GW’s MLB West Power Ratings (Week 24)
1. Giants (3): The first MLB West team to clinch playoff spot survived exceedingly well without its leading hitter and cheater, shamed outfielder Melky Cabrera, suspended for 50 games for positive testosterone test.
2. Rangers (1): In all likelihood, the four-game home series against Oakland beginning on Monday night will clinch their third straight AL West title, allowing skipper Ron Washington plenty of time to get his pitching set up for the playoffs.
3. Athletics (2): If the A’s miss the playoffs, they will look back on the squandered four-run lead in the 13th inning and eventual gut-wrenching loss to the Yankees on Saturday.
4. Angels (5): The rumors that manager Mike Scioscia could lose his job if the Angels don’t reach the playoffs made absolutely no sense to GW. Therefore, it was good to hear owner Arte Moreno put the rumors to rest by saying the skipper would return in ’13.
5. Dodgers (4): Money can’t buy happiness and apparently can’t buy a division title either. That blockbuster trade with the Red Sox is leaving the Guggenheim ownership with red faces.
6. Diamondbacks (6): Just a hunch, but don’t be surprised if Friday night begins the final home stand of Justin Upton’s production career with the Snakes. He almost surely will be dealt during the off-season.
7. Mariners (8): Just as they expected, a University of North Carolina player they drafted in 2009 has turned out to be one heckuva player. The surprise is the guy is Kyle Seager, not Dustin Ackley.
8. Padres (8): Someone should examine the water at the Peoria Sports Complex. After 152 games, the spring training partner Padres and Mariners had identical 72-80 records, and were 17 and 17 ½ games out of first place, respectively. Well, “respect”ively might be the wrong word.
9. Rockies (9): The battle cry(s) in the Mile High City is “Wait ‘til Next Year!” for the Rox and “Go Peyton” for the Broncos.
(Last Week’s rating in parenthesis)