RANKING SYSTEM 50 >>>>>>> 1927 Yankees
40-50 >>>> World Series Contender
30-40 >>>> Pennant Contender
20-40 >>>> Pretender
0-20 >>>>> Major Rebuilding Project A.L EAST 1) TORONTO BLUE JAYS (46.5)-
After a bitter seven-game loss in the 2002 Series to Atlanta, the Jays returned the favor and swept the Braves en route to the 2003 World Series title. After the glorious season, basically the same cast is back with a few exceptions. The Jays beefed up in a big way, inking A.L MVP Kevin Young to a huge contract to replace departing Carlos Delgado. As well, aging sluggers Albert Belle and Rafael Palmeiro were signed on as 4th OF and D.H respectively. With a stacked offence, the only possible weakness could be starting pitching. Ed Yarnall left as a free-agent with no suitable replacement. But the pitching is still among the best, placing the Jays among the World Series contenders. 2) BALTIMORE ORIOLES (34.5)-
The Orioles charged out of the gate last year before being overtaken by a more experienced Toronto squad in September. There is still a good offensive nucleus here with Helton and Lee Stevens, but the O's playoff chances were seriously hampered by the departure of all-star pitcher Ben McDonald via free-agency. The Orioles will only go as far as their mediocre starters can take them. 3) NEW YORK YANKEES (33.5)-
The Jamie Powell era is over in New York and good riddance! Since he took over the team in mid 2001, he has turned a perennial playoff contender into a second tier club. Big time acquisitions of Mike Leiberthal and Jim Edmonds (both of whom have now signed elsewhere) were dismal failures and the pitching staff, composed of 40-year olds, has been badly in need of a shakeup for a few years now. To make matters worse, the Yanks lost A.L Cy Young winner Mariano Rivera to free-agency. With no notable additions, they aren't going to even come close to winning the East. One can only hope a competent owner soon takes over. 4) BOSTON RED SOX (31.5)-
It seems like very year I say it and the same thing happens. The Bosox have a team that is only one or two players away from contending, but they always fail to do something (no matter who the GM is). Passing in the draft doesn't help, neither does losing the A.L MVP Kevin Young to rival Toronto. Hopefully new GM Simon Tremblay will change things for the better. 4) MILWAUKEE BREWERS (28.5)-
The Brewers have one of the better young nucleuses in baseball (in many ways they remind me of Baltimore two years ago). A young rotation of Levin and Frechette and good young OF's Vernon Wells and Chris Chang. No additions were made over the winter, but GM Ben Bourassa has this team pointed in the right direction. If they can hang in it long enough and pick some depth at the deadline, good things can happen. 6) CLEVELAND INDIANS (25.5)-
Just when it seemed they had an owner who cared, the Indians find themselves stranded again. There are some good pitchers like Ismael Valdes and Eric Heine plus a good cleanup hitter in Manny ramirez. But not a lot of depth and only a committed owner can provide that 7) DETROIT TIGERS (18.5)-
After all of the tough talk and bravado upon entering the league, GM Nick Bragg has failed to live up to his own big mouth. Just a piece of advice, if you're going to talk smack and tell an established league to do things your way fine, the Creature respects that. But at least back it up. Signing free-agent Jerry Chee to an overpriced contract isn't doing that; Not even close. A lot of work needs to be done here A.L WEST 1) SEATTLE MARINERS (45.5)-
After barely losing the division in 2003, GM Sylvain Couture has made sure the same disapointment doesn't happen twice. More than anything, the M's were betrayed by a mediocre offence. But with a trade for Jason Kendall and the free-agent signings of Jeff Kent, Jim Edmonds and the grand return of Ken Griffey Jr., the Mariners suddenly have a potent attack. Along with their above average pitching staff, Seattle could make some noise 2) TEXAS RANGERS (37)-
After engineering one of the greatest franchise revivals in Mogul history (and in only two years), ex-GM Ric Money has left the organization to become commissioner. Taking the reins is the very competent former Rangers GM Tom O'Neill. Coming off a division pennant and two straight Rookies of the Year (McKeever and White), this team has a bright future. But they lost slugger Dermal Brown over the winter, replacing him only with decent Lew Irving. As of now, Texas still needs one more part to challenge Seattle 3) ANAHEIM ANGELS (36.5)-
