TOP FA for S12

CATCHER

1	Brent Sheets (R)	CIN	C	29	at 29 he enters his prime as the elite C in the NL. He should command a pretty penny for a guy who has brought 100+ RBI for 6 straight seasons and is capable of putting up 40+ HR	50 Million 10-12M a season for 4-5 years
12	Shawn Kennedy (R)	BUR	C	31	Doesn't have the power stroke most look for in a starting catcher, but he can give you 10+ Hrs and solid RBIs , Shawn is an above average defensive catcher who calls a solid game	16 Million Should fall in the 4-6M range a year will probably look for a 3 year deal.
	Bill Hayes (R)	CIN	C	35	Best years are behind him, but he can offer a team a part-time bat and will still hit homeruns in clutch situations.	1M-1.5M 1 Year Deal
	Phillip Harper (R)	SF	C	31	Spent S11 in the minors, but would be a solid Defensive backup catcher. His bat has pop but he misses a lot of balls	800K-1.5M 1 year deal should land him
	Rudy Shouse (R)	WIC	C	30	Spent many years as a backup before getting a fulltime gig last season. Defensive minded with a decent bat.	1.2-1.8M 1 or 2 year deal
	Norm Knight (R)	SEA	C	33	Solid platooning bat and above average game caller. His arm is a bit worn	1.5 -2M 1 year deal
	Sammy Kerr (R)	TOL	C	35	Spent a Bull Durham like season in Low A, but could be a solid backup and menor for a young staff	425K-900k 1 Year Deal
	Neil Fletcher (L)	ROC	C	38	Should probably just retire. His HOF'er has had the trends worn off for awhile. If he gets an offer its from a sentimental owner	Minimum

First Base

3	Roosevelt Hanson (L)	MAD	1B	31	Still swinging at an elite level. Hanson is coming off a down year, but put him in a small park and he will mash, could be the center piece to a lineup	28M-33M 3-4 year deal
10	Trenidad Beltran (S)	NY1	1B	35	Age as caught up to Beltran, but he still can take good swings at pitches. He deserves at least one more season to pad his stats	3.5-6M 1-2 year deal
	Bill Darwin (S)	NY1	1B	35	Best suited as a platooning player at his age. Darwin would be a platoon that could get you 20 Home runs and 60 RBI. His defense has deteriated to a point that the AL is his best option.	2.0-4.5M 1-2 year
	Jumbo Tavarez (L)	ROC	1B	27	Cheap option for the heart of a weak batting order. He is not going to hit a ton of homers but he will give you RBIs. He is also in his prime.	12.5-20M 3-4 year
	Justin Smith (R)	PHI	1B	33	Similar to Beltran his best days at the plate are behind him, but he is a better field and can be flexible in the field. Should be good enough for a 2 year deal.	3.8-6.5M 1-2 years
	Alvin Embree	FA	1B	29	Still has a decent bat and could be had cheap to fill a hole in a lineup. Defensively he's nothing special he's just a decent bat	2M-3M 1 year

Second Base

8	Tyler Sele (R)	SA	2B	28	Best 2B available should be able to cash in a on a weak 2B market. Sele brings 25HR power with above average speed and solid glove.	30M-45M 4-5 year
	Jung Miyakazi (R)	CH1	2B	28	In his prime the best defensive 2B available. He can swing to the tune of .300 with 20+ dingers.	28M-35M 4-5 year
	Harry Chavez	FA	2B	35	Best of the 2nd Tier guys. He is no longer capable of playing 162 games, expect closer to 100 with average power and fielding	1.8-2.5M 1 year
	Glenn Osik (R)	BUR	2B	31	Mostly just a Masher type hitter, he has not batted over .250 since season 9, but he is a steady glove and would be a decent bargain	6M-9M 2-3 Year
	Juan Guerrero (R)	CHA	2B	29	No longer suited to play at 2B and a weaker bat limited him to someone needing to fill a hole in the lineup.	6.5-12M 2-3 year
	Luis Amaral (R)	WIC	2B	35	No longer dominant in speed, but still will steal on a lazy team, Amaral's value should take a big hit. He does have a good record and a strong name for those with sentiments and he still have decent value has a 1 year fill in.	3.5-4M 1 year
	Mike Hodges (R)	CH1	2B	31	Established 2B with a good bat and glove he has decent speed and should give good value for a few seasons	6.5-9M 2-3 Year
	Roosevelt Williams (R)	TOL	2B	31	3001 AB no home run looks to continue his streak with a new team. If you need cheap wheels Williams is your guy.	500K-1M 1 Year

