• 1. Yankees | Record: 102-56 | Previous Week: 1
  New York has 102 wins and counting with four games to play. The Yankees already have more wins in a season than any team since the 2004 Cardinals, who won 105. Though they won't be trying to with home-field advantage sewn up, if the Bronx Bombers win out, they will have the second-highest single-season win total this decade behind the 2001 Mariners. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 2. Angels | Record: 93-64 | Previous Week: 3
  Yeah, it was quite an emotional scene when all the Angels went out to center field after clinching the division to pay their respects to the Nick Adenhart display on the fence. It probably wasn't so cool that they celebrated in the clubhouse by dumping beer and champagne on his empty jersey, considering that he was killed by a drunk driver. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 3. Dodgers | Record: 93-65 | Previous Week: 4
  Matt Kemp is finishing off a great season, perhaps the first Dodger in five years to go .300-25-100 or better, but he's got this strange split. He's hitting .356 batting seventh or eighth, and .242 batting fourth or fifth. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 4. Phillies | Record: 91-66 | Previous Week: 5
  Yes, the bullpen is a major question mark heading into the postseason, but all the playoff teams have a few of those when October hit. There is talent in Charlie Manuel's relief corps -- no matter how far astray it has gone this year -- and this Phillies team is one win from equaling last year's World Series champion. That team also had question marks -- Jamie Moyer, he of the 4.99 ERA this year -- was Philly's No. 3 starter. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 5. Cardinals | Record: 90-67 | Previous Week: 6
  Who really wants to play a team that can toss Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright in a best-of-five series? The two Cy Young candidates can pitch at least three and maybe four games in a short series, which could give the Cardinals a real advantage, even if they draw the NL-best Dodgers in the Division Series. - Pat Lackey
  
• 6. Red Sox | Record: 91-66 | Previous Week: 2
  For a team tied for the fourth-best record in baseball, Boston is awfully tough to figure out. The Red Sox have lost five straight, and, more troubling, have reason to worry about their top three starters going into the playoffs. Jon Lester is recovering from an ugly line drive off his leg, Josh Beckett missed his start Monday with "mild" back spasms and Clay Buchholz was bombed for five home runs by the Blue Jays on Tuesday. A week ago, that trio looked like it could form the most formidable rotation among the four AL playoff teams. Of course, it still could. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 7. Rockies | Record: 89-68 | Previous Week: 7
  Catcher Chris Iannetta had a rare big moment on Tuesday night, but most of the second half has been about Yorvit Torrealba being the clutch producer at catcher. Torrealba took over the everyday job Aug. 9 and is hitting .325 since. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 8. Braves | Record: 86-71 | Previous Week: 10
  It's hard to use enough superlatives to describe how good the Atlanta rotation has been this year. Three starters -- Javier Vazquez, Jair Jurrjens and Derek Lowe -- have won at least 14 games, and three -- Vazquez, Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson -- have ERAs under 3.00. It could take the Braves to 90 wins, but a loss Tuesday makes it unlikely it will also take them to the postseason. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 9. Tigers | Record: 84-73 | Previous Week: 9
  Of the few games each day worth watching, the Tigers and Twins provided two of them Tuesday. The Tigers get the nod for now, based upon Justin Verlander stepping up and getting the job done when his team most needed him.
  
• 10. Twins | Record: 82-75 | Previous Week: 8
  When I was ranking the teams Tuesday night -- before the Tigers-Twins game ended -- I actually put the Tigers and Twins tied, ready to put the winner of the nightcap on top of the other. Still, this could change any day, as these two teams are so equally matched at this point. At least there is one great race left for the last few days of the regular season.
  