More than any other team, GM P.A Thibault's moves have brought the Angels from the dregs and into contending status. The offence was beefed up with the signings of infielders Marcus Giles and Tom Evans, while the rotation may have improved the most; signing Ed Yarnall from the Blue Jays, Andy Pettite from Chicago and trading for Bruce Chen. The Angels could be a force to be reckoned with this year 4) KANSAS CITY ROYALS (36)-
New GM Jason Holland has inherited a healthy bank account and a plethora of good young players to work with. Thus far, he has done a good job, acquiring Carlos Delgado from Toronto and signing Mike Lieberthal as a free-agent from the Yankees. But the achilles heel remains the pitching. Mike Mussina, acquired the previous winter, was somewhat disappointing. If the Royals go anywhere, they need him to pitch like a premier starter. 5) OAKLAND ATHLETICS (33.5)-
The Athletics made the Creature look stupid (if you don't believe me, look where I ranked them last year) and finished third by only two games. But (in my defence) there were a lot of overachievers (ie. Jeffery Hammonds). The A's made a smart move in signing long-time Phillies catcher Ben Patrick to a five-year deal. But aside from Hudson, I see problems for the pitching staff...the type of problems that derail serious pennant contention. 6) MINNESOTA TWINS (29.5)-
After two disastrous seasons (on and off the field), Twins GM Chris Buskey has steered them into position where there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is a lot of good young pitching on this team, most of all #1 draft pick Ray Turner. Along with Bradley, Miles and Curtis, the Twins have unknown quantities that could propell them into contention. Plus, the offence is bolstered by the signing of Dermal Brown from rival Texas. Minnesota is a good dark horse 7) CHICAGO WHITE SOX (15.5)-
Long gone are the glory days of Andy Brown when the Chisox were contenders year in and year out. This once proud organization has slide to the depths of baseball hell. Cleanup hitter Albert Belle took his prodigious talents to Toronto, while there is nobody (save Aramis Ramirez) to replace him. This is an ugly, ugly team. N.L. EAST 1) PIITSBURGH PIRATES (42.5)-
After years of toiling in mediocrity, GM Bill Kalish has assembled a team that can challenge for the World Series. The rotation is among the best, featuring Rookie of the Year Calvin Bullard followed by Schilling and Lieber. The offensive hopes hinge on Mark Quinn, who was signed from K.C to provide a boost to the attack. If youngsters like Jon Crowell finally develop and all goes according to plan, the results will be impresive 2) NEW YORK METS (41)-
After all of the big, expensive acquisitions before 2003, the New York Mets quickly turned into "the worst team money can buy." It was an ugly season. But the Creature has a warm heart and am willing to give the Metsies and GM Al Harazin....er...Ben Moffit, a second chance. Adding hope to this year's club is the trade for Dustin Hermanson from Seattle and the signing of outfielders Henry Rodriguez and Peter Tucci. The bullpen still remains a problem, but unless things blow up once more, the Mets should contend. 3) MONTREAL EXPOS (40.5)-
Leading their division into mid-August, the Expos terrible pitching ultimately doomed their pennant drive. Over the winter, GM Andrew Maloney went to great lengths to fix up the staff; drafting phenom James Quock while signing Luke Prokopec from the Dodgers and stealing all-star pitcher Ben McDonald from the Orioles with a four-year deal. The offence remains intact, with the signing of Corey Patterson as the only notable addition. Overall, the upgrade to the pitching staff should serve to put the Expos back into their upper echelon position of a couple years ago 4) PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (40)-
After waving good-bye to the glory days of ex-GM Chris Johnson last year, the Phillies are entering a new era. Hopefully Marshall Lines can provide the same exciting moments, but one gets the feeling that the big, bad Phillies are no more. Catcher Ben Patrick fled to Oakland over the winter, while they have also lost long-time starter Todd Stottlemyre. The Phillies still have a great team, including N.L M.V.P Frank Thomas, but are a notch below their pennant winning performance last year 5) FLORIDA MARLINS (39.5)-