Third Base

21	Bud Spence (S)	SD	3B	33	Solid fielding with no pop in his bat. A switch hitter has decent value though for a team in need	2-3M 1 Year
13	Kennie Punto (R)	SF	3B	30	Solid power hitter coming off a career year. Punto should draw some interest as a 5 or 6 hole bat in someone's lineup	11.5-15M 2-3 Years
	Phil Baek (R)	CIN	3B	31	Solid 2nd tier 3B. He can no longer give you more than 100 games a season but should bring a decent glove and an average bat for the price	800k-2M 1 Year
	Tito Owens (R)	MIL	3B	34	My favorite power hitter hold on. He gave team's huge swings in his day. That day has past but he still swings for the fences	1 year Minimum

Shortstops

7	Vinny Hernandez (R)	MAD	SS	30	Mr. Glass. Best hitting SS on the market, but he comes with a huge injury risk. Someone will not be able to resist his skills though, heck Eric Davis made a good career during my youth.	25-37M 3-4 years
	Andre Kolb (R)	COL	SS	31	Solid above average defender with good wheels but no power. He is your basic defensive stopper who should land somewhere	5M-8M 2 year
14	D.T. Hutch (R)	SA	SS	28	At 28 he will give you a solid hitter and fielder, but he is not a dominant force in anyway. His abilities at SS will extend his value at any other position he loses out.	19-31M 3-4 years
	Preston Ward (R)	MAD	SS	29	Below average fielder at SS but a solid hitter and runner. He should be a mid tier player, but basically would serve best as a utility role	4-9M 2 years
	Hades Sedlacek (R)	CIN	SS	30	Defensive wizard, offensive liability. Great late inning defensive replacement or everyday defender	3-12M 1-2 year deal

Left Fielder

4	Lee Adkins (L)	WIC	LF	29	Offensively he is quite a catch but he might serve a team better at 1B Adkins is in his prime and should fetch a lot of interest from quality teams	28-52M 4-5 Years
	Morgan Lambert	FA	LF	31	Sat out season 11 waiting by the phone for a call that never came. A team might give him a look this season. He has slightly above average power and speed	1.5 - 3M 1 year deal
	Damian Lemon (L)	TEX	LF	35	As his career winds down so do his options, he is not a bad filler for someone who needs a bridge to a young prospect. He has a decent bat and is a great LF defensively. Lemon might not win games for teams all by himself, but he won't hurt you either	800-1.2M 1 year
15	Erubiel Lecuona (L)	TEX	LF	29	Solid hitter and fielder for a team in need. He is not a top level hitter, but has a slightly above average bat and good speed and smarts on the bases	17.5-24M 2-3 year
	Rafael James (R)	BUR	LF	35	All or nothing hitter, James is capable of 40+ HRs a season if you can deal with a .220 batting average. He is no longer able to hold up for an entire season. Expect closer to 15hr and 200 AB	1 year minimum

Center Fielders

6	Jim Walker (L)	SF	CF	28	Speedy young CF who has lit up the base paths in his career, he does strikeout a lot but also has a career .281 BA. He is coming off a down year in San Fran	18-40M 3-5 year
9	Jumbo Guerrero (R)	FLA	CF	32	Defensively a liability at CF. Guerrero still has plenty of bat to offer. He also can still run at his age	16-24M 2-3 year
17	Paulie Duran (L)	PHI	CF	30	Starting to slip in CF, but still capable. He harbors a good bat and decent speed	12-19M 2-3 year
	Theo Smyth (R)	CHA	CF	34	His range is no longer where it needs to be to cover CF, but he still has great speed and a decent bat. He should be able to get a raise on his 520K salary last season	800k-2.5M 1 year
	Walter O'Brien (R)	SEA	CF	32	Solid hitting and decent speed match with a average fielder in Center. He could make more of an impact in the corner outfield with his bat.	7-12M 2 year
	Andre Thornton (S)	MAD	CF	34	Defensively he can still play a number of positions including CF. He does have good speed and an average bat, but should not get the 400+ abs he has been posting in Madison, but a key reserve	800k-1.5M 1 year

