MLB Power Rankings: Angels, Yankees are legit and Mariners, Red Sox showing quit
By Tim Boyle
20. MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox
Here’s something to put a smile on the face of many fans outside of New England: the Boston Red Sox are not playing well. Despite every effort from Xander Bogaerts to increase his free-agent value after opting out, the team is below .500 and fading behind the superior teams within their division.
It’s a bit curious because their pitching has been relatively good. The real culprit for their drop on the MLB Power Rankings falls on the bats. They aren’t scoring nearly enough runs to keep up with the best teams in baseball. Good pitching may be good hitting. If you don’t hit much at all, any of that good pitching goes to waste.
19. MLB Power Rankings: Cleveland Guardians
There is one alarming Cleveland Guardians statistic to take note of. The team is 0-10 versus clubs with a record over .500. This means two things. One is that they are playing a lot of good teams and not winning those games. The other is that the Guardians aren’t very good.
Jose Ramirez hasn’t been told this fact. He continues to rake at the plate in a lineup with some other bright spots but also major gaps. The pitching staff remains the key for Cleveland to find wins. With still one of the better staffs in baseball, it’s unfortunate the Guardians ownership didn’t pay to bring much in during the winter. Any success these individual players have will likely go to waste.
18. MLB Power Rankings: Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics should absolutely not expect to see themselves playing more than 162 games this year. They seemed destined to get swept up in a landslide sooner than later. How they’ve managed to stick around without being one of baseball’s absolute worst teams is a bit of a mystery.
The Athletics are, in many ways, the West Coast version of the Tampa Bay Rays. They don’t have much hitting and their pitching, while talented some years, often seems to include a bunch of names average fans didn’t know in the preseason. It’s only a matter of time before the Athletics slide down the MLB Power Rankings and into the 20s for good. They deserve credit, though. This group of players have stuck around in the fray.
17. MLB Power Rankings: Atlanta Braves
Early takes about the Atlanta Braves repeating as World Series champions belong in a glass of lemonade to keep it cool. Individual statistics haven’t been overwhelming bad for this early part of the season. They have a handful of guys hitting well and pitchers getting the job done.
The Braves don’t seem to have the same energy they did in late 2021. Could it be the loss of key players like Freddie Freeman or even just the spark Joc Pederson provided? Getting Ronald Acuna Jr. back should help the scuffling offense. The season is young. Hopefully, they get the reality check they need soon.
16. MLB Power Rankings: Colorado Rockies
It’s time to sell the Colorado Rockies. Their hot start is clearly fool’s gold. They are a team that can beat up on bad teams, get beaten up by mediocre ones, and occasionally catch a good team on an off-series.
Specific statistics for the Rockies are always difficult to gauge because of the ballpark they play in. What we can say is that Chad Kuhl is their best starter this year and C.J. Cron has been their own personal Babe Ruth. Finishing better than fourth in the National League West is the mission for 2022. If they can spoil another team’s season, add that as a success, too.