June is in the books and it is time to do the monthly power rankings for the start of July. To take a more objective approach, I tried to quantify the category rankings to help with the Power Rankings. I did this by simply adding up a team’s rank in all the categories and dividing by the number of categories to find what I am going to call a team’s rating, just so I don’t use the word ranking 600 times in this blog entry. I did this new rating system through the categories for offensive, pitching, and overall. Obviously, the lower number rating the better, since every team would want to be first in every category. This is by no means a perfect system, but if teams are close in record, their overall rating will be looked at to give a more objective approach to how they are ranked in the Power Rankings. All stats for the rating system were done as of the afternoon of Monday, July 1, so week 14 stats will not be counted toward the rating system.
#1 Lacey Township Backdoor Sliderz 13-0
Runs (1), 2Bs (6), 3Bs (t-6), HRs (2), RBIs (3), SBs (3), OBP (1)
Ks (2), QS (3), CG (1), WINS (3), SVs (3), Hs (t-6), ERA (2)
Offensive Rating 3.14 (1st)
Pitching Rating 2.85 (1st)
Overall rating 3.00 (1st)
Well the reigning champion Backdoor Sliderz remain undefeated and have clinch the number 1 seed for the playoffs before the all-star break. As you can see by the category ratings, this is no fluke. This is a complete, well balanced team that is rated first in offense and first in pitching in the league. Their team has been known to devastate opponents to the point that they need to call out of work. There’s a lot of young talent on this roster that should help them compete and make people call out of work for years to come, that is if they don’t break the league this season. They already have 4 players with over 20 HRs (Bellinger, Freeman, Bregman, Acuna). Albies and Domingo Santana are 2 other young hitters having themselves real nice seasons. Santana has over 60 RBIs.
We already saw what some of the young prospects they have can do last year in Soto, Albies, and Acuna, now we are seeing what Tatis Jr. and to a smaller sample size Keston Hiura can do. Tatis Jr. looks legit if you ask me, which makes me love the Altuve trade for him and Bellinger even more. A trade that caught Dochney some flak last year from most, not all though.
The pitchers don’t quite have as much youth as the hitters on Dochney’s Diaper Dandies. They are led by the ageless wonder Justin Verlander as well as veterans like Greinke and deGrom. Walker Buehler is the young gun of the group who is putting together a nice season with his 3.43 ERA and 104 Ks in 97 IP. Robbie Ray is very serviceable because of his K rate but not quite as heralded as the rest because of his inconsistencies and inability to go deep into games. I am sure everyone around the league would take a guy with 129 Ks in 98.2 IP.
Relievers look solid for the Sliderz. Osuna, Holland, and Colome all have firm control over their closer roles while putting up good numbers. D Backs and White Sox need to hang around those Wild Card spots long enough for Holland and Colome not to get traded into setup roles at this year’s MLB deadline though, which is a lot to ask for.
#2 Ocean Gate Fishing Club 6-6-1
Runs (4), 2Bs (3), 3Bs (2), HRs (5), RBIs (6), SBs (4), OBP (2)
Ks (4), QS (2), CG (t-4), WINS (6), SVs (2), Hs (9), ERA (1)
Offensive Rating 3.71 (3rd)
Pitching Rating 4 (3rd)
Overall Rating 3.86 (2nd)
The Fishing Club currently sit tied for 4th place in the standings but they make it to number 2 in the Power Rankings. This is the first team that gets bumped up in the Power Rankings based on their ratings from the new imperfect system that was just created. They are only a half game out of 2nd place anyway so it’s not a huge leap. They have the 3rd rated offense and the 3rd rated pitching, but overall, they are the second rated team. We all know what their core of can do. I am talking about Trout, Betts, Rizzo, and Bryant, who is having himself a nice little come back campaign. They also have some young players who are breaking out in a big way like Josh Bell, who has 25 HRs, 77 RBI, and 65 Runs as of July 2. Austin Meadows is also enjoying himself a nice little breakout season as well, although he has been plummeting down to Earth over his last 30 days with 0 HRs and .267 OBP over that span. Heroy may have missed his chance to trade Meadows at this point, especially now that I am blasting his last 30 on the blog. The rookies are looking solid. Senzel is doing just fine in his first taste of the big leagues, while Yordan Alvarez and Eloy Jimenez look like they will be legit power threats for a long time in this league. Eloy
The pitching was a question mark heading into the season for Ocean Gate, but they have been phenomenal. Luis Castillo has bounced back in a big way with a 2.56 ERA and 115 Ks in 98.1 IP. We all knew Gerrit Cole was a stud, he has 161 Ks in 109.2 IP. Tyler Glasnow was looking like another breakout star before being going down with a forearm injury. Heroy probably won’t get him back before the end of the Backyard season, but I guess there’s still hope.
