SportsCrack

June 3rd, 2008

Well, here we are, three days into June. The baseball season is a third of the way over and we’re beginning to get a grasp on who the contenders are, who the pretenders are and which teams just plain suck ass (See: The Seattle Mariners). None-the-less I feel the burden to continue and document the worst teams in the league each week. You have to admit, the advice is sure to come in handy at some point in time. Knowledge is power! Even knowledge about the teams the national media no longer cares about!

Author’s note: These rankings are pre-Tuesday night ones since I didn’t feel like staying up until 1 o clock eastern time in order to make sure everything was evenly updated. So even though the Red Sox are handling the Rays 7-4 as we speak, I’m just going to pretend that it hasn’t happened yet. I’m very nice like that. Also, I’ve added one final feature. That is subject to change, however. In it I will pick the best player on one of the bottom five teams and vice versa, with a bad player on one of the top five teams.

As always, feel free to disagree vehemently in the comments and if you have a good idea to add to the series, feel free to throw that out as well. As much as I like to think I’m witty, I know that’s not really the case... so suggestions are/will be greatly appreciated. Enjoy.

Powerless Rankings

26. Detroit Tigers (24-33, LW: MM)

Okay, just as I said last week about how we shouldn’t be surprised about the Rays since it was almost June… that same philosophy has to apply here as well. While the Tigers could still technically turn it around in what has been a pretty weak AL Central, it’s still not a good omen that they haven’t hit their stride yet. I mean, what are they waiting for?

Prognosis: They’re offense has been living up to the billing and is a Top 10 unit. The pitching however, has been one of the worst in the league overall. When your team leader in ERA (Jeremy Bonderman) has it chalked up at 4.29, well… there you go.

Team LVP: Nate Robertson whose 3-5 record and 5.92 ERA is the worst on an abysmal pitching staff.


27. San Diego Padres (23-36, LW: 29)

The Padres have been doing the best they can treading water until their ace Jake Peavy comes back from his injury. Their offense is a big part of why they were able to stay at an even .500 over their last 10 games.

Prognosis: With Peavy’s recovery going well, if they can keep their .500 record until he returns and keep hitting the ball well, all may not be lost for them.

Team LVP: Closer Trevor Hoffman who has blown one out of every four attempted saves.


28. Seattle Mariners (21-37, LW: 30)

Just as I was amazed by the Mariners six game skid last week, the Royals just went and absolutely blew it out of the water. To the Mariners credit however, they did manage to take two out of three from the Red Sox. Although, to be fair -- if Daisuke Matsuzaka didn’t get injured, they likely would have only taken one. Hey at least it seems that Erik Bedard’s finally realized it’s baseball season.

Prognosis: The Bedard/Hernandez duo could win a lot of games for Seattle if they’re on. Unfortunately, this season that is a rare thing. Not to mention the offense doesn’t seem to like being up at bat. I know Felix Hernandez has got good stuff, but you gotta give the kid some runs before he bolts for another team who’ll give him some.

Team LVP: Richie Sexson, whose 9 HR’s and 21 ribbies prove he needs to start hitting those bombs when people are on base. Oh wait a second, that’s a rarity, sorry Richie. You win this award based just on your .204 average then.


29. Kansas City Royals (23-34, LW: 27)

After losing an amazing twelve straight games the Royals are currently on a two game winning streak. Although it’s absolutely impossible to defend a twelve game losing streak, they did play some pretty good teams over that span (Florida, Boston).

Prognosis: Maybe Jose Guillen’s radio tirade may have done some good. Even so, I don’t believe many teams have made the playoffs with a twelve game skid on their record for that year. There still a couple years away.

Team LVP: Brett Tomko who is surprising no one with his 6.32 ERA. Although, it is a bit higher than his career average.


And the ‘loser’ is…

30. Colorado Rockies (20-38, LW: 26)

I don’t know if I jinxed these past three teams or what but they’ve all gone on pathetic, cringe inducing losing streaks this past week in a half. The Mariners had 6, which is respectable when put next to the Royals 12 and the Rockies 8 (and counting). I know the Rockies are decimated by injuries, but that still doesn’t make the team their fielding right now very good. They need some of those stars back real quick, because if they don’t go on a couple of winning streaks than last season will just be a fond mirage for Rockies fans.

Prognosis: They’ve got big name injuries on both sides of the baseball, but if those players can rehab quickly and they all rally together… maybe they can make a push for the wild card. Hey, I told you I was nice.

Team LVP: It’s still Manny Corpas, whose sorry amount of saves (4) stands next to an even sorrier stat: He has 5 blown saves.

Mediocre Mentions: Washington Nationals, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants

Diamond in the Rough Award: Giants starting pitcherTim Lincecum, who is pitching out of his freaking mind and single handedly trying to keep the Giants afloat by dominating in every game he pitches. He leads the Giants in every conceivable pitching category except saves, which if you left it up to him -- he’d surely be leading in them, too.


Power Rankings

5. Boston Red Sox (35-25, LW: 4)

Yes, they lost twice to the Mariners. But one of those losses came during a Dice-K injury and the other was a 1-0 loss in which the Red Sox offense may or may not have been aware that there was a baseball game that day. Still, dropping two out of three to a powerless team nearly knocked them out of the Top 5. We’ll see how they do with the Rays this week.

Team MVP: Manny Ramirez, who after hitting number 500 appears to be out of his slump and back to his old ways.


4. Philadelphia Phillies (34-25, LW: NR)

Remember that team who snatched the NL East crown out of the Mets clutches last year? Whatever happened to them -- oh, there they are! The Phillies have finally arrived, going 8-2 in their last 10. Getting reigning NL MVP Jimmy Rollins certainly hasn’t hurt, either.

Team MVP: Chase Utley. Nuff’said. He’s a front runner for NL MVP.


3. Los Angeles Angels (35-24, LW: HM)

L.A. is 5-2 in their last seven and while the majority of those wins came against inferior opponents, they have shown they can beat superior teams as well. Two three game sets against the Athletics and Rays, respectively, should give us a better gauge of just where they are at this point in time.

Team MVP: Ervin Santana, who will likely be the best Santana come seasons end. He’s 8-2 with a 3.02 ERA and 67 strikeouts -- all of which are much better than his brother from another mother Johan. Seriously though, are they related at all? Does anyone know? Could this become a fierce family rivalry?


2. Tampa Bay Rays (35-22, LW: 1)

The Rays haven’t lost consecutive games since the beginning of May and it appears they might keep it that way for quite a bit. They’re entire team is on. The pitching, the hitting, the fielding. Even the ball boy is getting in on the action and getting his work in. It seems that every part of this team so far this year has been golden. By all accounts, that isn’t going to change either.

Team MVP: Scott Kazmir who is the owner of an impressive 5-1 record and an even more impressive 1.22 ERA. Miniscule!


And the ‘winner’ is…

1. Chicago Cubs (37-21, LW: 5)

I’m sure you’ve heard it but it has to be said… the last time the Chicago Cubs had the best record going into June first was 1908. That’s right, the last time they won a World Series. While I would agree that stat is pretty random and doesn’t mean much, it is pretty crazy if you think about it. The Cubs are on an 8 game winning streak and you can already begin to hear serious rumblings emanating from Chicago -- this might just be the year.

Team MVP: Carlos Zambrano who holds host to an 8-1 record with 57 strikeouts and a 2.51 ERA. Very nice.

Honorable mentions: Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, Florida Marlins

Rock in the Diamonds Award: Cardinals 2B Adam Kennedy who in 136 at bats is batting .243 with 0 home runs and just 15 ribbies.

By Josh Galligan