#1
Still the class of the league, despite numerous injuries, Vancouver is one of the most complete teams in the world. Aruably the best pitching staff in the world (Scranton might argue that point), they also produce at the plate, and rarely commit errors. Winning games at a 70% clip, and boasting TWO potential MVP's, they're the team to beat until a case of small pox breaks out in the clubhouse. Oops, did I just give away Salem's plan to win the division?
#2
The second-best record in the NL, the only thing KC is lacking right now is a little defense. They're hitting for average and producing runs, despite not hitting a ton of bombs. Their pitching is still a little behind that of Vancouver, and right behind them.......
#3
Fargo is only four games out of the division lead at the time of this writing, and they have a solid grip on the first wild card spot. If they were in the East or the South, they would have a 9 game lead. Offensively, they're awesome, as they lead the league in almost every major batting category. The pitching could use some help though. And here's a crazy stat: 10 games below .500 while at home, but 41-12 on the road! They might want to be the wild card, so they play on the road for most of the playoffs.
#4
How ridiculous is the NL North? The last place team in that division is our number four team in these rankings. No, really, it's Buffalo. These poor bastards would be winning the East or the South, and instead they're 2 games out of the second wild card spot. And who is currently in that spot? Yet another member of the North.
#5
Nearly identical to Fargo, but with about 10 fewer wins. These guys hit the ball like crazy, and then cross their fingers that the pitchers can get a few outs here and there. And they have Allen Wood. Of all the players in the Dream League who I covet, Wood is easily in the top 3. He's young (22-years-old), fast (81-rated speed, but only 13 SB's to show for it), strong (31 HR's so far), and oh so dreamy.
#6
The final member of that dangerous NL North, Primetime17 has done some great things with a team that has steadily dropped in the rankings over the last few years. They're in the running for a wild card spot, and are above average in just about every major statistical category. Very nice turn-around for the franchise.
#7
Tops in their division two of the first three years, NY is barely clinging to their division lead right now, and most likely won't make the playoffs if they do not win the division. Like so many other teams in the NL, they're good at just about everything, but not great at any one thing in particular.
#8
Too bad for Salem that they are in the same division as Vancouver. They won 92 games last season, and that only got them a wild card slot. This year they probably won't even make the playoffs, unless they can go on a winning streak that closes the gap to that second wild card slot.
The Rest:
#9 - Rochester
#10 - Florida
#11 - Montgomery
#12 - San Diego
#13 - Charlotte
#14 - Baltimore
#15 - Tacoma
#16 - New Orleans
This is so tough. Do these guys really deserve a number four spot in the rankings? Sure, they hit the ball a ton, but are some of those numbers inflated due to playing in Colorado? I dunno. But at the time of this posting, they're on a 10 game winning streak, and have almost as many wins on the road as they do at home. So they're for real.
Season 1's WS winner is still plugging along, and on pace for their fourth consecutive 90+ win season. They don't do any one thing exceptionally well, but they are above average in just about every facet of the game. Does anyone want to play them during the opening series of the playoffs?
Another team from the scary North division, another team who will have a tough time making it into the playoffs. Unless the offense can finally find their way. With one of the best pitching staffs in the league, all Scranton is missing is a little bit of hitting. Even their defense is among the best in the AL, but the hitting is mid-pack or worse in almost every category. And playing in that tough division, they either need the SP's to put out god-like performances during every start, or the hitting needs to come around.
The second most wins in the AL, and division winner two of the last three seasons, how are these guys ranked so far down the list? They do some things really well (pitching, hitting HR's, winning games), but they do some things really poorly (hit for average, fielding). They're also really close to that #5 spot. Like tenths of a point. So this number seven spot is a bit deceiving. If they don't win their division, they'll be a wild-card team.
Hmmm, maybe the ranking system is better than I initially let on. Atlanta is winning their division, but they are currently just two games above .500, and it's almost entirely due to their hitting. The pitching staff is average at best right now, and the fielding is right around the same. They have a ten game lead in their division, so unless they totally fall apart, they'll make the playoffs. But they will probably have to play someone like Philly, Durham, Pawtucket, or Pitt. Ouch.