The MLB Rizz Rankings 3.24.08: Week One

Posted by Randy Isbelle on 03.24.2008

Take me out to the ball game...take me out to the crowd. I love this time of year!

Welcome to the first ever Major League Baseball Rizz Rankings. I will come to you each and every Monday with my own version of the power rankings as well as give you a preview to what will come in the upcoming Coast 2 Coast Sports Report that each and every one of you should listen to. Next week I will start to put up the link to the podcast so that you can listen to it as you read my article as well as all of the other fine articles here on 411, but I haven't learned how to do it yet. I just want to let you all know that these power rankings are set as how I see them now, not as how I see them ending this season. That is why the Mets are so high on the list, but so low in the standings in my prediction.

Please leave comments or email me your thoughts, or even your power rankings, I would love to hear your agreements and disagreements. Also check out the Coast 2 Coast Sports report each and every Wednesday as Ken Schmidt, Geoff Keller and myself bring you our own outlook on the world of sports. This week we take a look back at the first two round of the NCAA Tournament, look ahead at the Sweet 16 as well as give you details on the side bet between Ken and myself. Also, we break down the NL West and AL East before closing up with our Top Three NCAA Tournament games thus far and our five pick'em games of the week.

2008 Power Rankings: Week 1
Rank (LW)		Team	Record	L10	Comment
	1 (-)	Detroit Tigers	0-0	0-0	The Tigers went out and stacked up their lineup to go along with an already strong pitching rotation. Adding Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria to a lineup already filled in with Gary Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez could make this lineup one of the scariest ever. Detroit does still have a few questions to answer, as the lineup and rotation still have players who may be past their prime, but as long as they are consistent and are not on the IR for long periods of time, the Tigers could be a threat to win 100 games this year. End of the year projection: AL Central Champions / AL Championship Game
	2 (-)	New York Mets	0-0	0-0	The Mets are huge favorites in the National League and for good reason, they are stacked with talent in almost every position. The only thing that worries me is the age of some of their main talent. Pedro, Alou and Delgado are all getting up there in age and will all probably find themselves on the DL from time to time. Santana was a huge addition, but he cannot carry the team by himself, he proved that in Minnesota. The Mets will live and die by the age and experience of this team, if they stay healthy then they should make it to the World Series, if they don't (and I don't believe they will), they could be a huge disappointment. My prediction will surprise many, but I just can't believe that this lineup will stay intact and see a long season for Mets' fans. End of the year projection: 4th in the NL East / Miss The Playoffs
	3 (-)	Boston Red Sox	0-0	0-0	The Red Sox could be in a transition season as they move from a team with veteran pitchers to the younger group. This season will be interesting to see who steps up to be the number two behind Beckett. With Schilling out with his shoulder, it will be up to Matsuzaka to prove that he was worth the hype while young pitchers Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz try and find their role in the rotation as well. End of the year projection: 2nd in the AL East / Miss the playoffs
	4 (-)	Philadelphia Phillies	0-0	0-0	Fellow 411 writer, Ken Schmidt, will love to see me write this, but I really like Philadelphia this season. No I do not believe they will win their division, but they will be a force in the postseason. Led by Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, the Phillies have one of the most feared all-around lineups in the majors and I will not be surprised at all if the NL MVP comes from this team. End of the year projection: 2nd in the NL East / NL Wild Card / Eliminated in Wild Card
	5 (-)	Los Angeles Angeles	0-0	0-0	The Angels are a very dangerous team in the American League but the key story is the outfield. Adding Torii Hunter and Gary Matthews to allow both Vlad and Garret Anderson some DH time here and there will allow Los Angeles to stay rested down the stretch and have strong bats come October. The key is the starting rotation, which needs to stay healthy for the Angles. If they have injury issues as they did last season, they will once again find themselves exiting the playoffs earlier then they would like. End of the year projection: AL West Champions / World Series Champions
	6 (-)	Chicago Cubs	0-0	0-0	Plain and simple, if Chicago was going to win the World Series, this would be the year to do it. This will be the 100th season since the Cubbies had last won a championship and the team seems to be loaded for another championship only a century later. If Fukudome is as good as the scouts say he is, this lineup could be dangerous come August. The pitching rotation is solid, as long as Zambrano stays healthy, and with Prior gone and Wood dropped to bullpen duties, the Cubs might not have a paper thin pitching rotation a month in. End of the year projection: NL Central Champions / Eliminated in the World Series
