AL Team Power Rankings - 11/18/07
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 12:15 pmThis weekend, we introduce the initial "1986 Take Two" Power Rankings for the American League.
The power rankings use the “Janssen Analytical Zoning Z-Score” (JAZZ) System. JAZZ is a powerful computerized ranking system that utilizes a large array of statistical data (both from the 1986 real season and the 1986 Take Two replay), inputs from baseball management and media experts around the world, and an award-winning, patented team ranking algorithm that was developed by some of the top programmers in the commercial computer sciences industry.
Here are the current rankings:
1.) Detroit Tigers (8-3)- stabilized by veteran ace Jack Morris (3-0) and with confidence building every time they hand the lead over to their shutdown closer Willie Hernandez- the Tigers have scored almost twice as many runs as their opponents so far this season. The Tigers have gotten big RBI production from Lance Parrish and Johnny Grubb and have streaked out to the best AL record so far.
2.) California Angels (8-4)- a stingy team ERA (ERA under 2,90, WHIP of 1.02), good base speed led by Gary Pettis, and clutch hitting by Wally Joyner have the Angels playing better even than their .667 record, which is why they are ranked second.
3.) New York Yankees (7-4)- Mike Easler is on fire (lead league in RBI’s, hitting .529) and Rasmussen is 2-0… Rickey Henderson hasn’t even woken up yet (hitting just .152) and yet the Yankees are still winning. (Note, the JAZZ system initially had the Yankees ranked lower, but after implementing a system patch, the Yankees power ranking was recalculated using a random number generator that ranges between 1 and 3... this was actually built into the “expert input” module of JAZZ, as Yankee fans around the world have insisted that NO Yankee team under George Steinspender could EVER be ranked lower than third).
4.) Boston Red Sox (7-4)- the Red Sox open with the fourth ranking, ironically just lower than the Yankees. Boggs, Rice and Baylor have delivered on offense, while Clemens and Hurst have each won two games. (Note: a what-if scenario was also run, and JAZZ clearly would have the Red Sox ranked second if their manager were actually pitching).
5.) Toronto Blue Jays (6-5)- Reliever Mark Eichhorn has pitched almost 1/6th of Toronto’s innings, and has yet to be scored upon (he has 2 wins). If Willie Upshaw didn’t have 3 errors and George Bell hit a little more, the Jays would improve their rankings. George Bell and Damaso Garcia have zero walks between them in 88 at bats. The JAZZ system logic for analyzing the Blue Jays was also adjusted via a programming patch, whereby Toronto is restricted to be ranked no lower than 5th, because they are managed by those feisty group of ladies- who apparently even look good statistically speaking.
6.) Oakland A’s (8-3)- Mike Davis (12 RBI’s) and Carney Lansford (6 HR’s, 11 RBI’s) have led the over-achieving A’s to a place in the top portion of the rankings. Most of the hitters on the A’s roster are hitting .300 or higher. Dave Kingman is hitting .331- ok, well that’s his TOTAL AVERAGE (.086 average, .114 slugging, 13K’s). Despite a 8-3 record, the A’s are ranked below some teams with fewer wins, as the JAZZ system took away significant points for the high ERA of A’s starters and the A’s having the league’s fewest walks.
7.) Texas Rangers (6-5)- Strong team ERA of 3.24 and good WHIP (1.18), the pitching has been led by Charlie Scuff… errr Hough who is 2-0. The offense jhas gotten contributions from several players, the most surprising of which may be Gary Ward who leads the team in runs and is hitting right around .400 thru 11 games. More offense = much higher JAZZ ranking for the Rangers.
8.) Chicago White Sox (6-5)- Carlton Fisk’s offense and solid effort from their starting pitchers (at least in some games) have put the ChiSox on the upside of a .500 record. Other than Thigpen, Chicago’s bullpen has been awful, and overall the White Sox have a negative run differential.
