http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/powerranking
They really do seem to be the best team in baseball right now.
They really do seem to be the best team in baseball right now.
D-Backs #1 in ESPN Power Rankings
- Thread starter PDXChris
- Start date
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10767657
Power Rankings: The new Sheriff shoots D-Backs to top spot
Updated April 8
If you need the latest example of what makes baseball great, take a look at the standings going into baseball's second full week.
The world champion Red Sox are in last place. The highly touted Tigers are not only in the cellar of their division, but still without a victory. The supposed upstart Mariners stuck are in the basement of arguably the weakest division in baseball.
And that's just the AL. The NL is nearly equally on its head, save for the hot starts of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers.
Doing the Power Rankings right now is nearly impossible. Doing them well, anyway.
We pull the D-Backs and Brewers up to the top two spots in the latest CBSSports.com Power Rankings because at least they came out of the gate swinging. And, specifically in the case of Arizona, swinging some monster bats.
A common mantra here last season on the eventual NL champion D-Backs was: If their young talent hits stride, look out. We know how that finished up.
Now, they add a front-line starter in Dan Haren. Then, they hope to get Randy Johnson back as soon as next week. And, oh yeah, they also have Mark Reynolds and uber prospect Justin Upton mashing away out of the gate.
This is a worthy No. 1, which cannot be said for the equally hot-starting Cardinals, White Sox and Orioles. Even the Brewers, buoyed by the health and dominance of Ben Sheets, cannot make the case the D-Backs can.
We knew they would have a strong starting rotation, and that is there, even amid the loss of Doug Davis to thyroid cancer surgery. Johnson might be able to take Davis' turn the next time it comes up after his final start Tuesday night.
We also knew Reynolds and Upton are talented, but we ranked the D-Backs low this spring because of a perceived lack of a thump in the middle of their order. But that young duo is certainly doing some thumping.
Manager Bob Melvin said watching Reynolds take batting practice as a rushed Double-A player last May "reminds you of (Mark) McGwire in his day, when he was hitting balls over bleachers and out of buildings."
This April -- after a little-too-optimistic TV analyst Matt Williams even predicted 50 homers for him -- Reynolds is out of the gate as the major's home-run leader with four in his first seven games. They aren't just cheapies either. They are flying a long way and coming in key situations, like the go-ahead homer Sunday off Rockies closer Manny Corpas.
And Reynolds grabbed the homer lead from the 20-year-old talent that follows him in the order, Justin Upton. Upton popped homers in three consecutive days, only the fourth player of that age to accomplish that feat. His company? Mel Ott and Willie Mays.
Upton is still without a nickname, but Reynolds is affectionately called The Sheriff on D-Backs broadcasts -- as in "there is a new Sheriff in town."
The name is the Arizona Diamondbacks, our Week 2 No. 1.
Power Rankings: The new Sheriff shoots D-Backs to top spot
Updated April 8
If you need the latest example of what makes baseball great, take a look at the standings going into baseball's second full week.
The world champion Red Sox are in last place. The highly touted Tigers are not only in the cellar of their division, but still without a victory. The supposed upstart Mariners stuck are in the basement of arguably the weakest division in baseball.
And that's just the AL. The NL is nearly equally on its head, save for the hot starts of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers.
Doing the Power Rankings right now is nearly impossible. Doing them well, anyway.
We pull the D-Backs and Brewers up to the top two spots in the latest CBSSports.com Power Rankings because at least they came out of the gate swinging. And, specifically in the case of Arizona, swinging some monster bats.
A common mantra here last season on the eventual NL champion D-Backs was: If their young talent hits stride, look out. We know how that finished up.
Now, they add a front-line starter in Dan Haren. Then, they hope to get Randy Johnson back as soon as next week. And, oh yeah, they also have Mark Reynolds and uber prospect Justin Upton mashing away out of the gate.
This is a worthy No. 1, which cannot be said for the equally hot-starting Cardinals, White Sox and Orioles. Even the Brewers, buoyed by the health and dominance of Ben Sheets, cannot make the case the D-Backs can.
We knew they would have a strong starting rotation, and that is there, even amid the loss of Doug Davis to thyroid cancer surgery. Johnson might be able to take Davis' turn the next time it comes up after his final start Tuesday night.
We also knew Reynolds and Upton are talented, but we ranked the D-Backs low this spring because of a perceived lack of a thump in the middle of their order. But that young duo is certainly doing some thumping.
Manager Bob Melvin said watching Reynolds take batting practice as a rushed Double-A player last May "reminds you of (Mark) McGwire in his day, when he was hitting balls over bleachers and out of buildings."
This April -- after a little-too-optimistic TV analyst Matt Williams even predicted 50 homers for him -- Reynolds is out of the gate as the major's home-run leader with four in his first seven games. They aren't just cheapies either. They are flying a long way and coming in key situations, like the go-ahead homer Sunday off Rockies closer Manny Corpas.
And Reynolds grabbed the homer lead from the 20-year-old talent that follows him in the order, Justin Upton. Upton popped homers in three consecutive days, only the fourth player of that age to accomplish that feat. His company? Mel Ott and Willie Mays.
Upton is still without a nickname, but Reynolds is affectionately called The Sheriff on D-Backs broadcasts -- as in "there is a new Sheriff in town."
The name is the Arizona Diamondbacks, our Week 2 No. 1.
Dback games are worth watching just to see what Reynolds and Upton do at the plate.
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I have only watched bits and pieces of one game this year.
Linda and I will be sure to see a game sometime soon.
Linda and I will be sure to see a game sometime soon.
Dbak games are just plain worth watching. And we get to do that in HD again tonight, although it overlaps a big Suns game.
BirdMan21
Ex-Ex-AP Hype Man
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Like the intro said for the power rankings....when you lead the league in runs and ERA, good things are gonna happen.
Red Hawk
JUST WIN!
Seems to make more sense than the foxsports power rankings. 
1. Indians (4-7)
2. Red Sox (6-6)
3. D'Backs (9-2)
4. Yankees (6-6)
1. Indians (4-7)
2. Red Sox (6-6)
3. D'Backs (9-2)
4. Yankees (6-6)
Last edited:
Phxchris1989
Registered
Seems eo make more sense than the foxsports power rankings.
1. Indians (4-7)
2. Red Sox (6-6)
3. D'Backs (9-2)
4. Yankees (6-6)
Wow that's sad, the only positive record and the best they could rank us was third?
devilalum
Heavily Redacted
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I used to be a Pirates fan before we got the Dbacks. They must have started the season at least 9-2 10 times only to end up in last at the end of the year.
9-2 is great but you can't read too much into it.
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