AL Power Rankings, Week 2

1. Oklahoma City Chickens

Though they've slipped a bit lately, the Chickens have a frightening pitching rotation that features 3 ace-quality starters. That's a strategy that rarely fails, so I wouldn't expect the Chickens' recent cold streak to continue. Star hitter Matt Shave is only hitting .295, so it seems fair to predict an eventual upswing in the Chickens' run production.

2. Wichita Sizzlers

The Sizzlers are locked in a close battle with the McCoys for control of the AL West. Faced with losing their division lead, the Sizzlers have been annihilating opposing pitching staffs, scoring 49 runs in the past 4 games.

3. Kansas City McCoys

Raucous's McCoys have gone 9-1 in their past 10 games, and are just half a game behind Wichita. Their streak features a sweep of Oklahoma City, which is no easy task.

4. New York Bombers

Well off their pace from last season, the Bombers are hanging on to their division lead by their fingernails, which are already bitten to the cuticles and smell distinctly of Jack Daniels. There's never any peace for whichever team leads the AL North.

5. Toledo Holy

Once imaginatively called the "Grover Cleveland of Ryan," factorganize looks like more of an FDR, in the midst of his third consecutive successful season. Toledo has been built into a serious contender to challenge the longstanding rivalry of Madison and New York, which have controlled the AL North since season 1. This team will continue to improve in the future, particularly because Toledo's payroll is only $55 Million, compared to the 83 and 84 of Madison and New York.

6. Madison Massa's

After starting slowly, Madison has caught fire, going on a 12-1 run. btkantz always finds a way. It wouldn't surprise anybody if he took the division once again.

7. Hartford Ascension

Despite a sub-.500 record, Hartford has a solid 4.5-game lead in the AL east. Hartford also sports a shockingly low payroll of only $14.6 Million. Here, milbredhawk destroys pullmeafredo ($25.6) in the "how low can you go" payroll competition. Fredo saves money by running the Burros like Billy Beane's Oakland A's. Milbredhawk 1-ups him, running Hartford like the Cuban National Team. In all sincerity, any owner that stays competitive with such a low payroll deserves credit and is bound to have an enormous surge in a couple of seasons from compiling a surplus of prospects.

8. San Juan Sixburghs

Steelforge put together a really solid team, but unfortunately, his pitching has underperformed. Jimmy Eusebio, Tino Chang, Vladimir Rodriguez and Vin Delgado all have ERA's in the mid 5's, but this does not nearly reflect their ratings.

9. Las Vegas Gamble

Las Vegas is in a difficult position, stuck 10 games behind the fight between Kansas City and Wichita. The future looks bright at 3B, as Everett Rodgers is having a big breakout season.

10. St. Louis Rustlers

St. Louis has the opposite problem of San Juan; the Rustler batting has been far below its potential. Star SS Albert Frazier is hitting only .236, C Dennis Heiserman is hitting only .259, and RF Gerald Monroe below the Mendoza line.

11. Louisville Loud Mouths

Louisville has had a rough season, and most of rdorrian's acquisitions have not worked out. Roosevelt Hanson, Charles Coles and Freddie Reynolds have not hit. SP Roy Robinson has been a disappointment.

12. Fargo Fevola's

Fargo is in a very unfortunate position, stuck behind the Bombers, Holy and Massas. Last year, magicman conned the Bombers out of Wade Hammonds, who has become a very valuable relief pitcher and part of a solid bullpen, the strongpoint of this team.

13. Durham Bulls

Durham's hitting has been fine, and four Bulls have BA's over .315. Unfortunately, their pitching has been terrible. The best ERA in their rotation is 4.80, and their team ERA is a whopping 6.94.

14. Burlington Ice Storm

Burlington has several impressive hitters, such as former Burros Johnny Stroud and Pedro Osuna. Unfortunately, the Ice Storm's pitching isn't nearly as effective. Closer R.A. Bellinger in particular has had a bad year and hurt Burlington.

15. Salem Lites

Anytime a team has a $92 Million payroll and isn't winning, something is amiss. Salem has a team ERA of 5.59 and is near the bottom of the league in runs scored. A firesale is the only solution.

