Power Rankings: Baseball's back, and that's a really good thing

It seems almost pointless to do Power Rankings this season, because everybody knows that the World Series will pit the Red Sox against the Phillies. This has been preordained from the moment Cliff Lee left all that filthy Yankee lucre on the table. It is as much of a certainty as the rise of the morning sun, or the cackle of the evening Leno.
Nonetheless, we still have to go through the charade of a 2,430-game regular season, so the Power Rankings return to provide silliness, clarity and argument fodder in equal measure. Your Cliff's Notes for this start-of-spring-training edition: I like the Rockies more than the Giants, the A's more than the Rangers and the White Sox more than the Twins. I predict that the Cubs will exceed expectations, that the Padres will fall short of them and that the 18 games between the Pirates and Astros will break my spirit.
Baseball is back, more or less. I hope this makes you anywhere near as happy as it makes me.

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	What looks good: Everything. Remember what happened the year after the Yankees went out and got CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira? To prevent such a travesty from happening again, the Sox added Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and half a bullpen's worth of frisky arms to a unit that won 89 games, despite a boo-boo epidemic. This doesn't just make them prohibitive favorites; it makes them grand exalted rulers of all they survey. What looks bad: A year ago, Jarrod Saltalamacchia couldn't get the ball back to the pitcher. In struggling with that particular mental block, he singlehandedly revived the "poor poor superstar athletes have problems, too!" genre of action journalism. Spring training to-do list: Manage expectations. Prediction: The Red Sox will pillage your towns and make suggestive overtures to your dates.
	What looks good: Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels don't merely comprise the best quartet in the history of baseball. They comprise the best quartet in the history of western civilization, trumping Seinfeld/Alexander/Louis-Dreyfus/Richards and the Beatles. What looks bad: Now that Jayson Werth has found a living wage elsewhere, the lineup can be neutered by any team with above-average lefty pitching. They didn't fall to the Giants last season because of their pitching, you know. Spring training to-do list: Rig the competition so that monster athlete/spell-check gremlin Domonic Brown wins the right-field gig. Prediction: Getting to the postseason might prove more of a challenge than winning once they're there. Also, and this may be going way out on a limb, they'll likely finish in the top 12 of most pitching categories.
	What looks good: Not the rotation. Don't even glance in its general direction. It will burn jagged holes of toxic filth through your retinas. What looks bad: Not the defense, the six-deep bullpen or the nine-deep lineup. Not the building-rappelling GM. Not the farm system. Spring training to-do list: Sort through the organizational glut of catchers and find a role for Jesus Montero, even if it means delivering a further affront to Jorge Posada's machismo. Fix A.J. Burnett, even if it means putting a shaman on the team payroll. Prediction: The Rangers, Angels and Phillies all added an ace-caliber pitcher in the middle of the 2010 season. Like the Yankees, armed with their best prospect slate in years, won't be able to do the same in 2011?
	What looks good: One of the NL's best young positional cores in Tulowitzki/C. Gonzalez/Fowler/Smith/Iannetta, plus rotation depth behind Ubaldo Jimenez. Jhoulys Chacin is as unhittable as he is unspellable. What looks bad: Question marks at second and third base, plus a frustrating inability to lure Todd Helton into a freak career-ending accident. How hard can it be to slip a rabid puma into a guy's locker? Spring training to-do list: Hypnotize the hitters into believing that every field is Coors Field. Hint that players' spouses will be kidnapped if the team endures another one of its patented July swoons. Prediction: I will keep picking the Rockies as my NL World Series representative until they actually deliver on their promise.
	What looks good: As witnessed by the arrivals of Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum, it finally dawned on Doug Melvin that starting pitching is an important component of a winning baseball team. Whoever let him in on the secret has made some powerful enemies in Cincinnati and St. Louis. What looks bad: Yuniesky Betancourt and Carlos Gomez almost will certainly be in the opening-day lineup. This is a failure of prognostication, logic, imagination and every other mental process that elevates us over lower phyla of being. Spring training to-do list: Address either the SS or CF situation. The organization is out of prospects and pushing up against its budget, but it couldn't hurt to place a call about Michael Young. Prediction: I count six elite or near-elite players on this team: Gallardo, Greinke, Marcum, Fielder, Braun and Weeks. That's a lot.
