2013 MLB Final Power Rankings

162 games down and one to go. For the seventh time in the wild card era there will be a game 163 as the Tampa Bay Rays will travel to Arlington to take on the Texas Rangers for a one-game playoff to advance to the real one-game playoff in Cleveland. The first pitch is in about two hours so if I plan on watching I better get to it. Here are the final rankings for the 2013 MLB season.

1. Boston Red Sox (97-65) ~ The Sox locked up home field throughout the playoffs and should they reach the World Series they will have the American League's All-Star game victory to thank for home field there as well. Basebal life in beantown is good again. (Last Week's Ranking 1)

2. Oakland A's (96-66) ~ Oakland finishes with the second best record in the American League and pending tonigh'ts game could be the only team from the American League West to get into the playoffs. Nobody saw that coming at the onset of the season. (LWR 2)

3. Atlanta Braves (96-66) ~ The best home team in baseball (56-25) just missed out on having homefield throughout the postseason and hosting the wild card winner in the NLDS. Their consolation prize? The Los Angeles Dodgers and the likely Cy Young award winner in Clayton Kershaw to open the playoffs. (LWR 3)

4. St. Louis Cardinals (97-65) ~ St. Louis won their final six games to snare home field advantage and narrowly fiinished behind Atlanta (54-27) for the best home record in the bigs.(LWR 6)

5. Los Angeles Dodgers (92-70) ~ LA boasts the best 1-2 pitching tandem in the National League with Kershaw and Zack Greinke. As an Atlanta fan this was not the matchup I had hoped for to open the postseason. (LWR 4)

6. Detroit Tigers (93-69) ~ Detroit's pitching staff is so good that ace Justin Verlander won't take the mound until game three of the ALDS and I don't think they will miss a beat. (LWR 5)

7. Cleveland Indians (92-70) ~ Winners of ten straight to close the season netted the Indians home field advantage in the wild card game against either Texas or Tampa who needs to win a playoff to get into another playoff. (LWR 10)

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (94-68) ~ The Buccos had their best season since 1992 and thanks to a season-ending sweep of the Cincinnati Reds they will host the wild card game. Playoff baseball is back in the 'burgh. (LWR 7)

9. Cincinnati Reds (90-72) ~ Cincy may be in the playoffs but they blew a chance to hose the wild card game when they were swept by the Pirates. Couple that with Mat Latos being unavailable tor the wild card game and the Reds posteason run could be a brief one. (LWR 8)

10. Tampa Bay Rays (91-71) ~ The Rays needed a win in Toronto to keep their season alive. Now they will need the same in Texas if they plan on being a playoff participant this season. (LWR 9)

11. Texas Rangers (91-71) ~ Rookie starter Martin Perez gets the nod in the biggest game of the season for the Rangers tonight. No pressure though, right? (LWR 12)

12. Washington Nationals (86-76) ~ The Nationals everyone expected to see this year showed up in the second half. Unfortunately for them they dug too big a hole in the first half to make a repeat trip to the playoffs. (LWR 11)

13. Kansas City Royals (86-76) ~ The longest postseason drought in the majors will continue but the Royals showed enough this year that there may be playoff aspirations, real ones, for 2014.(LWR 13)

14. New York Yankees (85-77) ~ This is the end. My only friend, the end. Mariano Rivera has toed the rubber for the last time as a major leaguer. The greatest closer of all time leaves unfillable shoes in the Bronx. (LWR 14)

15. Baltimore Orioles (85-77) ~ The last week of the season saw Baltimore slide out of a playoff spot, lose star Manny Machado to a serious knee injury and home fun king Chris Davis to a sprained wrist. (LWR 15)

16. Arizona Diamondbacks (81-81) ~ Paul Goldschmidt led the team in batting average, home runs, RBI, runs scored and OPS to name a few. I really hope he gets some MVP consideration as it is greatly deserved. (LWR 16)

17. Los Angeles Angels (78-84) ~ They had a chance to finish over .500 and keep the hated Rangers out of the playoffs. They did neither putting a dismal end to a dismal season. (LWR 17)

18. Toronto Blue Jays (74-88) ~ The other big disappointment this season the Blue Jays finished dead last in the AL East. So much for my pick that they would win the division. (LWR 18)

19. Milwaukee Brewers (74-88) ~ Milwaukee finished the season with identical 37-44 home and away records. They did finish on a stronger note and next year could have Corey Hart back playing first base which was a black hole this season offensively. (LWR 24)

20. New York Mets (74-88) ~ Somehow the Mets finished this year with the same record as last year. It isn't improvement in the win loss column but I would certainly classify it as just that. (LWR 20)

21. San Diego Padres (76-86) ~ They had a chance to finish the season ahead of the San Francisco Giants but Huston Street had a rough outing in game 162 to leave them with the same record. So close San Diego. So close. (LWR 22)

22. San Francisco Giants (76-86) ~ Word on the street is that the Giants are close to signing Hunter Pence to a $90 millon contract. That might be an overpay but he is their best offensive player and they can't afford to lose him. (LWR 23)

23. Philadelphia Phillies (73-89) ~ The horror show in Philadelphia is over and now the fans can turn their attention to the beloved Eagles. Oh, wait....(LWR 19)

24. Colorado Rockies (74-88) ~ Todd Helton singled in his first at-bat Sunday in what would prove to be his last hit as a major leaguer. Helton has a borderline Hall of Fame career that the writers will have the next five years to think about. (LWR 21)

25. Seattle Mariners (71-91) ~ Manager Eric Wedge has decided to step down Who will be next to try and steer this ballclub out of mediocrity? (LWR 25)

26. Chicago Cubs (66-96) ~ Manager Dale Sveum is also out as he was fired after the season. Rumor has it that Joe Girardi may come back to town to lead this young Cubs squad. (LWR 27)

27. Minnesota Twins (66-96) ~ The Twins ended the season on a six-game losing streak and then signed manager Rod Gardenhire to a two-year extenstion. Baseball is funny like that. (LWR 26)

28. Chicago White Sox (63-99) ~ Well, they didn't lose 100. Amirite? (LWR 28)

29. Miami Marlins (62-100) ~ Henderson Alvarez threw a no-hitter in the final game of the season. It was a nice way to end what was a sour season in south beach. (LWR 29)

30. Houston Astros (51-111) !~ They had a shot to avoid 100 losses but took it to new levels ending the season on a 15-game losing streak. Yikes. (LWR 30)