16. Washington D.C. old school warriors

Washington is rebuilding, last in the AL in ERA. Superstar SS Craig Cooper could easily fetch 3 blue-chip prospects at the deadline.

Power rankings WEEK 1

NL RANKINGS Rank	Team	Record	Notes:
1	Cincinnati Bowties	18-4	outscoring opponents by 86 runs after 22 games
2	Santa Fe Blaze	18-4	Leads the league with a team .329 BA, Pitching has been equally as sharp to start the season.
3	New York Burros	14-8	Ryan Perry is obviously pissed that you all didn't vote him for Cy Young in S11 after winning 22; he's 5-0 with a .199 BAA and leads the NL in punch outs.
4	Chicago Ballbusters	16-6	With Yannick Fonville pitching lately fans are now saying Francis Charlton Who?
5	Colorado Springs Organizational Filler	12-10	should get a big boost next week with the return of Santiago Frias who should take over closing duties
6	San Diego Surf	12-10	I think it's safe to assume Roosevelt Murphy has underperformed in San Diego every season.
7	Milwaukee Blue Stockings	12-10	Hideo Tamura is an early front runner for ROY in 5 starts he has a paltry .144 BAA.
8	Richmond Revolution	12-10	What use does an Nl team have with Aaron Stone anyway? (I believe he has a Disney show as well!)
9	Atlanta Braves	11-11	ATL demoted team veteran Carmona as a high they are going younger.
10	Philadelphia Balboas	10-12	Still reeling after the loss of CF Walter Lawrence in the Preseason.
11	San Antonio Alamos	9-13	The Alamos are showing no patience with Struggling Starter John Cho, after 4 starts he will get to work on his mechanics at AAA
12	Cheyenne Marmots	8-14	Chris Durbin is on a pace for 144 stolen bases in s12.
13	Florida Sting Ray	9-13	CF Candy Zoltan is struggling to adjust to BL Pitching.
14	Colorado Mile High Club	7-15	Late inning whoas leave Colorado 2-9 in Save situations
15	Iowa City KAMIKAZES	5-17	Preston Ward is not seeing the ball all that well averaging a Strikeout a game while batting sub-Mendoza
16	Detroit Lucky	3-19	should be no surprise the lucky are the worst hitting(.221) Fielding .956) and pitching (9.14) team in the NL
	AL RANKINGS
1	Oklahoma City Chickens	22-6	Hitting an AL leading .311, OC has negated any thoughts that Wichita's fearsome twosome will dominate them in the post-season. The Chickens are so besting Wichita by .10 in ERA
2	New York Bombers	18-9	AL leading pitching staff has carried an Offense that is not striking on all cylinders just yet. I would expect the hitting to pick up a little more then watch out!
3	Wichita Sizzlers	19-8	The HOF rotation is doing their thing, but the bullpen might be a chink in the armor blowing 6 saves already this season.
4	Toledo Holy	17-10	Surprisingly 2nd in the Al in Strikeouts. With a virtual no name pitching staff, Where's the 10+ M men on this staff?
5	Madison Massa's	16-11	A team that has been in the top 3 in hitting for the past 11 years now resides in the bottom 5, pretty telling that the end of an era is near.
6	Kansas City McCoys	14-13	SP and Ace D'Angelo Guevara is being lit like a cheap cigar. Look for him to settle down and return to form in the coming weeks.
7	Hartford Ascension	16-12	Cristobal Jacquez is averaging close to a homerun every 6.8 ABs
8	San Juan Sixburghs	14-13	San Juan catchers have cut down 50% of the potential base stealers
9	Louisville Loud Mouths	13-14	One good thing about Fausto Guzman going on the DL, at least he won't boot another ball at the corner
10	Fargo Fevola's	12-16	Kevin Hatchers return from the DL this week should give Fargo a lift in a tough division.
11	Durham Bulls	14-13	When a Team's pitchers has an OBA over .300 you don't stay above .500 for long. Durham also has only 1 quality start this season
12	St. Louis Rustlers	11-16	no power and the bottom of the AL in hitting, St Louis has still managed to stay near .500 for the season and with SP Don Witte coming off the DL things should start to look up
13	Las Vegas Gamble	11-16	SP and rule 5 pick Jon Donahue could be on his way out in LV. With an eleven+ era that's probably a good thing.
14	Salem Lites	8-20	RF Johnny McNeil has already tied his career high in Homeruns at 2. Check this guy for HGH.
15	Burlington Ice Storm	7-21	batting a lowly .210 at home, not giving the home crowd much to cheer about
16	Washington D.C. old school warriors	6-21	pitchers are featuring a whopping 7.51 ERA, ouch the ball gets spanked in DC

