Power Rankings Week 5
Aug 12, 2018 20:47:34 GMT -5
Post by Peter Gammons on Aug 12, 2018 20:47:34 GMT -5
Post trade deadline and Caribbean vacation edition. And yes, your friend Peter was the old guy wearing the speedo by the pool. On to the rankings!
1. Diamondbacks 13-3-1 +1, W over Cardinals and Giants. Top players Matt Carpenter(15) Luis Severino(29). Oren grabs the top spot due to a L by the Orioles and two solid wins. Making some shrewd moves to acquire Matt Carpenter and Bryce Harper. Oren is all in. Playing in the toughest division in the NL he has proven he has what it takes to win not only the West but the entire NL.
2. Cubs 14-2-1 +3, W over Rockies and Pirates. Top players JD Martinez(12) Jake Arrietta(73). Good bounce back weeks for Chris. Big win over a very good Rockies team has righted the ship. One move at the deadline netted him his top ranked pitcher in Jake Arrietta. The NL Central is wrapped up but his squad is solid enough for a long run. A rebuild is looming but can Chris repeat.
3. Orioles 13-3-1 -2, L vs Indians, W over Mariners. Top players Jose Altuve(45) Aaron Nola(13). Tough loss against a solid Indians squad and a good bounce back in against the Mariners. In a division where one loss at this point can be the difference between a bye week or not, Nick can’t afford to lose more. Made a couple small moves in getting Boxberger and Solarte. They should help. Was it enough to withstand the Rays and Jays?
4. Nationals 14-3 +2, W over Padres and Mets. Top players Francisco Lindor(6) Jacob deGrom(7). Max was incredibly active at the deadline, making so many moves this old duker couldn’t keep up. Selling some of the future to compete now it’s looked to payoff with two wins. Another team that has his division wrapped up, he needs his momentum to continue. The Nationals may be the favorite going forward.
5. Blue Jays 13-3-1 +4, W over Rangers and Rays. Top players Trea Turner(33) Corey Kluber. Well, in our version of the Yankees and Red Sox, Brian made a huge dominating impact win over Ben. Always looking ahead as well as today, Brian picked up some solid contributors in Luis Castillo, Junior Guerra, and Mike Fiers at the deadline. Will still have a difficult road ahead but it’s hard to bet against him.
6. Dodgers 14-2-1 +1, W over Mets and Padres. Top players Travis Shaw(100) Chris Sale(5). An impressive year from Dave with an impressive record. Just have a hard time believing in him as a contender. Incredible pitching but the offense needed a boost and I’m not positive Albert Pujols was the best answer. They say pitching wins championships, just not sure in this format you can do it without and offense.
7. Rays 13-3-1 -4, W over Red Sox L vs Blue Jays. Top players Mike Trout(2) Sean Manaea(38). Tough loss to the Jays. Had to hurt, especially how one sided it was. Picking up Yoan Moncada was a risky play but with eyes to the future. It pales in comparison to this massive deal he made with Angels. Trading Correa could be a huge regret. But I like getting bellinger back. Very versatile. Ben will rebound from his loss to Brian. It will be a very fun close in the AL East.
8. Angels 12-2-3 +0, W over Royals and Red Sox. Top players Jose Ramirez(1) Lance McCullers(68). Still keeps winning and winning. But needs a quality win to move up. I’m a believer in Nic. Like I mentioned above, made a huge deal with Ben. Getting Correa and McCullers were win now and win tomorrow moves. Trading youngsters like Adames and Giolito was a strong price, but Nic wants to win now.
9. Rockies 12-4-1, -5, L vs Cubs and Phillies. Top players Eugenio Suarez(42) Justin Verlander(3). Picking up Nick Castellanos was a good move. Needed an impact bat to go along with his dueling aces. The losses were tough but to good opponents. Falling back some in the NL West he is running out of time to get back into it. Needs a strong close. The playoffs are a given, but will his arms carry him further.
10. Mariners 12-4-1, +0, W over Yanks L vs Orioles. Top players Joey Votto(47) Zack Greinke(23). Staying quiet at the deadline just means that Zack believes in his team. Or just didn’t want to trade anyone. Still balanced and a tough win for anyone. Will be a fun race for the West between him and Nic. Shouldn’t have a problem being the wild card. But one of those top spots would be nice.
