Monday, May 19, 2008

AL Power Rankings, Week 4

1 Oklahoma City Chickens


Last Week: #1
Record: 47-22 (13-6 this week)
Expected Win %: .691
Interesting, But Meaningless: Have only been swept twice this season, once by Mexico City and once by Boston.
Yikes: First in the AL in most runs scored, first in the AL in least runs allowed.

2 Madison Massas


Last Week: #2
Record: 46-23 (11-8 this week)
Expected Win %: .558
Interesting, But Meaningless: Steve Smart leads all ML shortstops in range factor. His 92 range rating probably helps.
Yikes: Swept by Las Vegas this week.

3 New York Bombers


Last Week: #3
Record: 42-27 (12-7 this week)
Expected Win %: .582
Interesting, But Meaningless: Ismael Lopez has allowed 8 of 14 inherited runners to score this year, but has posted a sparkling 1.52 ERA on his own.
Yikes: Howie Oliver has seen his ERA balloon from 2.75 last year to 6.05 this season.

4 Mexico City Reds


Last Week: #5
Record: 42-27 (13-6 this week)
Expected Win %: .555
Interesting, But Meaningless: Stubby Cyr leads the majors with 7 "plus" plays.
Yikes: Leads the majors in road ERA at 3.58.

5 Iowa City Eyesores


Last Week: #3
Record: 38-31 (6-13 this week)
Expected Win %: .506
Interesting, But Meaningless: A 10-game losing streak failed to knock them out of first in their division.
Yikes: Randall Little has allowed 16 of 22 inherited runners to score. That's the worst in the AL.

6 San Juan Senators


Last Week: #9
Record: 37-32 (11-7 this week)
Expected Win %: .522
Interesting, But Meaningless: Slugger Albert Frazier is being shown a decent amount of respect. He leads the AL with 9 intentional walks.
Yikes: Don Witte has induced a major league-best 18 double plays. He's also tied for the AL lead with 7 hit batters.

7 Kansas City McCoys



Last Week: #6
Record: 35-34 (9-10 this week)
Expected Win %: .560
Interesting, But Meaningless: One of four teams in the majors that has yet to issue an intentional walk. Florida has issued 31.
Yikes: D'Angelo Guevara is just 7-5 this season despite ranking second in the AL with a .217 opponent batting average.

8 Boston Badasses


Last Week: #7
Record: 34-35 (7-12 this week)
Expected Win %: .509
Interesting, But Meaningless: 3-0 vs. NY Burros last week, 4-12 vs. everyone else. They have now swept the #1 teams in both the AL and NL power poll, but still have a losing record.
Yikes: $4.8M is a lot to fork out for a setup guy, but Alan Stynes has been earning his cash this year with a 2.31 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.

9 Chicago Bearcubs


Last Week: #11
Record: 34-35 (11-8 this week)
Expected Win %: .523
Interesting, But Meaningless: The only AL team that has not committed a balk this season.
Yikes: So-so season certainly can't be laid at the feet of Matt Shave. He leads the majors in runs created per 27 outs at 14.370. Teammate Jamey Jacquez is 21st at 8.724.

10 Las Vegas Gamble


Last Week: #12
Record: 34-35 (13-6 this week)
Expected Win %: .501
Interesting, But Meaningless: Last in the majors with a .980 fielding percentage.
Yikes: 15 "minus" plays this year, 2nd-worst in the majors.

11 Wichita Sizzlers


Last Week: #8
Record: 32-37 (7-12 this week)
Expected Win %: .538
Interesting, But Meaningless: Roosevelt Williams leads the AL with 3.45 groundballs hit for every fly ball. That ratio can actually work when you've got 88 speed.
Yikes: Only throwing out 17.5% of base-stealers, 3rd-worst in the majors.

12 San Jose Snakes


Last Week: #13
Record: 31-38 (10-11 this week)
Expected Win %: .489
Interesting, But Meaningless: Leads the AL with 11 wild pitches. They also have a major league-worst 13 passed balls.
Yikes: 6.72 road ERA puts them dead last in the majors, more than half a run worse than any other team.

13 Durham Bulls


Last Week: #12
Record: 28-41 (7-11 this week)
Expected Win %: .439
Interesting, But Meaningless: Roy Park leads the majors, throwing out 45% of opposing base-stealers. Hopefully while he's on the DL, he can do something about that .444 OPS.
Yikes: Diego Mieses leads the majors with 24 HR allowed.

14 Philadelphia Hellraisers


Last Week: #15
Record: 26-43 (8-11 this week)
Expected Win %: .381
Interesting, But Meaningless: Jed Simon hits more flyballs than groundballs, and is still tied for the major league lead by grounding into 16 double plays.
Yikes: They don't hit or pitch much, but they can catch it. 14 "plus" plays (4th in the majors) to only 6 "minus" plays this season.

15 Washington DC Old School Warriors


Last Week: #14
Record: 26-43 (7-13 this week)
Expected Win %: .381
Interesting, But Meaningless: Ray Turner leads all qualified AL pitchers with just 1.65 walks per 9 innings. Not surprisingly, he also leads the AL in K/BB ratio at 3.80.
Yikes: Chad Goldman leads the AL with 4 wild pitches.

16 St. Louis Stampede


Last Week: #16
Record: 21-48 (8-11 this week)
Expected Win %: .341
Interesting, But Meaningless: Pitching staff walks 3.90 batters per 9 innings, worst in the AL.
Yikes: What happens when you play a 1B at SS? Luis Aguilera has 10 "minus" plays and 14 errors in just over 30 games so far this season.

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