	7 (-)	New York Yankees	0-0	0-0	My Yankees have finally decided that instead of going out and spending 120 million dollars on players who are just past their prime, they are going to stay put and work on some in-grown talent. The lineup might not be as strong as it has been in the past years, as age will be catching up with several players on the Yankees, but the main story this season will be on the pitching. Known lately for their lack of strength on that side of their game, the Yankees have brought up several young pitchers who will make or break their season. Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy and Phillip Hughes are all names that people need to know and memorize, as they will be the reason the Yankees make it to the playoffs, or fall just short. End of the year projection: AL East Champions / Elimination in Wild Card
	8 (-)	Cleveland Indians	0-0	0-0	Cleveland was just one game away from going to the World Series last year, but to make it back again they will probably have to settle for the Wild Card to make it there. Detroit has made leaps and bounds to take the crown, while the rest of the division has slumped off a little bit. Cleveland will benefit from being in the division with the worst teams filling the basement and will pick up several junk wins to top Boston and Seattle for the Wild Card, but a late season run will be on the arm of C.C. Sabathia, who is in a contract season, but seemed to wear down last year and could do the same if all the pressure is once again put on him. End of the year projection: 2nd in the AL Central / AL Wild Card / Elimination in Wild Card
	9 (-)	Arizona Diamondbacks	0-0	0-0	Arizona always seems to be a threat in the NL, and this year is no exception. The D'Backs are loaded with pitchers and will look to do what they seem to do every year. Not make much noise but find themselves on top of the NL West in the end. End of the year projection: NL West Champions / Eliminated in NL Championship
	10 (-)	Colorado Rockies	0-0	0-0	Colorado had to run off 21 of 22 to make it to the World Series last season, only to get destroyed by the Red Sox. This season, don't expect any sort of run like that, however look for Colorado to be in it up until the end. Matt Holliday will be a solid MVP candidate behind Jimmy Rollins as the Rockies will give the D'Backs all they could ask for. End of the year projection: 2nd in the NL West / Miss The Playoffs
	11 (-)	Milwaukee Brewers	0-0	0-0	Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun will lead the lineup, that much is for certain, but the pitching rotation is the question for Milwaukee this season. Ben Sheets' longevity is in question, and Eric Gagne in the closer role can not make any Brewer fan comfortable. End of the year projection: 2nd in the NL Central / Miss The Playoffs
	12 (-)	Los Angeles Dodgers	0-0	0-0	Joe Torre will work magic to a Dodger team who can only dream about success these days. Unfortunately, his magic will take a little bit of time and Los Angeles will have to sit on the sidelines come October, but don't worry Dodger faithful, you should return to the postseason in 2009. End of the year projection: 3rd in the NL West / Miss The Playoffs
	13 (-)	Atlanta Braves	0-0	0-0	There are too many people out there that are down on Atlanta, all you hear about are the Mets and Phillies in the East. However, don't turn away from the Braves when it comes down to who will win that division. Bobby Cox is one of the best managers in recent history and he will once again bring Atlanta to the playoffs as well as attempt to recreate the streak that Atlanta had through the 90s and early 2000s. End of the year projection: NL East Champions / Eliminated in Wild Card
	14 (-)	Seattle Mariners	0-0	0-0	I am not a big fan of Erik Bedard and do not believe that he is the top ace that everybody believes he is, but if he proves me wrong, the Mariners will be a top team in the West. The 1-2 combination of Bedard and Felix Hernandez is not matched by very many teams in the majors, and if both can have career years, Seattle could actually end the year with the best record in the majors. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening, and believe that the combination of the overhyped Bedard and the overpaid corners of Sexson and Beltre will be too much for Seattle to overcome. End of the year projection: 2nd in the AL West / Miss The Playoffs
	15 (-)	Toronto Blue Jays	0-0	0-0	Not only does Toronto have to worry about the power houses, Boston and New York, in their division but the up and coming Rays are now challenging them for their 3rd spot. The Jays were supposed to be much improved last season, but really never lived up to expectations. This season the Jays are just kind of there, and their season will depend on how well the bottom three in their rotation pans out. We all know that Halladay and Burnett will get their wins, but they are only on the mound 40% of the time. End of the year projection: 4th in the AL East / Miss The Playoffs