9.) Cleveland Indians (5-6)- Phil Niekro has provided the stability in the clubhouse and newcomer Bill Wegman was impressive in his first start. Many felt that the Indians should be ranked 13th solely because they traded Julio Franco away with 20 good years left in his career, but Cory Snyder’s almost perfect play at SS (7 of 8 ss-x’s were outs) has everyone scratching their heads in disbelief.
10.) Milwaukee Brewers (5-6)- The starters are 1-5, but the team has been spared an Orioles experience because the Brewers bullpen is 4-1 (with 3 saves). No hitters have distinguished themselves, and Rob Deer has 3 of the Brewers 7 HR’s so far and they were all hit in one game. Milwaukee needs more power and better starting pitching or this may be the highest they are ranked all season
11.) Minnesota Twins (4-8)- The offense, led by Kent Hrbek, has done well enough to win, but the team pitching (6.35 ERA, 1.74 WHIP) is the primary cause of the sub-.500 record so far, and a ranking outside the top 10.
12.) Seattle Mariners (3-8)- Somehow in the first 10 games, the only Mariners starting pitcher that surrendered a HR was Mark Langston, but he made up for all the others by yielding 8 home runs in his 3 starts. It seems like in game 11, Mike Moore caught a case of “Langstonitis”, allowing 2 HR’s in another loss for the Mariners. Meanwhile the Seattle offense is fraught with strikeouts, and it seems untimely hitting. So far, Seattle is not executing on the game plan.
13.) Kansas City Royals (4-7)- team ERA of 5.44, Frank White is vying for the team RBI lead, slugging only .377 as a team, while 12 home run s have already been surrendered by their pitchers… all means the Royals are not doing well, and thus their rank as the 13th strongest team in the league.
99.) Baltimore Orioles (1-10)- Baltimore is ranked 99 even though there are only 14 teams in the league, as they are currently on a free-fall double digit losing streak. So far, the O’s have lived up to their name, leaving a lot of blank space on the official scorecards (22 total runs in first 11 games). Baltimore fans are calling for change and unless there is a lot of it, the last spot in the rankings may be home for the Orioles for a long time.
The power rankings use the “Janssen Analytical Zoning Z-Score” (JAZZ) System. JAZZ is a powerful computerized ranking system that utilizes a large array of statistical data (both from the 1986 real season and the 1986 Take Two replay), inputs from baseball management and media experts around the world, and an award-winning, patented team ranking algorithm that was developed by some of the top programmers in the commercial computer sciences industry.
Here are the current rankings:
1.) Detroit Tigers (8-3)- stabilized by veteran ace Jack Morris (3-0) and with confidence building every time they hand the lead over to their shutdown closer Willie Hernandez- the Tigers have scored almost twice as many runs as their opponents so far this season. The Tigers have gotten big RBI production from Lance Parrish and Johnny Grubb and have streaked out to the best AL record so far.
2.) California Angels (8-4)- a stingy team ERA (ERA under 2,90, WHIP of 1.02), good base speed led by Gary Pettis, and clutch hitting by Wally Joyner have the Angels playing better even than their .667 record, which is why they are ranked second.
3.) New York Yankees (7-4)- Mike Easler is on fire (lead league in RBI’s, hitting .529) and Rasmussen is 2-0… Rickey Henderson hasn’t even woken up yet (hitting just .152) and yet the Yankees are still winning. (Note, the JAZZ system initially had the Yankees ranked lower, but after implementing a system patch, the Yankees power ranking was recalculated using a random number generator that ranges between 1 and 3... this was actually built into the “expert input” module of JAZZ, as Yankee fans around the world have insisted that NO Yankee team under George Steinspender could EVER be ranked lower than third).
4.) Boston Red Sox (7-4)- the Red Sox open with the fourth ranking, ironically just lower than the Yankees. Boggs, Rice and Baylor have delivered on offense, while Clemens and Hurst have each won two games. (Note: a what-if scenario was also run, and JAZZ clearly would have the Red Sox ranked second if their manager were actually pitching).
