September: Time to Make Predictions
by Keith Glab, BaseballEvolution.com
September 9, 2008

Will the inexperienced Rays continue to struggle down the stretch and let the Red Sox overtake them in the division?  Can the Chicago White Sox still win the AL Central without Carlos Quentin?  Can the Mets hang on without Billy Wagner? Who prevails: Adam Dunn's Diamondbacks or Manny Ramirez' Dodgers? 

Only the eight playoff teams remain above the Line of Death as we reveal the Baseball Evolution Power Rankings for the final time this season.

In a way, it is bold to make playoff predictions with nearly three weeks remaining in the season.  In another, it's pretty chicken to have not made them at the beginning of September, having waited for the weekend's Mets/Phillies and Dodgers/D-backs series to finish and gotten news that key stretch players Carlos Quentin and Billy Wagner would each miss the rest of the regular season.

The dust having settled, we do see a much clearer picture of who the favorites are.  Nearly as important as a team's current record at this point is their remaining schedule.  For instance, the White Sox and Twins' respective schedules doomed the Sox even before Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko went down.  To that effect, we are listing the split of remaining games for contending teams in our rankings.

So if you want to be surprised at the end of the season, stop reading here.  If you'd like to know which eight teams will continue to play in October, read on and feel free to comment.

Rank	Team	Comments	Prev
1		Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim NYY, Sea, @Oak, @Tex, @Sea, Tex | Overall Record: 87-56 (.608) Bottom of the lineup looks anemic; they need Kendrick back	1
2		Boston Red Sox TB, Tor, @TB, @Tor, Cle, NYY | Record: 85-58 (.594) Good thing they held on to Coco Crisp (.770 OPS vs. Ellsbury's .690)	9
3		Tampa Bay Rays @Bos, @NYY, Bos, Min, @ Bal, @Det | Record: 85-57 (.599) They won't win the East due to inadequate offense, not inexperience	4
4		Chicago Cubs @Stl, @Hou, Mil, Stl, @NYM, @ Mil | Record: 86-57 (.601) Tough remaining schedule; Harden and Big Z had better be healthy	2
5		Milwaukee Brewers Cin, @Phi, @CHC, @Cin, Pit, CHC | Record: 82-62 (.569) The bullpen is all that stands between them and elite status	11
6		Minnesota Twins KC, @Bal, @Cle, @TB, CHW, KC | Record: Min 78-65 (.545) Will Morneau snipe another MVP Award from Mauer?	3
7		Philadelphia Phillies Fla, Mil, @Atl, @Fla, Atl, Was | Record: 79-65 (.549) 3rd fewest runs allowed in the NL, actually	5
13		Los Angeles Dodgers @SD, @Col, @Pit, SF, SD, @SF | Overall Record: 73-71 (.507) No one on this team has 80 RBI yet; Ethier just reached 20 HR	8
---------------- Line of Death! --------------
8		Toronto Blue Jays @CHW, @Bos, Bal, Bos, NYY, @Bal | Record: 77-66 (.538) Hmm, maybe Adam Dunn wouldn't have been a terrible addition after all	15
9		New York Mets Was, Atl, @Was, @Atl, CHC, Fla | Record: 80-63 (.559) Santana/Pelfrey (not Martinez) would be devastating if they make the playoffs	6
10		Chicago White Sox Tor, Det, @NYY, @KC, @Min, Cle | Record: 80-63 (.559) Griffey's swing takes longer than a Mark Buehrle inning pitched	12
11		Houston Astros Pit, CHC, @Fla, @Pit, Cin, Atl | Overall Record: 77-67 (.535) Looks like Ed Wade deserves a collective apology from the world	22
12		St. Louis Cardinals CHC, @Pit, @Cin, @CHC, Az, Cin | Record: 77-66 (.538) Adam Wainwright has 1.78 ERA in four starts since DL stint	13
14		New York Yankees @LAA, TB, CHW, Bal, @Tor, @Bos | Record: 76-68 (.528) This 4th-place squad may be better than 2000 World Series Champs	7
15		Arizona Diamondbacks @SF, Cin, SF, @Col, @Stl, Col | Record: 71-72 (.497) Haren's predictable post-AS ERA of 4.76 typifies pitching collapse	10
16		Cleveland Indians Overall Record: 70-73 (.490) Hindsight being 20-20, should they have kept Sabathia?	26
17		Florida Marlins Overall Record: 72-72 (.500) This offense leads baseball in strikeouts: 85 more than Arizona	14
18		Detroit Tigers Overall Record: 70-75 (.483) Miggy C has .628 SLG since the break	18
19		Colorado Rockies Overall Record: 67-77 (.465) Coolstandings.com still gives them a 2% shot at the NL West crown	17
20		Texas Rangers Overall Record: 70-74 (.486) Brandon McCarthy is their only pitcher with even a hint of upside	16
21		Cincinnati Reds Overall Record: 65-79 (.451) Helicopter Patterson has 309 at bats and an OPS+ of 47	20
22		San Francisco Giants Overall Record:63-80 (.441) Hitters are slugging .315 against Tim Lincecum	28
23		Baltimore Orioles Overall Record: Bal 64-79 (.448) Aubrey Huff is having the best season you don't know about	23
24		Kansas City Royals Overall Record: 61-81 (.430) Yawn.	19
25		Oakland Athletics Overall Record: 66-78 (.458) Jack Cust is their only player with an OPS over .740	25
26		Pittsburgh Pirates Overal Record: 60-83 (.420) 10-25 since the Jason Bay trade; fans losing patience	21
27		Atlanta Braves Overall Record: 62-82 (.431) Still waiting on a 1-run road victory this year	24
28		Seattle Mariners Overall Record: 56-86 (.394) Brandon Morrow gives team hope for tomorrow	27
29		San Diego Padres Overall Record: 56-88 (.389) Peavy's season is reminiscent of Randy Johnson, 2004	29
30		Washington Nationals Overall Record: 56-88 (.389) Nice win streak. You are now only a mild embarrassment to MLB	30