Rays #2, Yankees #1, AL East Tops in USA Today's MLB 2009 Power Rankings
HEADLINE: Tampa Bay Rays finally get some respect!!
After opening 2008 as the odds on favorite to finish in last place (per Vegas odds of the Rays winning the World Series of something like 150:1), the Rays are getting some much-deserved respect (the new Vegas Odds are out and the Rays are a 14:1 bet to win the World Series in 2009).
According to the newly released (2 days ago) USA Today MLB 2009 Power Rankings, the Tampa Bay Rays are #2. As anyone would guess, $500 million in off-season expenditures did buy the Yankees the #1 position (but just barely). The Boston Red Sox follow the Rays at #3. So, once again, the American League East should be a ridiculously hard division from which to make the playoffs. It's a good thing the Rays didn't sit on their hands in the offseason.
So, here are the 2009 Power Rankings from USA Today - enjoy!
1 NEW YORK YANKEES
All eyes on how A-Rod reacts to his latest and biggest crisis. (Three first-place votes)
Points: 339
Final 2008: 9
2 TAMPA BAY RAYS
Pat Burrell's bat is a big boost for the AL's ninth-best offense in '08. (Two first-place votes)
Points: 331
Final 2008: 2
3 BOSTON RED SOX
Much the same team; as long as they're not the same old team. (One first-place vote)
Points: 326
Final 2008: 3
4 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Having Chase Utley (hip) from the start could decide the NL East. (Four first-place votes)
Points: 325
Final 2008: 1
5 CHICAGO CUBS
Keeping Rich Harden, Milton Bradley healthy makes them formidable. (One first-place vote)
Points: 316
Final 2008: 5
6 NEW YORK METS
Does the bullpen overhaul make them collapse-proof?
Points: 302
Final 2008: 11
7 LOS ANGELES ANGELS
John Lackey-Ervin Santana combo must carry the smaller-ball team.
Points: 292
Final 2008: 4
8 CLEVELAND INDIANS
Kerry Wood helps plenty, but the return of Travis Hafner imperative.
Points: 257
Final 2008: 15
9 LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Best of the NL West even without Manny.
Points: 244
Final 2008: 6
10 CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Ozzie Guillen wants return to 2005's run-and-gun style.
Points: 228
Final 2008: 7
11 MINNESOTA TWINS
Offseason with no moves might not be a bad thing.
Points: 224
Final 2008: 10
12 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Need to find a closer and a healthy Chris Carpenter. (One first-place vote)
Points: 217
Final 2008: 14
13 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Gifted young players have to curb growing strikeout totals.
Points: 205
Final 2008: 17
14 MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Plenty to replenish especially pitching after the playoff run.
Points: 184
Final 2008: 8
15 HOUSTON ASTROS
Filling out the rotation could be a season-long challenge.
Points: 174
Final 2008: 13
16 ATLANTA BRAVES
Rebuilt the rotation, but new wave on offense is just getting started.
Points: 173
Final 2008: 24
17 TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Injuries punch holes in the rotation they relied on.
Points: 172
Final 2008: 12
18 DETROIT TIGERS
Need bounce-back seasons too many bounce-back seasons.
Points: 163
Final 2008: 21
19 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
A little more offense could make them an NL West threat.
Points: 157
Final 2008: 25
20 OAKLAND ATHLETICS
The closest they've come to a total rebuild in the Billy Beane era.
Points: 147
Final 2008: 20
21 FLORIDA MARLINS
Hanley Ramirez is the cornerstone, but will the ballpark get built?
Points: 133
Final 2008: 16
22 TEXAS RANGERS
They hit, but Nolan Ryan is the guy running the team now.
Points: 129
Final 2008: 18
23 KANSAS CITY ROYALS
A work in progress, but at least some pieces are in place.
Points: 114
Final 2008: 19
24 CINCINNATI REDS
Quietly building a strong collection of young talent.
Points: 110
Final 2008: 22
25 BALTIMORE ORIOLES
It took being possibly the AL's most improved team to get this high.
Points: 86
Final 2008: 26
26 COLORADO ROCKIES
That World Series was a mile higher than where they are now.
Points: 82
Final 2008: 23
27 PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Somebody needs to figure out their young starting pitchers.
Points: 49
Final 2008: 27
28 SAN DIEGO PADRES
The owner can sell this team, but can the marketing department?
Points: 42
Final 2008: 28
29 SEATTLE MARINERS
More unclaimed jobs than any other team in the majors.
