2011 MLB Power Rankings

The Fixer

jimed14 wrote:

Forgive me while I try to talk some actual baseball ...

PHATJ wrote:

26. KANSAS CITY ROYALS 65-97 NR

The Royals are bad. But there is hope. Billy Butler is a legit hitter. Kila Ka'aihue has big time power. Joakim Soria may become the best closer in the game. Will Luke Hochevar and Alex Gorden ever reach their potential? Who knows. Read what Baseball Prospectus wrote before the Zack Greinke trade: This is not just the best minor-league system in baseball, it’s the best by a wide margin. The more I wrote about these prospects, the more trouble I had figuring out any way for things to go wrong. Another winning record could occur as early as 2012, but more importantly, the team should return to annual playoff contention shortly thereafter.

Baseball Prospectus actually gave the Royals their highest grade ever for their current farm system. I was listening to a podcast with Joe Sheehan (formerly of BP) and he made a great argument for the Royals, yes the ROYALS, making a huge push for Albert Pujols. They are flush with cash (one of the teams that just pocket the shared MLB revenue), it would only be a quick move across the state for Pujols (and it's been said his family loves the area), the Royals have tons of up and coming talent, too much even, and could deal off a few guys for talent now. They could become a contender if ... IF ... they really put their mind, and wallet to it.

I'd love to see this happen.

I think pujols to KC is a horrendous idea. That team isn't exactly flush with revenues. They have one of the lowest payrolls in MLB...giving pujols 25-30 mill per year (which is what he's going to get as a FA) would cripple thier financial flexibility.

Also, most of their top prospects (hosmer, moustakas, lamb, duffy, dwyer, myers, etc) won't be up until mid-2012/early 2013, so signing pujols doesn't really make sense, as they won't be seriously ready to compete until 2013 at the earliest (as pujols enters his career decline)

I'd put the odds of pujols to KC at <1%

FearTheBeard

PHATJ wrote:

FearTheBeard wrote:

jimed14 wrote:

As for the power ranking ... tell me where the Giants were before last year ... then, tell me how accurate these fucking lists are.

Yes, this coming from a Red Sox fan. #1 ranking? ha!

Giants were 13th! The best part was the shot up to 4th after going 5-1, lol. These lists are garbage...

I had them 7th. I don't know what lists you are referring to.

ESPN's 2010 MLB Power Rankings, week 1.

PHATJ

Jearlpam0925 wrote:

PHATJ wrote:

FearTheBeard wrote:

Giants were 13th! The best part was the shot up to 4th after going 5-1, lol. These lists are garbage...

I had them 7th. I don't know what lists you are referring to.

Waaaaaait a minute - this was your list you made up and organized like that? HA. Man, I'm convinced everyone who comes on this board definitely does NOT work.

My list. My writing. My power rankings. I did the work. And by the way a have a very good job. I worked on this and wrote it for my own forum last Saturday.

PHATJ

FearTheBeard wrote:

ESPN's 2010 MLB Power Rankings, week 1.

OK. Well, I didn't write that. I did write this however. And I stand by the rankings.

The Juggler

PHATJ wrote:

Jearlpam0925 wrote:

PHATJ wrote:

I had them 7th. I don't know what lists you are referring to.

Waaaaaait a minute - this was your list you made up and organized like that? HA. Man, I'm convinced everyone who comes on this board definitely does NOT work.

My list. My writing. My power rankings. I did the work. And by the way a have a very good job. I worked on this and wrote it for my own forum last Saturday.

get out. seriously?? i thought jp was kidding.....is your job title "baseball writer?"

Jearlpam0925

The Juggler wrote:

PHATJ wrote:

Jearlpam0925 wrote:

Waaaaaait a minute - this was your list you made up and organized like that? HA. Man, I'm convinced everyone who comes on this board definitely does NOT work.

My list. My writing. My power rankings. I did the work. And by the way a have a very good job. I worked on this and wrote it for my own forum last Saturday.

get out. seriously?? i thought jp was kidding.....is your job title "baseball writer?"

At least someone finds the humor in this.

jimed14

This is very high level, perhaps this weekend when I have time I'll bust out some numbers.

Best quick data I could find from 2009 on the Royals ... note, they take in nearly $40M(!) per year in revenue sharing.

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/33/bas ... 39113.html

Revenue - $155 mil
Operating Inc. - $8.9 mil
Player Expenses - $94 mil
Gate Receipts - $37 mil

They operate in the black, their stadium is new and funded by the government ... they drew 1.8M fans and made $37M off that, imagine how much better the gate receipts could be if they added Pujols and one or two other name players. Not to mention the concessions, luxury boxes and sponsorships that would roll in.

