2010 MLB Playoffs: Power Ranking the Yankees, Phillies and Everyone Else
With the San Francisco Giants taking care of the San Diego Padres Sunday afternoon, there won't be a Game 163 this season. And more importantly, we now know who will partake in this year's playoffs.
In the American League, things were less exciting on the last day of the season as there were no playoff berths up for grabs.
Will the Yankees repeat? Can Bobby Cox's Atlanta Braves send their manager out on a high note?
These are questions that will be discussed in the next few days as teams prepare to open the postseason. With all of that being said, here are the power rankings of all the teams that made the playoffs.
No. 8 Cincinnati Reds
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The Reds come in dead last for a variety of reasons. They are a young team that doesn't have very much playoff experience to lean on and have one of the weaker pitching staffs out of the playoff teams.
MVP candidate Joey Votto had a tremendous season and carried the Reds throughout the year. If Cincy hopes to pull off the upset against the Philadelphia Phillies, they are going to need Votto to tear the cover off the ball.
It was a nice season for the Reds and returning to the playoffs is a step in the right direction for the organization. Don't expect their stay to be long as they will have to go through the World Series favorite Phillies to make it to the NLCS.
No. 7 Atlanta Braves
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Longtime skipper Bobby Cox has his Atlanta Braves back in the playoffs as he tries one last time to snag another ring. Atlanta struggled in the final month of the season as they saw the Phillies surpass them to win the division that they led for most of the year.
Now they will have to travel to San Fran to face off with the Giants. Atlanta holds the majors' best home record at 56-25, but are 11 games under .500 on the road.
Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe, and Tommy Hanson are going to have to be on their game when they go up against a Giants pitching staff that is one of the best in the game. The odds are stacked against the Braves advancing to the World Series, but never count out a team Bobby Cox manages.
No. 6 Texas Rangers
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The Josh Hamilton-led Rangers will be looking to upset the talented Tampa Bay Rays. Hamilton was back in the lineup over the weekend after missing a good chunk of games due to colliding into a wall in Minnesota.
The slugger looked good in his return, even connecting on a home run in his second game back. Texas has the bats to compete with almost any team in baseball; the problem of late has been pitching.
Cliff Lee went 4-6 with a 3.98 ERA as a Ranger this season. If he isn't able to turn it on against Tampa, the Rangers won't be hanging around too long.
A large reason that Texas comes in so low on this list is the concerning 39-42 record on the road. It also doesn't help that they played in one of baseball's worst divisions, if not the worst.
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No. 5 San Francisco Giants
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The Giants' offense is troubling but it's hard to ignore their pitching staff, which features the likes of Tim Lincecum, Jonathan Sanchez, and Matt Cain.
While San Fran has scored the least amount of runs of any team in the playoffs, they have also given up the least amount of runs. And it's been well documented that when it comes to postseason play, pitching is what wins ball games.
Whether or not the Giants will be able to muster enough offense is a question for another time. Right now, they need to bask in the glory of winning an exciting division race, which came down to the final day.
No. 4 New York Yankees
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Yes, I have the Yankees ranked fourth overall and have not lost my mind. The reigning World Series champs aren't quite as loaded as a year ago and the pitching staff is in shambles after CC Sabathia.
After Sabathia, the Yanks will turn to Andy Pettitte, who has given up 19 hits and nine earned runs in his last two starts.
New York still boasts a dangerous lineup, but playing in Target Field will take some of the power out of its lineup. The Bronx Bombers have shown their age this season, but we all know they are not to be taken lightly when October comes around.
Pitching and not hitting will determine how far the Yankees will go this postseason.
No. 3 Minnesota Twins
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It's been a great opening season in the Minnesota Twins' new ballpark. They've collected one of the best home records in baseball en route to another division title.
Now, they will go up against a Yankee team that has haunted them ever since Ron Gardenhire took over as manager. This squad may be different due to ditching its small ball approach over the offseason and ponying up some dough to sign key free agent veterans Orlando Hudson and Jim Thome.
The Twins may not run like they used to on the base paths, but they still play stout defense under Gardenhire's tutelage.
Francisco Liriano and Carl Pavano have the ability to shut teams down, although things are always tougher against the Yankees.
No. 2 Tampa Bay Rays
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With the Rays set to lose Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford, and Rafael Soriano after this season, the pressure is on Tampa Bay to win now. Tampa's much publicized speed, pitching, and defense make them the second best team heading into the playoffs.
The Rays boast a good home record and the best road record out of any team in the postseason. Cy Young candidate David Price heads a very talented rotation and Rafael Soriano has been the best closer in baseball this season.
Tampa is solid all around and has a very good shot to make it to the World Series once again.
No. 1 Philadelphia Phillies
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Philadelphia cruised to the finish and overtook the Braves in the last month of the season. The offseason trade for Roy Halladay and deadline deal for Roy Oswalt has more than paid off so far. Throw in Cole Hamels and the Phillies have the best trio in baseball.
To go along with their stout pitching is an offense that can hang with any club in the league. Ryan Howard still leads the offense and it's no surprise after he mashed another 31 home runs this season, while driving in 108 runners.
The Phillies will go into the playoffs as the odds-on favorite to represent the NL in the World Series and most likely to win the whole thing.
As long as Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels are on the same roster, the Phillies deserve to be favorites.
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