I’ll explore this further as the season goes on but I’m starting to think the SK Wyvrens may be the best professional team in Asia. I know that’s a loaded statement, and one that deserves more than a sentence or two at the top of a weekly power rankings, but I believe it to be true.

It’s only April and the question must be asked — can anyone catch the Wyvrens? Lotte looks like a strong second, capable of beating any team in the league on any given day. However, high-flying offenses riding emotional waves despite average pitching and sub-par defense can sure break your heart. I need to see the Giants go through some adversity before I seriously consider them a threat to topple SK.

Despite a pretty terrible 1-5 week I still like Samsung, and Doosan is certainly capable of getting hot and challenging. That said, there’s some offense brewing in Hanwha. Can the Eagles put something together?

1. SK Wyverns (1) — Swept the Lions three straight. Kim Kwang-huyn picked up two wins, allowing just a run and eight hits in 14 innings. I’ve said before I expect Kim to give Ryu Hyun-jin a run as the league’s top Korean-born pitcher. His walk totals are still a little higher than I’d like, but his strikeouts are about nine per nine innings. Went 5-1 on the week and have a very interesting series in Inchon against the Giants to start the week.

2. Lotte Giants (3) — Were buried 10-4 by Doosan to start the week and then caught a bit of a break in having the final two games of the series rained out. Beat Woori twice, but then gave up double digits again, dropping Sunday’s game with the Heroes 12-4. Lee Dae-ho hit .500 for week with a .647 OBP. He leads the league in RBI with 21.

3. Samsung Lions (3) — Never had a single lead in its series with SK despite being outscored by a total of four runs over the three games. Then proceeded to drop two of three to LG. After a solid start Jun Byung-ho’s comeback has hit a bump and he’s currently sporting a 6.61 ERA with 19 hits surrendered in 16 1/3 innings. Yun Sung-hwan isn’t much better over his four starts; with a 5.60 ERA and 10 walks in 17 2/3 innings, despite a K/9 over 10. Play Doosan and then head to Busan for a big series with Lotte.

4. Doosan Bears (5) — Whipped Lotte once and then dropped two of three to SK, but Saturday’s hotly contested 11 inning win vs. the Wyvrens was stirring, and showed signs of life. Need Kim Dong-ju’s bat to come alive (he’s slugging .377) and shake up this offense. Matt Randel has leads the league in ERA (1.59) and sports a 17/6 K/BB ratio, but only has one win to show for it. Danger: are playing a cold, but good team in Samsung early and then a hot bad team in Hanwha.

5. LG Twins (7) — Doesn’t deserve this spot at all, but gets it as a result of its thrilling 10-9 win over Kia last Tuesday. The Twins gave up five runs in the top of the ninth to a desperate Kia team, but then came back with two runs in the bottom half to win 10-9. Was sort of impressive vs. Samsung over the weekend, paced by Lee Dae-hyung who was 14 for 26 on the week.

6. Hanwha Eagles (8) — Interesting week for the Eagles. Went 5-1 for the week and might have found something in Doug Clark, a former Braves/A’s/Giants 15/25 kind of player who, with four on the week, now leads the league in HRs (7) and ISO Power (.364). Also has four swipes. If this keeps up this team could be dangerous, as it was last year with Jacob Cruz hitting in the same three hole.

7. Woori Heroes (6) — Did the Heroes peak at six? Possibly. Were riding a six game losing streak before beating Lotte on Sunday. Lead the league in errors and now have the second to worst ERA. Lee Sung-yong, after a strong start, was two for his last 23.

8. Kia Tigers (6) — Admitting I was tricked. I still think Kia could bounce back once Seo Jae-weong gets rolling, but for now need to be tucked away down here having won just five of 19. Choi Hee-seop finally had a good week, going seven for 20 with seven RBI and two HRs, including a dramatic monster shot to dead center to put the Tigers ahead in the aforementioned LG game. Get a teetering Woori team early, but then SK to close the week. As of 4:23 PM Monday Jose Lima is still a Tiger.