Power Rankings, Week 1

Every Sunday we will try and release a new issue of the Power Rankings: an assemblage of the Top 10 teams in the Double Mendoza Baseball League based purely on performance on the field. Though the season has just begun and Opening Week often features a lot of unique storylines, there is often no better barometer of how the division standings will shake out than to look at teams against their division-mates. As 2 such series are in the books for all teams, we can draw some early conclusions about this year's races.

1. Montgomery Biscuits (7-2)
The early pacesetter of the Double Mendoza Baseball League in terms of trophies, the Biscuits look poised to infiltrate the nightmares of NL also-rans yet again this season. Rookie CF Lonny Radmanovich has announced his arrival to the big leagues with authority, hitting .407 with 6 HRs and 11 RBIs through the first 9 games. The Biscuits starting staff is as staunch as ever; they are a combined 7-0 thus far.

2. Tucson Pilots (6-3)
Yes they've only played 2 games at home to this point, but the Pilots team ERA of 2.74 is still turning heads. They have allowed the fewest runs of any AL team, and a lot of the thanks goes to SP Colby Cunningham who has jumped to a 2-0 start with a 1.29 ERA. The far-feared offense looks in tact still, as 8 different players have already gone deep. Their schedule may have been a bit soft out of the gate, but you can only beat who you play, and the Pilots have taken care of business in that regard.

3. Minnesota Antichrists (7-3)
The Antichrists have been lurking quietly in the NL North for a few seasons, and now they may have finally turned the corner. 2B Alex Gonzalez, who has already solidified himself as a star in this league, is tied for the most RBIs in all of baseball with Huntington's Ivan DeSoto at 17. A player to keep an eye on on this team is SP Dale Howe. In an effort to reward the acclaimed pitcher with a Cy Young award, GM DodgerBlue13 is getting him as many reps as he can: so far that's resulted in 3 starts and 17.2 innings of work.

4. Huntington Guyandottes (6-4)
Rewarded this spot mainly for their 3-to-1 series win over the always gritty Hartford Hartattacks, Huntington is hoping the series win is a launching pad towards dethroning the Hartattacks from their 4-year hold on the AL East crown. DeSoto's fast start has already been mentioned, but the pitching has been a little suspect. Their team ERA is 4.96, which is managable in the AL if their offense can keep up with it. So far, so good as 3 players are hitting better than .400, including newcomer 2B Danny Brunette, formerly of the Nashville Sounds.

5. Cincinnati Boomers (7-3)
The alternating of NL and AL teams here in the Rankings continues at 5, where the Boomers check in. SP Junior Posada has been a pleasant surprise, as he of the 4.50 career ERA has spun 2 gems, including a complete game shutout of the Toledo Mud Hens. Offensively, 10+ RBI contributions from RF Ben Mohler, 1B Sherman Seo, and LF Ed Parnell have led the way. After tasting the playoffs despite a losing record a year ago, these Boomers are experienced and hungry.

6. Vancouver Renegades (6-3)
A couple of lopsided losses are the only blemishes so far for the NL's 2nd best team from a year ago. The offense has yet to start churning at full speed, but when it catches up to the efforts the Renegades are getting from reigning Cy Young SP Jerome Guerrero and rookie RP Blaine Fife, watch out. Guerrero has a WHIP of just 1.00 and Fife has started his major league career with 8.1 scoreless innings thanks to an 8-to-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio. Impressive stuff from the 24-year-old.

7. New York Monarchs (5-4)
The record probably isn't where GM themojoking wants it, but the Monarchs are 2 games up on last year's division winner, Chicago, so not all is bad in the Bronx. 1B Rafael Canseco is the lone standout thus far, hitting .400 with 3 HRs and 11 RBIs, all 3 of which lead the team. LF Armando Romo and DH Charlie Freeman can't stay cold forever, as both are boneified sluggers.

8. Memphis Blues (5-4)
It's been very tough to handicap the AL South thus far, as the teams have been cannibalizing each other into mediocre records. Memphis still looks like the frontrunner though, despite the offseason noise from the Nashville Sounds and the respectable starts from the New Orleans Pelicans and Little Rock Lobsters. Memphis has yet to lose a series, and that's with 2-time Cy Young SP Rico Parra off to a 1-2 start, and an ERA near 5.

9. Los Angeles Dodgers (5-4)
The defending World Champions didn't make it easy on themselves a year ago, winning from the 6-seed. And so far this season, they aren't making it easy on themselves either. The offense has been anemic, scoring just 37 runs, good for 15th in the National League. SP Charles Martin and SP Wil Sele are carrying the team though, as they are responsible for all 5 Dodger wins. Sele's 0.95 WHIP has been most impressive, and the 26-year-old's ERA is an equally noteworthy 1.98.

10. Colorado Springs Millenium (6-4)
They've allowed more runs than any other team in the American League, but when a team takes 2 of 3 from both Tucson and Huntington, they deserve some acknowledgment. Their bullpen has been the true culprit in terms of the Millenium allowing 6.9 runs per game. But with veteran and former Cy Young winner RP Christian Casey in the fold, management is hoping things get better. SP Oswaldo Guerrero has forced the flimsy bullpen into a lot of action--in 2 starts, he's never lasted more than 2.2 innings.