His bullpen is solid with Iglesias, Vazquez, and Hader. Hader hates to give up hits to minorities so he decides to strike them all out instead with his. He is probably the best reliever in all of baseball and has a ridiculous 16.8 K/9. Iglesias and Vazquez are prime trade candidates if the Reds and Pirates fall out of that Wild Card Contention, so the Fishing Club better be rooting for the Pirates and Reds to stay relevant in July.
#3 East Coast Kings 7-6
Runs (3), 2Bs (4), 3Bs (3), HRs (3), RBIs (5), SBs (2), OBP (3)
Ks (7), QS (4), CG (t-4), WINS (2), SVs (6), Hs (10), ERA (5)
Offensive Rating 3.28 (2nd)
Pitching Rating 5.43 (6th)
Overall Rating 4.36 (4th)
R Mac has put together a nice a little squad for himself. When I first came into this league, he was a pitching first team, but now he has a lot of young stud hitters while his pitching staff is more than formidable. Let’s get Yelich talk out of the way since he is challenging Trout as best baseball player on the planet currently. Yelich only has 30 HRs, 65 Runs, 66 RBIs, 18 SBs, and a .428 OBP this season so far. Still has a week to pad those stats prior to the all-star break. He just traded for Rhys Hoskins in what I thought was a great move for R Mac. Sold high on Ketel Marte in that move, good job. Gleyber Torres is a stud buried down at the bottom of the Yankees stacked lineup but that’s ok because there’s still plenty of run producing opportunities down there. Javier Baez continues to carry over his success from last year. Yoan Moncada is finally playing up to his potential as well. Saying finally seems harsh when he’s only 24 years old, but that’s what he gets for signing a huge contract at 19.
On the pitching side of things, the Kings look great on paper. They have Paxton, Kershaw, Berrios Strasburg, and Syndergaard. Paxton and Syndergaard have been mildly disappointing though, especially Thor for me personally being a Mets fan. You can throw 99 all you want but when you leave it down the middle, big leaguers are going to catch up on it. If the pitching stays healthy and clicks like they are supposed to, this will be a very dangerous team come playoff time. Let’s not forget 2-way player Brendan McKay just getting called up by the Rays ready to contribute minors eligible innings and at bats for the Kings.
In the bullpen, Doolittle and Hand are good options that I do not think stand to much a risk to be traded. Kimbrel finally signed with the Cubs and that is great place for him to be and R Mac could not be happier after enduring those 2 long months of dead space on his roster.
#4 Astoria Isotopes 7-6
Runs (5), 2Bs (5), 3Bs (1), HRs (6), RBIs (7), SBs (9), OBP (4)
Ks (5), QS (5), CG (3), WINS (8), SVs (8), Hs (t-1), ERA (7)
Offensive rating 5.29 (6th)
Pitching Rating 5.29 (5th)
Overall Rating 5.29 (5th)
The IsoDOPES just had their impressive 7 game win streak snapped by the top team in the league and fell to 4th in the Power Rankings despite being tied for 2nd in the standings and just getting Judge back from injury. T might have a legitimate gripe with the blog for his 4th place ranking, especially considering they were just in the championship game like I don’t know, 10 months ago. But screw it, I have the rankings power now, and I am putting too much stock in my nowhere near perfect rating system, a system in which T is rated 5th in offense, pitching, and overall. So, don’t @ me with your gripes bro, if anything you’re overrated in the power rankings.
