MLB power rankings By Aram Tolegian
Updated: September 28, 2008, 9:55 PM ET 34 comments

The good: The Angels finished with the league's best record and are AL favorites heading into the playoffs. The bad: As good as they were, they could've been ever better had John Lackey and Howie Kendrick not missed considerable time because of injuries.

The good: The Angels finished with the league's best record and are AL favorites heading into the playoffs. The bad: As good as they were, they could've been ever better had John Lackey and Howie Kendrick not missed considerable time because of injuries.

The good: The Cubs won the NL Central because of the emergence of players like Ryan Dempster, Geovany Soto and Carlos Marmol. The bad: For the most part, the offensive superstars on this team underperformed.

The good: The Cubs won the NL Central because of the emergence of players like Ryan Dempster, Geovany Soto and Carlos Marmol. The bad: For the most part, the offensive superstars on this team underperformed. Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez had good, but not great years by their standards. Alfonso Soriano's numbers were compromised by injury.

The good: Most people thought the Rays would eventually be good, but who knew eventually would be this season. No matter what happens in the postseason, the Rays had a wildly successful year.

The good: Most people thought the Rays would eventually be good, but who knew eventually would be this season. No matter what happens in the postseason, the Rays had a wildly successful year. The bad: The Rays could've been even better were it not for injuries to key players like Carl Crawford, Troy Percival and Evan Longoria.

The good: When you consider that it felt like the Red Sox were constantly plugging holes due to injury, not to mention the Manny Ramirez situation, making the postseason looks like a pretty nice feat.

The good: When you consider that it felt like the Red Sox were constantly plugging holes due to injury, not to mention the Manny Ramirez situation, making the postseason looks like a pretty nice feat. The bad: Jason Bay isn't Manny and he's not hitting good pitching. That could be costly in October.

The good: Names like Jamie Moyer and Jayson Werth won't get the same ink as Ryan Howard or Chase Utley, but they're every bit the reason why the Phils once again won the NL East. The bad: The Phils' rotation is one of the weakest in the postseason and that could prove costly.

The good: Names like Jamie Moyer and Jayson Werth won't get the same ink as Ryan Howard or Chase Utley, but they're every bit the reason why the Phils once again won the NL East. The bad: The Phils' rotation is one of the weakest in the postseason and that could prove costly.

The good: Bringing in Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez worked. The Dodgers won the NL West and appear better suited for postseason success than they were during any of their recent playoff appearances.

The good: Bringing in Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez worked. The Dodgers won the NL West and appear better suited for postseason success than they were during any of their recent playoff appearances. The bad: Torre has some shuffling to do now that Rafael Furcal and Jeff Kent are back. Playing without them worked well, but now both are expecting to contribute in the playoffs. Can they play defense?

The good: Back in July, the Brewers made a run and management has done everything it can to see that it ends with a trip to the postseason. More teams should adopt this aggressive approach.

The good: Back in July, the Brewers made a run and management has done everything it can to see that it ends with a trip to the postseason. More teams should adopt this aggressive approach. The bad: Fans better have enjoyed names like CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets and perhaps even Prince Fielder, because there's a good chance none will be back in '09.

The good: Think back to when Johan Santana was traded to the Mets. Nobody gave the Twins much of a shot to be more than a .500 team. But the team certainly exceeded expectations and thus the season was a rousing success.

The good: Think back to when Johan Santana was traded to the Mets. Nobody gave the Twins much of a shot to be more than a .500 team. But the team certainly exceeded expectations and thus the season was a rousing success. The bad: The Twins have to improve in the power department next season. After Justin Morneau, this team is strapped for somebody who can clear the bases.

The good: The ChiSox discovered a potential star in Alexei Ramirez and should enjoy several years of his service. The emergence of young hurlers John Danks and Gavin Floyd also help make the future bright.

The good: The ChiSox discovered a potential star in Alexei Ramirez and should enjoy several years of his service. The emergence of young hurlers John Danks and Gavin Floyd also help make the future bright. The bad: Although the ChiSox produced above expectations, it’s hard to not to think about what might have been if not for a final-week collapse.

The good: This year can hardly be considered a collapse. The Mets were major overachievers considering how many games the bullpen blew. To even be alive for a playoff berth after that was an accomplishment.

The good: This year can hardly be considered a collapse. The Mets were major overachievers considering how many games the bullpen blew. To even be alive for a playoff berth after that was an accomplishment. The bad: You have to wonder if the window of opportunity for this club is closing.