• 11. Cubs | Record: 82-74 | Previous Week: 15
  Despite their 11-17 record in August, the Cubs are still 39-31 since the All-Star break (17-10 in September), an improvement on their 43-43 mark prior. Over a full season, that pace would probably have them in the thick of the NL Central and wild-card races. I'm not saying the Cubs don't need to make some changes this winter, because they do, but the situation probably isn't as dire as it seems. - Pat Lackey
  
• 12. Marlins | Record: 84-74 | Previous Week: 14
  Cameron Maybin, one of the key chips Florida received in the Miguel Cabrera trade, couldn't take hold of the Marlins' center field job in 2009, but a promising stint as a September callup makes it seem like it will be his next year. Maybin has a .791 OPS in 23 games this month. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 13. Giants | Record: 84-73 | Previous Week: 11
  Brian Wilson is one of only four relievers to have at least 35 saves each of the past two seasons. The others are Mariano Rivera, Joe Nathan and Jonathan Papelbon. Pretty good company. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 14. Rangers | Record: 85-72 | Previous Week: 12
  The Red Sox tried to leave the door open for the up-and-coming Rangers by losing five straight games. Instead, the Rangers let them off the hook by eliminating themselves. Still, the team, front office and fans alike have reason for optimism heading into 2010. There is a good foundation in place for the first time since the Ivan Rodriguez-Juan Gonzalez days.
  
• 15. Rays | Record: 81-76 | Previous Week: 16
  With one more win, the Rays will clinch their second winning season in a dozen years of existence. Funny enough, given the talent on the 2009 version of this club and the levels the 2008 team reached, this year will still be seen as a bit of a disappointment, especially because Tampa Bay wasn't at least able to push Boston and New York in September. What a difference a year makes ... - Andrew Johnson
  
• 16. Mariners | Record: 81-76 | Previous Week: 13
  Improving the defense was a point of emphasis last winter, and it seems to have worked. Last year the Mariners ranked 26th in the majors in defensive efficiency, which measures the percentage of balls in play converted outs. This year they are second. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 17. Blue Jays | Record: 74-84 | Previous Week: 20
  So Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi says "The division," meaning the AL East "isn't going to change." At face value, he has a point. The economic realities of squaring off head-to-head with the Red Sox and Yankees every year surely makes it difficult for the other three teams to compete. Only the Rays proved it is possible to do so, possible even to take down both teams and win the division outright. Couple their success with Ricciardi's assorted missteps in charge of the Jays and his words suddenly sound more like sour grapes from a man whose days in Toronto are numbered. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 18. A's | Record: 75-82 | Previous Week: 17
  Despite what seemed like a horrible year, the A's are just one victory from exceeding last year's total (75). That's the good news. The bad news is they will have their fourth consecutive losing season. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 19. Brewers | Record: 77-80 | Previous Week: 18
  The Brewers demoted struggling veteran J.J. Hardy to Triple-A for two weeks in August for the morally gray purpose of setting his arbitration clock back a year and increasing his trade value. Since returning, Hardy's hit worse than he did before his demotion, hitting .220/.304/.244 in 11 games. Which is to say that the Brewers better not be planning on using Hardy to restock their rotation. If they're serious about doing that this winter, it's going to have to be through free agency. - Pat Lackey
  
• 20. White Sox | Record: 76-81 | Previous Week: 19
  A bright spot that can be taken from this disappointing season? Gordon Beckham is a superstar in the making. He's hitting .272 with 14 home runs, 63 RBI, 27 doubles, seven stolen bases and an .816 OPS in 99 games of his rookie campaign. He's also plays solid defense, always hustles and is a positive clubhouse presence. And he just turned 23 two weeks ago.
  
• 21. Reds | Record: 75-82 | Previous Week: 21
  Since his return from a wrist injury, Jay Bruce has hit .375/.459/.813 and has hit four homers in his last four games. This season looked to be kind of a lost one for Bruce, who had just a .283 OBP before going on the DL in mid-July, but his tear in September coupled with the Reds very good play (they're 17-9 this month) gives Cincy fans something to look forward to in 2010. - Pat Lackey
  
• 22. Padres | Record: 73-85 | Previous Week: 22
  Bud Black probably deserves some second- or third-place votes on Manager of the Year ballots. Any manager whose team plays over .500 in the second half, after falling hopelessly out of contention, deserves some credit. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 23. Astros | Record: 73-84 | Previous Week: 23
  There is one bright spot for the Astros this year: Wandy Rodriguez has finally broken out for a full season after threatening to do so in each of the past three. His 2.97 ERA is matched by 8.6 K/9 and a 2.97 K:BB ratio. It's just too bad that the Astros don't have much of anything besides him, Lance Berkman, Hunter Pence, and Roy Oswalt. Unless they seriously upgrade this roster, 2010 won't look much different than 2009. - Pat Lackey
  