The Topes have some good hitting. Mike Moustakas, who I have a personal bias against I guess because I don’t think he is that good, has an Isotopes leading 23 HRs before the all-star break. Those 23 HRs make me look real silly for making my previous statement. Arenado and Blackmon have been a dynamic 1-2 punch as the Colorado edition of the Isotopes. Each have 20 HRs, and OBPs north of .380. DJ LaMahieu may be the hottest hitter in all of baseball currently, he has over 60 runs and RBIs before the all-star break. He is another player I once doubted and questioned how he would hit away from Coors Field. I am eating my words once again on that one. Matt Olson has 16 HRs while missing the first like 6 weeks of the season or something like that, which is impressive. This team’s offense is just going to get deadlier as they are just getting Judge back.
Pitching is just so-so on paper for the Topes. Chris Sale is a stud, I don’t feel like talking about him. Mike Minor is a revelation this season with his 2.40 ERA and 110 Ks in 112.2 IP. They have the ever-valuable SP eligible pitchers picking up saves for them in Sergio Romo and Ian Kennedy. Both of which could be traded and out of closers roles by the end of the month though, because the teams they play for stink.
#5 Rojo’s Renegade Force 6-6-1
Runs (7), 2Bs (10), 3Bs (10), HRs (4), RBIs (4), SBs (6), OBP (6)
Ks (10), QS (t-6), CG (t-4), WINS (10), SVs (10), Hs (t-1), ERA (3)
Offensive Rating 6.71 (7th)
Pitching Rating 6.29 (7th)
Overall Rating 6.5 (t-7th)
Rojo Rojo Rojo. Fan favorite of the league. Winner of the superlative “most likely to not start 12 in a week.” I probably should have given him a lower rank for his lack of commitment, but I was more impressed that he sits in a playoff spot even with that lack of commitment. He doesn’t exactly go by the Rays Ways philosophy that Odom does, but he does go by the full line changes and I do not need a closer philosophy. Don’t leave the league Rojo!!! You’re the only non asshole out of your group of friends, don’t leave me with all these other losers next year.
Let’s start off by talking about another player I have openly ripped in the chat or blog before. Eric Hosmer has a Force leading 60 RBI this season. That just upsets me, because I guess I have a personal bias for no good reason against the guy because I always say he stinks and I guess I was wrong, again. Rafael Devers having himself a fine season in Boston. Joey Gallo is not shocking anyone with his 20 HRs, but he has a .426 OBP!!!!!! Goldschmidt has been slightly disappointing, while Chavis has been a rookie sensation. Also, Springer is a stud, but we knew that. And Shohei shoheiing us that he is valuable even when he is not being a 2-way player.
On the pitching side of things, Ryu has been a boss (1.83 ERA, 94 Ks, 103 IP, 13 QS, 9 Ws). Bumgarner looking to have a Verlander like resurgence if he could get traded to a contender by the end of the month. But I know Bummy has a weird no trade list that I do not feel like looking up right now but recall there being some contenders on that list. Maybe just a ploy to get them to commit long term to Bummy before trading for him. Let’s not forget about fan favorite Charlie Morton, who has been unstoppable for Tampa this year (100 IP, 120 Ks, 2.43 ERA).