Right Fielder

	David Liang (R)	NY1	RF	31	Sat out the season but still a capable fielder and hitter. Liang is not a featured player but a grinder who will give a team effort and some pop in a lineup.	2.5-4M 1-2 year
	Achilles Hayes (L)	SF	RF	35	Still has the speed to make you watch him play, but his hitting as dipped to an average level. He is a useful bottom of the lineup guy on a team that needs speed. Or a key reserve	2-3M 1 Year
	Hack Baxter	NY2	RF	26	Career minor leaguer who can offer a team a steady bat as a filler until their top prospect arrives. He is not a star in anyway but a plugger for a lineup	1.5-9M 2-4 Years

Designated Hitters

18	Tony Kelly (R)	FAR	DH	34	Defensively weak at 1B, but could play their everyday if you needed it. Kelly is a great hitter whose power has dipped as he has aged. He is still an elite hitter for the price	8M-14M 2 years
21	Terrell Welch (R)	LV	DH	31	Awesome hitter who can spell a player at 1st but lets be honest you want him for his bat. 6 years of 30+ homers	7-15M 2-3 years
	Harry Hayes (R)	ROC	C	30	Solid DH who will give a team 20 homeruns and solid RBI contributions with 450+ ab. He is limited to the AL with his defense.	8-19M 2-4 years
	Bill McGowan (R)	OK	C	30	Forearm issues limited him last season and will hamper him through spring training. Teams should take a flyer on his bat as a part timer for 4 seasons he has averaged 13 Hrs in 200 AB	9M-20M 3-4 year
	Luis Belliard (L)	LV	DH	38	Part-timer what can also play catcher in a pinch, decent hitter poor runner.	500k-900k 1 year
	Cesar Batista (R)	WAS	DH	35	How Cesar has played until 35 is beyond me, but he is has an average bat and no speed, good batting awareness puts balls in play.	500k-900k 1 year

Starting Pitching

2	Alex Wang (R)	CIN	P	31	Could be the premier pitcher in FA and will be paid accordingly	33-75M 3-5Year
14	Francis Charlton (R)	CH1	P	29	Younger than Wang and a step below, but still a top level starter any team would welcome	36-70m 4-5 year
5	Roy Robinson (R)	WAS	P	29	At 29 he is in his prime he can pitch and will be someone's #1 or 2 guy	32M-60M 4-5 years
16	Doug Perry (R)	MIL	P	39	At 39 his best days are behind him he can offer 5 inning of work and put a team in good position, but he's no longer the ace of the staff	2.5-8M 1-2 year
19	Ralph Ainsworth (R)	CIN	P	30	Soft tosser who has had good success, he is a great middle of the rotation pitcher or could be a upper tier guy on a weak staff	19.5-36M 3-4 years
15	Greg Arnold (L)	OK	P	34	He has lost a little something off his game, but he can still get the job done. He fits well in a large park with his tendency for the long ball	9-21M 2-3 years
20	Graham Green (R)	SA	P	34	Green has made a career out of quality pitching and he will bring it at a fair price. Not a strikeout guy but a guy who will give you innings. Lots of good innings.	13-24M 2-3 years
	Rich Lloyd (R)	HOU	P	34	Top of the 2nd tier guys. He struggle some against left handers but overall he will give you quality innings everytime	11-21M 2-3 years
	Alfredo Padilla (R)	HAR	P	33	Took a low ball contract in S11 and looks to cash in this year. He did not hurt his stock any with his performance should get another 1 year to play on	1.5- 3M 1 year
	Matthew Pride (R)	CIN	P	41	Pride is old like the hills but thrived in Cinci's tandem rotation. He can still get the tough outs just not for more than 4 innings.	1.5-3M 1 year
	Garrett Ferguson (R)	MIL	P	39	Retirement should be beckoning	Minimum
	Willie Hamill (R)	COL	P	31	2 solid pitches matched with plus control and stamina will get him a contract in season 12	10M-22M 2-3 year
	Brutus Rowan (R)	MEM	P	33	Middle of the road guy who can eat innings from long relieve or as a starter. He is not going to win to many games without help.	500k-3M 1-2 year
	Pablo Espinosa (R)	FAR	P	33	Long reliever but could be useful as a 5th starter or spot starter. He has 1 plus pitch and a lot of garbage to throw	8M-14M 2-3 years
	Junior Dali (R)	COL	P	34	Lacks the control to be a dependable go to starter, but he has the pitches and skill to compete for a team willing to risk some cash	2.5-8M 1-2 year
	Fred Moehler (R)	HOU	P	36	Pitches have left him, but he still uses what he has left in the tank pretty well. One more year could offer someone something for cheap	800-1.2M 1 year
	Torey Samuel (L)	SF	P	34	Could be someone's cheap option to eat ML innings. He is not overly great, but he's also not that bad. If you have innings to pitch and want to stay in a game he could be your man	750-2M 1 year
	Jesus Uribe (R)	FLA	P	30	He has all the skills to be successful still except a few dominant pitches. A solid catcher would be required if you had Uribe	9M-18M 2-3 year
	Derrick Fisher (R)	ROC	P	32	Long reliever who could spot start or pitch for a weak team. Fisher has only 2 solid pitches and struggles against left handers, but should still get a minimum offer	800k-2M 1 year
	Michael Owen (L)	WIC	P	35	At 35 his age is a risk but he is also a solid middle rotation guy with 2 plus pitches. Solid year in relief should get him some looks in S12	3.5-8M 1-2 year
	Sid Stone (R)	NY2	P	32	Above average pitcher with some solid pitches. Stone is not a clubhouse leader in anything but a solid bottom of the rotation guy	1.5-6M 1-2 year deal
	Louis Medina (R)	MEM	P	38	Struggled last year on a poor team, but age is also a factor. He still can pitch but will have to settle on a 1 year deal at his risk.	4.2-7M 1-2 year