AL Power Rankings: March Madness Edition

#9 Seed Durham Bulls (64-77) vs. #8 Las Vegas Gamble (65-76)

Richie Cormier (.271, 37, 106) vs. Terrell Welch (.276, 35, 95) promises to be an exciting matchup in the post, but the difference will be 5'11" point guard Del Prieto (18 HR, 78 SB).



#10 Burlington 'Storm (63-78) vs. #7 Louisville 'Mouths (65-76)

Is it fair to call the AL East a mid-major conference? All its teams are now in the lower half of the rankings.



#11 Fargo Fevola's (63-78) vs. #6 Toledo Holy (84-57)

A first round matchup between two teams from the AL North, Ryan's answer to the Big East. Toledo = Syracuse; Fargo = St. John's.



#12 Charlotte Winstons (60-81) vs. #5 Kansas City McCoys (86-55)

Ah, the ever-popular 12 vs. 5 upset looms large. But if Charlotte is going to pull it off, they'll need diaper dandy Johnny Powell to get healthy.



#13 Houston Colt .45s (56-85) vs. #4 Oklahoma City Chickens (86-55)

Houston's Craig Witt is 6'6" and will cause matchup problems for OKC, but like their Oklahoma University brethren, the Chickens are just too good to lose this one.



#14 San Fran HitchHikers (57-84) vs. #3 Wichita Sizzlers (96-45)

The Committee made Wichita a 3 seed because their RPI has taken a beating the past few weeks. The Sizzlers dropped sets to Madison and the Bombers.



#15 Hartford Ascension (50-91) vs. #2 Madison Massa's (98-43)

Madison's Bessire Ballpark is Ryan's Cameron Indoor Stadium: The Massa's are a world-best 52-21 at home.



#16 D.C. Warriors (45-96) vs. #1 New York Bombers (99-42)

Everyone knows the 16 never beats the 1.

AL POWER RANKINGS

16. Washington D.C. Old School Warriors (Last Week: 14)
Record: 37-73 (.336)
Expected Winning %: .321

Update: D.C. posted an AL-worst 5-19 record since the last Rankings, including a series in which they dropped three of four to former bottom-dweller Hartford.

Player Spotlight: The Curious Case of Victor Mondesi: The left fielder seems to be regressing as he enters his prime. As a 24 year-old, he was a .290 hitter with two .800+ OPS seasons under his belt. At 27, he struggles to hit .250.





15. Hartford Ascension (16)
Record: 41-69 (.373)
Expected Winning %: .340

Update: An impressive series against D.C. and a sweep of Burlington propel Hartford's ascent.

Player Spotlight: Matthew Hurst is making a run at the Ryan record books. With 95 SB through 110 team games, he is on pace for 140. That would surpass the previous record of 132, set by Sam Miller in S8.





14. Houston Colt .45s (15)
Record: 41-69 (.373)
Expected Winning %: .393

Update: It's been a while since a Colt .45 pitcher was run out on 0(0) fatigue, so it appears the owner is back behind the wheel.

Player Spotlight: Veteran righty Fred Moehler, acquired for practically nothing last week, is an excellent addition to Houston's staff. He brings five solid pitches and a penchant for getting the groundball out.





13. San Francisco HitchHikers (13)
Record: 46-64 (.418)
Expected Winning %: .399

Update: The HitchHikers were outscored 43-19 on a tough road trip against the McCoys and the Winstons.

Player Spotlight: Todd Clayton is quite possibly the worst starting pitcher in Ryan: an 18-68 career record and 6.30 ERA.





12. Fargo Fevola's (9)
Record: 46-64 (.418)
Expected Winning %: .426

Update: A 1-10 stretch in division play causes this team to tumble three spots.

