MLB Power Rankings: Glee for the Braves, American horror story for the Yankees
By Tim Boyle
25) MLB Power Rankings: Kansas City Royals
It seems like every week in the MLB Power Rankings one of the biggest battles is for the number 25 spot. Pick whichever team you want for this glorious placement. This week, it’s the Kansas City Royals who get the nod.
What can be said about the Royals that hasn’t already been said about the teams behind them? All but forgotten, the one saving grace is they can point and laugh at the Tigers.
24) MLB Power Rankings: Colorado Rockies
Nobody will ever believe you when you say the 2022 Colorado Rockies were relevant at one point. It’s impossible to take it. If you’ve been keeping a journal, you can look back at those early days of the season when there was an outside chance they could compete.
For Colorado, it was the usual fall for the pitching staff that gave them no hope of winning. The bats haven’t been bad. The starting rotation and many of the relievers have been atrocious. It’s part of the dirty job of being employed by the Rockies. Where are Dante Bichette and Vinny Castilla when you need them?
23) MLB Power Rankings: Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins are, yet again, just kind of there. Sandy Alcantara is an incredibly bright spot. It’s too bad he can’t pitch every game. Even if there was a potion to make it happen, you better believe ownership wouldn’t spend to make it happen.
Everything that could go wrong for Miami has this year. They’re working through some major injuries right now but that’s not the cause of their demise. They were already a weak club only now they might sink a little further down.
22) MLB Power Rankings: Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are actually a little more fun these days. Maybe it’s the new faces or the acceptance that this year isn’t going to turn out well. Whatever it is, getting to see Christopher Morel and Franmil Reyes play regularly isn’t so bad.
The Cubs are still a bad team but they’ve reached the final stage of grief. Spoil a few seasons of teams hoping they can make it to the postseason or at least punish some old foes. Have a goal and a direction. It’s something the Cubs didn’t have for most of 2022.
21) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Angels
Something’s rotten in the state of the California. It’s not the property taxes. It’s the Los Angeles Angels. So much promise at the top of the roster and some fine contributions from lesser players have made for a frustrating campaign out in Orange County.
Even as Shohei Ohtani does things not seen since Tungsten Arm O’Doyle, it’s a season going nowhere. They need to do something differently. Otherwise, Mike Trout might even be more unrecognizable to the average person despite his talent.