Sim 5
The Best Juan - :was: - Record: 43-25 --- The Nationals lost two series to the Braves and D-Backs last sim, and while they have continued to remain consistent, some question marks as to the strength of their bullpen outside Rivera are starting to surface. They've lost Verdugo for two weeks, both Brumback and Rugg are still trying to break into All-Star form and the offense hasn't been powering past opponents as it did in the first three sims. They remain on top, but for how long? -- Previous Rank: 1 -- L10: 6-4 -- Top Rank Streak: 3
#2 -
- Record: 44-23 --- The bullpen is settling down, the rotation has stayed on a lights out course with the 2nd best ERA in FCM, and the offense continues to provide proof that it's number two ranking (5.85 RS/G) is no fluke! Thanks to the division falling behind them, San Francisco has become my new choice for top dogs in the NL West even though I'm still concerned the line up will not produce enough going forward to keep them this high in the rankings. As long DLee's team can continue to get guys across home plate and control late game situations they will have a shot at The Juan and only throne. -- Previous Rank: 2 --L10: 6-4
#3 -
- Record: 43-26 --- Despite all the controversy surrounding President of Baseball Ops. Mike Sweet and his future involvement with Kansas City, the Royals have taken complete ownership of first place in the Central. They lost some very close games probably because of a bullpen that likes to blow 4 run leads in the 9th as they did against the Rangers on June 3rd, and while they went 10-4 in June they've been somewhat of a see-saw on a day to day basis. Winning a game, dropping one, winning two straight, dropping the next and so on. Acosta, Bigil, Plumb and Wood showed up big time with a combined hitting line of .351/.422/.585/1.007 to go along with 6 homers and 37 RBI in their last 10 games. The Royals finish up a 4 game set in Oakland before hitting the road to Minneapolis and the South Side of Chicago. They will need to get more wins than losses in that easy stretch before facing some of the best pitching the league has to offer at the end of the month. If the offense can continue to give KC the power to put up double digit numbers on certain days and the pitchers (specifically Flemming, Furusato, Evans and Winegardner) make strides to improve sim by sim, Mike has a bunch of reasons to stick around. -- Previous Rank: 7 -- L10: 7-3
#4 -
- Record: 41-26 --- When will Detroit realize they are suppose to be at least #2 in every single one of these rankings? Yes, Cook can barely make it to the mound without a golf cart and both Buchanan and Summerlin have missed extensive time, but this team showed aggressive grind on it's way to a 9-4 record in June with 3 of those losses coming at the hands of the streaking Red Sox. They need to stay healthy and start getting some better hitting out of guys like Devaney, Lockhart, McGomery and Marzan if they are to catch up with their Pythagorean, but I say that while they are already ranked as 4th best offensive attack in FCM! Motown will for sure be a threat going into the playoffs despite the short play, and to be fair the other teams in their division have had some great runs, but they need to pick up the pace. Fast! -- Previous Rank: 3 -- L10: 7-3
#5 -
- Record: 39-29 --- June's light schedule couldn't have came sooner for the Reds, as they took 7 of 9 from the Angels, Pirates and Cubbies during sim 4 after some lackluster play in recent sims. We all know these guys can hit. Milton, Stanley and Vines are all locks for the Home Run Derby and Eric Lindsay is absolutely unpitchable. He has more round trippers and just as much RBI at this point as he did all last season. The arms did a fine job, the only letdowns being a rare rough start for Cliff Miller and not so surprising problems for Kendrowski. If the bullpen can stay just as good as it was last sim the Reds are going to unleash fury upon the NL, and without a schedule filled with tough match ups it's hard to envision otherwise. -- Previous Rank: 5 -- L10: 6-4
#6 -
- Record: 39-29 --- The Braves going 3-5 against the Phillies and 1-2 against the Brewers this month pretty much sums up how sim 4 went for this team. They had no trouble scoring runs, and even their bullpen did a solid job at keeping games close. A 4.77 rotation ERA in June has proved too costly for the Braves, most of the 7 losses they've had so far have come in games they had no chance to win after inning 3. They are too good on paper to be worried about any slumps yet, but the highway to July is looking like a highway to hell right now. Ask Cincy, Washington and New York why. -- Previous Rank: 4 -- L10: 4-6
#7 -
- Record: 42-27 --- Call them the Oakland Aces! That bullpen is just flat out filthy. Moreno is for sure going to secure the Mariano Rivera Award in the AL this year, and the rest of their staff have put them on a consistent path to wins. That atrocious hitting is pure proof that the Athletics are just as good as what they put on the mound, but how long can that last as a winning formula will be interesting to watch. Fred could definitely use some quality hitting to give that line up a spark, specifically upgrades at 2B, SS and C. But who needs hitting when you can pitch like it's 1969? If the Astros can't pick themselves up quick enough, Oakland will be flexing their muscles in the Division Championship Series. -- Previous Rank: 9 -- L10: 8-2
#8 -
- Record: 42-27 --- New York has been the champion of close ball games this season, winning 24 games by 2 runs or less and sporting an 8-3 record in extra innings play. The pitchers were as much a mystery pitch last sim as it has been all season. John Thomas and Joe Wright struggled with command while Bradshaw continued his incredible debut in The Big Apple despite having a 1 run, 9 inning gem thrown away because of a no show offense. Biggest story about the club is how the bottom half of their line up has been the focal point of their ability to score runs going on 3 sims now, and the way their big hitters have been playing there is no way the Yanks are this close to first place without the production of guys 6 through 9. I can't put my finger on whether I doubt this team due to their great play when the game comes down to a battle of bullpens or trust their odds to be a contender. -- Previous Rank: 6 -- L10: 6-4
More Rankings to come tonight!
