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Final 2014 MLB Power Rankings
Final 2014 MLB Power Ranks
You may be asking yourself why this is the final rankings of 2014. It's simple really. The season ends this week and the playoffs start almost immediately after which means I can either do a rankings once all 162 games have been played or do a playoff preview. See. Easy choice. And with one week left there are still playoff spots up for grabs. Let's see who wants em.
*Note ~ As always all stats and records are through Sunday's games.
1. Los Angeles Angels (96-60) ~ Josh Hamilton has played only once in the last two weeks due to injury but he's certainly doing everything in his power to come back. Hamilton has received a whopping 12 cortisone shots in the last 14 days to try and combat the pain. i'm no doctor but that seems a bit excessive. He may need to shut it down and miss some time even if that time is in the postseason. (Last Week's Rank 1)
2. Baltimore Orioles (93-62) ~ Adam Jones celebrated Baltimore's first division crown since 1997 by pieing fans in Camden Yards. There were no shaving cream pies either. These were real pies. (LWR 2)
3. Washington Nationals (91-64) ~ Remember when Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper were anointed the saviors of the Nats franchise? Well both players are scorching hot of late as Washington is cruising towards the postseason for the second time in three years. (LWR 3)
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (89-67) ~ Clayton Kershaw became the first 20-game winner in the National League even though he missed April while on the disabled list. If this kid isn't your Cy Young Award winner you haven't been paying attention. (LWR 4)
5. Detroit Tigers (86-69) ~ Taking two of three from the Royals in Kansas City was huge and the Tigers take a 1 1/2 game lead in the division entering the final week. (LWR 7)
6. St. Louis Cardinals (87-69) ~ All they do is win win win no matter what. Once again the Cards have assured themselves of a playoff berth. Milwaukee may have run the show for most of the year in the NL Central but it again looks as though the Cards will be kings. (LWR 8)
7. San Francisco Giants (84-71) ~ San Fran has faltered of late and are all but out of the NL West division race, however they should still be able to snag a wild card spot. Having Madison Bumgarner in a potential do-or-die game is a big advantage. (LWR 6)
8. Oakland A's (85-70) ~ When Adam Dunn was traded to the A's a month ago he looked certain to enter the playoffs for the first time in his career. Now, with just a week to play, that certainty is hanging by a thread. (LWR 5)
9. Pittsburgh Pirates (84-71) ~ Raise the Jolly Roger! Could the Pirates be headed back to the playoffs? They've won 8 of 10 to tie the Giants for the top spot in the wild card hunt. That could mean another do-or-die game at PNC Park. (LWR 11)
10. Kansas City Royals (84-70) ~ Can KC hang on for one more week and make it to the postseason for the first time since 1985? This baseball fan sure hopes so. The loyal fan base in KC deserves it. (LWR 9)
11. Seattle Mariners (83-72) ~ Another team that hasn't sniffed the postseason in more than a decade. Seattle choked away a chance to make up some ground by being blown out by Houston the last two days. If this team gets in their pitching can dominate a series. I'm sure the rest of the AL would rather see them on the outside looking in. (LWR 10)
12. Milwaukee Brewers (80-76) ~ After leading their division for most of the year Milwaukee's playoff hopes are now on life support. Barring a miracle it appears they will come up just short. (LWR 12)
13. Cleveland Indians (81-74) ~ Corey Kluber may very well win the strikeout crown in the American League. He currently leads David Price by three and I expect each of them will have one more start before the books close on the regular season. (LWR 13)
14. New York Yankees (80-75) ~ Au revoir Derek Jeter. It's going to be quite odd next year not seeing number 2 at shortstop in the Bronx. In fact, I can't remember a time when Jeter was not out there. Take a bow Captain. (LWR 16)
15. Toronto Blue Jays (78-77) ~ Marcus Stroman dropped his appeal of a six-game suspension for throwing at the head of Baltimore's Caleb Joseph. He will serve a five-game suspension instead which just about ends his season. (LWR 14)
16. New York Mets (76-80) ~ A three game sweep of the Braves officially elimated them from the postseason. Now the Mets can try and climb over them in the standings and finish in second in the NL East. (LWR 18)
17. Atlanta Braves (76-79) ~ GM Frank Wren was given his walking papers this morning. A sad end to a disastrous second half. I suppose someone had to go, I just didn't think it'd be Wren. (LWR 15)
18. Tampa Bay Rays (75-81) ~ David Price leads the team in ERA, WHIP, wins and strikeouts. The problem with that is Price was traded away nearly two months ago. (LWR 19)
19. Miami Marlins (74-81) ~ I believe this team was more competitive than anyone thought this year. If Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez return healthy next year they could be a sleeper pick for the postseason. (LWR 17)
20. San Diego Padres (74-81) ~ While San Diego's season ended long ago they did get to play spoiler this weekend as they swept the division-rival Giants. That had to feel good. (LWR 23)
21. Chicago White Sox (71-84) ~ Paul Konerko is going out his way. Despite a broken bone Big Paulie is in the lineup and presumably will be the rest of the way out. He may not be getting the same send off as Jeter but he's been an ambassador of the game in Chi Town. (LWR 21)
22. Philadelphia Phillies (71-85) ~ Jerome Williams beat the A's this weekend for the third time this season. What's significant about that is he did it in a different jersey each time. Williams also toppled Oakland while donning an Astros and Rangers jersey. (LWR 22)
23. Cincinnati Reds (72-84) ~ Remember when the Reds were scorching hot going into the All-star break? That's the last time something went right for them. (LWR 20)
24. Boston Red Sox (68-88) ~ Fact: Currently the Houston Astros have more wins than the Red Sox who won the World Series last year. I wonder what the oddsmakers in Vegas had for that. (LWR 24)
25. Houston Astros (69-87) ~ Jose Altuve broke Craig Biggio's franchise record for hits in a season and has a week left to add on to his total. A phenomenal year for the diminutive second baseman. (LWR 26)
26. Chicago Cubs (69-87) ~ Prospect Javier Baez has struck out an alarmingly 83 times in just 202 plate appearances. He may be young and raw but that won't get it done at the Major League level. (LWR 25)
27. Minnesota Twins (66-89) ~ Phil Hughes could break record for best K/BB ratio ever. Over 31 starts this season he is sporting a ridiculous 181/16 K/BB ratio over 201 2/3 innings. Fast math says that's 11.31 strikeouts for every walk, which would beat Bret Saberhagen for the single-season record. (LWR 27)
28. Colorado Rockies (65-91) ~ Break up the Rockies! Colorado has won six straight to emerge from the cellar of the NL West. Michael Cuddyer set a new career-high with seven RBI in one game. (LWR 29)
29. Texas Rangers (62-93) ~ Speaking of crawling out of the cellar the Rangers are out of the bottom spot in my rankings for the first time in a long time. I'm too lazy to check. But they've won eight of nine against the Braves, A's and Angels. One of those teams is headed to the playoffs, one will miss out in large part to the Rangers sweep and a third might miss out as well. It's not bad being a spoiler. (LWR 30)
30. Arizona Diamondbacks (62-94) ~ They've been consistently disappointing all season and it's only fitting that they wind up with the bottom spot in my final rankings. (LWR 28)