Relief Pitchers

22	Enrique Martin (R)	SD	P	35	Reigning AL fireman of the year. Martin has the skills to close for anyone. Struggles at times versus lefties, but still have the skills that put him on top.	12-15M 2-3 years
	Raul Morales (R)	MIL	P	32	Has the skills to be a good reliever but his poor durability will limit him and any contract he gets.	1.3-2.5M 1 year
23	Gerald Ma (R)	WIC	P	30	Premier setup guy who could close for someone. Ma has never cashed in in FA, but this could be his year even with the competition.	12-20M 3-4 years
18	Albert Rincon (L)	PHI	P	28	Makes the all-star year and has a great year as a closer. Rincon showed flashes of what makes him a top level reliever and should be sought after even with his weaker right handed split	21-55M 3-5 Years
	Ariel Estrada (R)	KC	P	37	Durability is low for a reliever with his stamina. He might get a nod for a late year replacement, but probably just a roster filler at this point	Minimum
24	Paul Bell (L)	CHA	P	31	Injury shorted his S11 season, but bell still has 2 awesome pitches and good control. He should get interest in a team looking for an established closer	8M-15M 2-3 Years
	Vic Toca (L)	CHA	P	35	Former star who still wantss another go	Minimum
	Tito Green (R)	CSP	P	37	See above	minimum

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.

NL POWER RANKING Week 5

1. Colorado Springs Organizational Filler-
Last Ranking: 1
Record: 88-41 (22-9)
Expected Win %: .709
The Skinny: Aubrey Kell is looking to blast career home run number 200 this week. CSP should be able to lock up there playoff spot this week. Their bigger goal will be holding off a surging New York team to have home field throughout the playoffs. It should also be noted that they have 3 of the currently names ROY candidates Eduardo Campos, Pokey West and Glenn Gibson. Smells like a Dynasty.

MAGIC NUMBER: 16

2. New York Burros
Last Ranking: 2
Record: 86-43 (23-8)
Expected Win %: .663
Skinny: extended their division lead and all but lock up their playoff run. With 4 guys poised to knock in over 100 runs, this team is more balanced than ever to push through the NL. Is it possible for Ryan Perry to win 2 Cy Young Awards in his first 2 years? People in New York seem to have forgotten old what his name is. Also to note on the Balance of the Farm system, New York could win 90+ games at all levels above Rookie. Quite impressive!

