Dolphin Ratings - Major League Baseball

Explanation: Each team is listed with its record, overall score differential, and its ratings. Brief explanations of the ratings follow.

Schedule The number in this column is the effective opponent strength of a team. In other words, they would be expected to have the same record had they played all games against an opponent of this predictive rating at a neutral site. Because this calculation depends on the strength of the team in question, it is not possible to rank schedules using these values.
Expected Losses For college teams, this number is the number of losses an average ranked (top 15 hockey; otherwise top 25) team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. For pro teams, this is the number of losses an average team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. Unlike the schedule ranking, this value can be used to rank schedules.
Standard Ranks teams in an order such that a team is "probably better" than all teams ranked lower than it. This calculation uses margin of victory only for computing a team's opponents strengths; the team's rating itself is computed using only wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule
Median Likelihood Determines the likely ratings for each team, based on its wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule. This generally produces the same or similar ratings as the standard ranking.
Predictive Both schedule strength and rating vs. schedule strength are determined considering both the wins and losses and the score differentials. This rating contains none of the biases in the standard rating, but does weight recent games slightly more than past games since those are a better indication of the team's current strength. This rating is the best of the first three for seeing how good teams are, and thus is the best for predicting future results.
Improved RPI Rating The improved RPI formula is similar to the standard RPI, except that the schedule strength is carried out to infinite depth instead of ending with opponents' opponents, thus allows for a better comparison of isolated groups of teams than is given by the standard RPI calculation. It is similar to the simple rating, except that all games are given equal weight.
Scoring. This value indicates how many points a team would be expected to score if it played an identical team.
Offense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team scores. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to score the league average number of points. This does not necessarily rate a team's offensive abilities, as a fast pace in basketball or big-play defense in football can make a team score more points.
Defense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team allows. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to allow the league average number of points. The same caveat in the predictive-offense rating applies here.
Ballpark. This is an adjustment to the scoring ranking applied at home to account for ballpark effects.

In order to increase early-season stability, the three main rankings, the improved RPI, and the college pseudopoll include priors based on the previous season final predictive ratings and occasionally incorporating preseason predictions of various major publications. The other rankings for college sports do not include priors, and thus can be wildly unstable early in the year. A team whose rankings are affected by this prior is noted with a P following its rankings.