• 24. Diamondbacks | Record: 68-89 | Previous Week: 24
  It's been a lousy year on just about every level, but manager A.J. Hinch said they have a shot at getting back to contention next year if they can change the attitude. "We can be a competitive team soon, as soon as next year," he said. "We have to rekindle our competitive juices. Just coming back and wiping the slate clean and starting 0-0 isn't going to be enough." - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 25. Mets | Record: 67-91 | Previous Week: 25
  Jeff Francoeur would like a multi-year deal with New York, and on the surface, it might seem like a good idea. Frenchy has hit .308 since arriving in the Big Apple this July, after all. But he'll turn 26 this January and he doesn't seem to have grown fundamentally as a player. The older he gets, the less hope there is that his raw tools will help him blossom into a superstar, and this Francoeur probably doesn't deserve a big extension, not for a team with first-division aspirations like the Mets. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 26. Royals | Record: 64-94 | Previous Week: 26
  Zack Greinke (I know we mentioned him last week, but he's really the only thing worth continuing to watch on the 2009 Royals at this point) has one more start: Saturday against the Twins. Considering the Twins could still really need a win, Greinke has a shot to garner his 17th win and cement more Cy Young votes. Plus, if he really deals, he could lower his ERA below 2.00.
  
• 27. Indians | Record: 64-92 | Previous Week: 28
  They have fired Eric Wedge. He may have been part of the problem, but he wasn't the problem these last few years. We'll see if they come through in the offseason with an actual plan, not just a patchwork roster mixed with still-developing youngsters and aging veterans.
  
• 28. Orioles | Record: 60-97 | Previous Week: 27
  Baltimore is building toward something in 2010 or 2011, but that doesn't mean it won't be a turbulent offseason in the Charm City. The Orioles may need to find a new manager if Andy MacPhail is non-plussed by the job Dave Trembley did -- a possibility that seems increasingly likely with another September Swoon almost in the books. Oh yes, the O's will need a third baseman, a first baseman and a pitcher or two even if Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz can avoid major growing pains to challenge the big boys in the East. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 29. Pirates | Record: 59-97 | Previous Week: 29
  They took three of four from the Dodgers over the weekend, but they're still trucking towards the club's second 100-loss season this decade, needing to go 4-2 the rest of the way out to avoid it. That's an awfully tall task with all six games on the road, as the Pirates are a mind-bogglingly bad 19-56 away from PNC Park this season. - Pat Lackey
  
• 30. Nationals | Record: 54-103 | Previous Week: 30
  Lost amid all the champagne celebrations this week in Anaheim, the Bronx and Boston was Washington's clinch. The Nationals will finish with the worst record, meaning they will be first in line next June to select phenom Bryce Harper. All joking about the Nats' sorry state aside, drafting Stephen Strasburg and Harper in back-to-back seasons could go a long way toward turning this moribund franchise around. - Andrew Johnson
  