My point is ... with stronger management, it could happen. Or at least, I'd like to see them at least try.

PHATJ

The Juggler wrote:

get out. seriously?? i thought jp was kidding.....is your job title "baseball writer?"

Seriously. I did the research. And the writing and the whole thing. I am not a professional writer. I am a self employed business man that happens to love sports (especially baseball), and I enjoyed every minute of puting the list together. If time allows me to, I plan on doing a new power rankings ever two weeks or so through out the year. No promises on that, but that is my intention.

The Juggler

jimed14 wrote:

This is very high level, perhaps this weekend when I have time I'll bust out some numbers.

Best quick data I could find from 2009 on the Royals ... note, they take in nearly $40M(!) per year in revenue sharing.

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/33/bas ... 39113.html

Revenue - $155 mil
Operating Inc. - $8.9 mil
Player Expenses - $94 mil
Gate Receipts - $37 mil

They operate in the black, their stadium is new and funded by the government ... they drew 1.8M fans and made $37M off that, imagine how much better the gate receipts could be if they added Pujols and one or two other name players. Not to mention the concessions, luxury boxes and sponsorships that would roll in.

My point is ... with stronger management, it could happen. Or at least, I'd like to see them at least try.

the stadium isn't new, it's newly renovated.....i've always wanted to see a game there though.

The Fixer

jimed14 wrote:

This is very high level, perhaps this weekend when I have time I'll bust out some numbers.

Best quick data I could find from 2009 on the Royals ... note, they take in nearly $40M(!) per year in revenue sharing.

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/33/bas ... 39113.html

Revenue - $155 mil
Operating Inc. - $8.9 mil
Player Expenses - $94 mil
Gate Receipts - $37 mil

They operate in the black, their stadium is new and funded by the government ... they drew 1.8M fans and made $37M off that, imagine how much better the gate receipts could be if they added Pujols and one or two other name players. Not to mention the concessions, luxury boxes and sponsorships that would roll in.

My point is ... with stronger management, it could happen. Or at least, I'd like to see them at least try.

their stadium isn't new.

what is the KC payroll for 2011?

Pujols doesnt fit into what they are trying to accomplish IMO. They'd be better off with a guy like hosmer at 1B for the next few years while he is under club control.

jimed14

The Fixer wrote:

their stadium isn't new.

what is the KC payroll for 2011?

Pujols doesnt fit into what they are trying to accomplish IMO. They'd be better off with a guy like hosmer at 1B for the next few years while he is under club control.

Not new, but the stadium underwent a sizable renovation in 2009.

I think the payroll for 2011 is around $75M.

Oh, and of course Pujols doesn't fit in what they are trying to accomplish, current mgmt only wants to accomplish making money off the revenue sharing ... they've done that. (insert GWB's Mission Accomplished jpeg here)

I'm just trying to suggest something that would make them ... you know ... win ballgames. And they may have the capacity, the farm system prospects, the cash, to actually do this.

The Fixer

jimed14 wrote:

The Fixer wrote:

their stadium isn't new.

what is the KC payroll for 2011?

Pujols doesnt fit into what they are trying to accomplish IMO. They'd be better off with a guy like hosmer at 1B for the next few years while he is under club control.

Not new, but the stadium underwent a sizable renovation in 2009.

I think the payroll for 2011 is around $75M.

Oh, and of course Pujols doesn't fit in what they are trying to accomplish, current mgmt only wants to accomplish making money off the revenue sharing ... they've done that. (insert GWB's Mission Accomplished jpeg here)

I'm just trying to suggest something that would make them ... you know ... win ballgames. And they may have the capacity, the farm system prospects, the cash, to actually do this.

I'd be surprised if their payroll is that high. I was thinking more like 60 million.

I'd be copying the rays blueprint to a 'T' if I was KC. Once they see what shakes out with their loaded farm system, they can start adding FA pieces around those players. I don't think it makes sense to blow approximately 30% of your salary budget to one player. Especially when that player is entering the downside of his career.

Love these baseball debates. Can't wait for the season to start

EDIT: around 71 mill, so you were pretty close
http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/salaries/_/ ... ity-royals

Cliffy6745

This circle jerk over Boston has got to stop, I don't get all the love. Yes, they had injuries last year and yes, Crawford and Gonzalez are offensive upgrades over Beltre and Vmart but pitching was a major problem and the rotation is the same, who knows what they are going to get out of Beckett, Lackey and Dice K. Yes, Boston is going to be better this year but I can't possibly see how they are ranked above the Phillies to start the season. I know the Phillies lost Werth and I am very skeptical of the phillies offense but their rotation is just outrageous if it stays healthy,

Edit: And the Twins ahead of the Yankees, ha.

