2011 MLB Power Rankings

Cliffy6745

Oh and regarding Pujols, I kind of see the KC talk along the same lines of the Toronto talk. Sure, it is a possibility but they have so many things working against them it is so hard to see happening. Gotta admit it would be very refreshing to see a team like that land the best player in baseball via free agency though.

The Fixer

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Oh and regarding Pujols, I kind of see the KC talk along the same lines of the Toronto talk. Sure, it is a possibility but they have so many things working against them it is so hard to see happening. Gotta admit it would be very refreshing to see a team like that land the best player in baseball via free agency though.

I think toronto makes a lot more sense than KC as they are more win-now ready. Gotta figure the mets and cubs would be players as well.

Cliffy6745

The Fixer wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Oh and regarding Pujols, I kind of see the KC talk along the same lines of the Toronto talk. Sure, it is a possibility but they have so many things working against them it is so hard to see happening. Gotta admit it would be very refreshing to see a team like that land the best player in baseball via free agency though.

I think toronto makes a lot more sense than KC as they are more win-now ready. Gotta figure the mets and cubs would be players as well.

I would agree Toronto makes more sense but I don't see either happening. Toronto has a tough road being in the AL East though. Everything I read says the Cubs are going all in for him, and I would imagine the Mets will definitely be involved.

PHATJ

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?

In my opinion the list feels like this:

The Favorites:
Red Sox
Phillies

Title Contenders:
Giants
Rangers
Twins
Yankees
Reds

Playoff Contenders:
Rockies
Braves
White Sox
Brewers
Tigers
Angels

Things need to go exactly right to make post season:
A's
Dodgers
Orioles
Cardinals
Cubs
Marlins
Rays
Blue Jays

No Post season this year:
Nationals
Mets
Padres

No chance in 2011:
Mariners
Royals
D-Backs
Astros
Indians
Pirates

Something like that. All the teams in each group are very close with each other.

FenwayFaithful

Wait, so you're saying the Nats aren't going to make the playoffs this year?

fife

The Fixer wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Oh and regarding Pujols, I kind of see the KC talk along the same lines of the Toronto talk. Sure, it is a possibility but they have so many things working against them it is so hard to see happening. Gotta admit it would be very refreshing to see a team like that land the best player in baseball via free agency though.

I think toronto makes a lot more sense than KC as they are more win-now ready. Gotta figure the mets and cubs would be players as well.

as a die hard jays fan, i have to say that Toronto is no way in a win now situation. I do believe that they will place 2nd in the east (Yankees have no pitching imo) but they need a couple of more years. also, the blue jay owners have said that they will not be spending that amount of money that Albert would want.

fife

Cliffy6745 wrote:

The Fixer wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Oh and regarding Pujols, I kind of see the KC talk along the same lines of the Toronto talk. Sure, it is a possibility but they have so many things working against them it is so hard to see happening. Gotta admit it would be very refreshing to see a team like that land the best player in baseball via free agency though.

I think toronto makes a lot more sense than KC as they are more win-now ready. Gotta figure the mets and cubs would be players as well.

I would agree Toronto makes more sense but I don't see either happening. Toronto has a tough road being in the AL East though. Everything I read says the Cubs are going all in for him, and I would imagine the Mets will definitely be involved.

from all reports here in Toronto they are not looking at Albert. this team is a couple of years away from being major players imo and getting Albert doesn't really help them. as long as Albert doesn't go to the Yankees or Red sox then we will be ok in a couple of years.

The Fixer

fife wrote:

The Fixer wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Oh and regarding Pujols, I kind of see the KC talk along the same lines of the Toronto talk. Sure, it is a possibility but they have so many things working against them it is so hard to see happening. Gotta admit it would be very refreshing to see a team like that land the best player in baseball via free agency though.

