WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
Preview Format 50 >>>>>>>>> 1927 Yankees
40-50 >>>>>> World Series Contender
30-40 >>>>>> Pennant Contender
20-30 >>>>>> Pretender
Below 20 >>> Major Rebuilding Project AL EAST 
1) BALTIMORE ORIOLES - The O's won the pennant in 2004 and have made a few moves that seem to consolidate, but not improve, their current lineup. They let star outfielder Geoff DiFranco test the free-agent waters before signing him back at a reduced rate. Juan Guzman has been added to bolster the rotation, but his impact will be marginal. This is largely the same team as last season.
Pitching - 18/20, Hitting - 21/25 >>>>> Overall - 39 2) TORONTO BLUE JAYS- After capturing the 2003 World Series, the Jays fell to 87 wins last season and out of the playoffs. The main problem was a pitching staff that lacked depth following Ed Yarnall's departure to Anahiem and GM David Maloney seems to have done little about it. Aside from the signing of aging David Cone, there was precious little done. What's more, Toronto foolishly allowed long-time closer Billy Wagner to flee to the rival Yankees and lost Shawn Green to San Francisco.
Pitching- 17.5/25, Hitting- 21/25 >>>>> Overall- 38.5 3) NEW YORK YANKEES- By far, the Yankees were the busiest team on the free-agent market. The result is an American League highest $78 million payroll and a plethora of big name talent. Richie Sexson, Ricky Ledee and Jason LaRue bolster the attack while the additions of Mike Mussina, Pete Curtis and Billy Wagner go along way towards retooling a staff that was previously full of 40-somethings such as Roger Clemens and David Cone. But while GM Rick Chamberlain is to be commended for trying to put some pride back into the pinstripes, several glaring holes at third base and in the bullpen went largely unanswered.
Pitching- 19/25, Hitting- 18/25 >>>>> Overall- 37 4) BOSTON RED SOX- After three seasons with the Padres, Brent Ingram has left to take on the same role with the big-budget Red Sox. Don't count on an immediate turnaround of this moribund club however. Aside from the signing of Tony Legrand, there are no aditions that can immediately help last season's 90 loss performance. Ingram seems content to build through the draft by accumulating picks, something which could pay dividends down the road
Pitching- 12.5/25, Hitting- 17/25 >>>>> Overall- 29.5 5) MILWAUKEE BREWERS- Its a shame that long-time GM Ben Bourassa quit because the Brewers are just starting to blossom with good young players such as Vernon Wells, Cam Carls and Damon Frechette leading the way. With one or two additions the Brew Crew might have contended, but regrettfully the team was without an owner to lead the way.
Pitching- 12.5/25, Hitting- 15/25 >>>>> Overall- 27.5 6) CLEVELAND INDIANS- The Tribe has never fielded a contending team in RML and that shouldn't change too much in 2005. The offence relies too heavily on an aging Manny Ramirez, the rotation only goes two deep and the bullpen....don't even get me started on that. Last place beckons.
Pitching- 12/25, Hitting- 11/25 >>>>> Overall- 23 7) DETROIT TIGERS- Ugly is a word that can be applied to just about every aspect of the Detroit Tigers. Their hitting is bad and their pitching is terrible. This team needs an owner badly.
Pitching- 8/25, Hitting- 11/25 >>>>> Overall- 19 AL WEST
1) SEATTLE MARINERS- The M's scored the most runs in the league and allowed the fewest in their division, yet somehow inexplicably missed the playoffs. GM Sylvain Couture has made some bold moves to make sure that doesn't happen again. Tim Salmon and Ray Durham have been signed to bolster the league's best offence, while the trades for Scott Elarton, David Shine and Ugueth Urbina have upgraded the pitching staff significantly. Forget what I said about San Francisco last year, this may be the best team in RML history.
Pitching- 23.5/25, Hitting- 24/25 >>>>> Overall- 47.5 2) ANAHEIM ANGELS- The Halos had their best season in 2004, winning 100 games and missing the playoffs only by virtue of a tiebraker. The excellence continued into the awards ceremony with Ed Yarnall winning the Cy Young and P.A Thibault winning Mogul of the Year. It was a fantsatic season, but the Angels have their work cut out for them with the insurgent M's. Thibault may have overpaid for $45 million pitcher ken Cloude, but he should strenghthen the rotation.