	What looks good: They look just like they did at this point last year, with awesome pitching and creaky everything else. That seemed to work out pretty well for everyone involved. What looks bad: The young pitchers rang up high innings totals during their march through the playoffs last season. Cue the double-ominous-foreboding organ music. Spring training to-do list: Whatever it takes to ensure that Brandon Belt breaks camp with the big-league team. Glue him to Buster Posey if need be. Prediction: Lightning doesn't strike twice.
	What looks good: All that rotation depth, especially if Jake Peavy ever unmoors himself from the clutches of the operating table. Similarly, few teams can bludgeon opponents with a bullpen flurry like Matt Thornton/Chris Sale/Sergio Santos/Jesse Crain. What looks bad: Somewhere in the organization -- indeed, somewhere on this wacky blue marble we call Earth -- there has to be a better leadoff option than Juan Pierre. Spring training to-do list: Jam all cellular and radio signals in the vicinity of Camp Chisox, so that Ozzie Guillen can't wage social-media warfare on his foes. Prediction: I like the cut of this team's jib.
	What looks good: Starting pitching to spare. The Votto/Bruce/Stubbs core. Aroldis "A-Rold" Chapman's five-digit radar-gun readings. What looks bad: If they weren't in on the bidding for Zack Greinke and Matt Garza, they should've been. None of the Red starters scare anyone. ... well, unless there's a brawl and Johnny Cueto gets his legs a-kickin'. Spring training to-do list: Leave pamphlets that discuss ideal traits for a leadoff hitter ("He should get on base. He may play a position other than second base or center field") in and around Dusty Baker's hotel room. Prediction: This situation looks sustainable for a solid 3-4 seasons.
	What looks good: The top-five rotation and the top-one bullpen. This is a stronger 1-thru-11 pitching staff than any other in baseball. What looks bad: Catching despair. Shortstop melancholy. Meanwhile, I don't follow stadium shenanigans, but are the A's about to get evicted or something? Spring training to-do list: Keep the frail hitters healthy, because this team has zero depth on offense. They might consider padding the inside of Coco Crisp's trousers with owl feathers. Prediction: Texas' reign atop the AL West will be remembered like P.M. Dawn's reign atop the rap charts. Which is to say: Not at all.
	What looks good: The off-season dealt the Rays lemons in the form of a free-agent exodus. They made lemonade with the best stealth free-agent buy, in the form of still-potent slugger/hair-care enthusiast Manny Ramirez. What looks bad: Kyle Farnsworth could prove the bullpen's most reliable arm. That's not a typo and that's not a threat. Spring training to-do list: Take whatever steps necessary to maintain inner-ear balance, because Joe Maddon has enough moving parts at his disposal to induce lineup vertigo. Prediction: Better than you think, but not quite good enough.
	What looks good: That's a deep and defensively agile lineup, loaded with viable platoon and rest-day options. What looks bad: Tell me who absorbs Cliff Lee's high-caliber innings -- and don't say Brandon Webb, because he's basically a rumor at this point in his career. Spring training to-do list: Deal Michael Young before he pollutes the clubhouse with his selflessness and consummate professionalism. Prediction: There will be a hangover.
	What looks good: In utility wizard Martin Prado, they have a half-viable left fielder for the first time in years. Mazel tov! What looks bad: If Chipper Jones can't stay healthy, they have to move Prado back to third base. This would create a big honkin' vacancy in the outfield and disturb the lineup's delicate lefty/righty balance. Spring training to-do list: Settle on a situational end-of-game bullpen approach, not anoint a closer. That's more a wish than a to-do item, I suppose. Prediction: They're not as far behind the Phillies as everyone would have you believe.
	What looks good: The supadupastars, obviously, but they've also got a handful of underrated relief arms in front of the proudly mediocre Ryan Franklin. What looks bad: Pity the Cardinal pitchers used to Brendan Ryan's defense at short and acceptable glovemen in right field. The drop-off to Ryan Theriot and lumpy Lance Berkman will be profound and unsettling. Spring training to-do list: End the Pujols drama. I think I speak for a great majority of baseball fans when I say that I'm far more interested in Tony La Russa's plans for deploying the unsinkable Nick Punto. Prediction: Fading.
	What looks good: The Twins continued to act like the huge-payroll bullies they are, chucking cash indiscriminately at showy trinkets like Tsuyoshi Nishioka. What looks bad: In essence, they trade 210 innings of departed relievers for 65 of the returning Joe Nathan and God knows how many more from God knows who else. The Twins always have done a fine job of assembling a functional 'pen from scraps, but still. Spring training to-do list: Monitor Scott Baker's elbow and Justin Morneau's cognitive function. Play it safe out there, y'hear? Prediction: Feels like this could be a rare down year.
