MLB 2K10 Team Ratings

As promised, Real 2K Insider is expanding to MLB coverage, and to start, I've compiled all of the team ratings that were released on Operation Sports a few days ago.

Let's start off with the Overall ratings, sorted by league.

OVERALL (AL)
97 Yankees
96 Red Sox
88 Twins
87 Angels
86 Rays
86 Rangers
84 Orioles
81 White Sox
80 Mariners
75 Athletics
75 Blue Jays
74 Tigers
74 Indians
73 Royals

OVERALL (NL)
90 Phillies
89 Dodgers
84 Cardinals
82 Cubs
81 Braves
80 Rockies
80 Giants
78 Brewers
77 Diamondbacks
77 Marlins
75 Mets
74 Astros
73 Reds
73 Nationals
72 Padres
68 Pirates

Now let's break it down by division now to look at the projected playoff picture.

AL EAST
97 Yankees
96 Red Sox
86 Rays
84 Orioles
75 Blue Jays

I would hate to be a Ray, Oriole or Blue Jay fan. Playing in the same division as two super titans every year just isn't very fair. I am not a big fan of MLB's season and playoff format, and it's these mid-market teams who will struggle to make the playoffs so long as the majority of the sport misses the playoffs.

AL CENTRAL
88 Twins
81 White Sox
74 Tigers - not including Johnny Damon
74 Indians - not including Russell Branyan
73 Royals

While the Rays and Orioles have a very small chance of making the playoffs out east, the Twins have a huge advantage in the league's weakest division. The White Sox don't even have a DH, and it would probably be in their best interests to re-sign Jermaine Dye for the job. The Tigers brought in Johnny Damon, but that will only have them fighting for 2nd place at the end of the day.

AL WEST
87 Angels
86 Rangers
80 Mariners - not including Erik Bedard
75 Athletics

The Angels and Rangers will duke it out, while the Mariners are sleeper candidates if Erik Bedard can get healthy and return to ace form next to King Felix and Cliff Lee

NL EAST
90 Phillies
81 Braves
77 Marlins
75 Mets - not including Carlos Beltran or Rod Barajas
73 Nationals

The Phillies should once again take the division with ease, as a full season with Roy Halladay (as opposed to half a season of Cliff Lee) will put an even bigger gap between the rest of the teams. Atlanta manager Bobby Cox will be fighting for the wild card in what will be his final season. Rod Barajas likely bumps the Mets up to Florida's level, while a healthy Beltran probably pushes them up to Atlanta's level. The Nationals make plenty of minor-league signings every season, but always lack major league talent.

NL CENTRAL
84 Cardinals
82 Cubs
78 Brewers
74 Astros
73 Reds
68 Pirates

The Cardinals are the division favorites and rumor is they're the favorites to land free agent Felipe Lopez. The Cubs will chase the wild card again, with the Brewers in hot pursuit, but the bottom half of the division is the league's worst.

NL WEST
89 Dodgers
80 Rockies
80 Giants
77 Diamondbacks
72 Padres

The Dodgers are the overwhelming favorite to win the division once again. Rockies and Giants will chase the wild card, while the D-Backs and Padres are still in the middle of rebuilding projects.

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Finally, here are the batting and pitching ratings for all the teams. (Hey 2K Sports, maybe it's time you added Fielding ratings? That's just as important and necessary info when I'm picking my team.)

BATTING
95 Yankees
89 Red Sox
87 Angels
87 Twins
86 Dodgers
85 Phillies
83 Cardinals
83 Orioles
82 Rangers
80 Braves
80 Cubs
79 Rays
77 Blue Jays
76 Tigers
75 White Sox
75 Rockies
75 Marlins
74 Brewers
74 Giants
74 Mariners
74 Nationals
72 Reds
72 Diamondbacks
71 Mets
70 Indians
68 Royals
67 Padres
64 Astros
62 Athletics
61 Pirates

PITCHING
91 Red Sox
90 Yankees
88 Giants
81 White Sox
80 Rays
80 Dodgers
79 Twins
79 Phillies
79 Mariners
78 Royals
77 Angels
76 Athletics
76 Brewers
76 Rockies
76 Rangers
75 Mets
74 Braves
74 Diamondbacks
73 Cardinals
73 Cubs
71 Astros
70 Tigers
69 Orioles
67 Reds
67 Indians
67 Marlins
65 Blue Jays
65 Padres
63 Pirates
60 Nationals

Next up? The player ratings for every player at the major league level.