Pre-Season Power Ranks (6-10)

6. Pittsburgh

From a record standpoint the Stubbabuddas were the 3rd best team in the NL. In the off-season Dizz made it clear that simply wasn't good enough signing three type A FA. Q. Lary, 9-Time All-Star, 2-Time Cy Young winner and 2-time WS winner, while he's slightly past his prime he's still an elite talent. Not satisfied with going to the SF cupboard just once Dizz double double by signing All-Star 3b V. Cueto. Finally, the 3rd signing (A. Moreneo) put Pittsburgh in a foriegn position of having TOO much SP. This year's team is likely the best in Pittsburgh history and it wouldn't surprise me to see them move up in the mid-season ranks

7. Cleveland

Much like Pittsburgh Clevelend went on a FA frenzy signing 3 type A FA and 2 type B FA, the biggest moves came in the bullpen with the addition of G.Turner, W. Guerreo & J. Estrella, the trio will form one of the best Set A combinations in the league. The Rockydawgs also shored up their INF signing J. Morgan at SS & V. Nuez at 3b. Those 5 additions to a team that won 77 games will likely put Cleveland in 90+ win territory for the first time in the franchise history

COMMISH EDIT: Why is it that everytime I have a type A FA it has to get signed by the team that already signed too others GRRRRRRRR. Stupid G. Turner. 

8. St. Louis

Ever since Jceffali joined the league I've known this season would come. St. Louis has been quietly stock piling a glut of young talent and has been slowly progressing in terms of wins 67, 71, 79, 84.......and I don't see them stopping there. The trade for K. Lawerence was a clear indicator to the rest of the AL South that Jceffali feels he's team's ready to compete for the division crown

9. Philadelphia

Since joining the league Hineiii has never missed the playoffs and I don't see this being the first time. Philly, big FA signings have started to get older but they still represent very good talents. The core should be enough to make it 5 straight in the post season

10. Richmond

The third AL South to make the list. Richmond finished 2nd in the AL South last year and then made an unexpected run to the ALCS. The Smokies return much of the same roster and will make the AL South, the most hotly contested division in baseball.

Honorable Mention:

Tacoma, Atlanta, Jacksonville

Meet the Owner w8tilnxtyr

W8tilnxtyr is a new owner to HBD with 3 partial seasons under his belt

Name/Marital Status: SEAN/married


Age: 47

Job: Environmental Specialist 2 (Ohio EPA - State of Ohio) -

Location: Columbus, Ohio   COMMISH EDIT: Columbus is one of my favorite random cities. As a Canadian I'm sure Columbus is in an uproar over the Rich Nash trade........crickets?

Favorite HBD Moment: Finishing my very first season (Pioneer League) 72-90, third place...NOT LOSING 100 GAMES! ;-)  COMMISH EDIT: If you go through your HBD career and never lose 100 games you'll have a very successful career

Favorite sports teams: Originally from Cleveland, so I'm a huge Cleveland sports fan...I guess you can call it a "genetic disorder"! Ha! Favorite teams...Indians, Browns, Cavaliers COMMISH EDIT: Being a Cleveland fan has got to be the toughest in all of sports fandom

Preseason S25 Power Ranks (1-5)

1. Salt Lake City

For the 2nd time in the last 4 years an NL team has brought home the WS title. I continually made jokes in the power rankings last year that if  step 1 in the SLC rebuild was a 20+ win (S23-24) improvement we should all be worried about Step 2. Well it turns out Step 2 was the Morman's 2nd WS title. Can't say I didn't warn you.

2. San Fransico

Six Straight 100+ win seasons, Best Record in Hunter the last 4 seasons, 3 WS appearances in the last 4............All roads to a title go through San Fransisco. If other owners are looking to nitpick for self-assurance, SF did ship off several key contributors from last year in the pre-season and lost Q. Lary to FA.  Also SF is 0-2 in his last WS appearances...........I would then remind everyone that Bjb's farm system is a revolving door of All-Stars


3. Kansas City

2nd Best record in Hunter last 3 seasons........ Zero divison titles.......such is the fate of those in the AL West. Ptowner got creative in the off-season to fix his salary concerns while minimizing the damage to his roster. Every pres-season I predict that KC will graduate from Bridesmaid to Bride, following Murphy's Law, the year I don't predicut it, it will occur.

4. New Orleans

New Orleans took a giant leap forward last year improving their win total by 16 games. Sometimes you can write off a large jump to being a fluke. However, when the owner tells you prior to the season not to forget him in the Power Rankings and puts me on notice that his team is ready to compete, you take notice. It looks like NO has inherited the SLC joke. If Step 1 is a 16 Win improvement and a trip to the NLCS what isStep 2?