MAGIC NUMBER: 18

3. Cheyenne Marmots-
Last Ranking: 3
Record: 80-49 (19-12)
Expected Win %: .605
The Skinny: Kiki Soto returns to his S9 form, but once again will be a brides maid and not the bride when it comes to Cy Young voting. It's a tough career, but someone's got to have it. Speaking of Awards Chris Durbin has my vote for NL MVP.
MAGIC NUMBER: 24 wild card

4. Chicago Ballbusters-
Last Ranking: 4
Record: 79-50 (18-13)
Expected Win %: .645
The Skinny: 3B Julian Bonilla is looking like a good signing in his 1^st season. He is a difference maker at the plate and in the field. On his way to his 2^nd Gold Glove. The team's weakness seems to be pitching in the clutch they are without a go to closer and have had 9 different guys get a save while blowing 1/3 of their opportunities.
MAGIC NUMBER: 25 wild card

5. Texas Outlaws-
Last Ranking: 7
Record: 73-56 (21-10)
Expected Win %: .571
The Skinny: Sam Miller's stolen bases have progressively gone down each of the past 4 seasons. The team's starting pitching needs to go deep in games if they want to compete. Middle relief has been mediocre at best outside of their closer Matt O'Malley.
MAGIC NUMBER: 17 division

6. Cincinnati Bowties -
Last Ranking: 6
Record: 69-60 (17-14)
Expected Win %: .575
The Skinny: I'm not saying that a shoulder sprain isn't serious but being out in excess of 60 days as a result of one is a little fishy Bump Loiselle. I smell insurance fraud. Cincinnati has an opening to take the division and as it is every season it's going to come done to the wire between Cinci and Philly with the loser crying themselves to sleep on their pillow.

MAGIC NUMBER: 32 division 23 from WC Elimination

7. Philadelphia Balboas-
Last Ranking: 5
Record: 70-59 (15-16)
Expected Win %: .522
The Skinny: This is Phillies division to lose. They have controlled the North for much of the season, but ultimately never slammed the door closed, now Cinci is looking to smash that door down and leave Philly sprawling everything comes down to their match up with Cinci on 3/22 and CSP on 3/23 they need to win both series to make it this season.

MAGIC NUMBER: 32 division 24 from wild card elimination

8. San Diego Surf -
Last Ranking: 8
Record: 71-58 (20-11)
Expected Win %: .531
The Skinny: 7 games this week against the red hot Burros will make or break their playoff run. They need a spectacular showing against New York going into the final week if they have any hope of the final wild card spot. The Surfs need to invest in a high contact hitter to get on base for Campbell and Salinas, Bud Spence has fallen out of favor for the job and a speedster who gets on base would make them that much better if they did.

TRAGIC NUMBER: 16 division 25 wild card

9. San Antonio Alamos -
Last Ranking: 9
Record: 57-72 (11-20)
Expected Win %: .485
The Skinny:
Graham Greene should be a big free agency ticket this off season if he doesn't get resigned. The layer who exceeds all expectations has to be Oswaldo Amaral who has increased production each of the past 3 seasons. I am not sure how many of us would have given him this chance.

TRAGIC NUMBER: 17 division 10 wild card

10. Florida Marlins -
Last Ranking: 11
Record: 55-74 (14-17)
Expected Win %: .436
The Skinny: all but eliminated, Florida is already looking to next year by stashing lightly injured players on the DL to bring up new blood. Should be looking to retool for next season, with no expendable contracts coming off the books for S12 it will be interesting to see where they go with this team.

TRAGIC NUMBER: 15 division 8 wild card

11. Atlanta Braves-
Last ranking: 9
Record: 60-69 (8-23)
Expected Win %: .435
THE SKINNY: Rough week takes Atlanta out of contention. The team could still finish strong and make .500 on the season. It has been a setback season for the Braves, as they looked to be a strong contender in the beginning of the season, and somehow watched the wheels fall off. DH/1B Matty Evers, LF Nate Anderson and RP Gaylord Jaha might draw some looks in the Majors after roster expansion.

