1. Charlotte Knights
The folks of Charlotte, NC find their beloved baseball club atop this week’s power rankings. This is largely due to the contributions of Pepe Benitez (5 Starts, 3-1, 2.00 ERA, 1.06 WHIP) and the top half of their order featuring Lyle Spooneybarger (.349 BA), Dixie Howard (.363 BA), and Benji Martin (3 HR’s, 19 RBI’s). Even though they find themselves at the top this week, they are expected to thrive even more so in the coming weeks.
2. Salem Slugs
Salem jumps four spots this week to number two and can boast the best record in the NL. They’ve been on fire since they sprung from the gates with a slight setback in Baltimore where they were swept. The only thing keeping Salem out of the top spot is the fact that they’ve yet to play any of the elite teams as of yet. Phil Saitou has been obliterating the opposition’s pitching with his .341 BA, .436 OBP, and 5 homers.
3. Seattle Spectacular Views
Seattle got off to a marvelous start and was the last undefeated team at 6-0. Since then, the Views are 7-9 and haven’t been able to get in that winning mindset. Youngster Piper Franco, who looked very promising last year before having to undergo season ending elbow surgery, has struggled in every appearance. It doesn’t help that staff ace Gil Mattes (1-1, 1.84 ERA, 1.02 WHIP) has had no run support in his five appearances.
4. Vancouver Mountain Lions
Vancouver has done its job of keeping up with Salem so far this year. This is due largely to the pitching staff which is 2nd in the league with its collective 3.12 ERA. Unfortunately for Mountain Lions fans, Josh Clancy recently went down with a dislocated shoulder and will miss the next month. If they can keep it up until he comes back, they should find themselves right in the thick of things.
5. Boston Mets
Although the Mets are 2nd in homeruns and RBI’s, a place they’ve grown quite comfortable, their batting average is not what they’ve come to expect. Combine that with their 5.29 ERA and you’ve got a 13-9 squad that doesn’t look very comfortable in their own skin. Eventually Boston will start wailing on the ball just as they did last year, but until then they will be just another team in the middle of the pack.
6. Madison Mmmhmmmm!
This Madison squad is in the process of turning around last season’s disappointing 76-win season. They are currently tied for the division lead and the newly acquired Buddy Rivers has not disappointed. Rivers is batting .385 with 8 HR’s and that is just scary for the other team’s pitching staff. Last year’s CY Young winner, Howie Ramirez, continues to impress and shouldn’t stop any time soon.
7. Kansas City Bush Leaguers
No one is really sure what’s wrong with the Bush Leaguers as they fall four spots this week. Aside from sweeping Seattle in three games, they’ve been playing very poor ball this season. The offense for this club has performed as expected. The pitching staff, on the other hand, has been downright atrocious with the exception of the mediocre play of Mac Perry.
8. Baltimore Barksdales
Baltimore moves from the outside to the inside this week, jumping three spots to number eight. P.J. Rowan seems to have returned to the form he had in Season One. Rowan has belted 11 homers so far. With Rowan and Toby McPherson, who has just been unhittable with his 4-0 record and .62 WHIP, Baltimore looks to rebound from last year’s second half collapse.
9. Huntington Hackers
If your team was down by a run and had guys on second and third with two outs, who would you want stepping up to the plate? The answer for many right now is Gerry Miller, Huntington’s first baseman. Miller has a .386 average right now and has not hit safely in only three games. Other that Miller, Huntington hasn’t had any players step up and lead the team. Another player to watch is Charles Fullmer. If he can stop giving up the long ball, he can be a truly elite pitcher.
10. Jacksonville Ginormous Hooters
This young Jacksonville squad is one that many teams have overlooked and wrongfully so. Jacksonville’s pitchers are collectively top three in the league thus far and their supporting batter’s have not been a disappointment either. They haven’t blown our minds yet though, so here they sit right on the edge at number ten. Steve Bennett seems to have had no trouble adjusting to the Major League level as he already has collected 8 homeruns and 23 RBI’s.
11. Minnesota Lakers
12. Jackson Delta Blues
13. New York Gridlock
14. Rochester Red Wings
15. San Diego Mad Friars
16. Tacoma Thunderbirds
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