Power Ranks- Top 10 End of season

This is being done following game 159...…. the only mystery left in the season is whether Montreal or Washington will finish 3rd in the AL and who will grab the 5-seed in the AL, Atlanta or Lousiville. 

This is not intended to shoot sunshine up anyone's ass but it would not surprise me if any of the top 10 took home the title this year. It's been a long time since I felt the playoff field was this deep. When I did these rankings I had a team drop 5 spots when looking into underlying stats...…. and another jump 3..... It's going to be a very tight playoff. 

10. New York Yankees: 100-59, Last Rank: 8, First Rank 9

Sooo you know it's going to get spicy when a 100W team is the 10th spot...… I predicted that New York would fade in the 2nd half but they didn't. Just when I look at the roster I see a deep roster that is very good but doesn't make the "jump" when the roster gets trimmed down. 

This is a good time to point out that this is shucky's 7th divison title in 8 seasons since joining Hunter

9. Washington Generals:  93-66, Last Rank: HM, First Rank 1

Well the Generals have been the most interesting Power Ranking team...… they re-enter the top 10 as they cruise to their 4th straight division crown and with a 22 game division lead. With three games left they will end the season with the 3rd to 6th best AL record which highlights the parity in the AL

8. Altanta Cheese Grits: 90-69, Last Rank: 4, First Rank: 5

The defending champs faded a bit in the 2nd half but still posses a roster that will DEFEND their title. No one will be happy when they see the Cheese Grits on their schedule. Also I mentioned 2 NL divisons that may have all 4 teams finish .500 or above. Which would make most think those were the top 2 divisions in Hunter...… I've been making Thunderdome jokes all year and the AL South leads all other divisions by a cumulative 20 wins and is sending 3 teams to the playoffs for the 3nd straight year.  If your in the AL better win your division. 

7. Louisville Sluggers: 92-67, Last Rank: 5, First Rank: 7

This is a roster built more for the playoffs than the regular season. The delta between pitchers to who in the regular season but disappear for the playoffs may not be larger. 

6. Monterray Heat: 104-55, Last Rank: 6, First Rank: 8

Mjs22 entered Hunter by kicking down the door to the playoffs and Thunderdome. This season marks the 3rd straight playoffs and 2nd straight division title. At this point in the standing you need to pick nits. While the pitching is improved I still see a team that's better suited for the regular season than the playoffs but I could also be very wrong. 

5. Jacksonville Juicers: 92-67   Last Rank: 9, First Rank: 3

Had a strong second half and lead the NL in expected win %. The Juicers pitching staff is likely the top staff in all of Hunter. Will be a formidable playoff opponent to face. 

4. Vancouver Lumberjacks:95-64    Last Rank: 3, First Rank: 10

Ownership stayed engaged all season. Hector Peters the Hunter man of mystery ends the season with 60 HR and 140 RBIs which may not be enough for the NL MVP buy losing the division the Lumberjacks have to chop a lot more wood to win the series

3. Scottsdale Dawgs: 100-58  Last Rank: 2, First Rank: 6

Philip Goodin decided he was sick of Cristobel Baerga mug and put together a historic 2nd half. The Dawgs held off the Lumberjacks to win their 2nd straight NL West title. Scottsdale enters the playoff as the favorite from the NL

2. Montreal Rippers: 95-64 Last Rank: 7, First Rank: 4

For a large portion of the 2nd half the AL MVP was dominated by Rippers with their holy trinity. Jonathan Griffin is looking to add his 2nd World Series ring to his overstuffed trophy case. The Rippers path likely includes a stop the next town.

1. San Francisco: 99- 60 Last Rank: 1, First Rank: 2

So permeant marker it is...…… will anyone stop the mad titan or is he truly inevitable  

S48- Season End Honourable Mentions

So gents I promised 3 sets and I will deliver but this one is going to be abbreviated. It's my wife's birthday weekend, my son has hockey 4x (insert Canada joke) and I have my end of year beer league ball tourney.... so below please see honourable mentions


Before I get into the Honourable mentions I do want to deliver praise to two of the most competitive divisions in Hunter. With 3 games left there is a chance that the worst record in the NL South and NL East is 81-81. Good seasons to Boston, Baltimore, Memphis and New Orleans who all just missed making the sections below. They represent the Honourable Honourable Mentions

New Britain, Record: 79-80. Current Rank: HM Last Rank: HM   (Honourable Mention), First Rank: HM

So I stated in my first power rankings talent wise I didn't see a playoff team but put New Britian in Honourable mentions because he had made the playoffs every year since S25.... Well that streak will continue. For those that think this might be the demise of New Britian sorry but his next Tsunami of titles is about to hit land. His AAA, AA and Hi A minors have a combined win percentage of .715 which is equivalent to 115W season in the majors.

St. Louis Pounders: 81-76. Current Rank: HM, Last Rank: NR (Not Rated), First Rank: NR

The Pounders with 3 games left look to improve upon last year's win total of 81 wins. Ktryan has stepped in admirably and guided a ship that had hit an ice berg to a 1-3 win improvement.

Iowa Cornpickers:  88-71 Current Rank: HM, Last Rank: HM, First Rank: HM

I always say Honourable Mention thank they are in no particular order, but Iowa came in at number 11. Cristobel Baerga had an amazing season and his chiselled chin is the pride of Iowa water towers but the NL has perhaps one of the most hotly contested MVP races of all time. To the point there will be one MVP and 3 player cards that will be very confusing to future owners on how they didn't win MVP.

I do want to give a hat tip to Tbook for his 3 playoff appearance in the last 4 season and a kudos for returning to Hunter as he was one of the world's charter owners

Scranton Tailgaters 84-75 Current Rank: HM, Last Rank: HM, First Rank: NR

If you are an AL playoff team you will find the gritty Tailgaters wildly annoying...… they lingered in the playoff picture to game 155...… which means limited rest for the playoff teams headed into the playoffs. A kudos to Aaronwayne for a minimum of a 22W improvement and while it's small consolation the best record for a non-playoff team

Boise Bombers 80-79 Current Rank: HM, Last Rank: HM, First Rank: HM

I fully expected the Bombers to be playing for the AL 6th seed this season at they had average approx. 90W for the 5 seasons prior to last year.... Then they started like a rocket only to fade. I struggle to figure out if this is a 2 year aberration or a decline prior to the rebirth of a model franchise..... Selfish note...… glad they aren't in the playoffs because they are Kryptonite to my team