TRAGIC NUMBER: 7 division 13 wild card

12. Memphis Amon-Ra
Last Ranking: 12
Record: 49-80 (12-19)
Expected Win %: .397
The Skinny: The Minor's are loaded with the Pitching help they really don't need, but everything is still about 2 seasons away from making an impact, so maybe there is a plan. Mike Fitzgerald, Elvis Borland, Wascar Martin, and Jamie Martin have the rotation set for the present. Trade some of these pieces away for a superstar offensive power and they team is in the thick of things next year.

TRAGIC NUMBER: 9 division 3 wild card

13. Seattle Warbirds
Last Ranking: 14
Record: 47-82 (10-21)
Expected Win %: .383
The Skinny: A lot of payroll comes off the books in S12 which should give the team some flexibility with the Roster. The team has the pitching to compete, but players like Walter O'Bryan have never performed up to potential. With a youthful core of Bo Glanville, Jacob Kwon, and Jordan Williamson now surrounding Matt Mathews this team should start to come out its offensive funk.

TRAGIC NUMBER: 10 division

14. Milwaukee Blues -
Last Ranking: 14
Record: 49-80 (13-18)
Expected Win %: .375
The Skinny: The pieces are there to build around. 3 solid starters and 2 good bats in Clarke, and Worthington. C Rolando James has no business in the NL and needs to be shipped to an AL team for value. This team's biggest issue is it's made for the AL, a lot of good hitters with poor defense. A solid infield of defenders and a roving CF would make the pitching tenfold better. Add in a catcher who calls a solid game and BAM Playoff bound.

TRAGIC NUMBER: 12 division 3 wild card

15. Rochester Raging Reverends-
Last Ranking: 15
Record: 46-83 (12-19)
Expected Win %: .348
The Skinny: unlike other teams who have built through the draft Rochester has been like a supplemental farm system for many of the Contending teams the likes of Ryan Perry, Roger Post, Dan Reidling , Vic Castilla, Dan Eldred have all been taken in the 1^st round the last 5 years. All are gone and in their place are Brad Finnessey, Harry Hayes , Torey Matos , Lou Youkilis
Tex Boyle, Neil Fletcher. Okay I get it: "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21), but probably not the way to play HBD.

TRAGIC NUMBER: ELIMINATED

16. OMAHA MILE HIGH CLUB -
Last Ranking: 16
Record: 44-85 (13-18)
Expected Win %: .286
The Skinny: In Season S14 this might be the team to beat with 4 top 10 picks on the horizon this is a powerhouse in the making 2b Lucas Martin ( the 2^nd coming of Freddie Reynolds), SP Jaret Redman ( middle of rotation guy), SS Delino Frias
(top defender, solid bat), LF Albert Montanez (solid hitting LF). With whoever they get in next season draft they will look good.

TRAGIC NUMBER: ELIMINATED

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.

NL POWER RANKING All Star Edition

1. Colorado Springs Organizational Filler-
Last Ranking: 1
Record: 66-32 (12-11)
Expected Win %: .700
The Skinny: Just When I think they are for real, do they show cracks in their armor. Dropped 40 points in exp Win %.

First Half Hero: Made SP Hi Telgheder very happy in the off season signing him for 5 years 39M. He rewards them well

First Half Bust: SO much more has to be expected of LF Clarence Sutton

2. New York Burros
Last Ranking: 3
Record: 63-35 (16-7)
Expected Win %: .634
Skinny:
First Half Hero: C JP Santiago batting over .350 with 22 dingers
First Half Bust: SS Louis Mateo has shown a large sophomore slump

3. Cheyenne Marmots-
Last Ranking: 4
Record: 61-37 (17-6)
Expected Win %: .612
The Skinny:
First Half Hero: 2B Chris Durbin leads the team in batting and the league in stolen bases. With a newly signed 4 year 30M contract he is playing happy
First Half Bust: LR Royce Peters has been a near debacle these last 2 seasons after signing his 4 year deal in S10

4. Chicago Ballbusters-
Last Ranking: 2
Record: 61-37 (13-10)
Expected Win %: .658
The Skinny:
First Half Hero: Starting C Kevin Martin is easily in his career year
First Half Bust: backup C David Candelaria still provides the power but is doing little else

