1. Atlanta Braves (5-1)

Last Week: NR

1st Place in NL East

Had no easy feat the first week, facing the sexy pick Philadelphia on the road and then hosting the defending division champion Mets over the weekend for three a piece. Swept the Phillies, holding the Utley/Howard duo in check, and took two of three thanks from New York. Only loss was a blowout, however.

 

2. Minnesota Twins (4-1)

Last Week: NR

1st Place in AL Central

Swept the O?s right out of the Metrodome to start the season despite a rough outing from Santana, then split 2 with Chicago with one delayed thanks to cold. Pitching is excelling and the bats are off to a hot start. Santana?s already 2-0 (big surprise there).

 

3. Los Angeles Angels (5-2)

Last Week: NR

1st Place in AL West

Swept the Rangers to begin the year, then split a four game series at home against the A?s whom they will be battling for the West title. Vlad is on another planet right now, batting .524/.560/1.048 with 3 HR and 10 RBI. If he doesn?t fall off too quickly, the early momentum could be key in giving the Angels a working cushion in the division.

 

4. Cincinnati Reds (4-2)

Last Week: NR

T-1st Place in NL Central

Off to another good start this season, though against sub-par competition. Took 2 from the Cubs at home, including an Opening Day win vs Carlos Zambrano. Then stopped the undefeated Pirates in their tracks, winning two of three while pounding the ball (6.7 runs per game over the weekend).

 

5. New York Mets (4-2)

Last Week: NR

T-2nd in NL East (1 back)

Got the short end of the schedule stick being the NL East champs, having to start on the road against the defending World Champions and then trekking to the house that held the greatest division streak in sports history. The Mets didn?t mind St. Louis, in fact they outscored them 20-2 en route to a sweep on the road. Atlanta continued to be the East?s house of horrors, however, as New York dropped two of three. If Lil O keeps up the performance he had on Friday, the Mets? biggest weakness gets a lot better.

 

6. Toronto Blue Jays (3-2)

Last Week: NR

1st Place in AL East

In a tough division, the Blue Jays might be in first thanks to the schedule and the weather. Split 2 games (one delayed thanks to cold) with Detroit and 2 from the not yet ready to compete D-Rays. Burnett needs to pitch better for them to maintaining their seat at the top.

 

7. Pittsburgh Pirates (4-2)

Last Week: NR

T-1st Place in NL Central

Made a big statement but starting the season in Houston and sweeping them. Salomon Torres has saved all four of the team?s victories to begin (reminiscent of Chad Cordero recently) and the rest of the staff has been performing very well. If they would have taken just one more game in Cincinnati, they?d be much higher up and alone in first place by themselves in the Central. Either way, the best Pirate start in a long time.

 

8. Arizona Diamondbacks (5-2)

Last Week: NR

1st Place in NL West

The Baby Backs are only up here because they got a gift of a first week. Not that they don?t have the talent to perform, but three at Colorado and four at Washington isn?t anything to get scared over. They even lost two of three to the Rockies, but they hit the Nats out of their own building. Then again, the Nationals are one inning away from being 0-7.

 

9. Florida Marlins (4-2)

Last Week: NR

2nd Place in NL East (1 back)

Could be 5-1 and alone in second place if their closer wasn?t terrible. The offense has gotten off to a hot start (6.16 runs per game) and outscoring opponents 40-29 so far. Will make strides if Johnson/Hermida come back healthy and Uggla can return to 2006 form.

 

10. San Diego Padres (4-2)

Last Week: NR

T-2nd Place in NL West (.5 back)

Took 2 of 3 from the AARP Giants at San Francisco, then traveled a few hours to come home and take the final two of a 3 game set versus Colorado. Peavy?s off to a hot start (1-0, 0.69 ERA, 9 K in 13.0 IP) along with the bullpen (3 victories). Have a relative

OH

 

I'd take that. Only 156 more to go!

Cant argue that much honestly.. although Kip Wells has been a nice thing to see (so far) along with the others in the rotation but it will be devastating IMO if Carp is out the rumored 4-6 weeks with bone spurs surgery!

Good job Juanky but the Marlins have played better than both the D-backs and Pirates, in fact are leading the NL in runs scored and the only weakness has been in the closer spot

The 7-9 spots were a bit of a tossup for me. It was hard to give the Marlins the nod over the DBacks especially when we beat the Nats 2/3 and Arizona swept them in four.