Player Spotlight: 2B Turk Thornton is a Rule 5 draftee who's hit .283 with 53 homers over the past 2+ seasons.





11. Louisville Loud Mouths (11)
Record: 47-63 (.427)
Expected Winning %: .431

Update: Division rivals Louisville and Charlotte are very even and essentially interchangeable. Recently, the Loud Mouths and Winstons split a 4 game series.

Player Spotlight: Closer Willie Feliz is 4th in the AL with 22 saves, but getting there has been an adventure: 5 blown opportunities, 5.10 ERA, 1.83 WHIP, .306 OAV.





10. Charlotte Winstons (10)
Record: 47-63 (.427)
Expected Winning %: .490
Update: Despite a slightly inferior record, Charlotte maintains its position ahead of Louisville due to a vastly superior Expected Winning Percentage.

Player Spotlight: Is there an unluckier pitcher than Vladimir Rodriguez? His 2-11 record belies his solid performance: 10 Quality Starts, 110/44 SO/BB, .272 OAV.





9. Burlington Ice Storm (8)
Record: 49-61 (.445)
Expected Winning%: .482

Update: After yours truly predicted a second-half surge for this club, the Ice Storm were swept by Hartford and dropped three of four to division rival Durham.
Player Spotlight: 1B Denny Graham's road splits: .280/14/43. In Burlington: .204/5/19.




8. Las Vegas Gamble (12)
Record: 50-60 (.455)
Expected Winning %: .428

Update: The Gamble have taken 2 of the first 3 games of its current series with Burlington, so they leap four spots despite another weak run through their division. They are now a Ryan-worst 3-18 in divisional play.

Player Spotlight: Too bad you can't steal first base. RF Hugh Prokopec has 58 SB despite a .283 OBP.




7. Durham Bulls (7)
Record: 56-54 (.509)
Expected Winning %: .521
Update: Due to the Ice Storm's aforementioned woes, the Bulls strengthen their grip on the seventh spot and in the AL East.
Player Spotlight: Deivi Blanco leads AL second basemen in BA (.349), OBP (.406), and OPS (1.008).
THE CONTENDERS




6. Toledo Holy (6)
Record: 64-46 (.582)
Expected Winning %: .578
Update: Welcome the newest addition to the Contenders list: the Holy are now only six games out of the final wild card spot.
Player Spotlight: After bouncing around with 8 franchises in 9 pro seasons, all-or-nothing slugger William Takada has resurrected his career in Toledo. He's proven capable of more than platoon duties, hammering 63 homers in 1.5 seasons.




5. Oklahoma City Chickens (5)
Record: 66-44 (.600)
Expected Winning %: .605
Update: Since we last checked in, the Chickens have played to a 3-3 draw in six games vs. the McCoys. Two games remain in the current series, and OKC will likely need to win both to move up any further.
Player Spotlight: DH Bill McGowan has lost 11 points from his power rating after suffering a season- ending forearm injury. This probably means he's swung his last bat for the Chickens, since he'll be a free agent and OKC values power.




4. Kansas City McCoys (4)
Record: 70-40 (.636)
Expected Winning %: .610
Update: Their draw with Oklahoma City assured the McCoys of at least this spot, but after being swept by Wichita, they don't deserve to move any higher.
Player Spotlight: The Count of Monte Cristi's quest for Ryan's first Triple Crown since Vic Mullins achieved the feat in S1 is effectively over. A monster week by Albert Frazier and Edgar Tarraga have all but ended Seanez's chance at a home run title. But he can still win the triple crown for handsomeness, 'stache, and adulation.




3. Madison Massa's (2)
Record: 74-36 (.673)
Expected Winning %: .667
Update: The Massa's fall a spot after being dismantled by the Bombers.
Player Spotlight: AL Rookie of the Year candidate Marcus Thompson is hitting .300 with 12 HR, 48 RBI, and 58 SB. He leads all rookies in OPS (.897).