The good: In the long run, it will be a good thing that the Yanks did nothing crazy this season to mortgage the future. In fact, assuming Xavier Nady sticks around, they actually improved.

The good: In the long run, it will be a good thing that the Yanks did nothing crazy this season to mortgage the future. In fact, assuming Xavier Nady sticks around, they actually improved. The bad: For the first time in a long time, the Yanks missed the playoffs. With that payroll, even in a rebuilding year, it is a disappointment.

The good: The Astros finished the season as one of the league’s hottest teams. That gives them something to build on this offseason. The bad: This team still has holes, namely at leadoff where Michael Bourn clearly isn’t the answer.

The good: The Astros finished the season as one of the league’s hottest teams. That gives them something to build on this offseason. The bad: This team still has holes, namely at leadoff where Michael Bourn clearly isn’t the answer.

The good: Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett turned in outstanding seasons, as did outfielder Alex Rios. The bad: The Jays squandered playoff-caliber pitching with a poorly built offense.

The good: Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett turned in outstanding seasons, as did outfielder Alex Rios. The bad: The Jays squandered playoff-caliber pitching with a poorly built offense.

The good: Compared to what the expectations were, the Cards did pretty well. They’ve uncovered a star in Ryan Ludwick. The bad: The pitching staff was rarely healthy, nor was the bullpen.

The good: Compared to what the expectations were, the Cards did pretty well. They’ve uncovered a star in Ryan Ludwick. The bad: The pitching staff was rarely healthy, nor was the bullpen. Shoring up both has to be the goal this winter.

The good: The Fish definitely exceeded expectations after getting major power surges from the likes of Jorge Cantu and Mike Jacobs. Even the young rotation made strides. This looks like a scary team in the near future.

The good: The Fish definitely exceeded expectations after getting major power surges from the likes of Jorge Cantu and Mike Jacobs. Even the young rotation made strides. This looks like a scary team in the near future. The bad: The Marlins were contenders this season, but faltered down the stretch when management made few deadline moves to make them better.

The good: The D-backs had bullpen woes all year, but toward the end of the year Chad Qualls settled the closer dilemma and could eliminate that part of the offseason rebuild. The bad: The way Arizona started and the way they finished were polar opposites.

The good: The D-backs had bullpen woes all year, but toward the end of the year Chad Qualls settled the closer dilemma and could eliminate that part of the offseason rebuild. The bad: The way Arizona started and the way they finished were polar opposites. But injuries did a number on this team.

The good: The end of the season saw the emergence of youngsters like OF Shin-Soo Choo and closer Jensen Lewis. The bad: The Tribe was considered World Series favorites by many entering the season, but failed miserably.

The good: The end of the season saw the emergence of youngsters like OF Shin-Soo Choo and closer Jensen Lewis. The bad: The Tribe was considered World Series favorites by many entering the season, but failed miserably. Is there a good year-bad year pattern developing?

The good: Josh Hamilton’s emergence as one of the league’s next superstars was easily the highlight of the season. Oh yeah, Ian Kinsler was pretty good, too. The bad: Once again, the Rangers were besieged by bad pitching.

The good: Josh Hamilton’s emergence as one of the league’s next superstars was easily the highlight of the season. Oh yeah, Ian Kinsler was pretty good, too. The bad: Once again, the Rangers were besieged by bad pitching. This was a playoff-caliber offense.

The good: The A’s did some solid rebuilding, adding a decent left-hander in Sean Gallagher as part of their midseason trades. The bad: The A’s have got to improve on their team batting average before they take the next step -- they were dead last in the league in team batting average.

The good: The A’s did some solid rebuilding, adding a decent left-hander in Sean Gallagher as part of their midseason trades. The bad: The A’s have got to improve on their team batting average before they take the next step -- they were dead last in the league in team batting average.

The good: This season saw the Reds do some needed housecleaning just as stars like Jay Bruce, Joey Votto and Edinson Volquez emerged. The future is bright. The bad: This team still has too many holes in the bullpen, but that could be fixed by a few offseason additions.

The good: This season saw the Reds do some needed housecleaning just as stars like Jay Bruce, Joey Votto and Edinson Volquez emerged. The future is bright. The bad: This team still has too many holes in the bullpen, but that could be fixed by a few offseason additions.

The good: The Royals finished the season strong and you could see signs that up-and-comers like Mike Aviles, Zack Greinke and yes, even Alex Gordon took strides. The future looks brighter than it has in recent years.