#6 Barnegat Banana Slugs 5-7-1
Runs (10), 2Bs (9), 3Bs (6), HRs (10), RBIs (9), SBs (8), OBP (8)
Ks (3), QS (1), CG (t-4), WINS (7), SVs (7), Hs (5), ERA (4)
Offensive Rating 8.57 (10th)
Pitching Rating 4.43 (4th)
Overall Rating 6.5 (t-7th)
The Slugs currently are tied for 6th place with the Island Beach Bears. I have no idea who would win the tie breaker if the season ended today, but we have a few weeks until we need to worry about that junk, if we need to worry about it by then. This Slugs team is built on their pitching. They are rated 4th currently, and sport quite an impressive rotation. Simply put Max Scherzer is the best pitcher in the game and he is doing it again this year. He owns a 2.43 ERA to go along with 170 Ks in 122.1 IP, 15 QS, and 8 Ws. Yeah…. Um, he’s good. The pitching doesn’t end with Scherzer, Trevor Bauer has 134 Ks while Patrick Corbin and Jon Gray each have 111. Rookie sensation Chris Paddack looks very legit and being sent down to the minors for those few weeks might have been the best thing to happen for the Slugs if he avoids being shut down for the Backyard playoffs. Oh yeah, there’s this other guy named Severino sitting on the IL for the Slugs. Unfortunately, he may not be healed in time to make in a difference this year in the Backyard. Also, Kirby Yates has 27 saves for the Padres, that’s good for most in the league by the way.
The Slugs offense is a work in progress. They are 10th in the category ratings, which basically equates to them being hot garbage (if you put stock in the irrelevant ratings that is). Not ideal, but there’s potential here. Luke Voit and Eddie Rosario both just landed on the IL, fortunately it doesn’t appear to be serious for either player. Story, Eugenio Suarez and Jorge Polanco are all having good years as well. Puig’s 17 HRs and 13 SBs are pretty good despite a .289 OBP and only 35 runs scored (this is considered having a monster season if you have a team with a shitty offense like the Slugs do). Vlad Jr. has big time potential and we certainly haven’t seen him anywhere near his best.
#7 Island Beach Bears 5-7-1
Runs (6), 2Bs (8), 3Bs (9), HRs (7), RBIs (8), SBs (7), OBP (9)
Ks (8), QS (10), CG (10), WINS (5), SVs (4), Hs (3), ERA (10)
Offensive Rating 7.71 (9th)
Pitching Rating 7.14 (9th)
Overall Rating 7.43 (9th)
As previously stated, the Island Bears are currently tied with the Slugs for the final playoff spot. They rated 9th in all 3 of the categories. Gary Sanchez is the best fantasy catcher in baseball with his 23 HRs. Altuve has been banged up a bit and disappointing in general during his Bears tenure, but who knows, he could be healthy and back to his MVP like form any day now. Edwin Encarnacion is another ageless wonder as he just keeps hitting bombs everywhere he goes and is now part of a modern-day Murderer’s Row. Max Muncy and Dan Vogelbach have been having very good years as both have 20 HRs so far. Possibly their good play and three mashers with first base eligibility is why the Bears traded Hoskins for Ketel Marte.
Aaron Nola is the Bears best pitcher and set a pretty high bar for himself last year. So, his 4.22 ERA this year is disappointing to say the least. He still has 110 Ks in 96 IP, and he will be fine over the long run. After Nola the Bears staff gets a little dicey. Domingo German was amid a breakout season before getting injured. Started pitching like dogshit in his last 3 starts before landing on the IL, but the Bears are hoping he gets back to his form in the first 10 starts when he comes back this week.
#8 Lakehurst Leviathans 5-8
Runs (9), 2Bs (7), 3Bs (5), HRs (9), RBIs (10), SBs (5), OBP (7) Offensive Rating 7.49 (8th)
Ks (9), QS (8), CG (t-8), WINS (9), SVs (9), Hs (4), ERA (9)
Offensive Rating 7.49 (8th)
Pitching Rating 8 (10th)
Overall 7.71 (10th)
Shane’s 5 wins so far is the same amount of wins Shane had in his first 2 seasons in the league. In fact, Shane’s squad is sitting a half game out of the final playoff spot with 5 weeks left in the Backyard season. A playoff birth is very attainable for the fan favorite Leviathans. He is rated 10th overall in the category ratings, but that rating is probably meaningless anyway.
My main man Carlos Santana having a hell of a season back in Cleveland (55 Runs, 18 HRs, 50 RBI, .411 OBP). Adalberto Mondesi is leading the league in SBs with 27 and 3Bs with 8. Grandal is one of the few catchers worth rostering and has 18 HRs this year with a .379 OBP.