	16 (-)	Houston Astros	0-0	0-0	Houston just does not impress me this season, and they just seem to be going in the wrong direction. They will be beneficial of a weak division, but in a season or two, they might be down with Pittsburgh as one of the worst teams in the league if they are not careful. End of the year projection: 5th in the NL Central / Miss The Playoffs
	17 (-)	Washington Nationals	0-0	0-0	If Washington wants to be a contender in the East, they need to figure out which five players to use in their rotation. Last season the Nationals ended up using 13 different starting pitchers, and Washington just never seemed to get any rhythm. That being said, Washington could surprise this season, and with New York battling with injury issues, the Nats could actually finish around .500. End of the year projection: 3rd in the NL East / Miss The Playoffs
	18 (-)	San Diego Padres	0-0	0-0	All pitching and no batting, same story but a different season in San Diego. End of the year projection: 4th in the NL West / Miss The Playoffs
	19 (-)	Chicago White Sox	0-0	0-0	Ozzie Guillen has stated that if Chicago does not improve this season, he should be fired, well Ozzie, you better start looking for a new job. It isn't that the White Sox are that bad, but with the Indians and Tigers continuing to improve in the division, it is tough to make a run and Chicago will most likely perform well only to fall in the 3rd spot this season. End of the year projection: 3rd in the AL Central / Miss The Playoffs
	20 (-)	Tampa Bay Rays	0-0	0-0	Tampa Bay really excites me this season, they are filled all around with young prospects, but now have a solid veteran closer to close games for them. Troy Percival will be a great addition to the ball club and young players like B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford will bring excitement to a team in a town where they really just don't care about their team. I wish they would move this team to a town that cares, because maybe..just maybe that could spark something under these young players and make them playoff contenders, but until that happens, look for Tampa Bay to float around .500 End of the year projection: 3rd in the AL East / Miss The Playoffs
	21 (-)	Cincinnati Reds	0-0	0-0	Cincinnati made some nice moves in the offseason and newly hired head coach, Dusty Baker, will be a great fit. But it will still be a season or two before the Reds are contenders in the National League. End of the year projection: 4th in the NL Central / Miss The Playoffs
	22 (-)	Minnesota Twins	0-0	0-0	The loss of Torii Hunter and Johan Santana will prove to be too much for a Minnesota team that wasn't that great before they left. Francisco Liriano will be the only real interesting player to watch on this team this season, because if he can stay healthy, he will be the perfect cornerstone to rebuild around. End of the year projection: 4th in the AL Central / Miss The Playoffs
	23 (-)	St. Louis Cardinals	0-0	0-0	Things are not starting out well for St. Louis as two of their key starters, Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder, will not be healthy come opening day. This is a sign of things to come for the Cardinals as they battle to just try and win 70 games this season. 3rd in the NL Central / Miss The Playoffs
	24 (-)	Oakland Athletics	0-0	0-0	Oakland almost took a page out of the Marlins' playbook by releasing some of their key names for prospects, hoping to find that hidden gem to lead them back to the playoffs. Oakland got rid of Danny Haren, Nich Swisher and Mark Kotsay, so don't expect the A's to compete this season. End of the year projection: 3rd in the AL West / Miss The Playoffs
	25 (-)	Texas Rangers	0-0	0-0	Same old story for Texas, they hope to find pitching help…the talent doesn't pan out…Texas watches at home in October. End of the year projection: 4th in the AL West / Miss The Playoffs
	26 (-)	San Francisco Giants	0-0	0-0	The Barry Bonds saga is behind them and now San Francisco can focus on winning baseball games, too bad the winning won't happen for another season or two. End of the year projection: 5th in the NL West / Miss The Playoffs
	27 (-)	Pittsburgh Pirates	0-0	0-0	Pittsburgh just can't seem to find anything that can get them out of this snide they are in. If the Pirates make it out of the cellar of the Central then I will be surprised. End of the year projection: 6th in the NL Central / Miss The Playoffs
	28 (-)	Baltimore Orioles	0-0	0-0	Baltimore was terrible before and now they no longer have their ace…if you can call him that. End of the year projection: 5th in the AL East / Miss The Playoffs
	29 (-)	Kansas City Royals	0-0	0-0	Will this team every return to playoff form? Not this season…maybe not this decade. End of the year projection: 5th in the AL Central / Miss The Playoffs
	30 (-)	Florida Marlins	0-0	0-0	The Florida Marlins are a disgrace to the MLB End of the year projection: 5th in the NL East / Miss The Playoffs