Thursday, June 7, 2007

My MLB Rankings

Power Rankings are a growing trend among sports sites these days. Seems every analyst posts his "Power Rankings". These rankings normally have something to do with standings, but takes the human factor and perception of how good the team is into it. Well I started thinking the other day....what if the Cubs disappeared? Who would I cheer for? Believe me, there are days being a Cubs fan when I wish I was a fan of someone else. So, I compiled my ranking (1 through 30) of all MLB teams in the order in which they would become my team should the team above them disappear. Kind of silly, I know....but fun right? Here it goes.

1. Chicago Cubs - my heart, my soul, my love
2. Minnesota Twins - have always respected the way the Twins run things. From an early age I remember my cousin liking Kirby Puckett (as a player)...thus I did too...it stuck.
3. Philadelphia Phillies - another lovable loser...the Phils have just always intrigued me...I'd like to see them win.
4. Oakland Athletics - they've really moved up my list since the Bash Brother days...but how can you not like a team that competes every year without wasting money?
5. Kansas City Royals - notice a lovable loser theme? I like what KC is doing with their young players right now and I think they will compete over the next 3-7 years.
6. San Diego Padres - shocking they are this high considering 1984 vs the Cubs, but I like the nucleus they have going, and they beat people with fundamentals
7. Cleveland Indians - explosive team currently with fun young talent and good arms
8. Los Angeles Dodgers - classic team, never seem to have an awful season
9. Milwaukee Brewers - the first NL Central team listed. Its been easy to like them as they have been poor, now that they are good, they might slip down my list...although Cubs seem to still beat up on them. Fielder, Weeks, Hardy, Braun....fun to watch.
10. Baltimore Orioles - you can thank Cal Ripken for having them in my top 10...who didn't love that guy?
11. Pittsburgh Pirates - I still remember the 1992 NLCS when Sid Bream slid in safe at home. Though I hate the Steelers, I don't mind the Bucs as much.
12. Boston Red Sox - well they probably were top 3 until 2004, and I WAS happy for them, gave me hope, but now they are growing obnoxious and approaching Yankee level. They are plummeting each year on my list.
13. Seattle Mariners - eh...not much to say here, don't hate them, don't love em
14. Arizona Diamondbacks - though I despise that they already have a WS, anyone that signed Mark Grace gets some props.
15. Atlanta Braves - I am sick of this team being good, but you have to respect their success without spending like the other top teams. That alone keeps them in my middle pack.
16. Texas Rangers - boring
17. Washington Nationals - boring
18. Colorado Rockies - boring, but Coors Field is a plus
19. Tampa Bay Devil Rays - boring
20. Cincinnati Reds - NL Central foe, good thing they stink right now or I would dislike them more.
21. Toronto Blue Jays - Canada....boo
22. San Francisco Giants - this team would move up if Bonds would just go away
23. Detroit Tigers - surprisingly they took the biggest fall since last year. I probably had Detroit in my top 10. Now with guys like Sheffield, Ordonez, and Guillen, I find myself really disliking them. Curtis Granderson is the only admirable factor on this team.
24. Los Angeles Angels - Yankees of the west....boo
25. Houston Astros - NL Central foe, and always seem to be sticking it to the Cubs
26. Florida Marlins - 2003 NLCS and 2 World Series in their short existence....enough said
27. New York Mets - NY fans are cocky, and though I was not alive, if 1969 hurts Ron Santo that much, then it hurts me that much too. And, they always kill the Cubs
28. Chicago White Sox - dirty, cheating, south siders...and A.J. Pierzynski
29. St. Louis Cardinals - how they are not #30 on my list is shocking, but as a Cubs fan, they can't be any higher than 29.
30. New York Yankees - I find myself not able to hate any team in professional sports more than the Yankees, despite the Cubs struggles this year, I can take enjoyment from watching the debacle that is the 2007 New York Yankees.

1 comment:

Josh T. said...

I like the commentary. Here's my top 3 and bottom 3: 1: Twins - they do things the right way. 2. Cubbies - such high entertainment value. 3. Mets - shows the kind of team you can put together if you have money and use it in the right way. 28 - Nationals - it's poor play by this team that keeps the contraction talks alive. 29. (tie) Yankees - the antithesis of the Twins. 29. (tie) BlackSox - cheaters.