I think toronto makes a lot more sense than KC as they are more win-now ready. Gotta figure the mets and cubs would be players as well.

as a die hard jays fan, i have to say that Toronto is no way in a win now situation. I do believe that they will place 2nd in the east (Yankees have no pitching imo) but they need a couple of more years. also, the blue jay owners have said that they will not be spending that amount of money that Albert would want.

I meant they are in more of a win-now mode than KC. If they get Lawrie and Drabek into the majors, Snider has a good year, and Lind bounces back then this team won't be far from contending.

of course the owners are going to say that. if they say they are willing to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a specific player it puts them in a weakened bargaining position.

I love the moves AA has made (other than the john buck contract). The jays aren't that far away. Certainly not as far as the royals

fife

as a die hard jays fan, i have to say that Toronto is no way in a win now situation. I do believe that they will place 2nd in the east (Yankees have no pitching imo) but they need a couple of more years. also, the blue jay owners have said that they will not be spending that amount of money that Albert would want.[/quote]

I meant they are in more of a win-now mode than KC. If they get Lawrie and Drabek into the majors, Snider has a good year, and Lind bounces back then this team won't be far from contending.

of course the owners are going to say that. if they say they are willing to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a specific player it puts them in a weakened bargaining position.

I love the moves AA has made (other than the john buck contract). The jays aren't that far away. Certainly not as far as the royals[/quote]

ok sorry i misunderstood you. yes i agree that the Jay are further than the Royals but i still don't think they are there yet. in the last 3 years the jay have won 85, 86 and 87 games but i think they need to get to about 90 to make the playoffs and their pitching is still very young and not very experienced yet.

Cliffy6745

It's nice to be optimistic at the beginning of the season and you guys have a lot to look forward to but to say the Jays are going to finish above the Yanks, come on. The Yanks starting staff is thin, but they have the resouces and money to pick up a big name, which they will, and their line up and bullpen is absolutely stacked.

Edit: And chances are, 2nd place in the east wins you the wild card, you think the Jays are going to the playoffs this year?

The Fixer

fife wrote:

ok sorry i misunderstood you. yes i agree that the Jay are further than the Royals but i still don't think they are there yet. in the last 3 years the jay have won 85, 86 and 87 games but i think they need to get to about 90 to make the playoffs and their pitching is still very young and not very experienced yet.

I like the direction that the jays have gone. I didn't like the marcum/lawrie trade, but that could work for them. AA has done a good job. Pujols would be a nice fit up there...esp if lind tanks again in '11

fife

Cliffy6745 wrote:

It's nice to be optimistic at the beginning of the season and you guys have a lot to look forward to but to say the Jays are going to finish above the Yanks, come on. The Yanks starting staff is thin, but they have the resouces and money to pick up a big name, which they will, and their line up and bullpen is absolutely stacked.

Edit: And chances are, 2nd place in the east wins you the wild card, you think the Jays are going to the playoffs this year?

If you look at the jays record in the last couple of years they actually have an ok record playing the AL, they are not as good playing the NL. when i look at the Yankees their pitching is not secure as you have mentioned. they have CC but who else. AJ has to have a come back year which may happen but you never know. now you can say that the Yankees will get a big pitcher but that guessing right now, would you not say? NY is getting older.

I don't think the jay make the playoff this year because i think the white soxs will be improved and might take it.

fife

The Fixer wrote:

fife wrote:

ok sorry i misunderstood you. yes i agree that the Jay are further than the Royals but i still don't think they are there yet. in the last 3 years the jay have won 85, 86 and 87 games but i think they need to get to about 90 to make the playoffs and their pitching is still very young and not very experienced yet.

I like the direction that the jays have gone. I didn't like the marcum/lawrie trade, but that could work for them. AA has done a good job. Pujols would be a nice fit up there...esp if lind tanks again in '11

I think the lawrie trade was actually good for the jays. he is another good hitter (which the jays need) he is very young (21 years old) I don't know if he makes the team this year but i would say he will be there next year. Pujois would be great in Toronto (would make other players see us as a place they might want to play for) but i like that the jays are trying to get young and position themselves as contenders for many years to come.