The Juggler

Cliffy6745 wrote:

This circle jerk over Boston has got to stop, I don't get all the love. Yes, they had injuries last year and yes, Crawford and Gonzalez are offensive upgrades over Beltre and Vmart but pitching was a major problem and the rotation is the same, who knows what they are going to get out of Beckett, Lackey and Dice K. Yes, Boston is going to be better this year but I can't possibly see how they are ranked above the Phillies to start the season. I know the Phillies lost Werth and I am very skeptical of the phillies offense but their rotation is just outrageous if it stays healthy,

Edit: And the Twins ahead of the Yankees, ha.

dude...the op made up the list himself.

Cliffy6745

The Juggler wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

This circle jerk over Boston has got to stop, I don't get all the love. Yes, they had injuries last year and yes, Crawford and Gonzalez are offensive upgrades over Beltre and Vmart but pitching was a major problem and the rotation is the same, who knows what they are going to get out of Beckett, Lackey and Dice K. Yes, Boston is going to be better this year but I can't possibly see how they are ranked above the Phillies to start the season. I know the Phillies lost Werth and I am very skeptical of the phillies offense but their rotation is just outrageous if it stays healthy,

Edit: And the Twins ahead of the Yankees, ha.

dude...the op made up the list himself.

Ahh, missed that. Damn, that's a lot of work.

Op, who is your team?

The Fixer

Cliffy6745 wrote:

This circle jerk over Boston has got to stop, I don't get all the love. Yes, they had injuries last year and yes, Crawford and Gonzalez are offensive upgrades over Beltre and Vmart but pitching was a major problem and the rotation is the same, who knows what they are going to get out of Beckett, Lackey and Dice K. Yes, Boston is going to be better this year but I can't possibly see how they are ranked above the Phillies to start the season. I know the Phillies lost Werth and I am very skeptical of the phillies offense but their rotation is just outrageous if it stays healthy,

Edit: And the Twins ahead of the Yankees, ha.

I thought twins over yanks was funny too. Remember all the talk last year aorund here before that yanks/twins playoff series?

as for boston...they should be pretty damn good, but I agree that their rotation is loaded with question marks

I was looking at 2011 win total over/unders the other night. I actully like the yanks over 92 a lot. Also like mets under 76.5 and reds over 84.5. Really wish I would have jumped on cards under before the wainwright injury. Even with him I think they were a .500 team...that number is all the way down to 82.

jimed14

People need to get past 1 vs 2 vs 3 etc ... look at it as teams in groups, or who's ranked around you. Comparable teams in groups of 6 or something.

One team over by a spot or two another really isn't that big of a deal.

Cliffy, we've moved on ... you, me and Fixer are going to take over the Royals, you in?

Cliffy6745

jimed14 wrote:

People need to get past 1 vs 2 vs 3 etc ... look at it as teams in groups, or who's ranked around you. Comparable teams in groups of 6 or something.

One team over by a spot or two another really isn't that big of a deal.

Cliffy, we've moved on ... you, me and Fixer are going to take over the Royals, you in?

True on all of that, I just like to nitpick.

Yeah, I am down, we sure as hell could do a better job than Moore

Cliffy6745

The Fixer wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

This circle jerk over Boston has got to stop, I don't get all the love. Yes, they had injuries last year and yes, Crawford and Gonzalez are offensive upgrades over Beltre and Vmart but pitching was a major problem and the rotation is the same, who knows what they are going to get out of Beckett, Lackey and Dice K. Yes, Boston is going to be better this year but I can't possibly see how they are ranked above the Phillies to start the season. I know the Phillies lost Werth and I am very skeptical of the phillies offense but their rotation is just outrageous if it stays healthy,

Edit: And the Twins ahead of the Yankees, ha.

I thought twins over yanks was funny too. Remember all the talk last year aorund here before that yanks/twins playoff series?

as for boston...they should be pretty damn good, but I agree that their rotation is loaded with question marks

I was looking at 2011 win total over/unders the other night. I actully like the yanks over 92 a lot. Also like mets under 76.5 and reds over 84.5. Really wish I would have jumped on cards under before the wainwright injury. Even with him I think they were a .500 team...that number is all the way down to 82.

Haha, I forgot about that. Those twinkes fans were pretty confident, haah.

Yeah, they are defintely going to be good, no doubt, I just don't know about the best team in baseball.

I like the Yanks over 92 too, especially since there is no way their pitching staff is staying as is all year. Damn, Mets number is 76.5, that is pretty sad. You have been down on the Cards all offseason, understandably

FenwayFaithful

That's all we can do at this point is nitpick! I'm not a huge fan of us being #1 in the spring training rankings. In fact, I truly don't believe we're the best team as constituted right now. But it's better than being the Pirates.