I'm just saying....Final NL Team Rankings

In this weekly feature, we take a look at the top ten records in the National League (Rear View Mirror) and rank them based on strength of team going forward (Over the Hood.) Influencing factors include injuries, current and projected level of play, personnel changes, trends, schedule, star alignment and the writer's then current mood. Please feel free to provide your commentary whether you agree, disagree or just have something you want to get off your chest.

Rear View Mirror

1. Dodgers (95-67 .586)

2. Phillies (93-69 .574)

4. Rockies (92-70 .568)

3. Cardinals (91-71 .562)

6. Giants (88-74 .543)

7. Marlins (87-75 .537)

5. Braves (86-76 .531)

8. Cubs (83-78 .516)

9. Brewers (80-82 .494)

10. Reds (78-84 .481)

Over the Hood

1. Phillies- Despite bullpen injuries/issues, simply have the best talent

2. Cardinals- Finished meekly, but 2nd half record reflects improved club

3. Rockies- Best record (.608) in 2nd half and down the stretch (.645)

4. Dodgers- Can't ignore 2nd half .527 play or Cards/Rockies improvement

5. Marlins- Ramirez, Coghlan, Johnson lead young talent

6. Braves- Checked out after strong run, but great starting pitching

7. Giants- Lincecum, Cain, other starters cannot overcome weak line-up

8. Brewers- Strong finish more in line with talent

9. Cubs- Back to the drawing board, need talent upgrade

10. Reds- 15-6 finish provides optimism heading into off season

I'm just saying....NL Team Rankings

In this weekly feature, we take a look at the top ten records in the National League (Rear View Mirror) and rank them based on strength of team going forward (Over the Hood.) Influencing factors include injuries, current and projected level of play, personnel changes, trends, schedule, star alignment and the writer's then current mood. Please feel free to provide your commentary whether you agree, disagree or just have something you want to get off your chest.

Rear View Mirror

1. Dodgers (93-64 .592)

2. Phillies (90-66 .577)

3. Cardinals (90-66 .577)

4. Rockies (88-68 .564)

5. Braves (86-70 .551)

6. Giants (83-73 .532)

7. Marlins (83-74 .529)

8. Cubs (81-74 .523)

9. Brewers (77-79 .494)

10. Reds (74-82 .474)

Over the Hood

1. Dodgers- Close to clinching home field despite mediocre finish

2. Cardinals- Clinched division, can focus on strong post season run

3. Phillies- Injuries, bullpen and fatigue have them limping to finish

4. Braves- Could run the table with strong pitching and weak schedule

5. Rockies- Cooled off, looking over shoulder at Braves

6. Giants- Still fading with Lincecum, Cain looking human

7. Marlins- Almost extinct with up and down finish, will gear up for Phillies

8. Cubs- Good finish, too little, too late

9. Brewers- Push to finish at .500 led by Fielder and Braun

10. Reds- Putting things together in September to pass Astros despite Phils

NFL Power Rankings- Top 15 Week 2

Either we provided the jinx or had some teams over-rated as our top three and six of our top eight teams all lost in week 2. Additionally, a few other teams made a case to move into the top 15 spots. The Colts, Broncos and 49ers all ran their records to 2-0, while the Cardinals and Bills got untracked after disappointing week 1 losses. The Saints continue to demonstrate that they have the most dynamic offense in football rolling up 93 points in the first two games. After a strong season opening effort, our home town Eagles team took a hard fall. Big wins last Sunday included the Rex Ryan led Jets taking down the arch rival Pats, the Ravens outlasting the Chargers and the Giants spoiling Jerry Jones' attendance record setting, stadium unveiling Cowboys team.

