Posted by Brian Joseph on Monday, September 14, 2009 at 4:01 am

On the “Things to Do” list here at BDD has been some sort of weekly POWER Ranking-ish feature. Since every other “Power” Ranking out there either focuses on a mix of team success and some writer’s opinion of how good they are coupled with an emphasis on the last seven days OR some formula based on team statistics with little care to actual performance in the wins and loss column, we figured it might make sense to do something different.

Enter “Adjusted STrength of Remaining Opponents” or ASTRO!

On the left are the Major League teams ranked 1-30 after their current performance is tweaked with a bonus or penalty for recent success and adjusted for ASTRO. (Low ASTRO equals easier remaining schedule, higher ASTRO equals tougher remaining schedule.) On the right is a graphic ranking the teams 1-30 in ASTRO for your viewing pleasure.

1. NEW YORK YANKEES (92-52, .523 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #1) With seven against the Red Sox and Angels, the road to 100 wins isn’t all paved with gold. With three against the Royals, some of it is.

2. LOS ANGELES ANGELS (86-56, .557 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #2) Seven road games — one against the Yankees, three against the Red Sox, three against the Rangers — and seven of the last 13 at home against the Yankees and Rangers… makes the Yankees road to the end look like a walk in the park.

3. LOS ANGELES DODGERS (85-59, .441 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #3) The schedule looks favorable for L.A. but the gap continues to close between the Dodgers and Rockies.

4. BOSTON RED SOX (84-58, .490 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #5) The Red Sox eliminated the Rays from defending their division crown and put them on life support in the Wild Card race that Boston currently sits on top of.

5. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (82-60, .459 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #6) Pedro! Pedro! Pedro!

6. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (84-60, .517 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #4) After starting out the month 7-2, the Cardinals were swept in St. Louis by the Braves. Is this a sign of things to come?

7. COLORADO ROCKIES (82-62, .522 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #9) Just three back of the Dodgers and four and a half ahead of the Giants, the Rockies series with the Giants this week could shut the door on San Francisco and push the Rockies into the playoffs. Then again with Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito and Matt Cain in the way, the Rox could end up with the Giants hot on their tail.

8. TEXAS RANGERS (80-62, .516 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #8) A solid 4-2 week but still treading water in the playoff race, the Rangers might end up being the best team not in the postseason.

9. DETROIT TIGERS (76-66, .461 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #7) The Tigers snapped a five-game losing streak on Sunday but still hold a five and a half game lead over the Twins.

10. FLORIDA MARLINS (76-67, .513 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #11) With 13 of 19 of their remaining games on the road, the Marlins might only be in the race statistically only.

11. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (77-66, .486 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #10) Three against the Rockies and three against the Dodgers this week could get the Giants right back in the playoff race… or this might be the week that buries them for good.

12. ATLANTA BRAVES (75-68, .443 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #14) The Braves are seven and a half out but have 13 of 19 remaining against the Mets and Nats. With the other six remaining at home against the Phillies and Marlins, Atlanta has the schedule on their side.

13. CHICAGO CUBS (73-68, .482 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #15) CLEAR! Wait, what’s that? A heartbeat?

14. SEATTLE MARINERS (74-70, .500 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #12) After a strong September start, the M’s dropped two out of eight. If only they played in the Central, Seattle might still have a real shot.

15. CHICAGO WHITE SOX (71-73, .483 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #17) If the White Sox can keep the Tigers in their sight, the last two weeks could be exciting with six of their final nine against the division leader.

16. HOUSTON ASTROS (70-73, .502 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #18) Three games under .500 means the Reds are probably in trouble and the Brew Crew should benefit from an Astros club that is allergic to the .500 mark.

17. MINNESOTA TWINS (71-72, .485 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #16) The Twins haven’t won a series since September 1st. Not a good time to forget that the gas is on the left.

18. TAMPA BAY RAYS (72-71, .474 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #13) The Rays are 3-14 since trading Scott Kazmir. If dealing Kazmir wasn’t throwing in the towel, their on-field performance was.

19. MILWAUKEE BREWERS (69-73, .552 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #19) After being swept by the Cardinals, the Brewers bounced back with a sweep of their own over the Diamondbacks. Too little too late.

20. SAN DIEGO PADRES (65-79, .499 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #22) The Padres haven’t lost a series since August 21-23 against the Cardinals. With series wins over the Braves, Marlins, Dodgers, Giants and Rockies (and the Nats), San Diego is doing what they can to throw a monkey wrench into the ‘09 playoff race at least.

21. TORONTO BLUE JAYS (65-78, .545 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #26) Want a silver lining? They’re the best baseball team in Canada!

22. OAKLAND ATHLETICS (64-78, .546 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #25) At 6-4 in September, the Athletics might have a winning month in them.

23. CINCINNATI REDS (64-79, .478 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #20) After rattling off 12 wins in 14 games, the Reds dropped five in a row and six of seven.

24. NEW YORK METS (63-81, .449 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #24) The Mets are 4-9 in September. I’m just sayin’…

25. CLEVELAND INDIANS (61-81, .499 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #23) So much for delusions of a .500 record.

26. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (62-82, .516 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #24) The worst National League team in September might get locked in the cellar by the Padres this week.

27. BALTIMORE ORIOLES (58-84, .475 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #27) The O’s are one hot streak away from winning 70 for the first time since ‘06… and one cold streak away from losing 100 for the first time since ‘88.

28. KANSAS CITY ROYALS (57-86, .559 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #29) Winning six out of seven is no way to win the Bryce Harper sweepstakes.

29. PITTSBURGH PIRATES (55-86, .511 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #28) Another losing season in the books. At least they’re consistent.

30. WASHINGTON NATIONALS (50-93, .510 ASTRO)

(Last Week – #30) The Nats need a miracle run to avoid 100 losses… but they can’t play themselves so that makes the road all that much tougher.