WEEK 3 POWER RANKINGS

Another week has come and gone, so it's time to take a look at the league and assess what we have learned so far. The standings don't tell the whole story, so we've compiled a power rankings based on the raw offense and pitching numbers. Enjoy.

TOP DOG
1.) THE LACEY UNDERALLS
Driven by the best pitching squad in the LOWV and the second best offense, there is no question that LU is the cat's pajamas. Only real question so far is can the LU keep it going against top notch competition? So far he's only faced middling to weak competition. Still, his raw numbers are mind boggling.

CONTENDERS
2.) FECAL CLATTER
Offense, offense, offense. Those are the three words at the heart of FC's early dominance. For longtime fans this poses somewhat of a headscratcher as GM Chris Sahl has traditionally been known as a tosser rather than a swinger. This season though, he has the best offense in the LOWV and an average pitching staff. Like LU, FC's been beating up on a light schedule, but his raw numbers can't really be argued with.

3.) D'LUCIOUS BITCH PIES
Sporting the snazzy third best offense and the fifth best pitching, DLBP is showing a renewed commitment to balance in 2008. The best part: DLBP has tested their metal against some of the top teams in the league, so those aren't just hallow numbers. The big questions are will Aaron Hill and others continue to surprise and can DLBP survive injuries to key players?

4.) LASORDA'S MANICOTTI
Like DLBP, LM's strategy appears to be one of balance. Featuring the third best collection of arms and the fourth best bats, LM is off to a quick start...all without much of anything from Russ Martin or Ryan Howard, yet.

DARK HORSE
5.) THE MOTHERSHIP
A team built on blue chips and high risks -- The Mothership is a fun team to watch. Young gamers like Hamilton, Fukudome and Kelly Johnson make this a young and exciting team to follow, while experienced veterans like Jason Veritek and John Smoltz show us they can still compete at a very high level. The real question is whether the Ship's staff and pen can hold it together down the stretch.

TEAMS TO WATCH
6.) POOR MAN'S FART
While this team balances its strengths between arms and bats, it also shows weaknesses in both. A large part of this is due to an unlucky rash of injuries to several key players, including Bedard, Lackey and Harden. Help may be on the way in the near future though as Cameron Maybin could get the call up sometime next month.

7.) EQUIPE ROI DU RADEAU
The poster child for rough starts, Equipe started the season with back-to-back weeks against LU and FC, meaning its record is a bit skewed. Built on the league's second best pitching staff, Equipe is about as unbalanced as they come, but its raw numbers mean they'll always be a tough out. The staff has been lights out and the bullpen is once again on of the best in the league, however the offense has produced the fewest hits and RBIs for the third week in a row. Injuries have left their mark on the roster, but things need to improve soon if Equipe hopes to contend. On the bright side, Granderson could return early this week and Lowell appears to be on the horizon. Bad news, Soriano is down...again.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
8.) SNATURALS
Joe Borrowski, Barry Zito...enough said. Strangely though, Snaturals' rotation has actually been quite respectable despite the efforts of those two jokers. The real problem for the big Snatty has been the Big Papi. However, Snats can't blame it all on the big man, most of the team's hitters have struggled out of the gate. The good news -- in the past couple days, Big Papi seems to have found his groove again. Hopefully, the rest will follow.

9.) UNBELEAGUERABLE
UnB is blessed and cursed by all the young talent on its roster. While they are exciting and electric at times, they are consistently inconsistent. Strikeouts are certainly plentiful on this roster. Hopefully for the UnB, the hot starts by Carlos Guillen, Billy Butler and Pat the Bat continue on and inspire the struggling Rickie Weeks to refind his form.

10.) EL GUAPO
Two questions pose themselves when you study Guapo's roster. First, will the Barry Bonds lottery ticket finally pay off? Certainly looks like it could with Toronto cutting Frank Thomas. Second, how could he not have called up Bowker from his Junior League squad? Not only has the young slugger hit three bombs and driven in nine runs in only 22 at bats, but the GM played high school ball with the kid and even has been his guest to Giant's games. No respect.

STRUGGLING
11.) THE FLASH
Mediocre offense and mediocre pitching leads to mediocre results.

12.) THE BANANA BELT
Pitching has been the biggest problem. The worst arms in the league are dragging down a consistently decent offense.

NEEDS HELP
13.) VICIOUS RUMORS
14.) BONOMATORY INFLUENCE