Maine's MLB Power Rankings, 4/9

[MaineDolFan]

Maine's MLB PT is back, this time I'll be posting on Sundays or Mondays - depending on where I am.  I don't check out of Baltimore until tomorrow, heading home - so this is a good time.  Early in the season I only have records and gut feelings to go on, so here we go:

#1.  Cleveland Indians 5-1
Cleveland has started the season on fire, following up on a 90 win season in 2005.  They are 3-0 at home and 2-1 on the road, all with their ace on the DL.  The ageless Bob Wickman already has three saves.  The Tribe is a team to really watch this year.

#2.  Boston Red Sox 5-1
Boston's lineup is going to be more potent than people originally thought.  Crisp, Loretta, Ortiz, Manny, Nixon, 'Tek is a hell of a front six.  Mike Lowell is swinging the bat well.  The story here early is pitching; Curt Schilling has two starts under his belt into the 7th inning and is sporting an ERA under 1.80.  Josh Beckett had a solid first outing and fireballer Jon Papelbon picked up save three today in a sweep over Baltimore. 

#3.  Oakland A's 5-2
Oakland is my early pick to win the AL West and they showed it by opening strong this season.  Oakland's pitching hasn't missed a beat since losing two of their "big three" - they have merely replaced them with what some will argue are better (and younger) pitching.  Oakland's power numbers should continue to climb and they have good team speed.  They'll be a team to watch this year.

#4.  New York Mets  4-1
Winners of three in a row, the Mets made nice additions in the offseason.  Pedro almost got himself killed in his first outing, so much for the "he won't hit batters if he needs to step into the batters' box" stance.  Pedro's nuts, he doesn't care.  I think the Mets are weak in relief, getting to Wagner will be the secret.  But - if they can - they'll win a lot of games this year and give Atlanta a run.

#5  Milwaukee Brewers 5-1
The Brewers are a team that could actually make some noise this year.  They have good young arms, led by Ben Sheets, and they have a roster littered with top prospects.  The Brewers remind me a lot of the old Twins teams that would win 88-92 games a year; I really think that they could surprise a lot of people this year.  In the end they don't have the horses to run with Houston, but they should hang around for a bit.

#6.  Detroit Tigers 5-1
Starting the fist six games on the road and coming away with five wins is huge, no matter who you are.  There are new faces throughout Detroit and they, like the Brewers, aren't far away from being a decent team.  I expect the central to come down to another Cleveland - ChiSox race, but the Tigers will play a role in this thing before it's all said and done.

#7.  San Francisco Giants 4-2
The Giants play in a weak division and they have some tools back this year that they didn't have last year.  At the end of the day I still think this is the Padres division for the taking, but if the Giants hang around they'll make for some sleepless nights in SoCal. 

#8.  Cinncinnati Reds 4-2
The Big Red Machine is back!  Okay...probably not.  But solid defense, power hitters, smart base running and home run hitting pitchers (Bronson Arroyo) will go a long way.  The problem for the Reds is that they play in a division with Houston and St. Louis.

#9.  St. Louis Cardinals 3-2
I am one of the few that isn't completely on the Cards band wagon for this upcoming season.  I think St. Louis will struggle with their rotation this year and I also think relief will be a sore spot for them.  In Albert they have one of the greatest players that this game has ever seen and Rolen seems to be okay again, so they will compete.  How well?  I guess we'll see.

#10.  Houston Astros 4-2
Houston's pitching, even without Clemens, is amazing.  Nice bullpen, although nothing special - until you get to Lidge.  I'm a Lidge guy.  Where Houston will struggle this year will be offense and they can't afford to fall behind teams by more than a couple runs, something they have already shown in the two losses this year.  Unless they make a trade for a bat, offense will be this team's downfall this season.

...so that's that!  Maine's PT for the first week of the season.  Please share your thoughts and feedback!

[raptorsfan29]

no love for toronto

i know what your going to say Maine

Toronto sucks, their starting rotation sucks the offense sucks, Glaus is a waste of money, Ryan is one of the worse Closers in the game,Lyle overbay can't hit worth a damn, Molina is slower then molasses going uphill

[MaineDolFan]

Nope - was just going to say that it's hard to put a .500 team above teams that are better than .500.

[jtex316]

Nice Report Maine...but with so many games played in a season, this list could be totally different in a month, and then also at the end of the season.

[bsfins]

Hmmm...The most of the NL Central is up there...yet the Cubbies swept the Cardinals,and spilt with the Reds.....and no Cubbies..

(I'm trying hard this may be the only time of the year I'll probably be able to bitch that my Cubbies are even in the top half of the league.....so don't take this too seriously...)

[Sunstroke]

No surprise at all to see Cleveland jump out to a quick start, but what about Detroit? I watched two Tiggers games over the weekend and that lineup can just flat out stroke the ball. Shelton, Pudge, Granderson, Monroe...there are some legit bats in that lineup.

Same with the Reds...I didn't expect them to start out as hot as they have either. Someone forgot to tell Adam Dunn that he's a .240 average hitter, max... Ryan Freel had 5 steals in 2 games... Cincinnati is hot, and they are doing it without much of a contribution from Griffey so far.

[gocowboys31]

Yes i expect the A's to be in the top 10 more often than not this season. I love that picthing staff. Harden is a beast, blanton is sweet, and loaiza is a solid veteran. Street is one of the best closers in baseball.

[EDGECRUSHER]

I just don't trust Bob Wickman. He is a good fantasy guy and it's not like he was Shawn Chacon in 2003 or 2004 when he had 30+ saves with an ERA over 7, but I think every other contender has a better closer.

A's
Anaheim
Boston(Papelbon or Foulke if he gets 100% healthy)
New York
Chicago