Pitching 20.5/25, Hitting 20/25 >>>>> Overall- 40.5
3) TEXAS RANGERS- The Rangers have a good team, but don't seem to be in the same league as the Mariners. The pitching is fine and the offence is respectable but nothiong jumps out at you. Brant Brown should help the hitting, but they need more than someone like him. The pitching is still anchored by Greg Maddux and Hideki White, but you've gotta wonder about the wisdom of signing Harvey Hau, a guy with a career 6.23 e.r.a to a $25 million contract.
Pitching- 18/25, Hitting 17.5/25 >>>>> Overall- 35.5 4) MINNESOTA TWINS- Aside from the Cinderella (and as it turned out, illusory) season of 2001, the Twins have never really been in contention. That could change in the next few years with a great young rotation anchored by perhaps the most promising player in RML, 2004 Rookie of the Year Ray Turner. The Twins lack one big bopper, but definitely have a playoff-worthy pitching staff.
Pitching- 19/25, Hitting- 16/25 >>>>> Overall- 35 5) OAKLAND ATHLETICS- The A's surprised everyone last year by overcoming the odds and capturing the 2004 World Series. If they want to do it again however, they must first face some harsh realities. Jeffrey Hammonds and Brian Daubach have both left via free-agency with no adequate replacement and the pitching staff, which was a weak link last year, has not been upgraded. The A's need some more big performances, because they look very mediocre on paper.
Pitching- 16/25, Hitting- 18.5/25 >>>>> Overall- 34.5 6) KANSAS CITY ROYALS- The Royals have been hovering around contention for years, but have never gotten the pitching needed to take them to the top. This season they have gone backwards. Top starters Mike Mussina and Dan Reichert have fled via free-agency and GM Jason Holland has done nothing to fill their place.
Pitching- 11/25, Hitting- 20/25 >>>>> Overall- 31 7) CHICAGO WHITE SOX- This once proud franchise fell to the depths of baseball hell in 2004. New GM John Finnecy has a lot of work to do, but has gotten off to a good start thus far. The signings of Brain Daubach from Oakland as well as Kevin Appier and Orber Moreno should go along way towards solidifying some holes. The Sox have high hopes for third overall pick Rudy King. This club isn't there yet, but are headed in the right direction.
Pitching- 11/25, Hitting 12/25 >>>>> Overall- 23 NL EAST 
1) NEW YORK METS- The Mets have solid nucleus of players that resulted in lats season's pennant. Although GM Ben Moffitt remained fairly inactive, this is still a club that remains the favoutite to win the division. There is a lot of high priced talent on this team, from John Smoltz to Mo Vaughn to Mike Piazza. With defending NL MVP Peter Tucci a year from free-agency and the same porous bullpen, there is trouble looming, but for now the Mets are the class of the East.
Pitching- 19/25, Hitting- 23/25 >>>>> Overall- 42 2) MONTREAL EXPOS- After a 90 win performance in 2004, the Expos appear to have made the moves that could vault them into the playoffs for the first time since 2001. The trade for Kevin Brown bolsters a rotation that looks to be one of the National League's strongest. The boldest move of all though, may have been the huge signing of Joe Kunkel to a $77 million contract. He will be a big boost for the offence.
Pitching- 21.5/25, Hitting- 20/25 >>>>> Overall- 41.5 3) PITTSBURGH PIRATES- The Pirates looked like one of the up and coming teams until ex-GM Bill Kalish surprisingly resigned. The hitting is led by the likes of Scott Morgan, Ivan Rodriguez and Mark Quinn, while the pitching is anchored by Schilling, Liber and Bullard. The Pirates have a good team and if they get a GM steering the show, they're definite contenders.
Pitching- 19.5/25, Hitting- 18/25 >>>>> Overall- 37.5 4) FLORIDA MARLINS- The Marlins have contended for three years now, coming as close as a tiebraker on the final day of the season in 2002. But unless they make a move to either get a big hitter or pitcher, they don't seem to have the capacity to win a division. Edgar Martinez was a nice pickup, but he's 42 and can only play on the bench. Unless the Marlins go get someone, the only that puts this team into the playoffs is another superhuman season from Bryant Burton.
Pitching- 18.5/25, Hitting- 18/25 >>>>> Overall- 36.5 5) PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES- The big bad Phillies aren't so scary anymore. The killer offence has been somewhat bated by the departures of Juan Gonzalez and Vinny Castilla, while the pitching is woefully understaffed. Trevor Hoffman and Brad Penny are the only legit stars in that entire staff. With Patrick O'Keefe vowing to rid more talent, it will be a while until another pennat returns to the City of Brotherly Love.