The good: The Royals finished the season strong and you could see signs that up-and-comers like Mike Aviles, Zack Greinke and yes, even Alex Gordon took strides. The future looks brighter than it has in recent years. The bad: The Royals badly lacked power this season. That’s something that has to be corrected.

The good: Ian Stewart finally got a chance and looks like the real deal. Other youngsters, like Chris Ianetta, emerged, too. The bad: After reaching the World Series last season, being as bad as the Rox were early in the season was a major letdown.

The good: Ian Stewart finally got a chance and looks like the real deal. Other youngsters, like Chris Ianetta, emerged, too. The bad: After reaching the World Series last season, being as bad as the Rox were early in the season was a major letdown.

The good: Armando Galarraga came through a besieged rotation and stamped himself as the ace heading into next season. The bad: The Tigers had easily the most disappointing season in the league, considering all the preseason hype (which we also fell for).

The good: Armando Galarraga came through a besieged rotation and stamped himself as the ace heading into next season. The bad: The Tigers had easily the most disappointing season in the league, considering all the preseason hype (which we also fell for).

The good: Due to injuries, pitchers like Jair Jurrjens and Jorge Campillo were able to make names for themselves and give the rotation some depth heading into next season. The bad: The Braves were one of the NL biggest disappointments, but they had a ton of injury excuses.

The good: Due to injuries, pitchers like Jair Jurrjens and Jorge Campillo were able to make names for themselves and give the rotation some depth heading into next season. The bad: The Braves were one of the NL biggest disappointments, but they had a ton of injury excuses. No team had worse luck this season.

The good: Tim Lincecum emerged as arguably the league’s most dominant pitcher. If Matt Cain is still a Giant next spring, this team has the rotation needed to contend. The bad: The offense was bad on paper heading into the season and lived up to the advanced billing.

The good: Tim Lincecum emerged as arguably the league’s most dominant pitcher. If Matt Cain is still a Giant next spring, this team has the rotation needed to contend. The bad: The offense was bad on paper heading into the season and lived up to the advanced billing. That could change this offseason with the addition of two power bats. Should that come to pass, the Giants could be 2009’s biggest turnaround.

The good: For the first half of the season, the O’s looked nothing like the wreck many had predicted. They can thank Aubrey Huff for that. The bad: Outside of the Erik Bedard trade before the season, the O’s did little else in the way of rebuilding.

The good: For the first half of the season, the O’s looked nothing like the wreck many had predicted. They can thank Aubrey Huff for that. The bad: Outside of the Erik Bedard trade before the season, the O’s did little else in the way of rebuilding.

The good: The organization got busy at the deadline, and although many thought they tanked in the Yankees deal, they did get some replenishment elsewhere. Brandon Moss looks like he’ll be a decent everyday player.

The good: The organization got busy at the deadline, and although many thought they tanked in the Yankees deal, they did get some replenishment elsewhere. Brandon Moss looks like he’ll be a decent everyday player. That’s a start. The bad: The team set the record for most consecutive losing seasons at 16.

The good: Adrian Gonzalez once again showed he's a legitimate MVP-type performer and a cog management can build what will hopefully be an entirely different offense around next season. The bad: The Padres offense was terrible this season, but that's nothing new.

The good: Adrian Gonzalez once again showed he's a legitimate MVP-type performer and a cog management can build what will hopefully be an entirely different offense around next season. The bad: The Padres offense was terrible this season, but that's nothing new. The real problem was that the pitching staff took a step back this season ... and it did have some legit excuses like Chris Young's facial injury.

The good: Elijah Dukes emerged as a potential All-Star while performing great in the gaps of his season that weren't derailed by injury. The Nats have some very good young talent to build for the next few years.

The good: Elijah Dukes emerged as a potential All-Star while performing great in the gaps of his season that weren't derailed by injury. The Nats have some very good young talent to build for the next few years. The bad: The Nats would've had a much better record were it not for injuries to Nick Johnson, Ryan Zimmerman and Lastings Milledge ... to name a few.

The good: One of the most sorry seasons in franchise history is now mercifully over. Considering that the M's finished just six out in the West in 2007, this type of step back is just unacceptable.

The good: One of the most sorry seasons in franchise history is now mercifully over. Considering that the M's finished just six out in the West in 2007, this type of step back is just unacceptable. The bad: Things figure to stay bad because this franchise has very little in the way of big-time prospects and should lose a few players this offseason as well.