LewMan's 2010 Major League Baseball Preview: Ranking All 30 MLB Teams

Opening Day is fast approaching.

The beginning of baseball season has a vast array of consequences.

As an Indians fan, it means I will soon become a mere shell of a human being, completely embittered by my hometown team's failings.

As a fantasy nut, it begins a six-month stretch of staring at my computer screen and swearing at the players foolish enough to strike out on my watch.

And, as a human being, I will fail at whatever life throws at me until after the World Series, as I will be too consumed by baseball to worry about trivial matters like school and laundry.

But before we descend into madness (I'm not the only one, right? Right?), let's take a look at how the season is likely to shake out.

Without further ado, here are my 2010 MLB power rankings.

Feel free to disagree with any of my picks, as long as you know that I'm right in the end.

No. 30: Kansas City Royals

League Rank: 14th

Division Rank: Fifth

Playoff Chances: Very Low

Despite featuring a Cy Young winner (Zack Greinke) and one of the game's best up-and-coming sluggers (Billy Butler), the Royals finished comfortably among the worst teams in baseball in 2009.

After an offseason that made observers scratch their heads, there isn't much to get excited about in Kansas City.

No. 29: Pittsburgh Pirates

League Rank: 16th

Division Rank: Sixth

Playoff Chances: Very Low

The Pirates made North American sports history in 2009 with their 17th straight losing season.

Promising young talent is waiting in the wings, but there's no reason to think Pittsburgh won't have earned No. 18 by early September.

No. 28: San Diego Padres

League Rank: 15th

Division Rank: Fifth

Playoff Chances: Low

With no glaring holes in the depth chart, it's too soon to count the Padres out of contention in the wide-open NL West.

That said, the most exciting part of 2010 for San Diego will probably be the seemingly inevitable trades of Heath Bell and Adrian Gonzalez.

No. 27: Toronto Blue Jays

League Rank: 13th

Division Rank: Fifth

Playoff Chances: Very Low

With a bright young GM and pair of powerful young stars (Aaron Hill and Adam Lind), Toronto fans have reason to hope for the future.

In the meantime, though, the Blue Jays will assuredly be looking up at the spendthrift powerhouses of the AL East.

No. 26: Houston Astros

League Rank: 14th

Division Rank: Fifth

Playoff Chances: Very Low

Houston has only four players projected to be worth over 2.5 WAR in 2010.

In other words, the Astros really just aren't very talented.

No. 25: Washington Nationals

League Rank: 13th

Division Rank: Fifth

Playoff Chances: Very Low

Most teams wouldn't be thrilled with a 25th-place ranking, but I'm actually more bullish on Washington than other writers I've seen.

Make no mistake—the Nats won't be a good team in 2010, but a decent lineup and talented young pitchers could at least save them from being laughingstocks again.

No. 24: Cleveland Indians

League Rank: 12th

Division Rank: Fourth

Playoff Chances: Low

If all of a number of conditional statements work out for the best, Cleveland will have one of the most talented rosters in baseball.

But between prospects' growing pains and veterans' injury pains, the Tribe is likely to struggle with inconsistency in 2010.

No. 23: Baltimore Orioles

League Rank: 11th

Division Rank: Fourth

Playoff Chances: Very Low

With a fantastic core of young players infiltrating every part of the depth chart, the Orioles should be an exciting team to watch for years to come.

Unfortunately, Baltimore isn't nearly ready to compete with the beasts of the AL East.

No. 22: Milwaukee Brewers

League Rank: 12th

Division Rank: Fourth

Playoff Chances: Low

With a decent lineup and an uninspiring pitching staff, the Brewers are almost a sure bet to be a mediocre-to-average team in 2010.

That should be enough to keep them out of the NL Central cellar, but the division title will probably go to a team with higher upside.

No. 21: Florida Marlins

League Rank: 11th

Division Rank: Fourth

Playoff Chances: Low

Perhaps the scrappiest team in baseball, the Marlins have tremendous talent at the top of their lineup and rotation, plus some future studs waiting in the wings.

But question marks run deep through the roster, rendering a pennant run unlikely.

No. 20: San Francisco Giants

League Rank: 10th

Division Rank: Fourth

Playoff Chances: Low

There's plenty to be excited about in San Francisco, as the Giants have two bona fide aces (Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain), a promising young catcher (Buster Posey), and the most lovable slugger in MLB (Pablo Sandoval).

Unfortunately, last year's worst offense in baseball looks even less threatening in 2010; you can't win if you don't score.

No. 19: Oakland Athletics

League Rank: 10th

Division Rank: Fourth

Playoff Chances: Low

With continued development from Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill and comebacks from Ben Sheets and Justin Duchscherer, Oakland could have the best rotation in the league.

Unfortunately, like their buddies across the Bay, the A's probably don't have the offense to keep up in a competitive division.

No. 18: Detroit Tigers

League Rank: Ninth

Division Rank: Third

Playoff Chances: Low

Maybe I'm too down on a team that was just a game away from the playoffs last year, but I don't see Detroit repeating its success.

After a series of baffling offseason moves (paying Johnny Damon more than Curtis Granderson would have made?), there are too many question marks for me to have confidence in the Tigers, even in the mediocre AL Central.

