10. Seattle Mariners: 2.55
-Dave Sims (play by play)
-Aaron Goldsmith (play by play)
-Mike Blowers (analyst)
-Jay Buhner (analyst)
-Dan Wilson (analyst)
Previous rankings: 10 (2014), 12 (2016), 16 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.47 (2014), 2.49 (2016), 2.34 (2017)
Most popular grade: B (34.55% of votes)
Analysis: The Mariners scored their best-ever grade and tied their best-ever ranking this year, despite the ranking falling in both 2016 and 2017.
9. Chicago Cubs: 2.60
-Len Kasper (play by play)
-Jim Deshaies (analyst)
Previous rankings: 5 (2014), 6 (2016), 5 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.72 (2014), 2.82 (2016), 2.85 (2017)
Most popular grade: A (35.16% of votes)
Analysis: This marks the worst-ever grade and ranking for the Cubs, who have been a fixture in the top third of our rankings.
8. Milwaukee Brewers: 2.63
-Brian Anderson (play by play)
-Matt Lepay (play by play)
-Bill Schroeder (analyst)
Previous rankings: 8 (2014), 11 (2016), 9 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.59 (2014), 2.57 (2016), 2.63 (2017)
Most popular grade: A (30.51% of votes)
Analysis: The Brewers match their grade from a year ago, which was their best-ever, and move up a spot, tying for their best-ever rank. These guys have consistency ranked as one of MLB’s best teams.
7. Boston Red Sox: 2.68
-Dave O’Brien (play by play)
-Jerry Remy (analyst)
-Dennis Eckersley (analyst)
-Steve Lyons (analyst)
Previous rankings: 13 (2014), 16 (2016), 26 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.44 (2014), 2.34 (2016), 1.86 (2017)
Most popular grade: A (45.77% of votes)
Analysis: Red Sox fans did what Yankees fans did last year, jamming the virtual ballot boxes with A grades for their team. A smaller cut of F votes and higher cut of B votes helped propel the Red Sox to their best-ever grade and rank.
6. Los Angeles Angels: 2.71
-Victor Rojas (play by play)
-Mark Gubicza (analyst)
-Jose Mota (analyst)
Previous rankings: 9 (2014), 9 (2016), 8 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.53 (2014), 2.57 (2016), 2.65 (2017)
Most popular grade: A (36.98% of votes)
Analysis: Maybe it’s the Shohei Ohtani factor, maybe it’s the desire to watch the best player in baseball, or maybe it’s just recognition of a consistently entertaining crew, but the Angels checked in with their best-ever grade and ranking this year, continuing a pattern of consistent improvement.
5. Toronto Blue Jays: 2.75
-Buck Martinez (play by play)
-Dan Shulman (play by play)
-Pat Tabler (analyst)
Previous rankings: 20 (2014), 8 (2016), 21 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.06 (2014), 2.58 (2016), 2.08 (2017)
Most popular grade: A (34.37% of votes)
Analysis: More Dan Shulman on broadcasts could only help the Blue Jays, who also achieved their best-ever grade and ranking this year after a stunning step back in 2017.
4. Baltimore Orioles: 2.94
-Gary Thorne (play by play)
-Jim Hunter (play by play)
-Jim Palmer (analyst)
-Mike Bordick (analyst)
Previous rankings: 3 (2014), 3 (2016), 6 (2017)
Previous grades: 3.14 (2014), 3.15 (2016), 2.83 (2017)
Most popular grade: A (41.47% of votes)
Analysis: Despite the Orioles being hot garbage on the field this year, their grade bounced back from 2017, though they couldn’t reclaim a spot in the top three.
3. San Diego Padres: 3.06
-Don Orsillo (play by play)
-Mark Grant (analyst)
-Tony Gwynn Jr (analyst)
-Mark Sweeney (analyst)
Previous rankings: 12 (2014), 5 (2016), 4 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.46 (2014), 2.87 (2016), 2.87 (2017)
Most popular grade: A (48.41% of votes)
Analysis: The Padres continue to reap the rewards of Don Orsillo’s firing by the Red Sox a couple of years ago, and his pairing with Mark Grant only continues to improve and entertain fans watching a pretty dire product on the field.
2. New York Mets: 3.12
-Gary Cohen (play by play)
-Ron Darling (analyst)
-Keith Hernandez (analyst)
Previous rankings: 4 (2014), 4 (2016), 3 (2017)
Previous grades: 2.99 (2014), 3.06 (2016), 2.92 (2017)
Most popular grade: A (59.07% of votes)
Analysis: For the second year in a row, a New York team clocks in at #2. The Mets improved their ranking for the third straight year, and also achieved their best grade ever.
1. San Francisco Giants: 3.15
-Duane Kuiper (play by play)
-Dave Flemming (play by play)
-Jon Miller (play by play)
-Mike Krukow (analyst)
-Jeremy Affeldt (analyst)
-Javier Lopez (analyst)
Previous rankings: 1 (2014), 2 (2016), 1 (2017)
Previous grades: 3.46 (2014), 3.54 (2016), 3.15 (2017)
Most popular grade: A (60.38% of votes)
Analysis: Who else did you expect here? This is the third time in four polls that the Giants have finished top of the rankings, and they did it this year with the exact same grade as they had last year. Truly impressive and deserved.
About Joe Lucia
I hate your favorite team. I also sort of hate most of my favorite teams.