PEVA Shuffle Index - Batting Power Rankings

PEVA Shuffle Index - Batting Power Rankings

March 6, 2009 - Somebody woke up Manny. That's good for Dodger fans for sure. With his addition to the blue mix, they've risen to the #3 spot in the PEVA shuffle for preseason 2009 in both their offseason movement, as well as the Batting Power Rankings as we head through spring training and into the regular season. But the biggest splash in the roster manipulation pool for batters amongst the 30 baseball clubs, not counting those World Baseball Classic rosters, was not the Los Angeles Dodgers and Manny, or even the big power clubs in New York City, it was two smaller market, down on their luck clubs trying to make waves in the regular season waters in 2009. How big a wave? Well, that'll depend on a whole lot of things, but they certainly are moving in the right direction as far as their offense goes.

Who has done the best in the PEVA Shuffle for batters here in the beginning days of March.

Top Five
1. Oakland A's - Known mostly for their trade deadline moves away from contention and veteran high-salary players, the A's took a decidedly un-Beane like move toward contention in the AL West by adding a bunch of sluggers and well-known names to their batting lineup. Matt Holliday, Jason Giambi, Orlando Cabrera, Nomar Garciaparra. Now some of these players are no longer MVP caliber, but others, such as Holliday and Cabrera are prime career players bound to help a struggling offense. How Holliday will do outside the confines of Coors will be interesting to watch. And whether he'll stay through the whole year another question, but until then, the Oakland A's have moved up the PEVA Shuffle Index for Batting by 27.731 rating points. Now let's not talk about the player sale on the pitching front here, which could discount these moves considerably, but even with that, the A's could be looking for 3 additional wins (+13 Batting, -10 Pitching) in 2009.

2. Washington Nationals - With so much attention being focused on the election of Barack Obama and the economic troubles, you'd think the Nationals would be content with moving under the radar in the nation's capitol. Well, that's certainly been their modis operandi the last two years, but not in 2009. With the addition of Adam Dunn, plus a lesser cohort in Josh Willingham, the run scoring potential of the Nationals is on the rise. Don't be too shocked if this 20.794 shuffle increase in batting PEVA doesn't see Washington in a battle to move out of the National League East cellar.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers - There you go, Manny. Thanks for making the caveats a whole lot easier. Add the 19.930 in the PEVA Shuffle, mostly due to Ramirez, although the nice addition of Orlando Hudson to the starting lineup and the backups of Ausmus and Loretta will have good impact, too.

4. New York Yankees - Well, you knew with the addition of Mark Teixeira they'd have to be in here somewhere. And they are. But just when have you seen the Yankees rank behind the A's and Nationals in anything. Additional 15.755 in the PEVA Shuffle.

5. Tampa Bay Rays - It probably won't be enough to hold off the Yankees again for a playoff spot, but who knows. With the addition of Pat Burrell, an increase in the PEVA Batting shuffle comes in at 12.281. But we all know the fortunes of the Rays has a lot more to do with the progression of their young players like Longoria and Upton, plus pitchers Kazmir, Shields, Garza, Price, and Sonnanstine.

Bottom Five
26. Florida Marlins - There's a lot of deletion here in south Florida, and although it's rarely had the impact that other clubs have seen due to the play of young players brought in, we've got a sneaking suspiciion this might be the year it doesn't work. Downgrade the PEVA batting Shuffle by -17.370.
27. Colorado Rockies - Loss of Holliday has to hurt. Down -17.440 in PEVA Batting Shuffle. But they still have the humidor.
28. Texas Rangers - A negative 20.575 for those Rangers. In a hitter's park where they think Padilla and Millwood are aces, you should be compensating somewhere. We think this is another tough year in Arlington.
29. Chicago White Sox - Although this weak division will see the White Sox in contention despite the PEVA batting shuffle moving down 23.511 points, it'll be increasingly hard to beat back the Twins or Indians. Plus don't look now, but we could have a Royal resurgence sooner than you'd think.
30. Pittsburgh PIrates - Long gone are the days of Parker, Stargell, and Sanguillen. Geez, even gone are the days of Jason Bay, who now may be one of the best Red Sox players. Yes, they still have Nate McLouth, but if this franchise doesn't start to win more soon, the chances of keeping him long term are not great. Down 26.320 in the PEVA Batting Shuffle.