Full Ranking

                                                    STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE    BALLPARK 
TEAM                W   L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ATLANTA           103  64  922  759  0.019 83.852    1  0.215    1  0.224    1  0.202    1 0.5332    1  0.807    1  0.453   16 -0.050   19 -0.119
NEW YORK YANKEES  110  69  943  767 -0.003 88.267    2  0.212    2  0.208    2  0.183    3 0.5245   11  0.633    4  0.259    9  0.108   23 -0.177
SAN FRANCISCO     101  64  771  658 -0.012 80.837    3  0.203    3  0.192    6  0.132    2 0.5284   24  0.426   14  0.018    5  0.246   14 -0.004
FLORIDA           102  77  828  771  0.043 91.671    4  0.175    4  0.158    9  0.103    4 0.5241   17  0.568    7  0.116   10  0.089   25 -0.196
OAKLAND            98  69  786  660 -0.003 82.370    5  0.168    5  0.155    3  0.150    5 0.5181   22  0.477   10  0.080    7  0.219   28 -0.276
BOSTON            101  73 1007  857  0.003 86.171    6  0.161    6  0.148    4  0.145    6 0.5165    4  0.730    2  0.317   15 -0.027    8  0.114
SEATTLE            93  69  795  637 -0.025 78.427    7  0.096    7  0.114    5  0.145    9 0.5125   23  0.460   11  0.060    6  0.230   20 -0.134
PHILADELPHIA       86  76  791  697  0.035 82.447    8  0.044    8  0.079    7  0.115    7 0.5145    9  0.637    6  0.195   12  0.035   24 -0.184
CHICAGO CUBS       94  80  785  738  0.001 86.278    9  0.034    9  0.073   12  0.063    8 0.5127   27  0.394   21 -0.079    8  0.205   11  0.019
MONTREAL           83  79  711  716  0.048 83.405   10  0.025   10  0.056   13  0.046   10 0.5107   29  0.149   28 -0.293    2  0.386    1  0.526
TEAM                W   L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HOUSTON            87  75  805  677 -0.023 78.674   11  0.023   11  0.049    8  0.110   11 0.5100   26  0.397   19 -0.030    4  0.250    7  0.170
TORONTO            86  76  895  826 -0.010 79.534   12  0.022   12  0.047   10  0.070   15 0.5034    7  0.707    5  0.220   18 -0.079    6  0.174
MINNESOTA          91  75  807  774 -0.062 78.195   13  0.018   13  0.041   18 -0.010   16 0.5016   21  0.536   18 -0.026   14  0.006   10  0.064
ST LOUIS           85  77  876  796 -0.006 79.821   14  0.018   14  0.038   11  0.067   12 0.5083    2  0.798    3  0.310   23 -0.176   18 -0.099
LOS ANGELES        85  77  574  556 -0.011 79.593   15  0.016   15  0.035   15  0.026   13 0.5072   30  0.081   29 -0.364    1  0.415   26 -0.240
ARIZONA            84  78  717  685 -0.013 79.437   16  0.013   16  0.023   16  0.017   14 0.5060   28  0.205   27 -0.280    3  0.314    4  0.401
CHICAGO WHITE SOX  86  76  791  715 -0.055 76.710   17  0.012   17  0.015   14  0.034   17 0.4987   18  0.566   12  0.046   13  0.021   17 -0.086
KANSAS CITY        83  79  836  867 -0.051 77.177   18  0.005   18 -0.015   20 -0.053   18 0.4939   16  0.571   20 -0.036   17 -0.070    2  0.438
ANAHEIM            77  85  736  743  0.009 80.917   19  0.000   19 -0.038   17 -0.009   20 0.4922    8  0.669    8  0.102   20 -0.120   30 -0.319
PITTSBURGH         75  87  753  801  0.000 80.437   20 -0.014   20 -0.067   19 -0.048   19 0.4937   14  0.598   17 -0.005   19 -0.090   13  0.007
TEAM                W   L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
COLORADO           74  88  853  892 -0.013 79.637   21 -0.034   21 -0.087   21 -0.063   21 0.4910    6  0.720    9  0.099   26 -0.225    3  0.409
BALTIMORE          71  91  742  819  0.029 82.406   22 -0.039   23 -0.090   23 -0.076   24 0.4848   10  0.633   16  0.000   22 -0.153   22 -0.172
TEXAS              71  91  826  969  0.031 82.572   23 -0.042   22 -0.089   25 -0.136   25 0.4844    3  0.736   13  0.042   28 -0.315    5  0.342
NEW YORK METS      66  95  642  754  0.061 83.865   24 -0.087   24 -0.118   22 -0.074   22 0.4878   25  0.422   26 -0.193   11  0.044   15 -0.016
CINCINNATI         69  93  694  886  0.016 81.603   25 -0.103   25 -0.123   29 -0.201   23 0.4852   12  0.618   25 -0.140   27 -0.262   12  0.019
MILWAUKEE          68  94  714  873  0.011 81.288   26 -0.122   26 -0.136   28 -0.178   26 0.4841   13  0.599   24 -0.135   25 -0.221    9  0.098
SAN DIEGO          64  98  678  831  0.021 81.896   27 -0.174   27 -0.174   27 -0.154   27 0.4791    5  0.727   15  0.016   29 -0.323   29 -0.289
TAMPA BAY          63  99  715  853  0.032 82.651   28 -0.177   28 -0.177   26 -0.139   28 0.4734   15  0.598   22 -0.097   24 -0.181   16 -0.065
CLEVELAND          68  94  699  778 -0.056 76.983   29 -0.181   29 -0.184   24 -0.133   29 0.4719   19  0.562   23 -0.124   21 -0.141   27 -0.241
DETROIT            43 119  591  928 -0.008 80.337   30 -0.487   30 -0.436   30 -0.404   30 0.4386   20  0.553   30 -0.404   30 -0.404   21 -0.165

NL WEST
                                                    STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE    BALLPARK 
TEAM                W   L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SAN FRANCISCO     101  64  771  658 -0.012 80.837    3  0.203    3  0.192    6  0.132    2 0.5284   24  0.426   14  0.018    5  0.246   14 -0.004
LOS ANGELES        85  77  574  556 -0.011 79.593   15  0.016   15  0.035   15  0.026   13 0.5072   30  0.081   29 -0.364    1  0.415   26 -0.240
ARIZONA            84  78  717  685 -0.013 79.437   16  0.013   16  0.023   16  0.017   14 0.5060   28  0.205   27 -0.280    3  0.314    4  0.401
COLORADO           74  88  853  892 -0.013 79.637   21 -0.034   21 -0.087   21 -0.063   21 0.4910    6  0.720    9  0.099   26 -0.225    3  0.409
SAN DIEGO          64  98  678  831  0.021 81.896   27 -0.174   27 -0.174   27 -0.154   27 0.4791    5  0.727   15  0.016   29 -0.323   29 -0.289

NL CENTRAL
                                                    STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE    BALLPARK 
TEAM                W   L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CHICAGO CUBS       94  80  785  738  0.001 86.278    9  0.034    9  0.073   12  0.063    8 0.5127   27  0.394   21 -0.079    8  0.205   11  0.019
HOUSTON            87  75  805  677 -0.023 78.674   11  0.023   11  0.049    8  0.110   11 0.5100   26  0.397   19 -0.030    4  0.250    7  0.170
ST LOUIS           85  77  876  796 -0.006 79.821   14  0.018   14  0.038   11  0.067   12 0.5083    2  0.798    3  0.310   23 -0.176   18 -0.099
PITTSBURGH         75  87  753  801  0.000 80.437   20 -0.014   20 -0.067   19 -0.048   19 0.4937   14  0.598   17 -0.005   19 -0.090   13  0.007
CINCINNATI         69  93  694  886  0.016 81.603   25 -0.103   25 -0.123   29 -0.201   23 0.4852   12  0.618   25 -0.140   27 -0.262   12  0.019
MILWAUKEE          68  94  714  873  0.011 81.288   26 -0.122   26 -0.136   28 -0.178   26 0.4841   13  0.599   24 -0.135   25 -0.221    9  0.098

