OK so Bill asked me to do the preseason power rankings. I know he asked me because he wants something to react to and then he can write his own better version and feel good about it. This is fine. I have accepted this role within the content ecosystem. I am, as venture people say, a catalyst asset.
These rankings are based on: vibes, group chat energy, who texted in the offseason, and one principle from decentralized finance that I think maps really well onto team construction. The principle is staking. You hold your core assets through down periods, earn yield in the form of development, and do not panic-sell when the floor drops. The Blue Jays did this with Flintroy. He went to Bradenton, came back. That is staking. That is also kind of what happened when they went to the championship game last fall and then lost, and then came back anyway for 2026. Championship-game staking.
Okay. Rankings.
No. 1 -- METS
The Mets added Holmen and Gadea. Before you say anything about their ERAs I have a whole bit about that on the podcast. Yes, the Mets lost to the Giants in the first round last fall as the two seed. Johnny has not recovered. That energy is going to produce some very good content in 2026 and I am here for it.
No. 2 -- WHITE SOX
Keavany walks more than he strikes out by four-to-one. Zach Davis hit .568. Max explained these numbers to me three times and each time I said "wild" and asked him about Solana and he looked like he was going to close his laptop on his own hand. Also: the White Sox lost to the four-seed Blue Jays last fall in the first round, which is the kind of thing Max has definitely analyzed from every angle possible. The spreadsheet said they should win. They didn't. This is what I mean when I say outcomes aren't always aligned with models.
No. 3 -- GIANTS
The Giants won the championship last fall and I am ranking them third in the preseason. Yes, I am aware of this. Gus is going to absolutely lose his mind when he reads this and I accept that. The thing is: defending champs in men's league are not like defending champs in the real league. There is no dynasty mode here.
No. 4 -- BLUE JAYS
Charley's team upset the one-seed White Sox last fall and went to the championship game and I'm ranking them fourth. Charley is going to send me a very professional and politely worded note about how this ranking does not reflect the organization's demonstrated competitive trajectory. He is correct. I still feel like ranking them fourth. Flintroy is back. The staking thesis applies. Long-term I am bullish. Short-term this is vibes. Currently the vibes say four.
Those are the rankings. They will be wrong by week three. Preseason rankings are mostly content that buys time until Max has data, which he then uses to tell everyone what we got wrong, including himself. The circle of life continues.
See you at the field. I'll be the one in slacks.
-- Teddy
Intern | Replacement Level Media