5. Louisville

The S24 champs stumbled last year in the playoffs, after wrapping up the AL 2-seed we were bounced by the Smokies in round 2. The roster boasts ALL of the key contributors from the S24 title team but the depth of competition in the league continues to increase, while the Sluggers get slightly older. The greying of the Louisville beards pushes us out of the top 3 for the first time in a season and a half.

The top 5 are very similar to last season, however with all of the off-season movement expect to see some new names in Part 2 (6-10)

Power Ranks End of Season- S24

Quick power ranks to end the season

1. San Fransisco (112-50)  Previous Ranks (2, 2)

The Night Demons are the Michael Myers of Hunter just when you think they might FINALLY lose the divison.........OH MY GOD............he's still alive. KC took an axe to SF's back but it wasn't enough.


2. Kansas City (111-51) Previous Rank (1, 1)

1 win short of the divison title.....2nd best record in ALL of Hunter. One extra round on the road to the WS

3. Louisville (99-63) Previous Rank (3, 3)

Defending Champ. I've said it before I'll say it again, 3rd best team but a pitching staff capable of knocking any team off. Get to avoid KC and SF till ALCS

4. Salt Lake City (101-61) Previous Rank (4, 4)

Top 4 surprisingly consistent. Last year's NL rep and the #1 seed in the NL this season

5. New Orleans (99-62) Previous Rank (5, 7)

Bigtex1 put me on notice that his team was going to be a force and the #2 seed in the NL proved him right

6. Pittsburgh (89-73)  Previous (7, NR)

New Orleans holds the best exp win % in the NL.....SLC is 3rd...... the Stubbadubbas are 2nd. I know that Hunter isn't the only world where Dizz's teams fall short of Exp win %

7. Charlotte (90-72) Previous (NR,NR)

One of the hottest teams in the 2nd half of the season. 4th best record in entire AL.

8. Philadelphia (89-73)  Previous (NR, 5)

Not sure what Hineiii will think of this rank. To start the season I put him 5 and the Phillies started terribly, I left him out of the ranks and they rallied to make the playoffs..... what does 8 mean?

9. Jacksonville (89-73)  Previous Rank (Hourourable Mention, HM)

After two honourable mentions Jacksonville cracks the top 10.

10. St. Louis (84-78) Previous Rank (NR, NR)

Tough break for the Browns, 5th best record in the AL.......Outside looking in for the playoffs. Hopefully, a Power Rank shout out is some consolation

Honourable Mention

Atlanta, Washington, Durham & Vancouver

Power Ranks (6-10)- Mid-Season

6. Atlanta  Previous Rank (9)

As I commented in my first Power Ranks, I always overlook Atlanta and there they are at the end of the season always in playoff contention.

The Cheese Grits own the 4th best record in the AL, the offense is being led by Darrin Blake who was a savvy off-season signing.

Some teams know there their bread is buttered, in Atlanta they know where there "Grits are Cheese" and that's their pitching staff. Specifically Gerniomo Sanchez a sure fire Cy Young finalist with numbers of 14-2, 2.75 ERA.

7. Pittsburgh Previous Rank (NR)

Dizz was worried about jinxing his team with his statement about having the 2nd best team ERA. Well I figured I'd double-down on the Jinx Factor and throw the stink of the Power Ranks on him as well.

The Stubbabubbas while leading the NL North are actually underacheiving, their expected win % is a full 50pts above current .514 win %

8. Boise Previous Rank (NR)

Boise makes their first Power Ranks since, the first edition last season. At the time I stated "It would be unfair not to include the team with the best record in all of Hunter. I believe thta jbburner has made several strong moves to improved his organization however, I think it will still be another 1-2 seasons before he reaps "playoff" fruits for his labour in the field. That said, this spot is a tip of a cap to a great start to the season"

So it looks like it was 1 season before they interjected themselves into the playoff race. Unfortunately for the Taters they reside in the NL West which means either themselves or the Cheese Grits will miss the playoffs unjustly

9. Vancouver Previous Rank  (NR)

At the start of the Power Ranks there was a lot of consistency, at the end there are ALOT of new teams jumping into the fray

Dawiseguy joined Hunter as a replacement owner last season.  He took over for Iain and didn't miss a beat leading the team to the playoffs. In his 2nd year Vancouver has gotten even better, the team is lead by a murders row in the middle of the lineup (Branch Grander, Luis Felix & R. Guerrero). The trio has combined for 87HR & 296 RBI.

10. Augusta Previous Rank (8)

After last season Hunter returned 31 of 32 owners.......the only new guy Cincybang. It didn't take him long to welcome himself to the NL East lead.

The only thing that caused Augusta to drop from last Power Ranks is they are outperforming their exp. win % by 20 pts


Honourable Mention: Jacksonville, San Juan, Minnesota and Richmond