2. New York Bombers (3)
Record: 76-34 (.691)
Expected Winning %: .683
Update: Since last week, the Bombers have taken sets vs. the Massa's and the Sizzlers. The only reason there isn't a new #1 is because this team recently suffered two bad losses to the HitchHikers.
Player Spotlight: Second-year phenom Virgil Diaz is sporting an ERA 0.8 runs higher than it was last season, despite lowering his WHIP, maintaining his OAV, and drastically raising his K/9 rate (from 7.12 to 8.26).





1. Wichita Sizzlers (1)
Record: 79-31 (.718)
Expected Winning %:.727
Update: Their once firm grip on the top spot has weakened with two losses to the Bombers, but the Sizzlers are still the class of the AL.
Player Spotlight: Timothy Garcia recently picked up career win number 200. Ryan may never see this again.

American League Power Rankings

This first entry is a little longer than what you can expect from here on out, since there is a lot to catch up on. To build a little suspense, we'll begin each Ranking with the worst and work our way up to first. Tradition be damned.

16. Hartford Ascension
Record: 29-57 (.337)
Expected Winning %: .320

The Good: The Big League club hasn't given Hartford fans reason to celebrate, but 20 year-old Dominican slugger Cristobal Jacquez continues to terrorize minor league pitching. With 40 HR, 96 RBI, and a robust 1.185 OPS through 73 AAA games, might the S9 International Free Agent earn a second- half cup of coffee? To this point, he's been rushed through the minors, but for good cause- he could be an impact bat in the majors right now. Also, this team sure can hustle. Its ratio of 161 SB to only 21 CS is by far the best in Ryan.

The Bad: Where to begin? The negatives are countless, but these two are most "impressive": 1) The club ranks 2nd-to-last in batting average and home runs, despite playing half its games in a bandbox. 2) A comparison of actual and expected winning percentages reveals that Hartford may actually be slightly lucky to have won 29 games.

The Outlook: Surprisingly, a run at the division title is not completely out of the question. A weak AL East leaves this club only 12 games out with half a season to go and 20 games remaining against division rivals.






15. Houston Colt .45s
Record: 31-55 (.360)
Expected Winning %: .369

The Good: This team can knock the ball around. Led by all-world shortstop Albert Frazier, the Colt .45s are fourth in AL team batting. And like the Ascension, this team flies around the basepaths, having swiped 103 bags in 129 attempts. Is this a trend among last- place teams?

The Bad: Clearly, this team's been left for dead, although its owner occasionally checks in. Pitchers are consistently run out on 0(0) fatigue, and the result is a Ryan-worst 7.04 team ERA. Right- handed setup man Calvin O'Donnell has probably been pitching with detached elbow ligaments, as evidenced by his 16.26 ERA, 3.20 WHIP, and .430 OAV in 64 appearances. Worst of all, he is owed $9 million more through season 14. Yikes.

The Verdict: Replace the owner.






14. Washington D.C. Old School Warriors
Record: 32-54 (.372)
Expected Winning %: .344

The Good: Kudos to Warriors owner mjdolloff for making a difficult call: cutting ties with The Dude. This could not have been easy due to Reed's sex appeal among women 18-34 in the metro- D.C. market and his stature as a Ryan legend. But it says here D.C. made the correct decision in dealing Reed before he substantially declined in ratings. Reed will contribute mightily to the Burros, but the Warriors simply did not have the other pieces to contend during his useful life. His $13.3 million come off the books for seasons 12 and 13, and this franchise can focus on rebuilding.

The Bad: The Warriors' pitching staff sports the worst road ERA, WHIP, and OAV in Ryan. They've also unleashed the most wild pitches in the American League. Particularly putrid is Chad Goldman, the 26-year old lefty whose knuckle-curve doesn't knuckle. In 17 starts, Goldman's struggled to a 4-8 record, 7.00 ERA, 1.96 WHIP, and .317 OAV.

The Ugly: Darrell Williamson. Man that guy's fugly.






13. San Francisco HitchHikers
Record: 36-50 (.419)
Expected Winning %: .402

The Good: In 144 at- bats this season, HitchHikers RF Pedro Rodriguez has finally proven himself to be a passable major league hitter. This must offer some consolation to HitchHikers owmership, who signed Rodriguez to a 5- year, $26 million contract prior to last season, only to watch him struggle to the tune of .195/4 HR/17 RBI in 200 major league at- bats.

