Power Rankings #3

Last week was not a good week for teams atop the power rankings. As a result, there is a lot of movement on this week’s list. We’re still so early in the season, and it’s hard to tell if a good performance is really a sign of great weeks to come, of if it’s an aberration. Like I said last week, I’m always basing these rankings on both performance (record, run differential, recent streaks) and how I think a team might perform in the future. But after getting a few mentions in the game summaries this week, I’m feeling the pressure to put together a ranking that somewhat reflects what’s going to happen on the field!

Rankings (Last week’s rankings are in parentheses):

1. Applebaum (4)- While I may not think they’re the best in the league, respect has to be given to the last remaining undefeated team. As long as you keep on winning, the spot is yours.

2. Younger (5)- Now’s a good time to mention just how hard it is to organize this group of teams. I had questions before the year how this team would do with so many players who usually play the infield. Having a 4.5 runs against average certainly answers that question. Even if they weren’t scoring runs, they’d be in great shape with a defense this solid. Add the fact that Younger is 4^th in runs scored, and you have a team who is proving themselves to be no fluke. That being said, they might be in trouble playing Randell this week- a great Union Hill team.

3. Feldman (1)- It’s hard to respond too negatively to an 11 inning loss at the hands of another undefeated team. There’s no reason to think any less of Team Feldman this week.

4. Harris (7)- Last week’s win against a Mamone team looking to get back on track was impressive. It looks like the 20 runs given up the first week was just a blip.

5.Lapine (3)- The Beilis loss was surprising, but I’ll give Lapine a pass this week. Especially since it’s coming off a thrilling 13 inning victory against Team Pollock. Speaking of . . .

6. Sarcona (9)- They may still have a negative run differential, but what I saw this Sunday was pretty impressive. A big matchup against Lapine this week will help separate two teams who I think are very equally matched.

7. Pollock (2)- As great as our offense is, our defense needs improve a little before we move back up the rankings. Captain Pollock has a few defensive tricks up his sleeve that will go into effect this Sunday. Let’s also not forget that the two losses were heartbreaking extra inning affairs.

8. Randell(11)- The team is 2-2 and Joel is nowhere to be found on the leaderboard yet. He’ll eventually heat up, and so will this team.

9. Mamone (6)- Alright, one more week of giving your team the benefit of the doubt. I still believe they’re much better than the 1-3 record shows. This week they have a tough game at Municipal against a Wallman team that is built for that field. Both teams  will feel like they badly need the win.

10 Wallman (12)- Many will attribute this team’s early struggles to the lack of power. Detractors will say this is proof that you need some homerun hitters to win in this league. The real problem is that they’ve lacked hitting, period. In fact, they have the lowest average in the league. I think they have enough talent to be in the mix for team batting average, and despite their lack of home run hitters they should be able to put some runs on the board. Their defense will always keep them in games.

11. Beilis (15)- Last week’s victory against Mamone was certainly impressive and the first step in proving all prognosticators wrong.  A victory against our team this week will leave it beyong a doubt that Beilis is a team much worthier than a 15^th spot on the power rankings.

12. Carlin (8)- It’s hard to believe that just a month ago they were the top team on this list. I’ll never call a Carlin team down and out, and I still don’t believe that’s the case with this group. They may no longer be the superpower that I thought they’d be, but they can still be a force.

13. Goldfarb(10)- Maybe it’s because it’s still early in the season, but I’m amazed at how even when we’re getting down to the 13^th team on the list, we’re still dealing with teams that are dangerous. Goldfarb is used to putting winners on the field in recent years and with the top defensive SS, great hitters in Ari Mesmer and Rick Schindelheim, and a solid later half of the draft including a hot hitting Dave Mallow, this team should be doing better.

14. Granese (16) As Bob Dylan once said, “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows” and the wind must have been blowing out on Municpal as Granese lit up the scoreboard for 12(!) runs on the notoriously stingy wasteland of a field. But more to the point of the quote, it’s obvious that Granese is ready to put those first three weeks behind them and go on a tear. One problem is they’re facing off against the top team in the league this week. A win will most certainly catapult them to a respectable spot on this list as well as guarantee that the author of this section will be quoted again in a most unflattering way.

15. Jacoby (14)- Three words for this week. Fradkin.Union.Hill. There is hope for the rookie captain this week as he squares off against the other basement dwellers of this list.

16. Schefkind(13)- I once had this team 4^th on the power rankings before the season started. I don’t think Schefkind is going to have an utter waste of a season, but as long as they’re going to have one run performances like last Sunday, they’re going to find themselves near the bottom of the list.