MLB Power Rankings: Some Daylight originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 1. Yankees | Record: 96-56 | Previous Week: 1
  Despite the best record in the majors, the Yankees have question marks -- notably in the rotation. Andy Pettitte did OK on Monday after skipping a start to rest his shoulder, but A.J. Burnett and Joba Chamberlain have not been sharp, and neither has started a postseason game. - Ed Price
• 2. Red Sox | Record: 89-61 | Previous Week: 2
  Boston holds out hopes for winning the division, mainly because it visits Yankee Stadium for three games next weekend. If the Red Sox could pull off the comeback in the AL East, it would face the AL Central winner in the first round of the postseason and force the Yankees to play their nemesis, the Angels, without home-field advantage. - Ed Price
• 3. Angels| Record: 90-61 | Previous Week: 3
  For the first time in franchise history, the Angels have had three consecutive 90-win seasons. This will also mark their first time reaching the playoffs three years in a row. The Angels reached the postseason three times in their first 24 years, and now it'll be six of eight. - Jeff Fletcher
• 4. Dodgers | Record: 91-60 | Previous Week: 4
  Jon Garland may turn out to be one of the most underrated midseson acquisitions. Garland, acquired from the Diamondbacks just before the Aug. 31 deadline for postseason eligibility, has gone 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA for a Dodgers team that has had to patch together its rotation. - Jeff Fletcher
• 5. Phillies | Record: 88-62 | Previous Week: 6
  Tuesday's split of a doubleheader in Florida left Philadelphia 46-30 on the road this season, the best such record in the majors. The franchise record is 48 road victories, and the last NL team to play .600 ball away from home was the 2005 Cardinals. - Ed Price
• 6. Cardinals | Record: 89-63 | Previous Week: 5
  The offense hasn't been consistent at all, but the Cards have arguably the two best starting pitchers in the National League. It's going to be awfully tough for any team to beat them in a seven-game playoff series, with Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright getting two starts each.
• 7. Rockies | Record: 86-65 | Previous Week: 8
  Troy Tulowitzki is going to become only the third active shortstop to have more than one 800-OPS season before his 25th birthday. The others are Alex Rodriguez and Hanley Ramirez. - Jeff Fletcher
• 8. Twins | Record: 78-73 | Previous Week: 15
  They're playing great baseball right now, and they control their own destiny, considering they trail the Tigers by 2 1/2 games and have a four-game set in Detroit next week. Thankfully, we have at least one race of intrigue.
• 9. Tigers | Record: 80-70 | Previous Week: 10
  The Twins have made up five games on the Tigers in the past two weeks. At this pace, Detroit will be watching the playoffs from home after leading the division for an overwhelming majority of the season.
• 10. Braves | Record: 81-70 | Previous Week: 11
  The Braves went 10-8 against the Phillies, 4-2 against the Cardinals and 4-3 against the Dodgers. So why isn't Atlanta joining those teams in the playoffs? Because it was just 15-14 against the four last-place teams it played (three NL plus Baltimore). - Ed Price
• 11. Giants | Record: 81-70 | Previous Week: 7
  The pitching-rich Giants have suffered from a poorly-timed starting pitching slump. After pulling within 2 1/2 games of the Rockies, their starters proceeded to have a 11.41 ERA over the next six games, and the Giants lost four of them. - Jeff Fletcher
• 12. Rangers | Record: 82-68 | Previous Week: 9
  They aren't going to make the postseason just yet, but the direction here is extremely positive. Expect the Rangers to again be in the mix in 2010.
• 13. Mariners | Record: 79-72 | Previous Week: 14
  Despite talk of his Cy Young candidacy, Felix Hernandez is probably still underrated for what he's done so early in his career. He's won 55 games and he's not even 24 years old. CC Sabathia (60), Dontrelle Willis (58) and Jeremy Bonderman (56) are the only active pitchers to win more games before their 24th birthday. - Jeff Fletcher
• 14. Marlins | Record: 81-71 | Previous Week: 13
  Hanley Ramirez's .352 average not only leads the National League, but it would be the highest average for an NL shortstop since Arky Vaughan of the 1935 Pirates. In the modern era, only one other NL shortstop has hit .350 -- Honus Wagner, who did it five times in 1901-08. - Ed Price
• 15. Cubs | Record: 78-72 | Previous Week: 12
  Six games over .500 and they are probably the biggest disappointment of the season -- either them or the Rays, though the Rays have to compete with Boston and New York. It's not the 1970s anymore, when this record would have been welcomed. Expectations are a bit different now, and this is just not acceptable. Jim Hendry should be fired for the Milton Bradley signing alone.
