| RANK (pr) |
Team |
Record |
Comment |
| 1 (2) |
Chicago Blue Knights |
108-54 |
66
The number of wins the Blue Knights corralled at
home this year. With home field advantage up until the World Series and
two 20-game winners riding high (Johan & Pedro), Chicago has a lot of
postseason expectations. |
| 2 (1) |
Oakland Diamond Kings |
104-58 |
1.372
Bond's OPS in 2005. The Oakland Diamond Kings
are much, much more than one player, but wouldn't it be nice to have a guy
who had only seven more singles than homers this season? 71 singles, 64
home runs. |
| 3 (3) |
Toronto Sharpshooters |
95-67 |
1
The number of National League teams that eclipsed
90 wins in 2005. On June 22, the Sharpshooters were 38-31 and a game out
of first. Since then, they've been a commanding 57-36 (.613) and haven't
looked back since. |
| 4 (4) |
Detroit Outlaws |
89-73 |
36
The number of sacrifice hits (NL-best) by Outlaw
offensive catalyst Omar Vizquel. Where would Detroit be without his 196
hits, 64 walks, .317 batting average and leadership on the field? Perhaps
sitting at home watching the playoffs on HDTV! |
| 5 (5) |
Pittsburgh Conspiracy |
89-73 |
181
Pittsburgh led all teams in team stolen bases
with 181 in 2005. What's more incredible is that they only have one
player who cracked the top ten in stolen bases and that is Randy Winn at
#10 (41 steals)! |
| 6 (7) |
Baltimore Stars |
88-74 |
3
The amount of consecutive NL East Division
championships for Baltimore. Over the past two seasons, the Stars have
won tie-breakers over the Philadelphia Phanatics to clinch the division
and even those were close at 10-8! |
| 7 (9) |
San Diego Black Sox |
89-73 |
9
The number of Black Sox to play in 127 games or
more this season. GM Zack Weingartner put his best nine out there every
day and told them to produce... And they did, to the tune of the
franchise's first ever playoff appearance. |
| 8 (6) |
Philadelphia Phanatics |
88-74 |
.519
Don't think that the Phanatics are going to get
down about losing the division title. And don't think they mind starting
the playoffs on the road either: They are one of only five teams that
finished above .500 on the road this year (.519)! |
| 9 (8) |
New York Flatirons |
89-73 |
6
The number of Flatiron players with 20+ homeruns
this season. New York finished as the #1 ranked offense in the league
(.292). They also boast the only 40/40 player in 2005 (Carlos Beltran).
If their starters show up, they are a force. |
| 10 (11) |
Cleveland Clubbers |
87-75 |
2.54
The combined ERA of the top four guns in the
scariest bullpen in the American League. Billy Wagner (1.48), Kiko Calero
(2.68), Brad Lidge (2.70), and Mike Koplove (3.05) could tip the balance
of power in their 2005 playoff run. |
| 11 (16) |
Seattle Iron Birds |
81-81 |
3.73
The best team ERA in the league belongs to the
Iron Birds. Don't let their .500 record fool you either. Seattle could
be the dark horse in the 2005 postseason behind the stellar starting
rotation of Clemens (2.68), Garcia (2.94), and Oswalt (3.53). |
| 12 (18) |
Anaheim Ants |
81-81 |
.368
The winning percentage of the Anaheim Ants on
June 15th. On that day, they were ranked 23rd in this power ranking!
Since then, the Ants marched along at a .575 clip (61-45) and are headed
to the playoffs in their inaugural season. |
| 13 (10) |
Colorado Gold Kings |
80-82 |
7-15
Colorado's record over their last 22 games. The
Gold Kings held onto first place for the longest time of any NL team this
year, but fell victim to a late-season collapse. Jim Edmonds should get
MVP consideration in the NL (.289, 46 HR, 140 RBI). |
| 14 (12) |
Milwaukee Maulers |
81-81 |
.266
Arguably the best team to NOT make the playoffs,
the Maulers must look to a less-than dazzling won-loss record at home
(41-40) and the uninspiring play of key off-season acquisition David Ortiz
(.269, 36 HR, 113 RBI), including .266 clutch! |
| 15 (15) |
Kansas City Monarchs |
76-86 |
.412
The Monarchs had the worst Inherited Runners
Scored % in the NL at .412, which explains why only one starter earned a
double-digit win total this season. That pitcher was all-star Victor
Zambrano with a 12-7 mark (he was 10-2 at the break). |
| 16 (14) |
Boston Blizzards |
74-88 |
.075
No one would question that Boston was stuck in
probably the most competitive division in SPIBL. Boston's record is
another example: Against division rivals = .407, against all others =
.482, a difference of 75! |
| 17 (19) |
Minnesota Moose |
76-86 |
64
The amount of RBIs that J.D. Drew accumulated this
season. After winning 85 games in 2004, his disappearing act in 2005
(.270, 19 HR) is one of the biggest reasons for Minnesota's slide back
below the .500 mark. |
| 18 (13) |
St. Louis Red Birds |
72-90 |
2006
Next year, the Red Birds will have a starting
rotation of Mark Buehrle, Rich Harden, C.C. Sabathia and Chris Young. Add
to the mix the hot young bats of Jeff Francouer and David Wright and we
have future playoff contender for Whitey's team! |
| 19 (17) |
Los Angeles Skyhawks |
71-91 |
27
Jason Bay was responsible for driving in or
scoring 27% of the Skyhawks' runs this season. His 87 runs scored and 104
RBIs are both team-highs, along with his 34 homeruns. |
| 20 (21) |
Texas Tortillas |
73-85 |
255
The number of long balls given up by the Tortilla
staff this season, tops in the league. Along with a whopping team ERA of
6.44 (also a league-high), it is amazing that Texas did not lose more than
85 games! |
| 21 (22) |
Florida Slow-Players |
69-93 |
Third
Florida will have tough shoes to fill at third
base in 2006. The Slow-Players' #1 draft pick in last year's supplemental
draft and offensive leader, Scott Rolen, is scheduled to miss much of next
season due to off-season surgery. |
| 22 (20) |
San Francisco Sea Lions |
64-98 |
2
The number of years in a row that Steve Trachsel
has led the Sea Lions in Wins and Strikeouts. This could explain how this
once-storied franchise, who won 104 games in 2003 and appeared in the
ALCS, has lost 209 games over the past two years. |
| 23 (23) |
Atlanta Mets |
62-100 |
620
The number of runs scored by the Atlanta Mets in
2005, which is good for last in the league. The lazy bats of Alfonso
Soriano (.237, 28 HR, 76 RBI) and Craig Wilson (.224, 19 HR, 61 RBI) are
just the beginning of the story. |
| 24 (24) |
Houston Black Dogs |
57-105 |
#1
The draft pick that GM Larry Spencer has earned
with his 105-loss season. There is much optimism in Black Dog territory,
however, with a returning starting rotation of Andy Pettitte, Josh
Beckett, and Mark Prior. |
