Organizational Rankings

[JayC]

Well these rankings are based on now as opposed to looking at the past. Maybe with all the change in management and going in a new direction has helped their rank.

Right. Just in case anyone missed it:

"This is not a review of how teams have performed in the past. This is a forward looking exercise. You can disagree with the ratings all you want, but you should understand that we’re not retroactively grading how teams have done prior to 2009 - we’re talking about how well they are equipped to contend for a World Series title going forward."

His explanation of Detroit's ranking also reveals something: these rankings can be affected by things that have nothing directly to do with the team, which is a good point. The possibility that the city of Detroit may be more affected by economic downturn than other cities lowers the probability of the team being able to compete for a title in coming years.

[HoustonGM]

Yeah, the "new direction" does help their rank...which is why I wouldn't put them quite on the same level as the dregs of Washington, Houston, and San Diego...but enough to vault them into the top 20, ahead of perennial contenders like the Cardinals? I don't think so.

[JayC]

Yeah, the "new direction" does help their rank...which is why I wouldn't put them quite on the same level as the dregs of Washington, Houston, and San Diego...but enough to vault them into the top 20, ahead of perennial contenders like the Cardinals? I don't think so.

But that the Cards have been "perennial contenders" in the past doesn't matter. He makes a valid point in his explanation of that ranking, that they don't have a lot of time left to build something around Pujols; his ranking of the team is because he doesn't expect them to pull that off.

[HoustonGM]

But that the Cards have been "perennial contenders" in the past doesn't matter. He makes a valid point in his explanation of that ranking, that they don't have a lot of time left to build something around Pujols; his ranking of the team is because he doesn't expect them to pull that off.

But he expects the Mariners to turn it around and have a better chance in the future than the Cardinals, despite not having the best player in baseball, and a worse overall major league team, and a worse farm system? Jack Z has got to be the second coming of Branch Rickey for that to work out.

I just do not see how the Mariners have a brighter outlook than the Cardinals...at all. I don't think it's close.

[etothep]

Just curious what you guys' top 5 in the organizational rankings would be

[JayC]

I just do not see how the Mariners have a brighter outlook than the Cardinals...at all. I don't think it's close.

I'll withhold judgment on that until I can read what he has to say about the Mariners.

[HoustonGM]

Just curious what you guys' top 5 in the organizational rankings would be

Purely off the top of my head....Boston and Tampa Bay I'd say are 1-2 in some order. The Yankees and Mets are in the mix....and the Phillies.

I'll withhold judgment on that until I can read what he has to say about the Mariners.

Yeah...I just can't imagine what could justify the Mariners being higher than the Cardinals.

[oriole^]

I will say this much: it's difficult for me to envision how a franchise could be hurt more by its owner than the Baltimore Orioles.

[HoustonGM]

I will say this much: it's difficult for me to envision how a franchise could be hurt more by its owner than the Baltimore Orioles.

Florida. Angelos is definitely incredibly close to Loria in terms of hamstringing their franchise...but at least he's willing to pony up some cash for players.

[koolzach1]

[QUOTE=HoustonGM;1265970]Purely off the top of my head....Boston and Tampa Bay I'd say are 1-2 in some order. The Yankees and Mets are in the mix....and the Phillies.QUOTE]

Can't see the Rays at all even in the top 5.

Yankees/Red Sox are right up there, though I might would put the Sox #1 and the Yanks #2 with the Mets and Phillies right up there, as well as the Cubs.

The Rays have finished last like every season of their existance other than last year... They should be decent now...

[oriole^]

Agreed on the Rays, simply because Baltimore, Tampa, and Toronto cannot spend with the Yankees and Red Sox year after year after year. None of those teams belong in the top half of the rankings for as long as the unbalanced schedule exists. (Maybe Tampa, just because of their tremendous upside from the minors.)

[RedsoxRockies]

[QUOTE=koolzach1;1266631]

Purely off the top of my head....Boston and Tampa Bay I'd say are 1-2 in some order. The Yankees and Mets are in the mix....and the Phillies.QUOTE]

Can't see the Rays at all even in the top 5.

Yankees/Red Sox are right up there, though I might would put the Sox #1 and the Yanks #2 with the Mets and Phillies right up there, as well as the Cubs.

The Rays have finished last like every season of their existance other than last year... They should be decent now...

These ratings are not based on past performances, but rather future outlooks....

[200tang]

looks like Toronto is 20

[HoustonGM]

The Rays have finished last like every season of their existance other than last year... They should be decent now...

As RSR said, this isn't about the past. It's about the future. Tampa has a great ownership group that wants to win, a young, smart front office on both the statistical and scouting sides, a young major league team overflowing with talent, AND one of the top farm systems in the game.

[koolzach1]

As RSR said, this isn't about the past. It's about the future. Tampa has a great ownership group that wants to win, a young, smart front office on both the statistical and scouting sides, a young major league team overflowing with talent, AND one of the top farm systems in the game.

Sure sure... I know it is all about the future outlooks. I just don't see the Rays being all that great the next few years. It'll all depend on next year, IMO; if they win and the fans show up, then maybe, but if they win and the fans still don't show up, well, I cannot say for sure that the Rays will have the money to pay their players and fix their holes.