Cliffy6745

fife wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

It's nice to be optimistic at the beginning of the season and you guys have a lot to look forward to but to say the Jays are going to finish above the Yanks, come on. The Yanks starting staff is thin, but they have the resouces and money to pick up a big name, which they will, and their line up and bullpen is absolutely stacked.

Edit: And chances are, 2nd place in the east wins you the wild card, you think the Jays are going to the playoffs this year?

If you look at the jays record in the last couple of years they actually have an ok record playing the AL, they are not as good playing the NL. when i look at the Yankees their pitching is not secure as you have mentioned. they have CC but who else. AJ has to have a come back year which may happen but you never know. now you can say that the Yankees will get a big pitcher but that guessing right now, would you not say? NY is getting older.

I don't think the jay make the playoff this year because i think the white soxs will be improved and might take it.

I don't think the Yanks pitching is secure, I think it is good enough, right now. CC is CC, Hughes had a good year last year and hopefully he continues to improve and I am actually positive on AJ, I think Rothschild is going to help him out a lot. The back end with what looks like Nova and Garcia is shaky but servicable for now, until someone comes available. Yeah, I am guessing that the Yanks will pick someone up but I don't think that is a stretch. I just think the Yanks have enough offense to carry the back end of the rotation for the time being. And the bullpen is absolutely stacked. Yeah, the lineup is aging, but they were within a couple wins of the world series with terrible years from 3 of their best players in Tex, Jeter and Arod. I would imagine at least 2 of them have bounce back years.

I like what the Jays are doing too, I think the AL East is going to be absolutely brutal for a long time with 4 very well run clubs, I just can't see them keeping up with the Yanks for 162 games this year, especially with the Yankees resources.

Cliffy6745

Baseball is back fellas, this is awesome.

fife

I don't think the jay make the playoff this year because i think the white soxs will be improved and might take it.[/quote]

I don't think the Yanks pitching is secure, I think it is good enough, right now. CC is CC, Hughes had a good year last year and hopefully he continues to improve and I am actually positive on AJ, I think Rothschild is going to help him out a lot. The back end with what looks like Nova and Garcia is shaky but servicable for now, until someone comes available. Yeah, I am guessing that the Yanks will pick someone up but I don't think that is a stretch. I just think the Yanks have enough offense to carry the back end of the rotation for the time being. And the bullpen is absolutely stacked. Yeah, the lineup is aging, but they were within a couple wins of the world series with terrible years from 3 of their best players in Tex, Jeter and Arod. I would imagine at least 2 of them have bounce back years.

I like what the Jays are doing too, I think the AL East is going to be absolutely brutal for a long time with 4 very well run clubs, I just can't see them keeping up with the Yanks for 162 games this year, especially with the Yankees resources.[/quote]

thats fair, i just hope the jays start off fast as they are playing their first 12 games against the AL central and west division where they usually play well.

I agree with the east being very powerful and its a shame great teams won't make the playoffs but i guess that what makes baseball great.

tcaporale

Kind of feel bad for the Jays.

Any other division and they would probably have gotten to the playoffs a few times.

Playing Boston and New York so many times has got to take its toll. Especially since Tampa Bay is good now, which adds to the pressure.

PHATJ

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Baseball is back fellas, this is awesome.

This is what has me excited!

Cliffy6745

PHATJ wrote:

Cliffy6745 wrote:

Baseball is back fellas, this is awesome.

This is what has me excited!

Yeah, man. Going to be a fun season. Who's your team?

Kraven

Cliffy6745 wrote:

...I think the AL East is going to be absolutely brutal for a long time with 4 very well run clubs...

Not sure who your 4th is, but if its the Rays, you need to include Baltimore, making it 5 well run teams. Their team on paper this year looks much improved and we all saw what Buck Showalter did with a bad team for part of a year. The AL East this year is going to be so fun to watch. By far the best division in all of baseball.