S58 Power Rankings Update

Richard Castle - contributing reporter

Season nearing an end, let's check in on Skynet's power rankings. 

The AL still dominates the league with the top three teams being Houston, Atlanta, and Huntington. Though a little surprised to see them in that order, especially since Houston trails Huntington in their division. The NL picks up the next pack with Hartford, New Orleans, and Columbus. OKC drops a few slots from previous rankings. Judging by run differential this season belongs to one of the big 3. In the last 20 seasons, only 3 teams have finished with less than 165 run diff on the season. With 43 games to play, Hartford has crossed that threshold but we'll see how NO and Columbus do and if they get there.   

Philly and Atlanta are coasting with 20+ game leads on their division. 43 games to play and Huntington has a 9 game lead while Helena is down to just 6 over Salt Lake City. Houston is a lock for the first wild card if they can't make up ground in the division. Wildcard 2 is the one to watch with SLC and Augusta currently tied. Boston and Jacksonville are just 5 games behind them. 

Hartford is right there with Philly and Atlanta with a 21 game lead. Columbus has the best record in the NL but only leads Buffalo by 8 games. Every update New Orleans seems to struggle more, with only a 14 game lead on what many consider the weakest division in the league. OKC holds strong in the West over Salem and Tokyo. But only 2 of those three will make the playoffs.  

If we look at how each team has expected to win based off recent play, here is what we'd see. Champs and Wildcard are listed based on expected win percentages. Current playoff teams are highlighted in bold - surprisingly or not, the playoffs team haven't changed since the last power rankings.

1. .711 - Atlanta Expos (AL-E Champ)
2. .708 - Huntington Tropics (AL-S Champ)
3. .692 - Houston Space Cowboys (Wildcard 1)
4. .646 - Hartford Rising Stars (NL-N Champ)
5. .627 - New Orleans Hurricane Dodgers (NL-S Champ)
6. .621 - Columbus Corgis (NL-E Champ)
7. .616 - Philadelphia Harpers (AL-N Champ)
8. .600 - Helena Hot Dogs (AL-W Champ)
9. .563 - Buffalo Bisons (Wildcard 1)
10. .561 - Oklahoma City Barons (NL-W Champ)
11. .558 - Salt Lake City Punk! (Wildcard 2 - tiebreak)
12. .553 - Salem Bourbon Makers (Wildcard 2)
13. .539 - Jacksonville Lizard Kings
14. .519 - Tokyo Nomo (NL Wildcard 2)
15. .507 - Boston Baseball Team 
16. .474 - Augusta Alcoholics
17. .466 - Anaheim Diablos
18. .463 - Santa Fe Surf Riders VIII
19. .460 - Chicago Gunslingers 
20. .454 - Charleston Offspring
21. .451 - Vancouver Canucks
22. .439 - Mexico City Staring Frogs
23. .435 - Montreal Fighting Poutine Plate
24. .433 - Washington DC Nationals
25. .420 - Minnesota Nort Stars 
26. .419 - Tacoma Aroma
27. .415 - Milwaukee Metronomes
28. .391 - Dover Hazmats
29. .360 - Austin Son's of Odin
30. .337 - Pittsburgh Yinzers 
31. .291 - Colorado Springs From My Loins
32. .266 - New York Empire