After giving Major League Baseball a week to unfold that I considered to be "week zero," here's the first edition of my "MLB Power Rankings" for 2015:
30. Minnesota Twins
The Twins knew in the Spring that competition in the AL Central was going to be extremely stiff. Only winning one game after the first full week of play isn't exactly how the Minnesota faithful hoped that the Twins would start the 2015 campaign. The Twins' front office didn't help the cause very much, with Minnesota's starting rotation being the worst in Major League Baseball.
29. Texas Rangers
The Rangers start hasn't been disastrous, but Texas has shown us this first week exactly how their season will be the entire year. Remember what I said about the Twins starting rotation? This group might give them a run for their money.
28. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers starting pitching wasn't at their potential this first week, but it proved to me that Milwaukee will be prone at times to surrender runs. Surely the Brewers will climb in these rankings as the weeks continue, but I certainly wasn't impressed in the first week.
27. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies' front office continues to make me scratch my head as to why Cole Hamels is still on the roster. Philadelphia could've definitely made some offseason moves that would've freed up a lot of money on their roster with a lot of veterans. Instead they remain as the oldest most overpaid team in the Majors.
26. Miami Marlins
The Marlins made some of the biggest moves in the offseason, but the results didn't quite show in the first week. Things didn't get much better when newly-acquired pitcher Mat Latos didn't make it out of the first inning in his debut against the Atlanta Braves last week.
25. Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona looked to live up to the predictions after dropping their first series to the Giants, but the Diamondbacks looked strong winning a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend. We'll see if Arizona has created any momentum as they start the week in San Diego against a stingy Padres' rotation.
24. Cleveland Indians
The Tribe stumbled out of the gate this season, as they've only won two games as I'm writing this blog. 2014 AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber hasn't been helped much by the Indians' offense as they've lost both games that he's started.
23. Chicago White Sox
Like the Cleveland Indians, the White Sox are another team out of the AL Central that started the regular season with high expectations for 2015. Chris Sale returning this weekend should help the Sox climb up these rankings as the weeks continue.
22. Washington Nationals
The three-headed monster at the top of the Nationals' pitching rotation will surely boost this club as the season continues, but during the first week, the Nationals showed that they certainly aren't invincible. It will be interesting to see if this team can find a way to begin stringing some wins together. If they are able to do that, I fully expect them to be one of the best teams in Major League Baseball.
21. Los Angeles Angels
It's very weird to see the Angels at the bottom of the AL West standings. If this makes you happy, then you better relish in it now because they won't be there very long. The Angels proved again this weekend that the Kansas City Royals are their kryptonite. The Royals had no trouble getting the sweep.
20. New York Yankees
The Yankees' starting pitching will have to find a way to get it done, and they could really use some help from the lineup. One thing that has been a definite positive for the Yankees has been the start from Alex Rodriguez, who's hit for a .300 average to start the season.
19. Tampa Bay Rays
Injuries have hindered a young Rays' rotation that could prove to be one of the most underrated units of any Major League roster. This team will have to try to sneak up on the rest of the AL East by just playing sound and fundamental baseball.
18. Chicago Cubs
While I still think that first baseman Anthony Rizzo's division title prediction is a little too early, the Cubs have definitely shown the NL Central that they aren't going to be a pushover this season. The Cubs have looked good behind a tough rotation this week to start the season. It will be interesting to see when Kris Bryant joins the party, and how much of a contribution he'll make.
17. Oakland Athletics
The A's have been up-and-down during their first week of the regular season, but the acquisition of designated hitter Billy Butler this offseason is already beginning to pay dividends. Butler, during his first week in an Oakland uniform, has hit for a fantastic .407 average and totaled 11 hits.
16. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates handed the Detroit Tigers their first loss of the season today. Pittsburgh has began to show life, after being swept fairly easily by the Cincinnati Reds to kick off the 2015 campaign. Andrew McCutchen has started his MVP ways early, already driving in seven runs to start this season.
15. Houston Astros
The Astros sit behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West standings, and Houston, like the Chicago Cubs, will be one of the most improved teams in Major League Baseball during the 2015 season. Houston will need to get the bats going, however, as they are one of five teams in the Majors that has a collective batting average under .200.
14. New York Mets
The Mets are trying to take advantage of slow starts from the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins, but unfortunately they've had to face the Atlanta Braves, who've been the biggest surprise in the Majors to start the season. The Mets have a tough rotation and a stronger lineup this season, and that could help catapult them to the top of the NL East.
13. San Diego Padres
Like the Cubs and Astros, the Padres are another team that will likely be much more improved this season. San Diego had a tough start against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but look for the Padres to turn it around sooner than later.
12. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are in the middle of the NL Central standings, but I fully expect the Cardinals to get hot very soon. This team has the pitching and bats (especially with the acquisition of Jason Heyward) to reach yet another National League Championship Series in October.
11. Seattle Mariners
The Mariners sit on top of the AL West after the first week of play, and the Mariners are hoping that the acquisition of Nelson Cruz will help Seattle propel into the 2015 Playoffs, similarly to what he did in Baltimore last season. Robinson Cano is also poised to have another big season in his second year in Seattle.
10. San Francisco Giants
The Giants have struggled a little bit to start the season, but I think that as soon as the Giants pitching staff gets healthy and clicking, that this team will begin to string together wins. The Giants' lineup could really use the return of Hunter Pence, but they've hit a respectable .246 as a team to start the season.
9. Colorado Rockies
Colorado jumped off to another hot start to start the season this year, much like they did last year. This team makes me extremely skeptical however, as they simply lack the pitching to be considered a serious contender.
8. Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays, like the Rockies, have also had a strong start that's very similar to what they did last season. Again like Colorado, the hot offensive start from Toronto hides the lack of pitching that will eventually become exposed.
7. Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore is going to be a very scrappy team to get past in the AL East this season. I expect them to really be playing sharp baseball to rise in the standings in the very near future under the management of Buck Showalter.
6. Cincinnati Reds
If you're a Reds' fan then you can't be anymore excited than how this team has started. Realistically, you have to wonder how much interest Johnny Cueto has drawn from the large-spending teams in the Majors. It will be interesting to see if the Reds add some weapons by dealing Cueto sometime around the trade deadline.
5. Boston Red Sox
A lot of people have questioned the Red Sox rotation coming into the 2015 season. So far, Boston has showed us that they'll lean on a stacked lineup to win most of their games. Might this be a team that'll be interested in going after somebody like Cueto if the playoffs begin to appear a reality?
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers will prove to be a tough competitor in the National League. Adrian Gonzalez's five home runs in the Dodgers' first three games are something that has never happened in the history of Major League Baseball.
3. Atlanta Braves
The surprise story to the beginning of the 2015 regular season, the Atlanta Braves have started the season fiery hot, and they're playing with a purpose early. The addition of Nick Markakis and Eric Young Jr. have appeared to pay off early for the Braves.
2. Detroit Tigers
Detroit may prove to be the most potent lineup in all of the Majors before it's all said and done this season. The Tigers lost their first game of the season to the Pittsburgh Pirates today, but that lineup will help this team bounce back easily. If Justin Verlander can return at 100%, this team will be extremely scary.
1. Kansas City Royals
Detroit, however, will have to get past this Kansas City team that hasn't missed a beat since last year's World Series run. Strong pitching and a very strong lineup will propel this team all season, and the sky is truly the limit for this team.
As always thanks for reading! Be sure to follow me on Twitter @griffaldo.
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