The Bad: Location, location, location. HitchHikers pitchers have walked a Ryan- worst 411 batters this season. Rule 5 draftee Orber Park is the most egregious offender, having issued 61 free passes in 69+ innings. There is also a severe power outage in San Fran. The HitchHikers' 83 HR is by far the lowest total in the AL.

The Lesson: It's obvious HitchHikers owner rydart25 is learning patience and how to evaluate HBD talent. After pulling the trigger on 20 trades last season (his first), he has participated in just two S11 trades.






12. Las Vegas Gamble
Record: 39-47 (.453)
Expected Winning %: .424

The Good: Vegas is home to two of the AL's most proficient base stealers in Hugh Prokopec (50 SBs) and Del Prieto (44).

The Bad: That extra base means nothing if there's no one to drive 'em home. The Gamble are hitting an AL-worst .255.

The Payroll: No surprise here that a team from Vegas loves to spend- management earmarked $94 million for player payroll, and have already committed $67 million in S12 salaries. In the land of $3 buffets, the fans will surely demand more bang for their buck.







11. Louisville Loud Mouths
Record: 37-49 (.430)
Expected Winning %: .438

The Good: Freddie Reynolds is on his way to an astounding eighth consecutive season of 50+ home runs, averaging one every 10.11 ABs for his career. Not only is he Ryan's all- time Home Run King at 582, but this 29 year- old with a with a 99 makeup rating could conceivably crack 1,000. A quick search of the forums didn't turn up anything on all-time interworld leaders, but one would think Reynolds could end up near the top of that list.

The Bad: 37 year- old pitcher Mark Swift, Lousville's prize free- agent acquisition, hasn't exactly set the world on fire: 3-9/6.29 ERA/1.61 WHIP in 17 starts. The $6 million lefty has shed 4 ratings points off his bread-and-butter forkball since S10 spring training, but he remains under contract through next season. A move to the bullpen might be imminent, or things could get ugly.

The Record: Although the Loud Mouths' record is slightly worse than Vegas', this team deserves a higher ranking due to its higher expected winning percentage and a 5-2 head-to-head advantage vs. the Gamble. Also, no team ever enjoys playing against a lineup that features an impact hitter like Reynolds.






10. Charlotte Winstons
Record: 37-49 (.430)
Expected Winning %: .506

The Good: A significant disparity between its actual and expected winning percentages probably means the Winstons are due for a positive correction in the second half. This team is loaded with hitters than can hit the long ball- nine guys have 10 or more homers.

The Bad: These hitters aren't a versatile bunch. The Winstons' m.o. is play for the 3-run homer. They rank near the bottom of the AL in team batting and OBP, and lead the league in whiffs. This is not a exactly a winning approach, as playoff contenders generally have the arms to combat the long ball. If Charlotte is serious about contending in future seasons, they should get some players who can manufacture.

The Injury: Losing star Closer Paul Bell to season- ending Tommy John surgery may have sealed this club's fate early on, but now the primary concern should be getting him back to full health. The injury cost Bell 2 ratings points in stamina, 6 in control, 6 vL/5 vR, 11 in velocity, 6 in his fastball and 7 in his curve. Time to jack up the training and injury budgets.






9. Fargo Fevola's
Record: 38-48 (.442)
Expected Winning %: .443

The Good: In only his second HBD season, Fargo owner themagicman1 has made a respectable showing in arguably Ryan's toughest division. 25 year- old flamethrower Wade Hammonds has been a revelation since his acquisition from division rival New York, saving four games while sporting a 2.15 ERA/1.05 WHIP/.207 OAV.

The Bad: Fargo probably overestimated DH Max Ibarra's value in free-agency, when it signed the part- time slugger to a 3- year, $6.3 million contract this offseason. At this point in his career, a 51 DUR rating ensures Ibarra is nothing more than a glorified pinch hitter, despite his impressive eye and splits.

The Future: Questionable first round pick SP Felipe Melendez has struggled early in his pro career. It looks like control might always be a problem for this young righty.






