Angel Hernandez Announces Retirement

There are few umpires in Major League Baseball history that invoke the kind of visceral reaction you get when you mention Angel Hernandez. Therefore, you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that the baseball world rejoiced in the announcement yesterday that long time umpire Hernandez announced his retirement after what feels like two thousand years as a big league ump. Hernandez wasn’t always bad, but as of late his inability to call a consistent strike zone has lead to a collective disdain from baseball fans nationwide. When all is said and done, Hernandez will likely be remembered for missing incredibly obvious strikes. It’s a great day to be a baseball fan. So long you Jabroni!

MLB Power Rankings

It has been far too long since I’ve dropped an MLB Power rankings! Let’s drop a top 5 power rankings for you today starting at number five, the LA Dodgers:

#5 LA Dodgers

The super-star studded Dodgers are starting to roll along early in the season and despite losing five straight and only winning four of their last ten (including getting swept by the Reds on the road this past week)! I still have the team ranked in the top five, though. With Ohtani, Freeman, Betts and more role players abound, this team will absolutely be fine (until the playoffs). Big series coming up this week against the Mets and Rockies to get back on track.

#4 Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are currently sitting in first in the NL central and are .500 in their last 10, but the Brewers just completed a satisfying victory against former Brewer legend Craig Counsell and the Cubs. Looking beyond the wins and losses: the Brewers are tied for 3rd in runs, 2nd in hits, 5th in average, 4th in on-base percentage, and 3rd in stolen bases. The pitching has recently been leaving something to be desired, but good hitting solves a lot of problems and I look at the Brewers continuing to stay near or at the top of the Central.

#3 The Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians are not the best team in baseball BUT they have the huge advantage of playing against a division that is complete trash. Outside of the Royals, who have fallen off a bit the Twins, Tigers, and Chi Sox are all barely competing with the White Sox sitting at a whopping 15 wins. Cleveland’s strength is in its pitching (the opposite problem the brewers have) with the team tied for 3rd in runs allowed, 8th for hits allowed, and team ERA is sitting at 3.38 (they’re also 4th in K/9). At the end of the year we will see what they are made of, but for now the Guardians will keep a spot in the power rankings.

#2 The Phillies

The Phillies, who held the #1 spot for a while before being supplanted this week, have been an absolute wagon. Let’s give this team and the fans their flowers. Stadium is always bedlam, players are performing, and Bryce Harper is having a solid season batting .270 with 13 HR and 41 RBI. However, the real story here is the “Kid” Alec Bohm who is hitting .311 with 64 hits and 47 RBI. Bohm rounding into the player the Phills were hoping they had when he was drafted. Baseball draft picks take a long time to develop so its always nice seeing one of the Kids from the farm making a big impact with the big club.

#1 The New York Yankees

Look, I hate this as much as any other non-Yankee fan but we have to be honest here- this team made the right moves in the off-season and they are getting production out of just about everyone. With a record of 7-3 in their last ten and ranking first in On-base percentage, second in slugging, first in OBS, and first in Home-runs (“Put it on the boarrrdddd YES!”), they are dominant on the offensive side of the ball. It doesn’t hurt that they are also a great pitching team ranking first in average allowed, first for hits allowed, first in runs allowed, and third in WHIP. The Yankees are no doubt a top team in Major League Baseball…again.

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