#27. The San Diego Padres: MLB 2013 Preseason Power Rankings

#27. The San Diego Padres

534px-Headley_Chase

 Team Ace: Edinson Volquez

Most Valuable Position Player: Chase Headley

Breakout Candidate: Yonder Alonso

Notable Offseason Additions: None

Notable Offseason Losses: Yasmani Grandal (suspension)

Biggest Team Weakness: Middle Infield and Catcher

Continue reading “#27. The San Diego Padres: MLB 2013 Preseason Power Rankings”

#28. The Minnesota Twins: MLB 2013 Preseason Power Rankings

#28. The Minnesota Twins400px-AAAA8040_Joe_Mauer

Team Ace: Vance Worley

Most Valuable Position Player: Joe Mauer

Breakout Candidate: Vance Worley

Notable Offseason Additions: Vance Worley, Kevin Correia

Notable Offseason Losses: Ben Revere, Denard Span, Matt Capps

Biggest Team Weakness: Pitching

Continue reading “#28. The Minnesota Twins: MLB 2013 Preseason Power Rankings”

#29. The Miami Marlins: MLB 2013 Preseason Power Rankings

#29. The Miami Marlins 800px-Marlins_First_Pitch_at_Marlins_Park,_April_4,_2012_

Team Ace: Ricky Nolasco

Most Valuable Position Player: Giancarlo Stanton

Breakout Candidate: Justin Ruggiano

Notable Offseason Additions: Juan Pierre, Manager Mark Redmond, Jon Rauch, Placido Polanco

Notable Offseason Losses: Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Emilio Bonifacio, Heath Bell

Biggest Team Weakness: The entire infield.

Continue reading “#29. The Miami Marlins: MLB 2013 Preseason Power Rankings”

#30. The Houston Astros: MLB 2013 Preseason Power Rankings

In anticipation of baseball’s opening day on March 31st, I’m posting my 2013 Major League Baseball Preseason POWER RANKINGS.  The daily countdown will begin at #30 and will work its way up to the best team in the league at #1, highlighting each team’s offseason transactions, news, and expectations on the way.

#30. The Houston Astros

360px-José_Carlos_Altuve_AstrosTeam Ace: Lucas Harrell

Most Valuable Position Player: Jose Altuve

Breakout Candidate: Jordan Lyles

Notable Offseason Additions: Carlos Pena, Erik Bedard

Notable Offseason Losses: Jed Lowrie

Biggest Team Weakness:  Pitching depth

Continue reading “#30. The Houston Astros: MLB 2013 Preseason Power Rankings”

2011 NL MVP: The Rise, Fall, and Possible Resurgence of Ryan Braun

The 2011 National League race to the Most Valuable Player award was not without controversy, as Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun won a close battle with LA Dodger Matt Kemp. While Braun’s statistics were undoubtedly high (33 HR, 111 RBI, 41 SB), Matt Kemp outdid him in virtually every category (39 HR, 124 RBI, 41 SB). Continue reading “2011 NL MVP: The Rise, Fall, and Possible Resurgence of Ryan Braun”