Here are my offensive rankings from the first week—a fool’s errand indeed. 

Through Friday, April 3.

Name, Team, Position, OPS, OA, RC, RPA, RSA

(The math/methodology is at the bottom).

AL

1.  Cliff Floyd, Tbr, DH, 1.4620, .538, 5.077, .8154, .3624

2.  AJ Pierzynski, Chw, C, 1.6148, .444, 10.00, .6730, .2447

3.  Kevin Millar, Bal, 1B, 1.1670, .667, 3.75, .6353, .3177

4.  Brian Roberts, Bal, 2B, 1.365, .462, 3.692, .3910, .2932

5.  Carlos Guillen, Det, 1B, 1.2982, .529, 5.294, .3528, .2646

6.  Mark Teahen, Kcr, LF, 1.1453, .588, 4.529, .4456, .2674

7.  Jermaine Dye, Chw, RF, 1.3235, .556, 7.000, .3671, .2447

8.  Grady Sizemore, Cle, CF, 1.1315, .556, 4.278, .5313, .2277

9.  Howie Kendrick, Laa, 2B, 1.1076, .619, 5.143, .4161, .2972

10. Carlos Gomez, Min, CF, 1.0260, .524, 5.238, .3028, .3028

NL

1.  Kosuke Fukodome, Chi, RF, 1.5417, .375, 6.875, .6359, .3634

2.  Xavier Nady, Pit, RF, 1.3333, .500, 6.750, .8043, .3351

3.  Chase Utley, Phi, 2B, 1.4740, .579, 6.632, .7319, .3992

4.  Jason Kendall, Mil, C, 1.3500, .438, 5.063, .4747, .2373

5.  David Wright, Nym, 3B, 1.4561, .600, 6.400, .6667, .2222

6.  Yunel Escobar, Atl, SS, 1.1875, .500, 5.500, .5806, .1935

7.  Carlos Beltran, Nym, CF, 1.3333, .500, 5.0000, .3175, .2381

8.  Scott Hairston, Sdp, CF, 1.2711, .571, 6.857, .4115, .2352

9.  Brandon Phillips, Cin, 2B, 1.1250, .625, 4.500, .7364, .3682

10. Chipper Jones, Atl, 3B, 1.0611, .550, 4.950, .6452, .2581

Some Thoughts on the week that was from the Batters Box

-This is all really quite meaningless at this point, but I could not help myself. 

-It is also obviously an untidy tangle of numbers that may be hard to decipher, I tried to put these figures in neat boxes, but alas, it did not work.

-These numbers are all over-influenced by big games at this point.

-The beginning of the season is probably the only time this list will be weighted down with names like A.J. Pierzynski, Jason Kendall, Kevin Millar, and Scott Hairston; but I’m excited to see how long they can stick.

-These rankings are not purely scientific—I looked over everybody’s stats and only did calculations on players that passed the eye test—about eighty players in total.

-Albert Pujols is at 12, sandwiched between Angel Pagan and Jeff Keppinger.

-As soon as he hits a home run he will be in the top five.

-Fukodome got out of the box fast, I am interested to see if he really is an elite hitter.

-Some Fukodome Highlights:  through his first 16 plate appearances he had six hits, four runs, three batted in, a home run, two doubles, four walks…he was nearly a perfect batsman.

-Some of the AL players outside looking in:  David Murphy, Carlos Pena, and Bobby Abreu.

-Minnesota’s Carlos Gomez had a tremendous week with the bat and on the base paths:  4 for 4 in thefts.

-The Metropolitans pounded out 24 runs through three games—who needs Pedro when you have Beltran, Wright, and Pagan (among others)

-Chase Utley may be the only second baseman that can realistically stay in the top ten.

-Brandon Phillips strikes out way too much and is reluctant to take walks.

-Shock of the week—Those Tampa Bay De…  I mean Rays:  25 runs, three games, Cliff Floyd:  two long balls, 9 runs + RBI; it must be that Florida air.

-I am glad Todd Helton already has a home run:  Helton’s home run totals over the last 7 seasons:  2001, 49; 2002, 30; 2003, 33; 2004, 32; 2005, 20; 2006, 15; 2007, 17…that humidor sure is something.

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The Math:

OPS:  (OBP + Slugging Average)
Out Average (OA):  (Outs/Plate Appearances)
Runs Created (RC):   (Hits + Walks) x (Total Bases) / (At Bats + Walks)
Run Production Average (RPA):  ((Runs + Runs Batted In) / Plate Appearances)/Team OPS)
Run Scoring Average (RSA):  (Runs/Plate Appearances) / Team OPS

The final rankings take equally in to account the five stats above.