20. Atlanta Braves: 2.24

-Chip Caray (play by play)
-Joe Simpson (analyst)
-Jeff Francoeur (analyst)
-Tom Glavine (analyst)

Previous rankings: 21 (2014), 13 (2016), 23 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.06 (2014), 2.41 (2016), 1.91 (2017)

Most popular grade: B (31.53% of votes)

Analysis: If we ran these polls a week later, following Joe Simpson castigating the Dodgers’ batting practice attire, the Braves broadcasters probably would have finished in the bottom five. Alas, they finish with their second-ever top 20 ranking.

19. Philadelphia Phillies: 2.27

-Tom McCarthy (play by play)
-Ben Davis (analyst)
-John Kruk (analyst)
-Mike Schmidt (analyst)

Previous rankings: 26 (2014), 17 (2016), 15 (2017)
Previous grades: 1.90 (2014), 2.33 (2016), 2.34 (2017)

Most popular grade: B (34.17% of votes)

Analysis: After two polls of steady gains, the Phillies take a small step back in 2018.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks: 2.29

-Steve Berthiaume (play by play)
-Bob Brenly (analyst)
-Luis Gonzalez (analyst)

Previous rankings: 17 (2014), 23 (2016) 14 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.15 (2014), 2.14 (2016), 2.36 (2017)

Most popular grade: B (37.80% of votes)

Analysis: The Diamondbacks’ ranking was unfairly dinged in 2016, despite a nearly identical grade to 2014. This year, their grade slid back a bit more, and their ranking did as well.

17. Cincinnati Reds: 2.32

-Thom Brennaman (play by play)
-Jeff Brantley (analyst)
-Chris Welsh (analyst)

Previous rankings: 15 (2014), 25 (2016), 18 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.20 (2014), 2.09 (2016), 2.27 (2017)

Most popular grade: B (28.76% of votes)

Analysis: This is Cincinnati’s best-ever grade, and an increase of one spot from 2017.

16. Chicago White Sox (home): 2.35

-Jason Benetti (play by play)
-Steve Stone (analyst)

Previous rankings: 10 (2016), 17 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.57 (2016), 2.31 (2017)

Most popular grade: A (27.29% of votes)

Analysis: The “other” White Sox team outperformed the longer running team again in 2018, and one has to be curious if they’ll move up more in 2019 calling all the games.

15. Minnesota Twins: 2.39

-Dick Bremer (play by play)
-Bert Blyleven (analyst)
-Jack Morris (analyst)
-Roy Smalley (analyst)

Previous rankings: 7 (2014), 19 (2016), 13 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.63 (2014), 2.31 (2016), 2.40 (2017)

Most popular grade: B (35.78% of votes)

Analysis: The Twins fell two spots this year despite a nearly identical grade to last year.

14. Houston Astros: 2.42

-Todd Kalas (play by play)
-Geoff Blum (analyst)

Previous rankings: 23 (2014), 18 (2016), 10 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.00 (2014), 2.32 (2016), 2.58 (2017)

Most popular grade: C (27.96% of votes)

Analysis: After an impression debut season last year, the new Astros crew took a small hit this year.

13. Los Angeles Dodgers: 2.44

-Joe Davis (play by play)
-Nomar Garciaparra (analyst)
-Orel Hershiser (analyst)

Previous rankings: 21 (2016), 7 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.22 (2016), 2.65 (2017)

Most popular grade: A (28.21% of votes)

Analysis: Three years of this non-Vin Scully Dodgers crew in our polls, and three years all over the map. I still can’t get a handle on how fans feel about these guys, but not being Scully can’t help.

12. New York Yankees: 2.53

-Michael Kay (play by play)
-Bob Lorenz (play by play)
-Ryan Ruocco (play by play)
-Ken Singleton (analyst)
-David Cone (analyst)
-John Flaherty (analyst)
-Al Leiter (analyst)
-Paul O’Neill (analyst)

Previous rankings: 25 (2014), 27 (2016), 2 (2017)
Previous grades: 1.93 (2014), 1.95 (2016), 3.00 (2017)

Most popular grade: A (46.92% of votes)

Analysis: After Yankees fans stuffed the ballot boxes last year and nearly carried them to the top of the rankings, they couldn’t stop other fans from negatively stuffing the ballot boxes this year – the Yankees had the highest percentage of F votes outside of the bottom five, which helped stifle their high percentage of A votes.

11. Oakland Athletics: 2.54

-Glen Kuiper (play by play)
-Ray Fosse (analyst)
-Dallas Braden (analyst)

Previous rankings: 6 (2014), 7 (2016), 11 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.70 (2014), 2.58 (2016), 2.50 (2017)

Most popular grade: B (34.09% of votes)

Analysis: The A’s hold their place from last year, despite increasing their grade.

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About Joe Lucia

I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.