AL Power Rankings, Week 1

It's far too early for the power rankings to mean anything. Nine of the 16 teams in the American League are either 7-4 or 6-5 so far this year and the top 11 teams in the league are separated by three games or less.

This week's rankings are pretty much just based on straight records with ties broken by Pythagorean win percentage.

Bottom line: expect a lot of movement in the week two rankings.

1 Wichita Sizzlers

Record (This week): 9-2 (9-2)
Expected Record: 8-3
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Timothy Garcia has an 0.95 WHIP through his first three starts, but is still looking for his first decision. Second-year SP Mark Cox has been spectacular through two starts with a 1.13 ERA and 0.88 WHIP.

2 Kansas City McCoys

Record (This week): 8-3 (8-3)
Expected Record: 8-3
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Five different guys with more than 35 ABs all have OPS numbers over 1.000. Al Vazquez leads the way with a 1.427 OPS, .436 BA and .529 OBP.

3 Hartford Ascension

Record (This week): 7-4 (7-4)
Expected Record: 7-4
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Matthew Hurst has only a .631 OPS, but has stolen 13 bases in the team's first 11 games. He has 12 hits, five walks... and has scored 17 runs. If he's on, he's in.

4 Las Vegas Gamble

Record (This week): 7-4 (7-4)
Expected Record: 7-4
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Andres Osuna has been pretty much perfect: 3-for-3 in saves, 0.50 WHIP, 0.00 ERA. Del Prieto has been a super-stud in LF with three "plus" plays already this season.

5 Madison Massas

Record (This week): 7-4 (7-4)
Expected Record: 7-4
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Tarrik McGee might just get enough work to be a factor in the Cy Young race if things keep going the way they are. He's got eight appearances in the Massas first 11 games, with an 0.96 WHIP and 0.00 ERA.

6 Washington DC Old School Warriors

Record (This week): 6-5 (6-5)
Expected Record: 7-4
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: I'm a little unclear on why Craig Cooper is platooning. Was he hurt or something? He's getting paid $9.7M and has been a super freak with the bat so far-- a 1.508 OPS and four HR in just 19 AB. He hasn't been on the DL this year, but if he was hurt and missed a few days, please disregard this paragraph.

7 Toledo Holy

Record (This week): 6-5 (6-5)
Expected Record: 6-5
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Ryan World's version of gypsies, the Holy already have six guys on their stat sheet with the dreaded "Pound Sign" next to their names (meaning they're no longer with the team). Pablo Javier has been outstanding through three starts, with an 0.79 WHIP and 1.88 ERA.

8 Oklahoma City Chickens

Record (This week): 6-5 (6-5)
Expected Record: 6-5
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Matt Shave is hitting pretty well with the Chickens, with an .903 OPS... but that's only good for fourth among the Chickens' regulars right now. This team can *MASH*.

9 New York Bombers

Record (This week): 6-5 (6-5)
Expected Record: 6-5
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Team OBP is .400, thanks to a pair of guys who've put up OBP north of .500 (Fernando Aquino and Eric Ford.

10 St. Louis Knights

Record (This week): 6-5 (6-5)
Expected Record: 6-5
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Freddie Reynolds has a 1.236 OPS. No one else on the team is within .300 of that number. The pitching's been pretty decent so far.

11 Charlotte Winstons

Record (This week): 6-5 (6-5)
Expected Record: 5-6
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Tino Chang is going to be a really good one if he can stay healthy. He's got an 0.77 WHIP so far this season.

12 Monterrey Acero

Record (This week): 4-7 (4-7)
Expected Record: 5-6
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Three starting pitchers are off to awesome starts, including Kiki Arroyo (1.23 WHIP, 0.69 ERA), Don Witte (0.79 WHIP, 3.09 ERA) and Rich Lloyd (1.17 WHIP, 3.75 ERA).

13 Boston Badasses

Record (This week): 4-7 (4-7)
Expected Record: 4-7
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Boston's slow start may be chalked up to playing without its owner. Team ERA right now is 9.28. No bueno.

14 Fargo Fevola's

Record (This week): 3-8 (3-8)
Expected Record: 4-7
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Alan Beckwith is on pace for 74 HR this season. His career high is 13.

15 Durham Bulls

Record (This week): 3-8 (3-8)
Expected Record: 3-8
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Four pitchers who have made a combined eight starts all have ERAs over 8.76. That's not... ummm... good.

16 Anaheim Hitch Hikers

Record (This week): 0-11 (0-11)
Expected Record: 1-10
Last Week's Ranking: N/A
Notes: Josias Martin has made three good starts, with a 1.19 WHIP and 1.69 ERA. The other four guys who have made starts this year all have ERAs of 7.88 or worse. That, coupled with a team OPS of .582 goes a long way toward explaining how they're 0-for-Season 10.