8. Burlington Ice Storm
Record: 40-46 (.465)
Expected Winning %: .503

The Good: Despite a sub-.500 record, Burlington sits only two games back of AL East leader Durham. And things are looking up: the Ice Storm's expected winning percentage indicates this team is due for a second- half surge. After a recovery from shoulder tendinitis and a move to an extreme pitcher's park, 33 year- old Ace Lucas Neagle is enjoying a career year.

The Bad: Q: What's the easiest way to score runs in the cavernous Mustain Stadium? A: Hit a weak ground ball to the left side of the infield. The Ice Storm have committed a Ryan- worst 82 errors this season; SS Steven Jenner and 3B Rolando Johnson have combined for 48 miscues. Jenner's limited range probably makes him better suited for the hot corner, while Johnson should probably move out to right. In Burlington, runs are at a premium, so defense should be a top priority.

The Need for Speed: Burlington's early season goal of acquiring a speedster has gone unfulfilled, and the team has resigned itself to playing station-to-station baseball. Its 14 stolen bases are by far the lowest total in Ryan.






7. Durham Bulls
Record: 42-44 (.488)
Expected Winning %: .498

The Good: The Bulls are the antithesis of division rival Burlington. In an extreme hitters' park, Durham is built for the long ball. Burlington can keep their sloppy fielders; Durham leads the AL in fielding and double plays. Rose to Blanco to Hume: the New Tinker to Evers to Chance?

The Bad: The reason Durham has turned so many double plays is because there's an endless slew of baserunners. Bulls pitchers have issued 366 free passes, more than any other first- place team in Ryan.

The Legacy: Crash Davis and the gang would be proud of this bunch- a collection of gritty vets who may punch a ticket to the playoffs despite a losing record. It ain't pretty, but it's Hollywood.






6. Toledo Holy
Record: 49-37 (.570)
Expected Winning %: .586

The Good: This team has taken a giant step forward since last season, when it finished 69-93 and 43 games out of first. Still, Holy management appears to have conceded it's still a few years away from truly competing with division rivals Madison and New York. Why else would the roster be in a perpetual state of flux? Toledo is constantly searching for young, almost-ready talent, and though its approach has cost them a few W's, it bodes well for the future- they currently boast one of the most stacked farm systems in Ryan.

The Bad: Toledo's young hitters can afford to be a little more patient at the dish: the team is currently last in the AL in Walks and Pitches Per Plate Appearance.

The Genesis: It's a little known fact this team was given its name by a dyslexic sportswriter for the Cleveland Plain- Dealer newspaper.

THE CONTENDERS

5. Oklahoma City Chickens
Record: 51-35 (.593)
Expected Winning %: .602

The Good: The Chickens are one of the hottest teams in Ryan right now. After a 23-22 start, the Defending Champs have managed a 28-13 rally, including 13 wins in its last 16 games. This team once again leads the league in bombs by a comfortable margin.

The Bad: This isn't a well- rounded offensive team. They can slug, but their .272 BA/.339 OBP are actually below the league average. Compare this to last season's championship squad, which hit .295/.368, and it's apparent Oklahoma City misses Don Perry and Dennis Gilbert more than anticipated. Most of the team's recent success is attributable to its soft schedule: the past 16 games have included series against Hartford, Vegas, Fargo, and Durham.

The Burning Question: Can OKC repeat? To do so, they'll need to win more consistently against the AL's elite. They are a combined 9-10 vs. teams that occupy the next four spots. An upcoming tilt with Gilbert and the McCoys will go a long way toward determining how much this team has lost from last season.






4. Kansas City McCoys
Record: 57-29 (.663)
Expected Winning %: .623

The Good: The real McCoys come to play in the clutch. Kansas City is 10-6 in one-run games, and 4-1 in extra innings. Early this season in hostile territory, KC took two of three from Wichita. Kansas City is also home to two of the league's top three leaders in batting average: David Seanez and Eric Ford. George Harding (.372) would lead the league if he qualified.

The Bad: The McCoys' expected winning percentage indicates that they might be playing a little over their heads right now, but the good news is there's no legitimate threat for that final wildcard spot. LF Al Astacio has inexplicably mediocre numbers this season, despite a solid career and outstanding ratings. He'd better pick it up soon, or else he and his reasonable contract might become bait for pitching help at the deadline.

