a 15-game hitting streak this week.

5 Wichita Sizzlers


Last Week: #9
Record: 16-13 (13-8 this week)
Expected Win %: .593
Interesting, But Meaningless: Second in the majors with 10 triples, including one from Roosevelt Williams who is on a 17-game hitting streak.
Yikes: Combined record of minor league teams: 84-28

6 San Juan Senators


Last Week: #11
Record: 15-13 (12-7 this week)
Expected Win %: .576
Interesting, But Meaningless: Albert Frazier is on pace to hit 101 HRs this season.
Yikes: Total record of minor league teams to date: 20-92. Perhaps logging in more than once every 10 days would help.

7 Iowa City Eyesores


Last Week: #7
Record: 16-12 (11-9 this week)
Expected Win %: .537
Interesting, But Meaningless: Highly-touted Vinny Hernandez is still below the Mendoza Line, hitting .189.
Yikes: Tied for best in the majors with a .993 fielding percentage.

8 Boston Badasses


Last Week: #1
Record: 15-14 (8-12 this week)
Expected Win %: .497
Interesting, But Meaningless: Closer Al Santos is a perfect 7-for-7 on saves, despite a 6.23 ERA.
Yikes: Glenallen Bell has an 11.12 ERA in six starts.

9 Durham Bulls


Last Week: NR
Record: 14-15 (11-9 this week)
Expected Win %: .509
Interesting, But Meaningless: Richie Cormier is still on pace for 109 HR and 245 RBI. I'm sure glad I got rid of him.
Yikes: Mike Daly is 2-2 in six starts, despite a 9.71 ERA.

10 Kansas City McCoys


Last Week: #14
Record: 12-16 (9-10 this week)
Expected Win %: .524
Interesting, But Meaningless: Only six saves so far this season. No one on the team has more than 2.
Yikes: Demoted the man with the most painful name in HBD: Dick Sparks.

11 Chicago Bearcubs

Last Week: #6
Record: 12-16 (8-12 this week)
Expected Win %: .491
Interesting, But Meaningless: Stud Freddie Reynolds still hitting .195.
Yikes: Six pitchers on the roster have an ERA over 6.00.

12 Las Vegas Gamble


Last Week: #13
Record: 13-15 (8-11 this week)
Expected Win %: .458
Interesting, But Meaningless: Eight different pitchers have started a game already this season.
Yikes: Dead last in the majors in fielding percentage (.981)

13 San Jose Snakes


Last Week: #2
Record: 12-16 (6-14 this week)
Expected Win %: .463
Interesting, But Meaningless: An 11-spot drop in one week pretty much has to be a record, doesn't it?
Yikes: Dead last in the majors with just seven quality starts in 28 games.

14 Washington DC Old School Warriors


Last Week: #16
Record: 11-17 (9-11 this week)
Expected Win %: .393
Interesting, But Meaningless: Peter Roberts has a .461 OBP in limited action this season.
Yikes: Chad Goldman has a 10.22 ERA through six starts.

15 St. Louis Stampede


Last Week: #12
Record: 7-21 (4-16 this week)
Expected Win %: .279
Interesting, But Meaningless: One of five teams (all in the AL) that has not used a pinch-hitter this season.
Yikes: Wallace Russell definitely earned his trip to AAA with a 15.75 ERA.

16 Philadelphia Hellraisers


Last Week: #15
Record: 6-22 (4-15 this week)
Expected Win %: .183
Interesting, But Meaningless: Dead last in the AL in runs scored. They make up for it by being dead last in runs allowed as well.
Yikes: As bad as their record is, their expected record is actually one game worse.

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