The Power 10 - April 22, 2013

It’s time for the first installment of The Power 10. The Power 10 is a ranking of the MLB landscape as I see it, and will be updated every two weeks. The first rankings were determined by a combination of preseason expectations and actual performance. 

The Surprise teams of the first three weeks also met in the 2007 World Series – the Red Sox and Rockies.

Some early season underachievers include the Angels, Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Rays – all teams that I expect to be mainstays in The Power 10 at some point in the near future.

Team	Win – Loss	Run Differential
#1 – Atlanta Braves	13-5	+33
The Braves used an early 9-game winning streak to jump to the head of the pack with an impressive 12-1 record, which included a 3-game sweep in Washington. They have since cooled off by losing 4 out of 5 games, but their grip on the #1 spot remains firm.   How They Have Done It:  Led by the blistering start from newcomer Justin Upton, the Braves lead the majors with 29 home runs - more than compensating for their low team batting average of .244.    But of course, their offense takes a backseat to their league-leading 2.36 team ERA. Incredible starts by Paul Maholm and Mike Minor give the Braves 4 formidable starting pitchers to help get the ball into the hands of electric closer Craig Kimbrel.
#2 – Boston Red Sox	12-6	+31
Early series wins against the Yankees, Rays, and Jays have helped re-assert Boston’s place in the AL East. This past week they swept the Rays and Indians before losing both games of a Sunday doubleheader against KC.    How They Have Done It:  Much like Atlanta, Boston has done it with pitching. Led by an incredible start by Clay Buchholz (4-0 with a 0.93 ERA in 4 starts), Boston pitchers are second in the majors with a .218 batting average against. Jon Lester is off to a nice start in a bounce-back season.
#3 – San Francisco Giants	12-7	+7
An early season sweep of Colorado and a series win in LA helped get the champs off to a good start before a weekend sweep of division-rival San Diego helped them grab this spot. The Giants are off to a great start at home, posting a 7-2 record.      How They Have Done It:  How else to the Giants do it? Pitching, of course.  Except the pitcher you think would be responsible is certainly not.  Matt Cain’s early season struggles have been puzzling, and his 7.15 ERA is unsightly.  The Giants are also 0-4 in games he has started.    Madison Baumgarner has gotten off to a terrific start (3-0 with a 2.05 ERA in 4 starts) to lead the rotation and Tim Lincecum is off to a nice start in his bounce-back season, to help soften the blow of Cain’s rocky April. Sergio Romo leads the majors with 8 saves.
#4 – Oakland A’s	12-7	+20
After a blistering 12-4 start, including a sweep of the Angels, the A’s were humbled by the Rays this weekend, being outscored 17-4. Although their record is impressive, they have taken advantage of the putrid Astros by going 6-0 in their two early season meetings.   How They Have Done It:  Shockingly, they have done it with offense, leading the American League with 100 runs scored over their first 19 games. Coco Crisp has an unusual 5 home runs, and newcomer Jed Lowrie leads the team in average and shares the team lead in RBI. This gritty bunch has found new ways to win, which spells trouble for the American League if their pitching performs the way they did last year.
#5 – Texas Rangers	12-6	+28
Coming off a weekend pummeling of the Mariners, the Rangers start the week with a “measuring stick” series against the Angels. Series wins vs. the Angels and Rays early gave them momentum. The loss of 18-game winner Matt Harrison will make their hold on this spot difficult.   How They Have Done It:  Led by Yu Darvish, the Rangers have the lowest team ERA in the American League, second to only Atlanta in the majors. Darvish, who nearly threw a perfect game against the Astros on the season’s second day, leads the majors with 38 strikeouts in 4 starts. Fast starts by Lance Berkman and Ian Kinsler have helped anchor an offense that lost a ton of firepower in the offseason.
#6 – Cincinnati Reds	11-8	+32
The Reds hit a rough spot a few weeks ago, losing 5 games in a row to the Cardinals and Pirates, but have since responded nicely by reeling off wins in 6 of their last 7. They lead the majors with 106 runs scored and are 2nd in the majors with a +32 run differential. The Reds have also taken care of business at Great American Ballpark, posting a 10-3 record at home.   How They Have Done It:  Aside from leading the majors with 106 runs, the Reds are 2nd in the NL in Team Batting, and 5th in the NL in Team ERA. ‘DatDude Brandon Phillips is 2nd in the majors with 21 RBI, and Todd Frazier is doing his best to avoid the sophomore slump. On the other side of the ball the Reds have posted 13 quality starts in 19 games, helping soften the blow of placing Johnny Cueto on the 15-day DL.  Aroldis Chapman has been his usual dominant self at the back end of the bullpen.
#7 – Colorado Rockies	13-5	+28
Well, I don’t think any of us saw this one coming. The Rockies are off to the most surprising start of the 2013 season, and have won 8 of their past 9, including sweeps of the Mets and Padres last week. They are 8-1 at home, with their only loss coming Sunday to the Dbacks.    How They Have Done It:  The Rockies lead the majors with a .282 average and are 2nd in runs scored, but perhaps the most critical factor in their early season success has been their pitching. Yes, they have middle-of-the-road numbers, but this staff was deplorable last year. The Rockies have 11 quality starts in their first 18 games, compared to posting only 27 quality starts over the entire 2012 season! Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki, and Michael Cuddyer have gotten off to terrific starts with the sticks, and Dexter Fowler uncharacteristically leads the team with 7 homers.
#8 – St. Louis Cardinals	10-8	+22
The Cardinals have lost 3 of their past 5, but had won 7 of their previous 9 games prior to help them get off to a fast start.    How They Have Done It:  Slow starts by David Freese and Allen Craig have forced them towards the bottom of the league in team batting average, but they’re still scoring runs – their 93 ranks them 5th in the majors. On the other side of the ball, Adam Wainwright (3-1 with a 2.48 ERA) has anchored a rotation that ranks 3rd in the NL in team ERA and has posted 4 team shutouts.
#9 – Washington Nationals	10-8	-14
After getting out of the gate quick with a 7-2 start, the Nationals have dropped 6 of their past 9, including being swept at home by the Braves. Their schedule does not do them any favors, as their next 11 games are against the Cardinals, Reds, and Braves.  Ryan Zimmerman, who has gotten off to a brutal start, was also placed on the 15-day DL this weekend.   How They Have Done It:  Offensively, it’s Bryce Harper. Bryce has come out of the gate on a tear, with 7 homers and a .369 average through the first 65 at bats of his sophomore season. Their pitching has been a mixed bag so far – Gio Gonzalez has been terrible. Dan Haren has been worse. They have even lost 3 of the 4 games started by Stephen Strasburg. However, Jordan Zimmermann and Ross Detwiler have stepped up to keep this team where they belong, which is a testament to the depth they carried going into the regular season and the reason why most feel they will be near the top of the league all season.
#10 – Detroit Tigers	9-9	+6
After trading wins and losses through their first 10 games, the Tigers raised the stakes a bit over their last 8 by following a 4-game winning streak with a 4-game losing streak.  They play in arguably the worst division in baseball, but they absolutely cannot win a championship without a closer.  As it stands now, they have 3 different relievers sharing the team lead in saves, with 1.   How They Have Done It:  Cabrera and Fielder are the lifeblood of this offense, and have both gotten off to blistering starts in the middle of the lineup. In fact, they have accounted for 39 of the 79 runs the Tigers have scored. Perhaps the best surprise for Detroit has been the addition of Torii Hunter to the top of this lineup. With Hunter leading the team in average, hits, and on base percentage, he has told everyone that the cushiest place to bat in baseball is #2 in front of Miguel and Prince.