Well, my MLB power rankings are in the books. This year’s rankings proved to be the most fun and challenging task in my 12 years of doing this, probably because the Orioles were so entertaining.
2023 also marks the second time we’ll see a 12-team playoff following the introduction of the format last year. We have 12 small universes hoping and believing they can become October’s team. One day, maybe we’ll see a team ranked lower than say, sixth or seventh, win it all, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Take this season as an example. We’d all agree that the teams that won 100-plus regular-season games can win it all. Well, there are three of those — Atlanta, Baltimore and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 90-win teams seem to be capable of a run, or at least most of the five 90-win teams.
For me, I have great respect for Tampa Bay, and what Texas has accomplished in Bruce Bochy’s first season is quite remarkable. One of those teams will survive the wild-card round because they play each other, but both have serious rotation issues that I can’t see them fixing well enough to make it very far.
But I can see Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Houston being in this for the long haul.
I could see Toronto (89 wins) pulling off a surprise, but I won’t be wagering on it. Minnesota (87 wins) has starting pitching that is quite capable of spearheading a run. Rocco Baldelli has adjusted some things in his lineup in an effort to give the group more offensive punch.
As far as Miami and Arizona go, while both are getting better, they are just fodder, sorry as I am for their fans.
Here are my final power rankings, minus the comments on the top 10. Instead, I’ll write comments on all 12 playoff teams tomorrow.
And as sad as it is for me for a season to end, this great October is ready to reveal itself. It’s just 143 days until my late February preseason power rankings are revealed.
1. Atlanta Braves (104-58, No. 1 last week)
2. Baltimore Orioles (101-61, No. 2)
3. Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62, No. 3)
4. Houston Astros (90-72, No. 8)
5. Milwaukee Brewers (92-70, No. 5)
6. Philadelphia Phillies (90-72, No. 6)
7. Toronto Blue Jays (89-73, No. 10)
8. Minnesota Twins (87-75, No. 11)
9. Tampa Bay Rays (99-63, No. 4)
10. Miami Marlins (84-77, No. 13)
11. Texas Rangers (90-72, No. 7)
12. Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78, No. 12)
13. Seattle Mariners (88-74, No. 9)
14. Chicago Cubs (83-79, No. 14)
15. New York Yankees (82-80, No. 17)
16. San Diego Padres (82-80, No. 15)
17. Cincinnati Reds (82-80, No. 16)
18. Detroit Tigers (78-84, No. 22)
19. Pittsburgh Pirates (76-86, No. 20)
20. San Francisco Giants (79-83, No. 18)
21. Boston Red Sox (78-84, No. 21)
22. Cleveland Guardians (76-86, No. 19)
23. Washington Nationals (71-91, No. 25)
24. St. Louis Cardinals (71-91, No. 26)
25. New York Mets (74-87, No. 23)
26. Kansas City Royals (56-106, No. 28)
27. Colorado Rockies (59-103, No. 29)
28. Chicago White Sox (61-101, No. 27)
29. Los Angeles Angels (73-89, No. 24)
30. Oakland Athletics (50-112, No. 30)