• 16. Rays | Record: 77-74 | Previous Week: 17
  Tampa Bay is just the third team to have 180 homers and 180 stolen bases, joining the 1996 Rockies and 1998 Blue Jays. Yet none of those clubs were playoff teams. Reason No. 23,525 that pitching is everything. - Ed Price
• 17. A's | Record: 72-79 | Previous Week: 21
  With the youngest pitching staff in the league, the A's have been better than the league average in ERA, WHIP, hits per nine innings, and walks per nine innings. They also have the league's best bullpen ERA. If only they could hit, this season might have meant more than a good start on 2010. - Jeff Fletcher
• 18. Brewers | Record: 74-77 | Previous Week: 20
  The Crew has plenty of offense. They need to find some way to get better starting pitching before 2010. You can't just outhit opposition all season and expect to be more than a run-of-the-mill team.
• 19. White Sox | Record: 73-79 | Previous Week: 16
  What a disastrous season it has been for Carlos Quentin -- following his uber-breakout 2008 campaign. He's battled injuries and inconsistency, though the two could be related.
• 20. Blue Jays | Record: 68-83 | Previous Week: 18
  Edwin Encarnacion, the third baseman acquired from Cincinnati in exchange for Scott Rolen, hadn't reminded anyone of Rolen before homering twice Tuesday. Still, in 33 games for Toronto, Encarnacion has hit .236 with six homers and 17 RBI. And he has six errors -- one more than Rolen had in his 88 games. - Ed Price
• 21. Reds | Record: 70-81 | Previous Week: 22
  2010 is going to be a big year for Cincy. The Reds have shown signs of emergence with the kids. They've won seven of 10 now. This followed a five-game losing streak, which was preceded by a stretch where they won 12 of 14. If they can stay healthy and play with consistency, good things are on their way.
• 22. Padres | Record: 69-83 | Previous Week: 23
  Kevin Correia has put himself into an interesting spot with his breakout year. Correia is 11-10 with a respectable 4.08 ERA, including 4-1 with a 2.67 ERA since Aug. 7. He's arbitration eligible this winter, meaning he's earned himself a big salary bump. Maybe too big for the Padres, who might opt to sell high on him by trading him. - Jeff Fletcher
• 23. Astros | Record: 70-81 | Previous Week: 19
  What a mess. Nine losses in a row, an aging roster, a fired manager and no real hope on the horizon. They need to blow everything up.
• 24. Diamondbacks | Record: 66-86 | Previous Week: 24
  The Diamondbacks better be damn sure they can contend in 2010 if they plan on keeping Brandon Webb. The injured ace reportedly won't restructure his 2010 option. After the season, the 'Backs can't be sure they'll be able to re-up with him. Thus, they might be wise to pursue a trade.
• 25. Mets | Record: 65-87 | Previous Week: 25
  The last few months have been tryouts for 2010, and the Mets have to be wondering what they have in former No. 1 pick Mike Pelfrey, who makes his 30th start tonight. Pelfrey is 10-11, but more indicative is his 5.10 ERA and 196 hits allowed in 171 1/3 innings. - Ed Price
• 26. Royals | Record: 63-88 | Previous Week: 26
  Last season the Cy Young voters showed they understood the award was for the best pitcher in the league when voting Tim Lincecum the NL winner, despite playing on a sub-par Giants team. This year, they'll realize that Zack Greinke is just as deserving, despite some talking heads acting like he may not win it. His 2.08 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 229 strikeouts, six complete games and three shutouts make him the most dominant pitcher in the majors for 2009. It would be a travesty if he didn't win the award, and the voters know that. You'll see.
• 27. Orioles | Record: 60-91 | Previous Week: 27
  What is it about the second half that crushes Baltimore? This millennium (since 2001, that is), the O's are 248-402 after the All-Star break, easily the worst mark in the majors. This year's mark
  is 20-43. - Ed Price
• 28. Indians | Record: 61-89 | Previous Week: 28
  And that's nine losses in a row! You know what the biggest problem is? They can't make up their mind as to whether or not they're rebuilding (trading away high-priced players) or playing for now (signing Kerry Wood, trading for Mark DeRosa before the season). Make a decision, Tribe, otherwise you'll be bad for a very long time.
• 29. Pirates | Record: 56-93 | Previous Week: 29
  On the other hand, the Pirates have fully committed to the rebuilding effort. They'll be down here for the rest of this season and probably for most of next season. Come 2011 and 2012, though, and they'll have a foundation. This is the way you clean up a mess.
• 30. Nationals | Record: 51-99 | Previous Week: 30
  Rookie shortstop Ian Desmond, who has hit .343 in nine games since being called up Sept. 4, didn't get out of Single-A until 2008, his fifth pro season. But at Double-A and Triple-A this year, Desmond, 24, hit .330 with 21 steals and a .401 on-base percentage. - Ed Price

