MLB Power Rankings
By: Craig Trapp
Wow how time has flown by, its been two weeks since Craig released his MLB top 5 power rankings. Craig's uses his Power Rankings as one of many tools to help establish weak lines and also to pick winners. Not much has changed in his top 5 with only one new team but several have moved within the top 5. Craig's last list was in order of rankings: LA Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Florida Marlins, and St Louis Cardinals. Below is Craig's new updated rankings and breakdown!
1. LA Dodgers: 12-0 at home thus far and the weakest division in all of baseball will have this team flirting with 98-100 wins this year. Best power pitching staff in baseball led by Billingsley who at times is unhittable. Oh by the way they have the best group of power hitters in the National League led by stud Manny Ramariez. No one is close to them at this point of the season.
2. Boston Red Sox: 5-0 vs the Yankees already has this team cruising in first place in the division. Pitching has been very shaky at best. Pretty scary to think how good this team will be when Lester and Beckett start performing to there career numbers. Toughest division in baseball will keep there win total down this season but in the end will win the division!!
3. St Louis Cardinals: Anyone still think Tony LaRussa is not the best manager in baseball?? Look at his starting rotation only two dependable starters yet they still are winning!! King Albert is up to his old tricks early this season and has been carrying his team. STL and CHC will be in dog fight this season all the way down to the end!
4. Toronto Blue Jays:Craig dropped the Blue Jays down two spots not because they are playing poorly but more because the other two are playing slightly better. Huge surprise that Toronto is playing so well this year after losing second best pitcher in the off season. Handicapping this team is easy they play small ball. They pitch to contact, play great defense, and limit mistakes. Huge turnaround and feel good story but in the end will be up against it in the toughest division in baseball.
5. Kansas City Royals: Craig's only new team in the top 5 is a shocker for all of us. One of worst teams last year is greatly improved in 2009. Best young pitching staff in all of baseball led by Grienke who is 6-0 with ERA below 1.00!! Hitting has really picked it up for this team and if it continues will win a very average American League Central.
Craig fully rates all of the MLB each week with his Power Rankings but only lists his top 5 for free. If you are interested in getting all of his picks make sure you check in with his MLB Premium Picks daily. Also you can check out his free MLB picks daily with full write ups for all you to enjoy.!!
MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers chase history, Jays dodge the Red Sox
By Sportspic
We’re seeing the true powerhouses in NBA odds rise to the top and the same can be said for baseball betting. Finally, we’re witnessing real separation between legitimately good ballclubs and future bottom dwellers – except those damn Blue Jays continue to baffle sportsbook oddsmakers.
(Last week’s ranking in brackets)
1. (3) Los Angeles Dodgers (20-8): Equaled an MLB betting record by opening the season 12-0 at home and they have the biggest lead of any division winner at 5 ½ games. Think the Yankees miss Joe Torre now?
2. (2) Toronto Blue Jays (19-10): Starting to look mortal with the bullpen squandering leads, but the offense keeps bailing them out. They finally play their powerful AL East rivals next week, so this may be the last time they’re ranked this high.
3. (5) Philadelphia Phillies (14-10): They’ve won eight of 10, the bats keep exploding, and Cole Hamels is on the mend. Maybe they can salvage a division win after all?
4. (6) Milwaukee Brewers (15-12): They don’t have huge sportsbook respect yet, but they should; Rickie Weeks is finding his vast power potential and Yovani Gallardo keeps doin’ that Babe Ruth thang.
5. (18) Kansas City Royals (16-11): A 6-1 week will vault you up the MLB betting ranks in a hurry, won’t it? Zack Greinke continues to pitch like the Second Coming and the Royals are doing it without Alex Gordon and (not for long) Luke Hochevar. If you did your homework, you aren’t surprised at this hot start.
6. (1) Boston Red Sox (17-10): The big winning streak is over but they’re nicely nestled back in the AL East race and the two wins against the Yankees this week did wonders for the Red Sox odds.
7. (4) St. Louis Cardinals (17-10): it’s been a week to forget for the Cardinals odds, as Rick Ankiel KO’d himself and Kyle Lohse got knocked around figuratively. Can anyone hold a division lead for long in the NL’s most competitive division?
8. (13) Texas Rangers (14-12): The prodigious hitting power goes a long way and Frank Francisco looks like the real deal at closer. Now it’s up to Nolan Ryan to get starting pitching results from his rigorous conditioning plan.
9. (14) Chicago Cubs (14-12): Kevin Gregg and Carlos Marmol are more important to the Cubs odds and betting online than they realize; they found themselves this week and the Cubs won some games.
10. (7) Seattle Mariners (15-12): The record and division lead still look pretty, but they’ve quietly lost four of six. There’s just no way we can take a team seriously when Russell Branyan is the focal point of its offense.
11. (8) Detroit Tigers (14-12): Baseball betting fans can’t count them out after all. Verlander showed he’s truly back now with a second straight dominant start while Curtis Granderson and Miguel Cabrera are in midseason, All-Star form.
12. (9) Florida Marlins (15-12): They’ve quietly settled into their proper tier of “feisty, above average team that will flirt with contention but not go anywhere.” MLB odds followers have to respect what Jorge Cantu is doing with the bat.
13. (17) Cincinnati Reds (14-12): They’ve fallen back under the radar but they’re hanging around. Remember when pitching was their problem? It’s scary to think what they could do if the young bats were producing like they should be.
14. (16) San Francisco Giants (13-12): A good starting rotation can take you a long way in baseball betting lines. Something tells me this team will finish above .500.
15. (12) New York Yankees (13-13): They’re not really a .500 club, are they? When does the inevitable winning streak start?
16. (14) Los Angeles Angels (12-13)
17. (22) New York Mets (12-13)
18. (23) Minnesota Twins (13-14)
19. (28) Tampa Bay Rays (12-16)
20. (10) Atlanta Braves (11-15)
21. (29) Colorado Rockies (10-15)
22. (15) Pittsburgh Pirates (12-14)
23. (11) San Diego Padres (12-15)
24. (19) Chicago White Sox (12-14)
25. (20) Houston Astros (11-15)
26. (25) Arizona Diamondbacks (11-16)
27. (30) Washington Nationals (7-17)
28. (NR) Oakland Athletics (9-15)
29. (26) Cleveland Indians (10-17)
30. (27) Baltimore Orioles (10-17)
Of the bottom dwellers, Arizona probably has the best baseball betting odds of recovering – if Brandon Webb can come back when he’s supposed to. Dan Haren can’t do it all on his own.