The 'Stache: The Count of Monte Cristi is chasing a historical triple crown, and it's too bad he doesn't have a more appreciative owner. You never hear about the guy. He currently leads the league in HR and RBI, and stands .015 points behind AVG leader Dennis Heiserman, who barely meets the minimum AB requirement. If Heiserman fails to qualify, would raucous consider purposefully depressing Ford's average so that Seanez could take the crown? Stay tuned.






3. New York Bombers
Record: 58-28 (.674)
Expected Winning %: .671

The Good: This is a very balanced club that can do a number of things well. Versatility is paramount in the playoffs, and New York has it in spades. With the addition of Carlos Feliz, the Bombers can now slug it out in smaller parks, if need be. But that doesn't mean they've abandoned their tried-and-true pitching, defense, and moneyball approach. This team is 2nd in the league in pitching and defense, and it still gets to first base more often than a high school quarterback.

The Bad: It's unclear whether the Bombers can beat Madison. The division rivals met early this season, and Madison summarily swept the boys from the Bronx. This may have precipitated the Feliz trade, but since they haven't met since, it's unclear what impact the acquisition will have. The two teams will meet again in a four- game home and home after the All Star break.

The Hall of Famers: 36 year-old SP Philip Baxter moved across town after an injury-riddled S10 to dispel notions that he's washed up: 10-2/2.49/1.13. 35 year-old 1B/OF Trenidad Beltran can still hit (.306/.406/.438), but is merely a shell of his old self.






2. Madison Massa's
Record: 59-27 (.686)
Expected Winning %: .662

The Good: The Massa's are an offensive dynamo. They are the AL leaders in Runs, Average, OBP, and SLG. They are top- three in HR and Walks. And for good measure, they've swiped 98 bags and only been caught 15 times. They may have the best bullpen in the AL- only 19 of 66 inherited runners have scored (28.8%) and they have converted 30 of 36 save opportunities (83.3%). And this is after they traded Stan Mason.

The Bad: On paper, this team is virtually flawless. But just as Madison owns New York this season, Wichita owns Madison. The two teams met for a three- game series, and Wichita swept away the Massa's.

The 40-40 Threat: For 10 seasons, Madison fans have patiently waited for RF Casey Kaline to break the 40/40 barrier. He's made a legitimate run every season, including a 39 HR/47 SB campaign in S7. This season looks like his best (and maybe last) shot, as he currently stands at 20 HR and 22 SB with half a season to go.






1. Wichita Sizzlers
Record: 62-24 (.721)
Expected Winning %: .731

The Good: Timothy Garcia, Timothy Garcia, Timothy Garcia.

The Bad: Not a whole lot.

The Man: Timothy Garcia.

Power Rankings AL

1. Oklahoma City Chickens they have depth w/ their pitching. They don't hit too bad either.



2. Kansas City McCoys Solid starters, The lineup is star laden and will produce. Organizational depth is one of the best.
   


3. Madison Massa's Injury concerns might keep the Massa's from going far in the playoffs



4. Boston Badasses Very solid nucleus to rotation and bullpen. Lineup has a few weak spots, but overall very tough.



5. Wichita Sizzlers-Lots of talent in their lineup, pretty good rotation and a great back end of bullpen.



6. Tacoma Tom Toms-Can compete this year if things fall into place for them, but their time seems to be passing.



7. Nashville Stars-Rotation seems to stand in the way of this teams sucess.



8. New York Bombers-totally different team then last year at this point. team is young and but probably not competative this season.



9. Washington D.C. old school warriors-They have some pieces, but the division will probably be too tough for them this year. Need to trade for a top line starter



10. Chicago Bear Cubs-Home games have been tough, they are better than their ranking implies



11. New Orleans Cajuns-They still have decent starting pitching and an improved lineup and defense team is starting to gel



12. Las Vegas Gamble-They finally have a couple starters, but bullpen is questionable.
    



13. Augusta MOOSE- if Roosevelt Hansen could pitch, they still would not compete
    



14. Durham Bulls- trades make team more competative, but the bulls have many holes.



15. Burlington Green Sox- rebuilding project team is batting .244



16. St. Louis Stampede- youth movement in full swing ERA still just under 7