No. 17: New York Mets

League Rank: Ninth

Division Rank: Third

Playoff Chances: Low

Sure, everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong for the Mets last year.

But after another offseason of only marginal improvements, it's astonishing that a team that spends so much money can have so many holes.

No. 16: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

League Rank: Eighth

Division Rank: Third

Playoff Chances: Medium

The Angels are still a good team, even after losing their longtime ace (John Lackey) and leadoff hitter (Chone Figgins). Unfortunately, "good" won't be enough to win in the ultra-competitive AL West.

No. 15: Cincinnati Reds

League Rank: Eighth

Division Rank: Third

Playoff Chances: Low

A great lineup of young stars will make the team respectable in 2010. A collective step forward from their young pitchers could make them champions.

No. 14: Arizona Diamondbacks

League Rank: Seventh

Division Rank: Third

Playoff Chances: Medium

There's no shortage of star potential at Chase Field after breakout seasons from Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds.

Their sustained success plus comebacks from the likes of Conor Jackson and Brandon Webb could lead to a playoff spot.

No. 13: Chicago Cubs

League Rank: Sixth

Division Rank: Second

Playoff Chances: Medium

With a solid rotation and a potentially potent lineup (assuming Alfonso Soriano and Geovany Soto can regain the ground they lost last year), the Cubs aren't that far away from contention.

At worst, they'll remain within striking distance until early September.

No. 12: Chicago White Sox

League Rank: Seventh

Division Rank: Second

Playoff Chances: Medium

The White Sox didn't turn too many heads in 2009, but then again, their best hitter (Carlos Quentin) and pitcher (Jake Peavy) were struggling with injuries.

Combine their returns with the acquisitions of Juan Pierre and the continued development of Alexei Ramirez and Gordon Beckham, and Chicago could definitely challenge the Twins for supremacy in the AL Central.

No. 11: Texas Rangers

League Rank: Sixth

Division Rank: Second

Playoff Chances: Medium

The Rangers' lineup is oozing with power potential, but they've never really had a problem offensively.

Texas' resurgence last year coincided with improved pitching; whether the young staff can collectively take the next step will be the difference between a good season and a pennant run.

No. 10: Minnesota Twins

League Rank: Fifth

Division Rank: First

Playoff Chances: High

Sure, some of Minnesota's sluggers were playing over their heads in 2009. But with a healthy Justin Morneau and a refocused Francisco Liriano, the Twins may be even better in 2010 than they were during last year's historic end-of-season comeback.

No. 9: St. Louis Cardinals

League Rank: Fifth

Division Rank: First

Playoff Chances: High

The Cardinals' roster is truly top-heavy, led by a pair of powerful sluggers (Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday) and a duo of dynamic aces (Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter). The supporting cast won't win many Oscars, but the rest of the roster provides a solid stage for the superstars to shine.

No. 8: Los Angeles Dodgers

League Rank: Fourth

Division Rank: Second

Playoff Chances: Medium

Los Angeles' roster is plagued by question marks—in the back of the rotation and around the infield. Luckily for the Bums, they have enough star power around the horn to make up for their depth chart's shortcomings.

No. 7: Seattle Mariners

League Rank: Fourth

Division Rank: First

Playoff Chances: High

There will be a serious power outage at Safeco Field in 2010, but that's no reason to worry. With a lights-out pitching staff and shutdown defense, the M's should be playing well into October.

No. 6: Atlanta Braves

League Rank: Third

Division Rank: Second

Playoff Chances: Medium

It's a bullish prediction, I know, but the Braves have a solid lineup to support arguably the best rotation in the game. This could be the start of a new dynasty.

No. 5: Tampa Bay Rays

League Rank: Third

Division Rank: Third

Playoff Chances: Medium

A good season in Tampa would no longer come as a surprise. With a terrific young pitching staff and an intimidating lineup, the Rays would already have a playoff spot wrapped up if they weren't trapped in the AL East.

No. 4: Colorado Rockies

League Rank: Second

Division Rank: First

Playoff Chances: High

The Rockies don't need Coors Field to be an offensive juggernaut. The only soft spot in their batting order is the pitcher, and with the emergence of Ubaldo Jimenez and Jorge De La Rosa, Colorado is finally starting to get good at stopping the other team from scoring.

No. 3: Boston Red Sox

League Rank: Second

Division Rank: Second

Playoff Chances: High

Much has been made of Boston's offensive losses this winter, but the difference will be more than made up for in the Red Sox' vastly improved defense. They're no longer the best team in the league, but they have tremendous talent and the deepest depth chart in the game.

No. 2: Philadelphia Phillies

League Rank: First

Division Rank: First

Playoff Chances: Very High

With a stacked rotation and an awe-inspiring lineup, it's no surprise that the Phillies have won the NL pennant two years in a row. There's no reason to think they can't go for the hat trick.

No. 1: New York Yankees

League Rank: First

Division Rank: First

Playoff Chances: Very High

Much as it pains me to say it, the Yankees are the undisputed best team in baseball. They're clearly the team to beat in 2010, even if their superiority is due to an unfair financial advantage.