	What looks good: They have six legit starters on hand, including everybody's breakout-Cy-Koufax-to-be candidate in Clayton Kershaw. What looks bad: Remember when we all thought the core of Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, James Loney and Russell Martin would grow old and hall-of-famey together? Sometimes, expectations die a hard and lonely death. Spring training to-do list: Equip Marcus Thames and Jay Gibbons with protective gear for their outfield forays, which have disaster stamped all over them. Prediction: If I had any confidence that Don Mattingly knew the first thing about managing, I'd anoint them as a sleeper. I don't. It pains me to say this.
	What looks good: The game-starters (Verlander/Scherzer/Porcello) and the game-enders (Valverde/Benoit/Zumaya). What looks bad: Just 2.5 fear-inducing bats in the everyday lineup (we'll give half-credit for Ryan Raburn). Spring training to-do list: Identify a second baseman to fill the void until Carlos Guillen recovers from whatever calamitous injury recently befell him. Lobby Jim Leyland to install Victor Martinez as the regular catcher, because the Tigers need to free up the DH slot for one of the team's numerous static defensive beings (read: Magglio Ordonez or Brennan Boesch). Prediction: Not a horrible long shot wager.
	What looks good: If a team can truly assume the personality and bearing of its manager, the 2011 Cubs project as a jaunty, well-mannered bunch of fine fellows. What looks bad: Apportioning 10 percent of the team payroll to Alfonso Soriano, who makes up in sloth what he lacks in effort. Spring training to-do list: Locate a leadoff hitter. Fukudome against righties/Byrd against lefties? Something like that. Prediction: When was the last time a Cubs team rode its pitching? The Garza/Dempster/Zambrano trio and the versatile bullpen make this year's team more interesting than recent models.
	What looks good: Weaver/Haren/Santana and the bullpen. What looks bad: Four positions -- catcher, shortstop, third base and center field -- have been left untended, not unlike a world traveler's houseplants. Spring training to-do list: Send Tony Reagins for a full neurological consult. Peruse Soldier of Fortune for somebody to take care of the Jeff Mathis problem. Prediction: They blew it.
	What looks good: The future. Shedding Vernon Wells' contract was like dropping 12 dress sizes worth of lard in a single workout. Awesome sly genius Alex Anthopoulos is no longer operating with one hand tied behind his back and one foot taped to the floor. What looks bad: They won't score many runs, but who cares? $86 million has been returned to their pockets. Swing, baby, you're platinum! Spring training to-do list: Take all the Vernon Wells money, dump it on a stadium-sized mattress and allow Jays fans to roll around in it -- while tastefully attired, of course. Prediction: Huge media market, deep-pocketed owners, a miracle worker of a GM at the helm -- long-term, there's nothing not to love. Short-term? Fourth place.
	What looks good: Buck Showalter's stern parenting has prompted the holdovers to maintain respectful eye contact and wear their jeans neatly hemmed. They've totally bought into the program. What looks bad: I don't get the enthusiasm about the lineup. It'll be an OBP sinkhole if Brian Roberts slips even a little bit, plus there are three legit 150-strikeout candidates. Spring training to-do list: Find a Yoda to mentor the young arms, especially the on-the-cusp-of-acehood Brian Matusz. The force is strong in that one. Prediction: There's legit hope here for the first time since Albert Belle blew town, scattering pedestrians in his wake. That said, they're still finishing in last place.
	What looks good: There is actual baseball on the horizon, as opposed to depositions and bail hearings. It doesn't hurt that, in the Alderson/DePodesta/Ricciardi trio, adults appear to be in charge for the first time in a while. What looks bad: Even if R.A. Dickey and Jon Niese perform as ably as they did last season, this rotation is two arms short of mediocre. Spring training to-do list: Continue to rehabilitate Terry Collins' reputation, emphasizing the insight and downplaying the crying. Pray that Carlos Beltran is healthy and interested enough to bring back something useful in a trade-deadline deal. Prediction: It can only go up from here.
