Power Rankings (17-24)

24) Kansas City Royals – Hayden Schenker

So this was a very easy last pick for the power rankings as they have no intention of trying to win at all this season. If this power rankings sheet was based on a 5 year projection, this team would be much higher, but for the 2018 season, they are trash. They had arguably the best draft out of all the teams, which might give the city of Kansas City hope, but it won’t equal 2018 wins. In 3 years, I’m sure this team will competing for an AL central championship (Not that hard).

Projection: Last place in entire league

23) Baltimore Orioles – Jim Thomas

The Orioles don’t have the same gloom over them as the Royals do. Orioles have MLB talent that can put up big numbers on a week to week basis that include Cody Bellinger, Starlin “0 Haters” Castro, and Jose “I follow you on twitter” Bautista. Jim also has a lot of young talent at the pitching spot that can make a difference in the 2018 baseball year, but I believe it is tanking szn in Baltimore so I think these boys could be riding the bench for a while. I do like the build of this team for the future and I think they are headed in the right direction. The direction for the 2018 year though is straight down.

Projected: Last place AL East

22) Chicago Cubs – Phil Kawabata

Another team listed with good MLB talent, but based off knowing his overall strategy, this year should be ending with tanking. Phil is very much a part of the #MeToo movement saying it’s my team, my choice. (That joke sounded good in my head for a second, not sure if it was that good as I typed it.) Even after trading away a lot of good talent, I could see Phil winning some ball games if he tried. His pitching staff includes Jacob DeGrom, Lance McCullers, Jon Gray, and Brad Peacock. If Phil starts these guys, he is for sure going to accidently win some games. His hitting provides some pop as well with Justin Bour, Cesar Hernandez, Logan Morrison, and Mookie Betts. I think Phil will end up being a big seller at the trade deadline, which is why I have him ranked in the 22 spot.

Projected: Last place NL Central

21) Minnesota Twins – Toppel

Now I do like that the Twins can put out a full lineup, but I’m just very confused about their team set-up. Its just a bunch of in between guys with no real path moving forward. Of course they will win the games against the teams that are tanking and maybe a couple other fluke games, but for the most part, they will be doing a lot of losing. They have good pieces in Miguel Cabrera, Kyle “Skinny” Schwarber, Michael Brantley, and Kolten “Sumting” Wong. The pitching is all sorts of average so there shouldn’t be any trouble beating this team in Minnesota. The crazy part is they have a decent shot of finishing 2nd in the AL Central. What a world we live in.

Projected: 3rd place in AL Central

20) Los Angeles Angles – Billy Jordt aka Billy Baseball

Billy Baseball has come a long way since the league has first started. Billy was ranked dead last for the last couple years, but this caterpillar is finally entering its cocoon stage and is almost ready to blossom into a butterfly. Someone might need to fact check me on the stages of becoming a butterfly, but I know I’m pretty close. The Angels are almost ready to hatch open, but it just needs a little longer. I’ve dove way too deep into this butterfly metaphor and I don’t know how to exit out of it. Angels much like the butterfly have wings and also there is Buffalo Wild Wings, our great sponsor. Wings. Beer. Sports. Angels have good young hitting and good young pitching. If Ohtani can do the opposite of his spring training numbers, Billy is in good shape. I think Angels will be putting out a winning lineup from here on out so I’m projecting over 5 wins this year. You heard it here first.

Projected: Last in AL West

19) Pittsburgh Pirates – Kyle Kinyon

Oh Kyle, what do we have here? I’m not sure the exact 2018 outlook of the Pirates this year, which is why I have them at number 19. They have good offensive talent followed up by some good pitching arms to back it up. BUT, are they trade deadline sellers or buyers? I think with their great farm system they will sell one more time before going all in on winning. I like the talent of Marcel Ozuna, Corey Dickerson, Addison Russell, Danny Duffy, and Garrett “Can’t Stay Healthy” Richards. Is it enough to win the NL Central? Probably not, so this team is ranked lower than they should be. If they were in the AL Central, it would be a whole different ball game. Look on the bright side, at least they will be ahead of the Cubs.

Projected: 3rd in NL Central

18) Chicago White Sox – Kyle and Ryan Dillon

And now we move onto an AL Central team, who did their part to say they will not be tanking and will be trying to win. Just by saying that, they are given 4 free wins in the AL Central. How do you like dem apples? White Sox are a god damn circus with guys like Ichiro, Alex Gordon, Doug Fister, CC Sabathia, Joe Mauer, Clayton Richard, and many more. If this team was built 10 years ago, this team has a good shot of winning the AL Central. But hot diggity dog, it ain’t 2007. These baby boomers are playing with these god damn millennials and it’s getting tougher to play for the old folks. I look for a win improvement for the Sox this year, but not by much. At least they are trying though, so round of applause for you two.

Projected: 2nd place AL Central

17) Los Angeles Dodgers – Andy Mason

Dodgers probably won’t like this ranking, but when you are put in that tough NL West with Rockies, Giants, and Padres, it will be tough to be pulling off wins in 2018. This team revolves around Paul Goldschmidt with many other average players around him. I think Andy is a candidate for hitting his over on Samvada, but it will be up to his Cardinal players in Luke Weaver, Alex Reyes, Dexter Fowler, and Paul DeJong. All guys that have different strengths and if these guys can get it together, the ceiling is the roof. If they win 3 games in their division, I’ll be proud of the Dodgers.

Projected: Last place NL West