11. Phillies
12. Astros
13. Indians
14. Marlins
15. Twins
As usual feel free to debate. The end of the season should be great. Looking forward especially to the Al East and NL West races.
1. Diamondbacks 13-3-1 +1, W over Cardinals and Giants. Top players Matt Carpenter(15) Luis Severino(29). Oren grabs the top spot due to a L by the Orioles and two solid wins. Making some shrewd moves to acquire Matt Carpenter and Bryce Harper. Oren is all in. Playing in the toughest division in the NL he has proven he has what it takes to win not only the West but the entire NL.
2. Cubs 14-2-1 +3, W over Rockies and Pirates. Top players JD Martinez(12) Jake Arrietta(73). Good bounce back weeks for Chris. Big win over a very good Rockies team has righted the ship. One move at the deadline netted him his top ranked pitcher in Jake Arrietta. The NL Central is wrapped up but his squad is solid enough for a long run. A rebuild is looming but can Chris repeat.
3. Orioles 13-3-1 -2, L vs Indians, W over Mariners. Top players Jose Altuve(45) Aaron Nola(13). Tough loss against a solid Indians squad and a good bounce back in against the Mariners. In a division where one loss at this point can be the difference between a bye week or not, Nick can’t afford to lose more. Made a couple small moves in getting Boxberger and Solarte. They should help. Was it enough to withstand the Rays and Jays?
4. Nationals 14-3 +2, W over Padres and Mets. Top players Francisco Lindor(6) Jacob deGrom(7). Max was incredibly active at the deadline, making so many moves this old duker couldn’t keep up. Selling some of the future to compete now it’s looked to payoff with two wins. Another team that has his division wrapped up, he needs his momentum to continue. The Nationals may be the favorite going forward.
5. Blue Jays 13-3-1 +4, W over Rangers and Rays. Top players Trea Turner(33) Corey Kluber. Well, in our version of the Yankees and Red Sox, Brian made a huge dominating impact win over Ben. Always looking ahead as well as today, Brian picked up some solid contributors in Luis Castillo, Junior Guerra, and Mike Fiers at the deadline. Will still have a difficult road ahead but it’s hard to bet against him.
6. Dodgers 14-2-1 +1, W over Mets and Padres. Top players Travis Shaw(100) Chris Sale(5). An impressive year from Dave with an impressive record. Just have a hard time believing in him as a contender. Incredible pitching but the offense needed a boost and I’m not positive Albert Pujols was the best answer. They say pitching wins championships, just not sure in this format you can do it without and offense.
7. Rays 13-3-1 -4, W over Red Sox L vs Blue Jays. Top players Mike Trout(2) Sean Manaea(38). Tough loss to the Jays. Had to hurt, especially how one sided it was. Picking up Yoan Moncada was a risky play but with eyes to the future. It pales in comparison to this massive deal he made with Angels. Trading Correa could be a huge regret. But I like getting bellinger back. Very versatile. Ben will rebound from his loss to Brian. It will be a very fun close in the AL East.
8. Angels 12-2-3 +0, W over Royals and Red Sox. Top players Jose Ramirez(1) Lance McCullers(68). Still keeps winning and winning. But needs a quality win to move up. I’m a believer in Nic. Like I mentioned above, made a huge deal with Ben. Getting Correa and McCullers were win now and win tomorrow moves. Trading youngsters like Adames and Giolito was a strong price, but Nic wants to win now.
9. Rockies 12-4-1, -5, L vs Cubs and Phillies. Top players Eugenio Suarez(42) Justin Verlander(3). Picking up Nick Castellanos was a good move. Needed an impact bat to go along with his dueling aces. The losses were tough but to good opponents. Falling back some in the NL West he is running out of time to get back into it. Needs a strong close. The playoffs are a given, but will his arms carry him further.
10. Mariners 12-4-1, +0, W over Yanks L vs Orioles. Top players Joey Votto(47) Zack Greinke(23). Staying quiet at the deadline just means that Zack believes in his team. Or just didn’t want to trade anyone. Still balanced and a tough win for anyone. Will be a fun race for the West between him and Nic. Shouldn’t have a problem being the wild card. But one of those top spots would be nice.
11. Phillies
12. Astros
13. Indians
14. Marlins
15. Twins
As usual feel free to debate. The end of the season should be great. Looking forward especially to the Al East and NL West races.