2012 Annual Rankings (Read 1,597 times)

[Deleted]

Hey guys

Let's see some more rankings 1-14

Your top 3-5

Bottom 3-5 whatever works for you!!!

[Bobby]

Needed by all: Players to perform as expected, players to return to their norm, players to have career years, players to stay healthy, players to achieve their potential, players to get regular playing time, players to get promoted

My ranking:

Nuclear Weapons (lock for a bye): A’s

C-4 (vie for other bye and playoff locks): Red Sox, Indians, White Sox

Bazookas and Grenades (most likely also playoff teams): Rangers, Giants

Guns (Waiting in the wings for the above teams to be stricken with bad news or for their own players to over perform): Nats, Phils, Mets, Rockies (no particular order)

Knives: Brewers (if prospects get playing time, will surprise), Pirates (keeping Ellsbury costly), Astros (too many must surprise)

Spit Wads: Cubs

[Deleted]

These Rankings are based current roster position talent and depth. In season management, injuries and trades(good or bad) can change your position 4-5 spots. So, it is up to you where you finish. I am the one that rated the Rangers 14th last year. Partly joke but the team he started with would never have made the playoffs. Great trades and in season management resulted in a 3rd place finish. I hope the teams ranked low here strongly disagree and do something about it.

Going for the Bye……………

A’s – League’s most balanced team, top to bottom. No real weaknesses. The addition of Felix puts the SP with the tops in the league. Let’s just hope this favorable ranking by his pops provides a little bit of jinx.

Red Sox – Masterful job of rebuilding the roster after realizing some of those stud players could not be resigned. Team is reloaded and ready to repeat. (let’s hope not).

INDIANS – Team was in 2nd place most of the year in 2011, made some trades of young talent for expiring contracts to make a run – that FAILED! Luckily able to resign most of that talent and in a good position to compete for the playoffs. Lack of depth at 2B/3B could hurt with the older guys there but in season trades could help.

Next Tier – Playoff Bound

Rangers – Ranked this team 14th last year. Much improved this time compared to last year. Cabrera/Cruz/Reyes/Beltre all tops at their positions. 3 top pitchers anchor the staff. Could use a little more depth everywhere. This team could easily rocket to the top.

Giants – Solid hitting. Could use a little more depth in OF. Top 3 pitchers and a little depth there but could use a little more. There are some health question marks here in Johnson/Howard/Posey, but unless all 3 go down, should be playoff bound.

White Sox – A lot of respect for this team in the rankings so far. And rightfully so after a 4th place finish last year and never missing the playoffs. Lot’s of HRs will drive this team where it wants to go. Pitching not great but solid enough. Good bullpen depth.

Phillies – Bounceback candidates in Choo and Crawford can take this team over the top. Solid pitching and bullpen. Maybe most improved team from 13th last year.

Rockies – Came on strong last year for 2nd place finish. Made moves to improve some areas in Pujols and Stanton(Lots of HR). sacrificed depth and bullpen but can still be at the top at the end.

Astros – Solid offense. Health concerns in the rotation Lack of depth in the OF. Strong pen. 1 or 2 moves to solidify needs puts the Stros in the hunt.

Nats – Lot’s of offense, mostly at 1B. Can 2 best pitchers in the game make up for the lack of pitching depth? TBD. 2B/3B could be shaky and there is a lack of depth everywhere. Can the top hitters make up for that or can he make the moves to fix it?

There is still hope………………….

Mets – After Phillies, another vastly improved team. Nothing great but steady. A couple of big years from key players can make a difference. He is active so in season will make or brake the Mets.

Brewers – Tough team to guage right now. May end up being the best 2nd half team. But will that be enough. If Braun can play off the juice, look out! Love the young pitchers(we need to talk/trade) but not sure if they are ready. This team is on it’s way up.

Pirates – I liked this team much better when it had Fielder and Granderson AND Kershaw. Thought this team was on the rise. I know he figured he needed to make some changes to improve but he got hosed on some trades. Happens to all of us at one time or another but these are pretty drastic. Way too much money in the Elisbury bucket. Lacks a quality 3B, LF and depth everywhere. Up to him to turn it around. May have to release Elisbury abd send him back to the minors(Red Sox).

Cubbies – Sorry, someone has to be here. The news is not all bad though. Joey Votto can carry a team. Brandon Phillips still a very good player. Gallardo is expensive but a solid Ace. Bullpen probably worst in the league. Best chance for now is the youth movement of Moustakas/Presley/Cespedes/Robinson/Brown, etc.

You guys at the bottom,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I dare you to prove me wrong!!!

[joecap]

Mar 2, 2012 10:24:23 GMT -8 @indians said:

Pirates – I liked this team much better when it had Fielder and Granderson AND Kershaw. Thought this team was on the rise. I know he figured he needed to make some changes to improve but he got hosed on some trades. Happens to all of us at one time or another but these are pretty drastic. Way too much money in the Elisbury bucket. Lacks a quality 3B, LF and depth everywhere. Up to him to turn it around. May have to release Elisbury abd send him back to the minors(Red Sox).

The drastic moves (including the trade hoses) were an attempt to cut down on cap which unfortunately was needed when bidding on Ellsbury by the White Sox reached outrageous proportions. Funny thing is that the whole time I was willing to take a fair trade for Ellsbury, but no such offer ever came.

Agreed on the rest of this assessment along with issues at 1b and saves.