Here are the greatly jumbled up rankings:

1. Saints (2-0)-Unstoppable offense + improving defense = contender
2. Jets (2-0)-Big win against Pats has their confidence soaring
3. Vikings (2-0)-Same story-have ingredients if Favre can stay healthy
4. Giants (2-0)-Pulled out see saw battle at Dallas, Eli looked good
5. Ravens (2-0)-Winning with offense rather than trademark defense
6. Colts (2-0)-Manning gives them a chance to win any week
7. Falcons (2-0)-Led by rising star Ryan, but won't sneak up on anybody in '09
8. Steelers (1-1)-Anemic offense
9. Patriots (1-1)-Chinks in the armor? Lucky to have one win
10. Eagles (1-1)-Outplayed in every phase by Saints
11. Chargers (1-1)-Tomlinson injured again and defense struggling
12. Cowboys (1-1)-Jones coming out party with Barber out, Romo ?'s
13. 49ers (2-0)- Could they be for real?
14. Broncos (2-0)- Flukey win followed by strong outing against Browns
15. Cardinals (1-1)-Offense came alive versus Jacksonville

I'm just saying....NL Team Rankings

In this weekly feature, we take a look at the top ten records in the National League (Rear View Mirror) and rank them based on strength of team going forward (Over the Hood.) Influencing factors include injuries, current and projected level of play, personnel changes, trends, schedule, star alignment and the writer's then current mood. Please feel free to provide your commentary whether you agree, disagree or just have something you want to get off your chest.

Rear View Mirror

1. Dodgers (90-60 .600)

2. Phillies (87-61 .588)

3. Cardinals (88-63 .583)

4. Rockies (85-65 .567)

5. Giants (81-69 .545)

6. Marlins (80-70 .533)

7. Braves (80-70 .533)

8. Cubs (77-72 .517)

9. Brewers (74-76 .493)

10. Astros (70-80 .467)

Over the Hood

1. Dodgers- Besides Wolf, many concerns about starters; great bullpen

2. Cardinals- Success as Pujols, Holiday, Wainwright, Carpenter, Franklin go

3. Phillies- Best talent, but tempered by mounting injury concerns

4. Rockies- Streaky team with no dominant starters, but score lots of runs

5. Marlins- Scary team with young starters and streaky line-up

6. Braves- Very solid rotation, but not enough pop in line-up, weak schedule left

7. Giants- Starting to fade with Dow Jones September, not enough offense

8. Cubs- Unfulfilled potential has been the story all year

9. Brewers- Turned it up to reach .500?

10. Astros- Current 8 game losing streak dashed any optimism

I'm just saying....NL Team Rankings

In this weekly feature, we take a look at the top ten records in the National League (Rear View Mirror) and rank them based on strength of team going forward (Over the Hood.) Influencing factors include injuries, current and projected level of play, personnel changes, trends, schedule, star alignment and the writer's then current mood. Please feel free to provide your commentary whether you agree, disagree or just have something you want to get off your chest.

Rear View Mirror

1. Dodgers (87-59 .596)

2. Cardinals (85-61 .582)

3. Phillies (83-60 .580)

4. Rockies (82-64 .562)

5. Giants (79-66 .545)

6. Marlins (77-68 .531)

7. Braves (76-68 .528)

8. Cubs (75-68 .507)

9. Astros (70-75 .483)

10. Brewers (69-75 .479)

Over the Hood

1. Dodgers- Back on track with improved starting staff and Ethier walk offs

2. Cardinals- First downturn since July, scary with big two starters

3. Phillies- Scratching out wins, bullpen big concerns offset Pedro-mania

4. Rockies- Big offense, but streaky team back on downswing

5. Giants- Hanging in the wild card race with help from Rockies

6. Marlins- Another streaky team back on the upswing, team dissension concerns

7. Braves- Catching fire again after a painful slump

8. Cubs- Late surge probably too little, too late

9. Astros- Back to mediocre baseball after thumping Phillies

10. Brewers- Continuing to reach new lows

I'm just saying....NL Team Rankings

In this weekly feature, we take a look at the top ten records in the National League (Rear View Mirror) and rank them based on strength of team going forward (Over the Hood.) Influencing factors include injuries, current and projected level of play, personnel changes, trends, schedule, star alignment and the writer's then current mood. Please feel free to provide your commentary whether you agree, disagree or just have something you want to get off your chest.