5. Philadelphia Balboas-
Last Ranking: 6
Record: 55-43 (16-7)
Expected Win %: .542
The Skinny:
First Half Hero: CL Albert Rincon has been the rock of the bullpen
First Half Bust: Each season SS
Arthur Dunn returns to the Balboas he gets a little worse

6. Cincinnati Bowties -
Last Ranking: 7
Record: 52-46 (14-9)
Expected Win %: .571
The Skinny:
First Half Hero: P
Bump Loiselle is having career resurgence in the Cinci System
First Half Bust: SS Hades Sedlacek is having a down year even for his standards

7. Texas Outlaws-
Last Ranking: 5
Record: 52-46 (10-13)
Expected Win %: .554
The Skinny:
First Half Hero: With 2 HOF caliber starts ahead of him Brandon Roosevelt has had much to prove and has done very well this season
First Half Bust: CF Damion Eldred is on his 3^rd season of declining stats, his number might be up in Texas

8. San Diego Surf -
Last Ranking: 8
Record: 51-47 (13-10)
Expected Win %: .520
The Skinny:
First Half Hero: SP Deion Dunn- has been worth every penny of his 4 year 25.5M contract
First Half Bust: 2B Dale Hill's BA has fallen over 100 points this season

9. Atlanta Braves-
Last Ranking: 10
Record: 52-46 (14-9)
Expected Win %: .475
THE SKINNY:
First Half Hero: 1B Ralph Carmona's best days are gone, but he is having a great season.
First Half Bust: SS Albert Gonzales recently signed for over 27M million in the off season, not quite earning the dollars this season.

9. San Antonio Alamos -
Last Ranking: 9
Record: 46-52 (11-12)
Expected Win %: .498
The Skinny:
First Half Hero: SP Corey Webb as a rookie went to the All star game
First Half Bust: C Brian Hocking was having such a bad season, he was returned to AAA

11. Florida Marlins -
Last Ranking: 11
Record: 41-57 (7-16)
Expected Win %: .429
The Skinny:
First Half Hero: SP Albert Mauer earning every penny of his 4 year 30M deal
First Half Bust: SS Anthony Mahay will never be a superstar, or a Shortstop 29 errors is to many for his lack of offense this season

12. Seattle Warbirds
Last Ranking: 14
Record: 37-61 (9-14)
Expected Win %: .370
The Skinny:
First Half Hero: RP Orlando Pena is leading a bullpen, he's the bright spot
First Half Bust: LF Jesus Ramirez a mid season waiver claim has shown the skills that got him released.

13. Memphis Amon-Ra
Last Ranking: 12
Record: 37-61 (6-17)
Expected Win %: .392
The Skinny:
First Half Hero: SP Mike Fitzgerald is on his way to being a superstar
First Half Bust: LF Nipsey Diaz should be further along in his progress than this

14. Milwaukee Blues -
Last Ranking: 13
Record: 36-62 (6-17)
Expected Win %: .364
The Skinny: if you are playing in extra innings with Milwaukee you will win 1-13 in the bonus for the Blues.
First Half Hero: RP
Ellis Small his small sample size inflates and masks a good pitching year OBA of .218, when he is in control he's dominant
First Half Bust: SP Angel Mateo- it's not that he has been horrible, it's just that Milwaukee had to expect more from him

15. Rochester Raging Reverends-
Last Ranking: 15
Record: 34-64 (10-13)
Expected Win %: .349
The Skinny: Steadily moving up the power ranking without moving up in actual ranking. In the past 2 weeks they have played just under .500 ball. That shows promise for the future.

First Half Hero: 1B Jumbo Tavarez has shown flashes of what many in Rochester hopes he will be

First Half Bust: RP Rene Richardson showed flashes last season of what Rochester needed in the Bullpen, not so much this year.

16. OMAHA MILE HIGH CLUB -
Last Ranking: 16
Record: 31-67 (10-13)
Expected Win %: .276
The Skinny: RP Arthur Mattes illustrates why this team is not winning. As he is a fair representation of some of the pitching in Colorado
First Half Hero: SP John Overbay
at 36 is still getting it done; lack of wins will cost him any type of recognition
First Half Bust: Future HOF Vic Mullins just needs to call it quits. He's in the middle of his 2^nd sub-.230 campaign with no signs of power, fielding, or any usable skills. Just a name to fill the seats at this point.