Ranking the 30 MLB Teams and Their Key Players

Expect a lot to be wrong in the future, but this is what I expect out of baseball this season. In parentheses, I have listed the player who I expect might be the key to the team (not necessarily the best player but someone who will probably need to be at the top of their game for the team to be successful):

1. Washington Nationals (Bryce Harper - the pitching staff is one of the best I've ever seen and Harper can help make the offense a formidable force)
2. San Francisco Giants (Buster Posey - will lead the great pitching staff and be the biggest offensive threat)
3. Cincinnati Reds (Joey Votto - waiting for better power numbers as opposed to the past two years)
4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Mike Trout - even if he has a sophomore slump, this is the best lineup in baseball)
5. Detroit Tigers (Prince Fielder - the key to it all; if he puts up Milwaukee numbers, Detroit might be unbeatable)
6. Tampa Bay Rays (David Price - one of the best pitchers in baseball)
7. Texas Rangers (Yu Darvish - young and remarkably talented)
8. Atlanta Braves (Jason Heyward - needs to overcome the .280/25 HRs numbers that could define him)
9. Oakland Athletics (Yoenis Cespedes - the most formidable offensive player on an outstanding defensive team)
10. Saint Louis Cardinals (Yadier Molina - as a catcher, he's unequaled, and his offensive numbers have been good lately)
11. Toronto Blue Jays (R.A. Dickey - could be the ace Toronto hasn't had since Halladay left)
12. Los Angeles Dodgers (Matt Kemp - I don't really care, I think the Dodgers are really overrated)
13. Pittsburgh Pirates (Pedro Alvarez or anyone who can step up offensively besides McCutchen)
14. Philadelphia Phillies (Ryan Howard - I'm starting to forget about what a great hitter he used to be)
15. Baltimore Orioles (Adam Jones - I expect him to continue to emerge as one of baseball's best talents)
16. Kansas City Royals (James Shields - the new Greinke?)
17. New York Yankees (Brett Gardner - seriously, if he hits in the .290 range, he'll be one of the best lead-off hitters in baseball and take the pressure off a severely ailed team)
18. Cleveland Indians (Michael Bourn - a great leadoff hitter whose presence could help Cleveland)
19. New York Mets (Ike Davis - power could still be developing)
20. Chicago White Sox (Chris Sale - a solid pitcher)
21. Boston Red Sox (Jacoby Ellsbury - if he's healthy, he'll put up monster numbers)
22. Arizona Diamondbacks (Ian Kennedy - a very good pitcher)
23. Milwaukee Brewers (Rickie Weeks - however he goes, the team always goes)
24. Colorado Rockies (Troy Tulowitzki - not an established cleanup hitter yet)
25. Seattle Mariners (Felix Hernandez - maybe the most reliable pitcher not named Verlander)
26. Chicago Cubs (Anthony Rizzo - had decent numbers in a short season last year, could be more in his first full year)
27. Minnesota Twins (Joe Mauer - I'd love to see him back in the .370 range but I don't think that's happening)
28. San Diego Padres (Carlos Quentin - if he's pre-injury form, he'll be very good. He won't be)
29. Miami Marlins (Giancarlo Stanton - really the only player worth mentioning)
30. Houston Astros (Who cares)

If this were the case, the playoff standings:
American League:

1. Los Angeles Angels (West)
2. Detroit Tigers (Central)
3. Tampa Bay Rays (East)
4. Texas Rangers (Wild Card)
5. Oakland Athletics (Wild Card)

National League:

1. Washington Nationals (East)
2. San Francisco Giants (West)
3. Cincinnati Reds (Central)
4. Atlanta Braves (Wild Card)
5. Saint Louis Cardinals (Wild Card)