Rear View Mirror

1. Cardinals (82-57 .590)

2. Dodgers (82-57 .590)

3. Phillies (77-58 .570)

4. Rockies (78-60 .565)

5. Giants (76-62 .551)

6. Marlins (72-65 .526)

7. Braves (70-67 .511)

8. Cubs (69-67 .507)

9. Astros (67-70 .489)

10. Brewers (66-71 .482)

Over the Hood

1. Cardinals- Playing the best baseball in the 2nd half with holes plugged

2. Dodgers- Starting pitching bolstered, strong pen, leading league in hitting

3. Phillies- Hit a wall in Houston, need offense to get back on track

4. Rockies- Streaky team on the upswing again

5. Giants- Keeping pace with strong starting staff, scratching out runs

6. Marlins- Another streaky team back on the upswing, team dissension concerns

7. Braves- Losing steam, slipping back in playoff race

8. Cubs- Treading water, soon to be out of playoff contention

9. Astros- Bourn, Pence, Lee and Berkman provide enough offense

10. Brewers- Disappointing season continues after playoffs last year

I'm just saying....NL Team Rankings

In this weekly feature, we take a look at the top ten records in the National League (Rear View Mirror) and rank them based on strength of team going forward (Over the Hood.) Influencing factors include injuries, current and projected level of play, personnel changes, trends, schedule, star alignment and the writer's then current mood. Please feel free to provide your commentary whether you agree, disagree or just have something you want to get off your chest.


Rear View Mirror
1. Dodgers (78-54 .591)
2. Phillies (75-53 .586)
3. Cardinals (77-55 .583)
4. Rockies (72-59 .550)
5. Giants (72-59 .550)
6. Braves (69-62 .527)
7. Marlins (68-63 .519)
8. Cubs (65-64 .504)
9. Brewers (64-66 .492)
10. Astros (63-68 .481)

Over the Hood
1. Phillies- Howard, Hamels, Lidge gearing up for big September
2. Cardinals- Player additions, ZZ Top closer, top 3 starters lead to 24-7 surge

3. Dodgers- Garland helps back-end of rotation; Thome adds needed power
4. Rockies- Returned to earth's atmosphere over last 5 games
5. Braves- Line-up boosted by Diaz, Prado, LaRoche, strong starting staff
6. Giants- Lincecum, Cain make for scary playoff opponent
7. Marlins- Slipped a little of late against softer schedule
8. Cubs- Have they hit the wall due to injuries?
9. Brewers- Sub-standard rotation, no supporting cast for Fielder and Braun
10. Astros- .500 talent at best

I'm just saying....NL Team Rankings

In this weekly feature, we take a look at the top ten records in the National League (Rear View Mirror) and rank them based on strength of team going forward (Over the Hood.) Influencing factors include injuries, current and projected level of play, personnel changes, trends, schedule, star alignment and the writer's then current mood. Please feel free to provide your commentary whether you agree, disagree or just have something you want to get off your chest.


Rear View Mirror
1. Dodgers (74-51 .592)
2. Phillies (71-50 .587)
3. Cardinals (72-54 .571)
4. Rockies (70-54 .565)
5. Giants (67-57 .540)
6. Braves (66-58 .532)
7. Marlins (65-59 .524)
8. Cubs (62-60 .508)
9. Astros (61-63 .492)
10. Brewers (60-63 .488)

Over the Hood
1. Phillies- Best O, Best D, strong starting pitching, bullpen improving
2. Cardinals- Holiday, Smoltz just what they needed
3. Dodgers- Starting staff questionable
4. Rockies- Stellar record after poor start
5. Marlins- Young pitchers and hitters coming through
6. Braves- Still power deficient
7. Giants- Not enough offense to go pitching
8. Cubs- Hurt by injuries, mediocre line-up
9. Brewers- Pitching woes continue
10. Astros- Middling pitching can't overcome lack of runs