5.) Toronto Blue Jays (6-5)- Reliever Mark Eichhorn has pitched almost 1/6th of Toronto’s innings, and has yet to be scored upon (he has 2 wins). If Willie Upshaw didn’t have 3 errors and George Bell hit a little more, the Jays would improve their rankings. George Bell and Damaso Garcia have zero walks between them in 88 at bats. The JAZZ system logic for analyzing the Blue Jays was also adjusted via a programming patch, whereby Toronto is restricted to be ranked no lower than 5th, because they are managed by those feisty group of ladies- who apparently even look good statistically speaking.
6.) Oakland A’s (8-3)- Mike Davis (12 RBI’s) and Carney Lansford (6 HR’s, 11 RBI’s) have led the over-achieving A’s to a place in the top portion of the rankings. Most of the hitters on the A’s roster are hitting .300 or higher. Dave Kingman is hitting .331- ok, well that’s his TOTAL AVERAGE (.086 average, .114 slugging, 13K’s). Despite a 8-3 record, the A’s are ranked below some teams with fewer wins, as the JAZZ system took away significant points for the high ERA of A’s starters and the A’s having the league’s fewest walks.
7.) Texas Rangers (6-5)- Strong team ERA of 3.24 and good WHIP (1.18), the pitching has been led by Charlie Scuff… errr Hough who is 2-0. The offense jhas gotten contributions from several players, the most surprising of which may be Gary Ward who leads the team in runs and is hitting right around .400 thru 11 games. More offense = much higher JAZZ ranking for the Rangers.
8.) Chicago White Sox (6-5)- Carlton Fisk’s offense and solid effort from their starting pitchers (at least in some games) have put the ChiSox on the upside of a .500 record. Other than Thigpen, Chicago’s bullpen has been awful, and overall the White Sox have a negative run differential.
9.) Cleveland Indians (5-6)- Phil Niekro has provided the stability in the clubhouse and newcomer Bill Wegman was impressive in his first start. Many felt that the Indians should be ranked 13th solely because they traded Julio Franco away with 20 good years left in his career, but Cory Snyder’s almost perfect play at SS (7 of 8 ss-x’s were outs) has everyone scratching their heads in disbelief.
10.) Milwaukee Brewers (5-6)- The starters are 1-5, but the team has been spared an Orioles experience because the Brewers bullpen is 4-1 (with 3 saves). No hitters have distinguished themselves, and Rob Deer has 3 of the Brewers 7 HR’s so far and they were all hit in one game. Milwaukee needs more power and better starting pitching or this may be the highest they are ranked all season
11.) Minnesota Twins (4-8)- The offense, led by Kent Hrbek, has done well enough to win, but the team pitching (6.35 ERA, 1.74 WHIP) is the primary cause of the sub-.500 record so far, and a ranking outside the top 10.
12.) Seattle Mariners (3-8)- Somehow in the first 10 games, the only Mariners starting pitcher that surrendered a HR was Mark Langston, but he made up for all the others by yielding 8 home runs in his 3 starts. It seems like in game 11, Mike Moore caught a case of “Langstonitis”, allowing 2 HR’s in another loss for the Mariners. Meanwhile the Seattle offense is fraught with strikeouts, and it seems untimely hitting. So far, Seattle is not executing on the game plan.
13.) Kansas City Royals (4-7)- team ERA of 5.44, Frank White is vying for the team RBI lead, slugging only .377 as a team, while 12 home run s have already been surrendered by their pitchers… all means the Royals are not doing well, and thus their rank as the 13th strongest team in the league.
99.) Baltimore Orioles (1-10)- Baltimore is ranked 99 even though there are only 14 teams in the league, as they are currently on a free-fall double digit losing streak. So far, the O’s have lived up to their name, leaving a lot of blank space on the official scorecards (22 total runs in first 11 games). Baltimore fans are calling for change and unless there is a lot of it, the last spot in the rankings may be home for the Orioles for a long time.