Archive for the 'Power Rankings' Category
The Marlins had an improved week but let a series against the Padres slip away blowing a 2 run lead in the Saturday night game due to poor defense and decision making. Yesterday’s game was lost from the beginning as strikeout monster Jake Peavy was on the hill. Thanks for showing up Cabs, Big Jake and Joe Borch. Let’s check the rankings…
THIS WEEK 17 - Dontrelle Willis continues to show that he’s very comfortable swinging the bat (three hits, including a triple, in 11 at-bats).
THIS WEEK 19 - At more than 5 1/2 runs a game, no other team in the NL scores better than the Marlins. Not the Mets. Not the Braves. Not the Phillies. Not the Cubs. Didn’t I say no team? The infield of Miguel Cabrera, Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla and Mike Jacobs might be the most feared in the league right now. Believe it.
THIS WEEK 21 - The Fish have been one of the best-hitting teams in the NL this season, but the pitching staff has been miserable. The forthcoming returns of Ricky Nolasco and Sergio Mitre could help matters, but until the staff starts showing better control, the opposition will continue putting runs on the board.
THIS WEEK 18 - One of the most injury-riddled teams in baseball needs just to stay around the .500 mark until June. The rest of the NL won’t want to let them do that.
The Marlins had a putrid week getting swept in back 2 back two game series first against the Astros in Houston and then against the New York Mets in Florida. The offense that once led the league in runs scored and slugging mysteriously dissappeared and the walk monster returned to the starting rotation. We lost Sergio Mitre to the DL, all due to the ghost of Josh Beckett hanging around the clubhouse. The Marlins went 2-5 managing to salvage the series against the Nationals this weekend. There power ranking stock has definitley taken a tumble. Let’s see where they rank this morning…
THIS WEEK 20 -> LAST WEEK 18 - Jorge Julio (15 hits allowed and 11 walks in 5 2/3 IP) has been nothing less than brutal.
THIS WEEK 20 -> LAST WEEK 16 - They finally junked that six-game losing streak with a pair of wins over the Nats this weekend, but Florida’s pitching has been awful (4.73 ERA), better only than Washington’s. Rivals are hitting .305 off Florida starters, too. You can’t blame everything on Jorge Julio.
THIS WEEK 19 -> LAST WEEK 20 - Miguel Cabrera continues to amaze. He’s now hitting .410 AVG/.520 OBP/.821 SLG on the season, and let’s keep in mind he’s still only 23 years of age. If you could start an organization with any one player in baseball right now, Cabrera might be the best choice.
THIS WEEK 16 -> LAST WEEK 9 - The young pitching was supposed to be a strength, but it has been a weakness. At least they didn’t waste any more time with Jorge Julio as the closer. Now the question is whether Henry Owens or Taylor Tankersley is ready to take the reins.
THIS WEEK 13 -> LAST WEEK 10 - The Marlins had a rough week. The one bright shining star? The bullpen who had to log an enormous amount of innings due to the inability of our starting rotation to go deep in 5 of 7 games.
Current Rank Breakdown
ESPN - 20
SI - 20
FOX - 19
Sportsline - 16
SporTech - 13
AVG - 17.6 (3 point drop in average from last week)
Last weeks rankings.
THIS WEEK 18 -> LAST WEEK 26 - It took all of two blown saves for Jorge Julio to lose his job — at least for the time being — as the Marlins’ closer.
THIS WEEK 16 -> LAST WEEK 14 - That late Spring Training trade for closer Jorge Julio is looking like a rare blooper for Florida general manager Larry Beinfest. Julio blew two saves, was quickly demoted and Sunday threw 21 balls out of 38 pitches, walking four in a mopup role against Atlanta. Next!
THIS WEEK 20 -> LAST WEEK 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.
THIS WEEK 9 -> LAST WEEK 14 - This is a lofty ranking for such a young team, especially one with no set closer right now. We really like the talent here, though.
THIS WEEK 10 -> LAST WEEK 11 - The Fish continued there hot hitting and have showed no signs of slowing down. The Fish bullpen ranks right up at the top in the majors. If they can only get Julio’s head straight it would be an elite bullpen. Rumors are circling about an interest in Brad Lidge but I doubt that happens with his type of salary.
Current Rank Breakdown
ESPN - 18
SI - 16
Fox - 20
CBS - 9
SporTech - 10
AVG - 14.60
Last weeks Power Rankings.
RANK 26 - He’s not as exciting as Jose Reyes, but Hanley Ramirez can sure do some dazzling stuff on the diamond.
RANK 14 - Sure, a quick glance says the Marlins look pretty good. Nice record. A .956 OPS. They’re ripping the ball. But their new closer, Jorge Julio, is getting kicked around, their shortstop, Hanley Ramirez, has a sore hamstring — and they lost a game to the Nats. How weak!
RANK 23 - Expect the Fish to regress in 2007. The rotation is in a state of disrepair heading into the season, and a number of young hitters figure to take a step back this season. Miguel Cabrera, however, will remain the most under-appreciated hitter in the game today.
RANK 14 - Miguel Cabrera is going to enjoy having Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla ahead of him for as long as he is a Marlin. Now if someone can protect him, they will have something really special.
RANK 11 - If there were any questions heading into the season, centerfield was the biggest one. Well Alejandro De Aza has silenced the critics. All he has done in his first week in the bigs is hit safely in all 6 of the Marlins games. He had a minor slipup on the outfield, but we can just chalk that one up to him learning the ropes of Dolphin Stadium.