The Best Juan - :was: - Record: 43-25 --- The Nationals lost two series to the Braves and D-Backs last sim, and while they have continued to remain consistent, some question marks as to the strength of their bullpen outside Rivera are starting to surface. They've lost Verdugo for two weeks, both Brumback and Rugg are still trying to break into All-Star form and the offense hasn't been powering past opponents as it did in the first three sims. They remain on top, but for how long? -- Previous Rank: 1 -- L10: 6-4 -- Top Rank Streak: 3
#2 -
- Record: 44-23 --- The bullpen is settling down, the rotation has stayed on a lights out course with the 2nd best ERA in FCM, and the offense continues to provide proof that it's number two ranking (5.85 RS/G) is no fluke! Thanks to the division falling behind them, San Francisco has become my new choice for top dogs in the NL West even though I'm still concerned the line up will not produce enough going forward to keep them this high in the rankings. As long DLee's team can continue to get guys across home plate and control late game situations they will have a shot at The Juan and only throne. -- Previous Rank: 2 --L10: 6-4#3 -
- Record: 43-26 --- Despite all the controversy surrounding President of Baseball Ops. Mike Sweet and his future involvement with Kansas City, the Royals have taken complete ownership of first place in the Central. They lost some very close games probably because of a bullpen that likes to blow 4 run leads in the 9th as they did against the Rangers on June 3rd, and while they went 10-4 in June they've been somewhat of a see-saw on a day to day basis. Winning a game, dropping one, winning two straight, dropping the next and so on. Acosta, Bigil, Plumb and Wood showed up big time with a combined hitting line of .351/.422/.585/1.007 to go along with 6 homers and 37 RBI in their last 10 games. The Royals finish up a 4 game set in Oakland before hitting the road to Minneapolis and the South Side of Chicago. They will need to get more wins than losses in that easy stretch before facing some of the best pitching the league has to offer at the end of the month. If the offense can continue to give KC the power to put up double digit numbers on certain days and the pitchers (specifically Flemming, Furusato, Evans and Winegardner) make strides to improve sim by sim, Mike has a bunch of reasons to stick around. -- Previous Rank: 7 -- L10: 7-3#4 -
- Record: 41-26 --- When will Detroit realize they are suppose to be at least #2 in every single one of these rankings? Yes, Cook can barely make it to the mound without a golf cart and both Buchanan and Summerlin have missed extensive time, but this team showed aggressive grind on it's way to a 9-4 record in June with 3 of those losses coming at the hands of the streaking Red Sox. They need to stay healthy and start getting some better hitting out of guys like Devaney, Lockhart, McGomery and Marzan if they are to catch up with their Pythagorean, but I say that while they are already ranked as 4th best offensive attack in FCM! Motown will for sure be a threat going into the playoffs despite the short play, and to be fair the other teams in their division have had some great runs, but they need to pick up the pace. Fast! -- Previous Rank: 3 -- L10: 7-3#5 -
- Record: 39-29 --- June's light schedule couldn't have came sooner for the Reds, as they took 7 of 9 from the Angels, Pirates and Cubbies during sim 4 after some lackluster play in recent sims. We all know these guys can hit. Milton, Stanley and Vines are all locks for the Home Run Derby and Eric Lindsay is absolutely unpitchable. He has more round trippers and just as much RBI at this point as he did all last season. The arms did a fine job, the only letdowns being a rare rough start for Cliff Miller and not so surprising problems for Kendrowski. If the bullpen can stay just as good as it was last sim the Reds are going to unleash fury upon the NL, and without a schedule filled with tough match ups it's hard to envision otherwise. -- Previous Rank: 5 -- L10: 6-4#6 -
- Record: 39-29 --- The Braves going 3-5 against the Phillies and 1-2 against the Brewers this month pretty much sums up how sim 4 went for this team. They had no trouble scoring runs, and even their bullpen did a solid job at keeping games close. A 4.77 rotation ERA in June has proved too costly for the Braves, most of the 7 losses they've had so far have come in games they had no chance to win after inning 3. They are too good on paper to be worried about any slumps yet, but the highway to July is looking like a highway to hell right now. Ask Cincy, Washington and New York why. -- Previous Rank: 4 -- L10: 4-6#7 -
- Record: 42-27 --- Call them the Oakland Aces! That bullpen is just flat out filthy. Moreno is for sure going to secure the Mariano Rivera Award in the AL this year, and the rest of their staff have put them on a consistent path to wins. That atrocious hitting is pure proof that the Athletics are just as good as what they put on the mound, but how long can that last as a winning formula will be interesting to watch. Fred could definitely use some quality hitting to give that line up a spark, specifically upgrades at 2B, SS and C. But who needs hitting when you can pitch like it's 1969? If the Astros can't pick themselves up quick enough, Oakland will be flexing their muscles in the Division Championship Series. -- Previous Rank: 9 -- L10: 8-2#8 -
- Record: 42-27 --- New York has been the champion of close ball games this season, winning 24 games by 2 runs or less and sporting an 8-3 record in extra innings play. The pitchers were as much a mystery pitch last sim as it has been all season. John Thomas and Joe Wright struggled with command while Bradshaw continued his incredible debut in The Big Apple despite having a 1 run, 9 inning gem thrown away because of a no show offense. Biggest story about the club is how the bottom half of their line up has been the focal point of their ability to score runs going on 3 sims now, and the way their big hitters have been playing there is no way the Yanks are this close to first place without the production of guys 6 through 9. I can't put my finger on whether I doubt this team due to their great play when the game comes down to a battle of bullpens or trust their odds to be a contender. -- Previous Rank: 6 -- L10: 6-4More Rankings to come tonight!