Points: 37
Final 2008: 29
30 WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Can Ryan Zimmerman ask for another hitter in arbitration?
Points: 22
Final 2008: 30
After opening 2008 as the odds on favorite to finish in last place (per Vegas odds of the Rays winning the World Series of something like 150:1), the Rays are getting some much-deserved respect (the new Vegas Odds are out and the Rays are a 14:1 bet to win the World Series in 2009).
According to the newly released (2 days ago) USA Today MLB 2009 Power Rankings, the Tampa Bay Rays are #2. As anyone would guess, $500 million in off-season expenditures did buy the Yankees the #1 position (but just barely). The Boston Red Sox follow the Rays at #3. So, once again, the American League East should be a ridiculously hard division from which to make the playoffs. It's a good thing the Rays didn't sit on their hands in the offseason.
So, here are the 2009 Power Rankings from USA Today - enjoy!
1 NEW YORK YANKEES
All eyes on how A-Rod reacts to his latest and biggest crisis. (Three first-place votes)
Points: 339
Final 2008: 9
2 TAMPA BAY RAYS
Pat Burrell's bat is a big boost for the AL's ninth-best offense in '08. (Two first-place votes)
Points: 331
Final 2008: 2
3 BOSTON RED SOX
Much the same team; as long as they're not the same old team. (One first-place vote)
Points: 326
Final 2008: 3
4 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Having Chase Utley (hip) from the start could decide the NL East. (Four first-place votes)
Points: 325
Final 2008: 1
5 CHICAGO CUBS
Keeping Rich Harden, Milton Bradley healthy makes them formidable. (One first-place vote)
Points: 316
Final 2008: 5
6 NEW YORK METS
Does the bullpen overhaul make them collapse-proof?
Points: 302
Final 2008: 11
7 LOS ANGELES ANGELS
John Lackey-Ervin Santana combo must carry the smaller-ball team.
Points: 292
Final 2008: 4
8 CLEVELAND INDIANS
Kerry Wood helps plenty, but the return of Travis Hafner imperative.
Points: 257
Final 2008: 15
9 LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Best of the NL West even without Manny.
Points: 244
Final 2008: 6
10 CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Ozzie Guillen wants return to 2005's run-and-gun style.
Points: 228
Final 2008: 7
11 MINNESOTA TWINS
Offseason with no moves might not be a bad thing.
Points: 224
Final 2008: 10
12 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Need to find a closer and a healthy Chris Carpenter. (One first-place vote)
Points: 217
Final 2008: 14
13 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Gifted young players have to curb growing strikeout totals.
Points: 205
Final 2008: 17
14 MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Plenty to replenish especially pitching after the playoff run.
Points: 184
Final 2008: 8
15 HOUSTON ASTROS
Filling out the rotation could be a season-long challenge.
Points: 174
Final 2008: 13
16 ATLANTA BRAVES
Rebuilt the rotation, but new wave on offense is just getting started.
Points: 173
Final 2008: 24
17 TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Injuries punch holes in the rotation they relied on.
Points: 172
Final 2008: 12
18 DETROIT TIGERS
Need bounce-back seasons too many bounce-back seasons.
Points: 163
Final 2008: 21
19 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
A little more offense could make them an NL West threat.
Points: 157
Final 2008: 25
20 OAKLAND ATHLETICS
The closest they've come to a total rebuild in the Billy Beane era.
Points: 147
Final 2008: 20
21 FLORIDA MARLINS
Hanley Ramirez is the cornerstone, but will the ballpark get built?
Points: 133
Final 2008: 16
22 TEXAS RANGERS
They hit, but Nolan Ryan is the guy running the team now.
Points: 129
Final 2008: 18
23 KANSAS CITY ROYALS
A work in progress, but at least some pieces are in place.
Points: 114
Final 2008: 19
24 CINCINNATI REDS
Quietly building a strong collection of young talent.
Points: 110
Final 2008: 22
25 BALTIMORE ORIOLES
It took being possibly the AL's most improved team to get this high.
Points: 86
Final 2008: 26
26 COLORADO ROCKIES
That World Series was a mile higher than where they are now.
Points: 82
Final 2008: 23
27 PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Somebody needs to figure out their young starting pitchers.
Points: 49
Final 2008: 27
28 SAN DIEGO PADRES
The owner can sell this team, but can the marketing department?
Points: 42
Final 2008: 28
29 SEATTLE MARINERS
More unclaimed jobs than any other team in the majors.
Points: 37
Final 2008: 29
30 WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Can Ryan Zimmerman ask for another hitter in arbitration?
Points: 22
Final 2008: 30
posted by Blogging Man at
2:38 PM
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