The Marlins are coming off of a dramatic loss in a one-game showdown with Philly on the last day of the season. The second straight 2nd place finish was heartbreaking to say the least. Todd Hundley and Roger Cedeno were brought in over the winter to put the fish over the top, but Florida badly needs some players to bounce back. Big Mac is slowing down, while Bryant Burton went from God-like status to mere superstar status. As well, GM Brian Curski made a couple of high-risk, high return signings of relievers John Wetteland and Guillerom Mota (both of who are coming from off years). If the chips fall their way, the Marlins very well could break through this NL East logjam 6) CHICAGO CUBS (22)-
Still rebuilding from the ruins of ex-GM Rick Ryan, the Cubbies were dealt a serious blow when GM Fred Kurjeza was involved in a car accident. The Creature sends his condolences to Fred and family. On the field, the tremors only get worse, with a winter of losing Ken Griffey, Javy Lopez and Andy Pettite. Although Fred Kurjeza was able to acquire Renteria for the middle infield and draft young star Keith Cornelius, the prignosis for 2004 isn't looking good. 7) ST.LOUIS CARDINALS (19.5)-
They lost 101 games, they traded their first round pick to Montreal, they lost Peter Tucci and Guillermo Mota to free-agency and now (thankfully) they've lost their latest hair-brained general manager. This club is begging for a Ric Money-esque revival. Somebody...anybody....please! N.L WEST 1) SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (47)-
After charging out of the gate, the Giants faded in August and September before relinquishing the division to Atlanta. But that shouldn't happen this year. Derrick Gibson and young infielder Julio Lugo seriously uprgrade an already potent offence, while the team gains some power with Javy Lopez replacing the departed Jason Kendall behind the plate. But the boldest move of all was the free-agent prize of 2003 Cy Young Winner Mariano Rivera from the Yanks. Along with Nen, the Giants have one of the best 'pens in the game. This may be one of the best teams in RML history, but its a long season. 2) ATLANTA BRAVES (42.5)-
The Braves title defence was looking good until a flat performance in the World Series. GM Joe Bourgeois has basically brought the same team back this year, with the exception of the loss of Marcus Giles to free-agency. With Pedro and the some of the talented players on this team, the Giants don't have much room to stumble or else the Braves may overtake them once again 3) LOS ANGELES DODGERS (41)-
As usual, GM Josef Skroch stood pat this offseason, failing to uprgrade a medicre offence (especially at 1b). But the story of the Dodgers is their rotation. Even with the loss of Luke Prokopec to Montreal, L.A's trio of Kevin Brown, Scott Elarton and dave Shine is the best combo in the league. The Dodgers should be lurking in September 4) SAN DIEGO PADRES (35.5)-
The Padres don't have a club that immediately grabs your attention. The rotation is filled with underrated pitchers and the lineup is dotted with unknown young players. But there is a lot of talent on this team and the Padres could make a run if the bounces fall their way. Young catcher Kelvin Matthews is an early Rookie-of-the-Year candidate, while the rotation of Morris, Zoren and Quistberg have lots of potential. Look for 85 wins out of this squad and possibly more 5) HOUSTON ASTROS (28.5)-
Once perrenial contenders, the Astros have fallen into disarray after the resignation of longtime GM Phil Wickham last season and the subsequent turbulent reign under Adam Cumbee. Cumbee traded away Scott Elarton and Mitch Melusky to L.A for Ray Lankford and Todd Hundley in seperate deals (deals which reek of collusion....but don't get me started on that). Cumbee is gone now and hopefully the 'Stros can rebuild with a new owner, but for the first time since this league began, they won't be winning this year 6) CINNCINATI REDS (25.5)-
For the first time in some time, the Reds are showing signs of life under GM Larry Bailey, who has upgraded this club's pitching significantly with the free-agent additions of starter Mike Kusiwicz, reliever Chad Harville and the drafting of prized pitching prospect Tom Murray. Combined with a starting lineup burgeoning with young talents like Esteban McAndrew, a .500 season is not out of the relm of possibility
7) COLORADO ROCKIES (21.5)-
The Rockies looked like they were headed in the right direction with young pitcher Karl Eldred and first basmean Jerry Wai leading the rebuilding process. But talented 3b Tom Evans was allowed to go in the offseason, while GM Mark DeSouza resigned, handing over the reigns to new GM Rick Ryan. Ryan's record as GM of the Cubs is spotty to say the least. The only hope the Rockies have is that he focus his attention on rebuilding this team and not the ten other ones that he currently operates |