MLB Power Rankings: AL West Is Best originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 1. Yankees | Record: 93-53 | Previous Week: 1
  What will home-field advantage in the playoffs mean to the Yankees? They are 24-7 at home since the All-Star break and 44-15 at Yankee Stadium since Alex Rodriguez came off the disabled list in May. Over that latter span, they have lost two in a row at home to the same opponent just twice: Washington (June 17-18) and Baltimore (Sept. 11-12). - Ed Price
  
• 2. Red Sox | Record: 85-58 | Previous Week: 5
  Kevin Youkilis sat out Tuesday with back spasms -- he originally feared kidney stones -- and may not play Wednesday. And Victor Martinez is attending to a personal matter. So for a couple of days at least, there were no decisions on whom to play. But in the first 40 games since Martinez came over from Cleveland, he and Jason Varitek each had started 20 games at catcher. - Ed Price
  
• 3. Angels| Record: 86-58 | Previous Week: 3
  Kendry Morales has a shot to become only the third Angels player to have a .300-30-100 season. Vladimir Guerrero did it three times (2004-06) and Tim Salmon did it in 1995. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 4. Dodgers | Record: 87-59 | Previous Week: 4
  What has nine All-Star appearances, three Gold Gloves and more than 7,700 hits? The top five players on the Dodgers bench: Brad Ausmus, Ronnie Belliard, Mark Loretta, Juan Pierre and Jim Thome. That's not to mention Thome's 564 homers. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 5. Cardinals | Record: 85-61 | Previous Week: 2
  I'm not sure how Chris Carpenter's done it, but he entered 2009 with only five starts under his belt since the 2006 World Series and he's run off a season that fits right in line with his three-year run of dominance from 2004-2006. He and Adam Wainwright make for a terrifying 1-2 punch in a five-game series. - Pat Lackey
  
• 6. Phillies | Record: 83-60 | Previous Week: 6
  Charlie Manuel already had to make one tough decision this year by sending Jamie Moyer to the bullpen. A similar one could be looming in October. Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels figure to be locks for the playoff rotation, but J.A. Happ, Joe Blanton and Pedro Martinez have all been very good as well. They can't all start in the postseason. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 7. Giants | Record: 79-66 | Previous Week: 10
  The Giants have a chance to be the first team since the 2003 Dodgers to score and allow fewer than four runs per game. That team won 85 games, but didn't make the playoffs. The Giants may be on a similar track. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 8. Rockies | Record: 82-64 | Previous Week: 7
  How deep are the Rockies? Brad Hawpe, their only All-Star position player, has zero RBI in September, but the Rockies still have the best record in the league in the month. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 9. Rangers | Record: 80-64 | Previous Week: 8
  My preseason darling has fallen six games behind the Angles in the AL West and 5 1/2 behind the surging Red Sox in the wild card. It's hard to think about it this way now, but 2009 has to be considered an overwhelming success for Ron Washington and company. Next, they need to build upon the success in 2010 instead of taking steps backward.
  
• 10. Tigers | Record: 77-67 | Previous Week: 9
  They just can't seem to shake the Twins -- or, now, the White Sox -- from their rearview mirror. If the Tigers somehow don't hold on in possibly the worst division in the bigs, it will be no one's fault but their own.
  
• 11. Braves | Record: 76-68 | Previous Week: 14
  Adam LaRoche is doing his usual act in the second half. The first baseman is hitting .351 with 12 home runs and 30 RBI since joining Atlanta at the beginning of August. For his career, LaRoche is hitting .252 with a .773 OPS in the first half and .300 with a .910 OPS in the second half. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 12. Cubs | Record: 75-68 | Previous Week: 17
  Let's not get ahead of ourselves here, fellow Cub fans, but ... they have won eight of 10 and are just four games out of the wild card in the loss column. There probably isn't enough time left, but at least they aren't quitting.
  
• 13. Marlins | Record: 77-68 | Previous Week: 11
  We think of Florida as stocked with power young arms -- and hey, maybe they are -- but other than Josh Johnson they haven't performed very well in 2009. Marlins starters entered play Tuesday with a 4.71 ERA, the fifth-worst mark in the National League. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 14. Mariners | Record: 74-71 | Previous Week: 13
  We always want to feel sorry for the teams in the AL East who have so little chance of contending, but what of the poor Mariners? They are likely to win at least 20 more games than they did last year, but they're still going to finish in third. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 15. Twins | Record: 73-72 | Previous Week: 15
  They're playing well now after a bad stretch -- after playing well. The Twinkies just can't seem to maintain any sort of an upward surge, and it's going to be difficult to change that trend without Justin Morneau.
  