NL EAST
                                                    STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE    BALLPARK 
TEAM                W   L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ATLANTA           103  64  922  759  0.019 83.852    1  0.215    1  0.224    1  0.202    1 0.5332    1  0.807    1  0.453   16 -0.050   19 -0.119
FLORIDA           102  77  828  771  0.043 91.671    4  0.175    4  0.158    9  0.103    4 0.5241   17  0.568    7  0.116   10  0.089   25 -0.196
PHILADELPHIA       86  76  791  697  0.035 82.447    8  0.044    8  0.079    7  0.115    7 0.5145    9  0.637    6  0.195   12  0.035   24 -0.184
MONTREAL           83  79  711  716  0.048 83.405   10  0.025   10  0.056   13  0.046   10 0.5107   29  0.149   28 -0.293    2  0.386    1  0.526
NEW YORK METS      66  95  642  754  0.061 83.865   24 -0.087   24 -0.118   22 -0.074   22 0.4878   25  0.422   26 -0.193   11  0.044   15 -0.016

AL WEST
                                                    STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE    BALLPARK 
TEAM                W   L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
OAKLAND            98  69  786  660 -0.003 82.370    5  0.168    5  0.155    3  0.150    5 0.5181   22  0.477   10  0.080    7  0.219   28 -0.276
SEATTLE            93  69  795  637 -0.025 78.427    7  0.096    7  0.114    5  0.145    9 0.5125   23  0.460   11  0.060    6  0.230   20 -0.134
ANAHEIM            77  85  736  743  0.009 80.917   19  0.000   19 -0.038   17 -0.009   20 0.4922    8  0.669    8  0.102   20 -0.120   30 -0.319
TEXAS              71  91  826  969  0.031 82.572   23 -0.042   22 -0.089   25 -0.136   25 0.4844    3  0.736   13  0.042   28 -0.315    5  0.342

AL CENTRAL
                                                    STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE    BALLPARK 
TEAM                W   L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MINNESOTA          91  75  807  774 -0.062 78.195   13  0.018   13  0.041   18 -0.010   16 0.5016   21  0.536   18 -0.026   14  0.006   10  0.064
CHICAGO WHITE SOX  86  76  791  715 -0.055 76.710   17  0.012   17  0.015   14  0.034   17 0.4987   18  0.566   12  0.046   13  0.021   17 -0.086
KANSAS CITY        83  79  836  867 -0.051 77.177   18  0.005   18 -0.015   20 -0.053   18 0.4939   16  0.571   20 -0.036   17 -0.070    2  0.438
CLEVELAND          68  94  699  778 -0.056 76.983   29 -0.181   29 -0.184   24 -0.133   29 0.4719   19  0.562   23 -0.124   21 -0.141   27 -0.241
DETROIT            43 119  591  928 -0.008 80.337   30 -0.487   30 -0.436   30 -0.404   30 0.4386   20  0.553   30 -0.404   30 -0.404   21 -0.165

AL EAST
                                                    STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE    BALLPARK 
TEAM                W   L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
NEW YORK YANKEES  110  69  943  767 -0.003 88.267    2  0.212    2  0.208    2  0.183    3 0.5245   11  0.633    4  0.259    9  0.108   23 -0.177
BOSTON            101  73 1007  857  0.003 86.171    6  0.161    6  0.148    4  0.145    6 0.5165    4  0.730    2  0.317   15 -0.027    8  0.114
TORONTO            86  76  895  826 -0.010 79.534   12  0.022   12  0.047   10  0.070   15 0.5034    7  0.707    5  0.220   18 -0.079    6  0.174
BALTIMORE          71  91  742  819  0.029 82.406   22 -0.039   23 -0.090   23 -0.076   24 0.4848   10  0.633   16  0.000   22 -0.153   22 -0.172
TAMPA BAY          63  99  715  853  0.032 82.651   28 -0.177   28 -0.177   26 -0.139   28 0.4734   15  0.598   22 -0.097   24 -0.181   16 -0.065

DIVISION     W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NL EAST    440 391 0.529    1  0.099
AL WEST    339 314 0.519    2  0.048
AL EAST    431 408 0.514    3  0.046
NL WEST    408 405 0.502    4 -0.010
NL CENTRAL 478 506 0.486    5 -0.039
AL CENTRAL 371 443 0.456    6 -0.141

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.077 points in main ratings (0.058 for semineutral)
     0.012 points in improved RPI (0.006 for semineutral)
Average of 2.65 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Sun Oct 12 21:39:18 2025
games through: Sat Oct 25 2003

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