	What looks good: There's elite-level talent here in Hanley Ramirez, Josh Johnson and Mike Stanton, who does things to misplaced fastballs that are difficult to explain to young children. What looks bad: Chris Coghlan never has played center field and is coming off one of those knee injuries where the meniscus was relocated mid-thigh, yet the Marlins believe sticking him out there will upgrade their defense. This is dumb times 10. Spring training to-do list: Compliment Matt Dominguez on his bunt-rushing instincts, because there aren't gonna be many kind words to share about his bat. Prediction: Nope.
	What looks good: One can't honestly describe the bullpen as "good," but it won't be the franchise- and democracy-destabilizing influence it was in 2010. What looks bad: Leadoff hitter is as much of a blind spot for the D-Backs as offense, defense and pitching is for the Pirates. Spring training to-do list: Give Juan Miranda every chance to claim the first base gig as his own. Avoid running into stationary objects after skipper Kirk Gibson's rousing pep talks. Prediction: Undermanned but chippy.
	What looks good: They bought low on Orlando Hudson, Jason Bartlett, Cameron Maybin and Brad Hawpe, useful players all. What looks bad: There is no longer an individual on the roster named Adrian Gonzalez. His departure negates all the positive tweaks. Spring training to-do list: Grief-counseling for the fans, rotation-wrangling for the staff. Ho-hum. Prediction: They're showing up for a sword fight armed with a butter knife.
	What looks good: One could do worse than Brett Myers and Wandy Rodriguez atop the rotation. What looks bad: The OBP-lite offense will be reliant on the longball to score runs. Spring training to-do list: Round up a team of therapists to prepare the staff for pitching in front of inelegant defenders like Carlos Lee, Brett Wallace and Bill Hall. Prediction: Brad Mills is smart. He's not that smart.
	What looks good: Felix Hernandez hasn't demanded a trade or otherwise thrown his weight around. Which is a good thing, 'cause the guy is huge. What looks bad: The Mariners still stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the importance of offense in competitive baseball. Michael Saunders, Jack Wilson and Brendan Ryan can't possibly save as many runs with their gloves as they'll surrender with their bats. It's not mathematically possible. Spring training to-do list: Conspicuously trot Dustin Ackley and Michael Pineda before the cameras, because the fans need something to dream on. Prediction: As dull and deficient as they were in 2010.
	What looks good: The defense is stronger now that they've freed themselves from the tyranny of all those cloddy sluggers. What looks bad: Well, the offense is correspondingly worse. Also, Livan Hernandez is their putative ace and Nyjer Morgan is being asked to lead off and not to act like a big jerkhead baby, two tasks for which he seems singularly unsuited. Spring training to-do list: Unleash a wacky viral marketing campaign in which Ryan Zimmerman and Jordan Zimmermann learn that they're long-lost brothers, then mock-brawl over the extra 'n.' Prediction: Just biding time until Harper and Strasburg arrive (or re-arrive, as it were).
	What looks good: Shin-Soo Choo, outfitted in natty Cleveland duds rather than in South Korean military regalia. What looks bad: The pitching staff leans too far to the right. The open auditions for second and third basemen have unfolded like a cement-handed version of American Idol. Spring training to-do list: Make sure that Carlos Santana has healed from his apocalyptic knee event before putting him through the calisthenic wringer. A question: Why block the plate? Tough-guy bona fides notwithstanding, there's not a lot to gain. Prediction: Candidates for an "it gets better" campaign.
	What looks good: The farm system! Haven't you heard? The Royals have the best farm system in all the land! What looks bad: Alex Gordon, the last touted product of the K.C. farm system. He's joined in the outfield by fellow serial disappointment Jeff Francoeur, whose signing by the Royals was a crushing inevitability. Spring training to-do list: Keep the touted kids sequestered from the rest of the organization. There's nothing the veterans can teach them that they need to know, and that stink doesn't scrub off without a lot of scrubbing. Prediction: Hope floats.
	What looks good: PNC Park. It deserves a better tenant, like a minor-league lacrosse franchise or a poultry farmer. What looks bad: This rotation resembles something assembled on the fly by a halfwit who missed the first 39 rounds of his rotisserie draft. Meanwhile, if everything breaks just right, the bottom half of the order (Overbay/Cedeno/Snyder/pitcher) might produce as much offense as Albert Pujols. Might. Spring training to-do list: Get some sun. Delight in the culinary glory that is Applebee's 2-for-$20 entrée special. Prediction: I'm out of sarcastic superlatives for the Pirates. I've used "sad," "why bother?" and "foul enough to make one long for the chemical embrace of a decontamination tent." You're on your own.