| North Shore Notes
MLB POWER RATINGS
By Jim Lachimia
1…Boston Red Sox
As talented and well-balanced as any team and should make another serious run at a World Series title.
2…New York Yankees
Had baseball's most impressive off-season after failing to make the playoffs for first time since 1994.
3…Philadelphia Phillies
Starting rotation is kind of ordinary after Cole Hamels, but Raul Ibanez improves an already potent line-up.
4…Tampa Bay Rays
No one has a better starting rotation top to bottom. Plus they have plenty of power and speed in the line-up.
5…Chicago Cubs
Favored in the N.L. East again. Just have to figure out how to get past the first round of the playoffs.
6…Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
MLB's only 100-win club in '08 isn't as strong after losing key free agents K-Rod and Mark Teixeira.
7…New York Mets
Addressed their bullpen issues by acquiring two of the A.L.'s top closers -- Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz.
8…Los Angeles Dodgers
Lost a couple stud pitchers in Derek Lowe and Brad Penny, but still appear to be the top team in the N.L. West.
9…Houston Astros
There's certainly enough top flight talent here to say they could challenge the Cubs for the N.L. Central title.
10…Arizona Diamondbacks
Have a pair of aces (Webb and Haren) and enough talent around the diamond to be in the N.L. West race again.
11…Chicago White Sox
Definitely lost more talent than they brought in over the winter, but probably still the top club in the A.L. Central.
12…Milwaukee Brewers
Last year's N.L. wildcard team adjusts to life without ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia under its new skipper Kenny Macha.
13…St. Louis Cardinals
Have power and solid starting pitching, but lack a proven closer with the Jason Isringhausen era now over.
14…Minnesota Twins
An unspectacular but well balanced club that always seems to be competitive under dandy skipper Ron Gardenhire.
15…Atlanta Braves
Rebuilt the starting rotation after their worst season since 1990 -- and saying goodbye to good ol' Smoltzie.
16…Cincinnati Reds
Could be poised to cause some trouble in the N.L. Central in Manager Dusty Baker's second season at the helm.
17…Detroit Tigers
The pitching staff is not nearly as good as it was in '06 when Jim Leyland took this team to the World Series.
18…Cleveland Indians
Turning the closer's role over to long-time (and often-injured) Cub Kerry Wood is something of a gamble.
19…Toronto Blue Jays
Always seem to be decent, but did little to improve over the winter after finishing 4th in the A.L. East.
20…Florida Marlins
Perennial overachievers always seem to find a way to be competitive despite being young and undermanned.
21…San Francisco Giants
Their pitchers are way better than their position players, especially now that the bullpen has been fortified.
22…Colorado Rockies
Follow-up to their surprising '07 World Series campaign was a dud, and there's no reason to believe they're better.
23…Oakland Athletics
Added the power bats of Jason Giambi and Matt Holliday, but the pattern of trading their top pitchers hurts them.
24…Kansas City Royals
A decent team with some real nice pieces, but still not strong enough to be considered a playoff contender.
25…Pittsburgh Pirates
Not as bad as they looked in August and September of last year, but they still have a boatload of question marks.
26…Seattle Mariners
The talent is better than 101 losses in '08 would indicate, but their new skipper Don Wakamatsu still faces issues.
27…Texas Rangers
Don't have that many good players besides Josh Hamilton, Michael Young and Ian Kinsler -- especially the pitchers.
28…San Diego Padres
Not a whole lot to be excited about here besides Jake Peavy and Adrian Gonzalez after losing 99 games in '08.
29…Baltimore Orioles
Here's a team with some decent position players, but its starting rotation has a chance to be REALLY, REALLY bad.
30…Washington Nationals
Bizarre collection of pitchers and an offense that's not scary -- even with the addition of slugger Adam Dunn.
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