Pitching- 14.5/25, Hitting- 15/25 >>>>> Overall- 29.5 6) CHICAGO CUBS- The Cubbies have been languishing in last place for years and that should remain the same this year. With GM JHosef Skroch leaving a sinking ship in L.A, the club's two big offseason acquisitions were for Buddy Carlyle and Alex Rodriguez. You've gotta wonder about the wisdom of picking up ARod from Seattle. His contract is long and prohibitive, but the Cubs already have one of the best young shortstops in the game. What are they going to do, bench Larry Ly or play someone out of position.
Pitching 11.5/25, Hitting- 17.5/25 >>>>> Overall- 29 7) ST. LOUIS CARDINALS- The Cards have languished in last place for years, but are finally showing signs of life under new GM Chris Miller. They drafted Terry Dalton first overall and he should lead the pitching staff for years to come. While the signings of Jeffrey Hammonds and 40-year-old Mark McGwire won't solve all of their problems, St. Louis is a lot better now than at the end of last season. Just for laughs, I might mention that they have reuinted the "Bash Brothers", whatever that means.
Pitching- 9/25, Hitting- 12.5/25 >>>>> Overall- 21.5 NL WEST
1) ATLANTA BRAVES- The Braves come into 2005 with the almost same team. After three straight appearances in the World Series, including one championship, there isn't much to change. The Braves do have the Giants and other clubs breathing down their necks however. The pitching is among the best and the offence is deep. A definite contender.
Pitching- 22/25, Hitting- 21/25 >>>>> Overall- 43 2) SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS- The Giants have been second bannana for a couple seasons now because of a pitching staff that has wilted down the stretch for two years in a row. The offence has always been feared, even morseo now with the free-agent signing of Shawn Green from Toronto. But the problem with the Giants was pitching and it looks as if they will be relying on the same cast. Deadline acquisition Denny Neagle failed to provide the expected spark, while young starter Dirk Parkerson has been a huge disapointment. With Jared McCarthy and the bullpen duo of Rivera and Nen, the Giants aren't hurting pitching wise, but they need some players to step it up.
Pitching- 18.5/25, Hitting- 23/25 >>>>> Overall- 41.5 3) CINCINNATI REDS- Slowly and quietly, GM Larry Bailey has assembled a team capable of making some noise. Young hitters Esteban McAndrew and Andrew Murray have developed into legitimate stars, while the pitching staff boasts young pitchers such as Tom Murray, Scott Williamson and Chad Harville. The Reds have a good team, but the one thing they lack is a horse. Until they get an ace pitcher, they will have a hard time beating Atlanta.
Pitching- 16.5/25, Hitting- 20/25 >>>>> Overall- 36.5 4) SAN DIEGO PADRES- The Padres looked to be one of the up and coming teams until longtime GM Brent Ingram left for greener pastures and star 3B Joe Kunkel signed a huge contract with Montreal. The Padres have a solid nucleus of young players, but unless someone takes over soon, they will probably languish around 80-85 wins as usual.
Pitching- 17.5/25, Hitting- 17/25 >>>> Overall 34.5 5) LOS ANGELES DODGERS- For years the Dodgers have been a pitching-rich club that needed only another big hitter to push them over the top. But in an offseason where they said goodbye to longtime GM Josef Skroch, the Dodgers traded Kevin Brown, David Shine and Scott Elarton for prospects. What was once the best trio of pitchers in baseball has been disbanded and hopes of making the playoffs appear to have left with them.
Pitching- 16.5/25, Hitting- 15/25 >>>>> Overall- 31.5 6) HOUSTON ASTROS- The 'Stros still have a good offensive nucleus with Chipper Jones, Jeff Bagwell and Jermaine Dye, but the once dominating rotation is no longer and these once perennnial contenders have no hope in 2005. What's worse, new GM Sean ward has done nothing about it. This is a situation that looks only to be getting worse.
Pitching- 11/25, Hitting- 18/25 >>>>> Overall- 29 7) COLORADO ROCKIES- The Rockies have some potential with a few good young players such as Karl Eldred and Jerry Wai, but GM Rick Ryan has to start building this team up. Few moves were made in the offseason and the Rockies are seemingly leaving this season for rebuilding.
Pitching- 13/25, Hitting- 12.5/25 >>>>> Overall- 25.5 |
