It’s the last Power Rankings of the season. In some ways it’s rather pointless, what with the season being effectively over for the majority of teams. To what end power, if there is no manner in which to exert it? An interesting ettickal question.
Indeed, I was just gonna not do a Power Rankings. But then I realized I had a legitimate reason to not make Philly number one, and I figured that would cheese off a bunch of ya, so why not?
1. Yankees: Winning most of the games they’re supposed to win, worrying more about whether marginal dudes will make the postseason roster than they’re worrying about the big existential questions that vex a team at this time of year. Yeah, I think that earns them the number one slot.
2. Phillies: I mean sure, on some level this is unfair inasmuch as, if you put a gun to my head, I still say that Philly has the best shot of anyone once the playoffs start. But sorry guys. You don’t lose eight in a row and not suffer some sort of Power Rankings penalty for it.
3. Rangers: Quietly rolling. It’s amazing how little anyone talks about these guys.
4. Diamondbacks: Everyone’s going to call them the Cinderella story of the playoffs, but they haven’t really fit that mold. They’ve carried themselves like a team that knows it belongs. Never going on bad skids, not relying on unsustainable streaks. Just doing their work. I think they could cause a lot of trouble for whoever they face in the first round.
5. Tigers: I predict there will be 15 stories written in the next five days asking whether the Tigers “peaked too soon” with their hot streak in early September. I think that kind of thing is hogwash. They have the best pitcher in the AL, one of the best hitters and no glaring weaknesses. They’re fine, even if they’re not as hot right now as they were a couple of weeks ago.
6. Brewers: They haven’t played a team with a winning record since September 11th, so you have to wonder if they’re honed as sharply as they could be.
7. Cardinals: They’re not yet in playoff position, but they still have a hell of a lot more mojo working than that team in Atlanta they’re chasing. And finishing the season with three in Houston? You couldn’t have set that up any better.
8. Rays: Three against the Yankees to close it out. If they make it, they will have freakin’ earned it.
9. Braves: Three against the Phillies to close it out. Call me crazy, but I’m not exactly optimistic.
10. Red Sox: Three against the Orioles to close it out. AHHHHHH!!!! PANIC!!! YYEEEAAAAHGGGGG!!!
11. Angels: Still technically alive, but they need a miracle. And I don’t know if you’ve looked around much lately, bub, but miracles don’t come easy these days.
Those out of the playoff conversation simply get a ranking this week. Sorry, but there are only so many ways you can say that their season is over, and I’ve been doing that for several weeks now.
12. Giants
13. Dodgers
14. Blue Jays
15. Indians
16. Nationals
17. Reds
18. White Sox
19. Mets
20. Athletics
21. Rockies
22. Marlins
23. Pirates
24. Royals
25. Cubs
26. Padres
27. Orioles
28. Mariners
29. Twins
30. Astros