Cubicle GM MLB Power Rankings: September 8th

Jacob NitzbergSep 8, 2009

Welcome to another edition of the Cubicle GM MLB Power Rankings. Looking at the rankings this week, it has become pretty clear which teams the contributors here believe have a shot at October and a World Series.

The eight teams which would qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today were all in the top nine in our rankings. Only Texas at No. 8 was above a current playoff team. In addition, every team in the top half of the rankings was within eight games or less of a playoff spot.

Of all the playoff races, the closest in both the standings and the rankings were the Wild Cards in both leagues. Boston leads Texas by 2 ½ games and four spots in the rankings, while Colorado leads San Francisco by two games and the same margin ranking-wise. The only other races that saw teams within four spots in the rankings were Yankees-Red Sox and Dodgers-Rockies.

TOP NEWS

Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Angels

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

The Top 10 finally got a shakeup, as the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers widened their division lead and in turn jumped three spots to No. 9 in the rankings. The Yankees have finally become a unanimous No. 1 selection, as Red Sox Nation member Gideon finally gave them his vote. Both LA teams remain at Nos. 2 and 3, although flip-flopping for the second straight week.

The very bottom of the rankings remained the same for a fifth straight week, with the lowly Royals checking in at a unanimous No. 30. The entire bottom five was comprised of the same teams, with just the Padres and Orioles swapping spots.

The biggest mover this week was the Arizona Diamondbacks, who, after climbing four spots last week gave them all back and then some. The D-backs dropped five places to No. 25, a result of losing five straight and six of seven. Only one other team aside from Detroit and Arizona moved more than one spot this week, as the Giants at fell out of the Top 10 from No. 9 to No. 11.

The disagreements in the rankings between myself, Gideon, and Mickey are no longer a surprise. It has become clear that Gideon feels differently about Seattle, Toronto and Houston than the rest of us, and will continue to do so until his formula says otherwise.

For the fourth week running, there were no double-digit discrepancies between any of the ranks, and there were just four gaps of seven or more. And of course, all involved good old Gid.

Seattle Mariners (9)—Mickey 12, Gideon 21

Toronto Blue Jays (9)—Jacob 22, Gideon 13

Houston Astros (7)—Jacob 18, Gideon 25

Arizona Diamondbacks (7)—Jacob 26, Gideon 19

On the divisional front, the AL West regained the top spot from the AL East with an 11.83 average, barely better than the East’s 12.13. At the bottom, the NL Central retook the cellar, despite seeing its average increase to 18.56. A close second was the AL Central with a score of 18.47.

You can check out the backup data here. So, without further ado, onto the rankings. As always, last week’s ranks in parentheses.

1. New York Yankees (1)—Another week, another No. 1 finish in the rankings. The Yankees closest competition is our No. 2 ranked team, the Angels, who are 6 ½ games back in the race for the best record. While the Yankees are rolling, they might not have many reinforcements if they have any injuries to their pitching staff.

2. Los Angeles Angels (3)—The Angels and Dodgers have again swapped places in the rankings, as Gideon bumped the Angels and dropped the Dodgers by one spot each. The Angels did move up, but one LA Times writer thinks they looked more like the Royals in their weekend series in KC.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (2)—The Dodgers have seen their division lead slip to 3 ½ games, but have also seen the Cardinals catch them for the best record in the NL. It won’t help the Dodgers that star young pitcher Clayton Kershaw injured his non-pitching shoulder in batting practice. Not good news for my fantasy team’s playoff chances either.

4. Boston Red Sox (5)—The Sox lost three of four to Chicago over the weekend, but took two of three in a more crucial series in Tampa Bay. Josh Beckett took the loss against the White Sox on Monday, but looked better than he has the last few weeks in doing so.

5. Philadelphia Phillies (4)—The Phils had an uncharacteristic road series over the long weekend, losing four straight in Houston and dropping a spot in the ranks as a result. More starting pitcher injury news in Philly, as JA Happ was scratched from his last start with an oblique injury.

6. St. Louis Cardinals (6)—The Cardinals just keep winning ballgames, and amazingly took a game off their magic number every day they played in August and into the first week of September. This includes their win on Monday, as Chris Carpenter had a Cy Young worthy performance.

7. Colorado Rockies (7)—The Rockies have maintained their Wild Card lead by beating the teams they are supposed to, taking two of three from New York before sweeping Arizona last week. The Rockies then beat the Reds Monday, but are anxiously awaiting word on SS Troy Tulowitzki’s injury.

8. Texas Rangers (8)—The Rangers have lost two straight after winning four in a row, and remain 2 ½ games out of the Wild Card. The Rangers will have to try to keep pace this week without Josh Hamilton, who received a second injection Monday to ease the pain of a pinched nerve in his lower back.

9. Detroit Tigers (12)—The first place Tigers have opened up a 6 ½ game lead in the AL Central, and as a result regain a spot in the Top 10 of the rankings. The Tigers will be without Fernando Rodney for three games, as he was suspended by MLB for throwing a ball into the stands in celebration of a victory last week in Tampa.

10. Tampa Bay Rays (9)—The Rays are now 7 ½ games out of the Wild Card race and it appears they will fall short of repeating last season’s impressive run. The final nail in their 2009 coffin may be Carlos Pena’s season-ending injury after being hit on the hand by a CC Sabathia pitch.

11. San Francisco Giants (9)

12. Atlanta Braves (11)

13. Florida Marlins (14)

14. Minnesota Twins (13)

15. Seattle Mariners (16)

16. Chicago Cubs (15)

17. Chicago White Sox (18)

18. Toronto Blue Jays (17)

18. Chicago White Sox (14)

19. Milwaukee Brewers (19)

20. Houston Astros (21)

21. Oakland Athletics (22)