I would rather start with a lower ranking anyway. We should have swept the Nats!

the mets should be top 3

 

 

if not first

1. Atlanta Braves (5-1)

Last Week: NR

1st Place in NL East

Had no easy feat the first week, facing the sexy pick Philadelphia on the road and then hosting the defending division champion Mets over the weekend for three a piece. Swept the Phillies, holding the Utley/Howard duo in check, and took two of three thanks from New York. Only loss was a blowout, however.

 

:thumbup

the mets should be top 3

 

 

if not first

april fools.

I could see an arguement for #4 but.. yeah.

No way the Nationals are worse than the Giants

Good Job Juanky. Can't argue with the positions and arguments presented

My only issue is the disparity between the Mets and Atlanta. I know I'm a homer, but anyone who watched those games saw how evenly matched the two teams are. Ooutisde of game 1, the other 2 could so easily have gone the other way. I'd have a tough time seperating them by more than 1 or 2 spots. But otherwise, spot on.

 

I think there will big changes next week, especially considering the ease of schedule for some teams.

 

And the Giants will be horrible. In his first start, Barry Zito got batters to swing and miss six times the entire game.

Yeah, there will definitely be big changes next week.

 

As for the Mets being #1, no way in hell did they perform better than the Braves this week.

Yeah, there will definitely be big changes next week.

 

As for the Mets being #1, no way in hell did they perform better than the Braves this week.

Mets: 36 runs scored, 11 allowed

Braves: 25 runs scored, 25 allowed

The Mets are off to a good start because they are good...the Braves are off to a good start because they are lucky

Braves beat the Mets 2 of 3.

 

Sorry.

Yeah, there will definitely be big changes next week.

 

As for the Mets being #1, no way in hell did they perform better than the Braves this week.

Mets: 36 runs scored, 11 allowed

Braves: 25 runs scored, 25 allowed

The Mets are off to a good start because they are good...the Braves are off to a good start because they are lucky

Yeah, if you call having a good bullpen, starting pitching, and a knack/ability to come from behind then yes, they are lucky.

 

I hope the Sox are that 'lucky' all season.

Phllies blow the lead for their 3rd straight game. It is getting ugly in Philadelphia

20 Marlins 23 (+3) 20/23

A nice start by the Fish. It's been all about the offense. The Marlins as a team are hitting .314 AVG/.386 OBP/.570 SLG with 31 extra-base hits in six games. So basically they're a lineup full of Vladimir Guerreros right now. That won't last.

 

FoxRankings

 

Wow, not much love from foxsports. :nono

FoxRankings

 

Wow, not much love from foxsports. :nono

That ranking is still based on potential rather than record.

Yeah, I believe FOX had preseason polls (something I didn't).

fox sports was very insightful. I was fully expecting the marlins lineup to produce vlad-like numbers all season long. The potential does exist to compete with the mets offense and the phils offense. If jacobs, uggla and willingham perform (assuming miggy and shadez keep their pace from last year)... then we will have a very good offense.

 

Im sorry for the mets fans... wins and losses are more important than statistics...

Braves are the better team as of now. Smoltz outdueling Glavine btw... is not luck.

 

also... I do believe giving power rankings after the first week (generally a hangover week from spring training ) is premature. I do not expect the braves to be number one in the standings all season long.

 

That is the only reason mets fans have a gripe. They probably have a better team than the braves... so the rankings wouldnt justify the braves being ahead of them.

 

Consider: If the Colts played the Dolphins in week 1 of the NFL season and beat then 21-7... Imo this does not make them move past the colts in the power rankings. It is like college football rankings... you cant ignore predetermined "power rankings".

I understand what you are saying and agree with you.

 

However, I think what Juanky is really doing with this poll is demonstrating how teams are performing right now rather than trying to determine who the best teams are. This isn't a BCS style power poll, it's just a demonstration of current record versus strength of schedule. If you look at it like that, it's hard to argue with the Padres being ranked higher than the Cardinals, for example, even though we all know that the season will not play out that way. Like he said, there will be a big shake up following this week's action and the better teams [and hitters - Pujols anyone?] starting to emerge from their Spring funk.

Just so you guys know, I'm going to stop these until next year. I missed two weeks because of finals and don't think it'd be fair to just pick them up now.