Pitching hasn’t gone quite according to plan for the Leviathans. Soroka has been a stud with a 2.13 ERA and 9 Wins for the Braves, but his 67 Ks in 84.2 IP is unimpressive. Jack Flaherty’s 94 Ks in 85.1 IP is impressive, but his 6 QS and 4.75 ERA is not. Matthew Boyd having a great year for Shane’s favorite team and I feel his 129 Ks is slightly out of nowhere. His 11.4 K/9 is a dramatic increase from his career 8.4 K/9 and he’s not sacrificing control with a 1.8 BB/9 on the year.
#9 Pacific Beach X-Rays 3-7-3
Runs (8), 2Bs (1), 3Bs (4), HRs (8), RBIs (3), SBs (1), OBP (10)
Ks (1), QS (t-6), CG (2), WINS (1), SVs (1), Hs (8), ERA (6)
Offensive Rating 5 (5th)
Pitching Rating 3.57 (2nd)
Overall Rating 4.28 (3rd)
Another team that has been struck by some bad luck this season. The category ratings justify the Rays Ways philosophy that Odom has implemented as they are the 3rd overall rated team in the league, even though their record has them tied for last. They throw bulkers at you on a regular basis, constantly get to the 100 K mark during a week and have tied the Ks record twice this year. The saves and stolen bases are there, just like every year for the Rays, but now their RBI numbers are way up to 3rd in the league. 6th in ERA is not bad either considering he’ll throw any bulker at you seemingly going against any team.
Tough to talk about individuals on a team that has literally made 1243 moves so far this year. Lourdes Gurriel Jr and Austin Riley each look like they’re sticking around, and each have 14 HRs in under 200 at bats this season. Jose Ramirez is supposed to be their best player but has struggled a whole lot this season, at least he has 18 SBs. Speaking of steals, I know Odom is happy about rostering Mallex Smith these days and his 21 SBs.
The pitching side of things is tough to track as well for the X-Rays. They love to stream their bulkers, especially their Tampa Bay Rays bulkers. Outside of the bulkers, Snell has taken a step back, but still has an insane 117 Ks in 85 IP. Lucas Giolito has been a stud this season for the White Sox with his 115 Ks in 96 IP with a 2.72 ERA and 11 wins. They also grab a lot of saves out of Chapman, Greene, and even Edwin Diaz. Diaz is now a Met though so naturally his ERA has gone up 2 runs.
#10 River City Bad Dudes 3-7-3
Runs (2), 2Bs (2), 3Bs (8), HRs (1), RBIs (1), SBs (10), OBP (5)
Ks (6), QS (9), CG (t-8), WINS (4), SVs (t-5), Hs (t-6), ERA (8)
Offensive Rating 4.14 (4th)
Pitching Rating 6.57 (8th)
Overall 5.36 (6th)
This is a very unfair ranking for the Bad Dudes, the category ratings say he’s much better than last in the league. Lobman and Odom should both probably be in the top 6 and not the bottom like they currently sit in the standings. Lobman has been struck with a lot of bad luck this year if you ask me. His lineup has a ton of power and run producing evidenced by his recent record setting 28 HR and 87 RBI week, but he was only rated the 4th best offense because it does lack some speed. This lineup boasts the likes of Pete Alonso, Manny Machado, and Matt Chapman who all have at least 20 HRs. Bryce Harper and Willson Contreras are both good players, although it could be said Harper, the former prodigy and MVP has been disappointing this season. All this is forgetting to mention that Giancarlo Stanton only has 31 at bats this season. In a Stanton related note, I heard Stanton just signed a sponsorship deal with Herr’s to name a potato chip after him…. AJ Pollock has a deal with Lay’s.
The pitching is where this team seems to fall apart. Alex Reyes is currently wasting a roster spot with his 53 career IP currently sitting in the minors. Brandon Woodruff is really the only pitcher of note for this team with his 3.79 ERA and 120 Ks in 102 IP. The Bad Dudes have a few prospect pitchers who can not make it to the majors soon enough for Lobman.
Backyard Views 