• 16. White Sox | Record: 72-73 | Previous Week: 16
  Somehow, the White Sox are showing signs of life once again, and now they get a possible boost from Jake Peavy. The former Cy Young award winner is set to make his Windy City debut Saturday.
  
• 17. Rays | Record: 73-72 | Previous Week: 12
  Once Tampa Bay's players realized they had a slim shot at returning to the postseason, it seems, they coasted for a while. Witness the 11-game losing streak that finally ended Monday; it tied the record for the longest ever for a team that played in the previous year's World Series. - Ed Price
  
• 18. Blue Jays | Record: 66-79 | Previous Week: 23
  Anyone remember when Toronto was 27-14? Well, the Blue Jays were, and they will also be the first team in 14 years to get off to that good a start through 41 games and finish with a losing record. The 1995 Phillies started 27-14 and finished 69-75. - Ed Price
  
• 19. Astros | Record: 70-75 | Previous Week: 19
  There is some discussion in Houston about whether or not Miguel Tejada should (or will) be brought back next season. Why not? The Astros have traded away every prospect. Just have everyone go down with the old, mediocre ship.
  
• 20. Brewers | Record: 69-75 | Previous Week: 20
  Out of 87 qualified players in the National League, Jason Kendall's .295 slugging percentage is second worst and his .624 OPS is third worst. And I know he's a catcher and I'm sure Ken Macha likes the way he works with their pitching staff, but I can't imagine he'll be back in Milwaukee for a third go-round in 2010. - Pat Lackey
  
• 21. A's | Record: 66-78 | Previous Week: 22
  For the second consecutive year, the A's are near the bottom of the AL in on-base percentage. They have been sixth or worse four years in a row. This will be the fifth consecutive year they finish in the bottom half of the league in slugging percentage. Moneyball?. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 22. Reds | Record: 66-79 | Previous Week: 18
  Jay Bruce is back to get some swings in over the last two weeks of the season and while it's hard to draw conclusions from a small sample after an injury, I still think it'll be interesting to see if he can improve on his ugly pre-injury .207 batting average and .285 on-base percentage. He's still only 22 and his 18 homers in 85 games is impressive, so let's see those secondary skills start to develop. - Pat Lackey
  
• 23. Padres | Record: 65-81 | Previous Week: 21
  In case you lost track of the Padres, they have now won six consecutive series, five of them against contenders. Actually, they've put serious dents in the playoff chances of the Braves, Marlins and Giants over the past few weeks. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 24. Diamondbacks | Record: 64-82 | Previous Week: 26
  They move up despite winning only three of their last 10 games. Why? Because everyone below them sucks worse. The league is severely divided between the haves and have-nots right now. Thus, most of the lower-tier teams are taking a beating.
  
• 25. Mets | Record: 63-82 | Previous Week: 25
  New York lost its 82nd game Tuesday, falling to the Braves 6-0 to clinch a losing season. With an Opening Day payroll barely south of $150 million, that has to make the Mets the most expensive losing ballclub in major league history. On the bright side, at least the fans won't have to go through another heartbreaking September collapse. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 26. Royals | Record: 58-86 | Previous Week: 28
  Gotta give them a bump in the ranks for winning seven of their last eight, including a sweep of the division-leading Tigers. Every game left is against someone still in the race -- assuming you count the White Sox as being in it. We'll see if they continue to play spoiler.
  
• 27. Orioles | Record: 59-85 | Previous Week: 27
  Baltimore has a 5.11 ERA as a team, and this will likely be the franchise's fourth straight season with an ERA greater than 5.00. The Orioles haven't been in the top six in the AL in team ERA since 1999. At least Tillman, Matusz et al give hope it won't stay that way. - Ed Price
  
• 28. Indians | Record: 61-83 | Previous Week: 24
  The complete opposite of the Royals, the Tribe is laying down. They've lost seven of eight and 13 of their last 17. They actually have a good shot at ending up with the worst record in the entire American League.
  
• 29. Pirates | Record: 55-88 | Previous Week: 29
  While I typed this, Matt Capps blew another save. After three years of solid work at the back end of the Pirates' pen, Capps' ERA is over 6.00 and opponents had a .928 OPS against him before he blew the save. The Bucs don't get many leads and the ones they do get, Capps can barely hold. This is not really a great recipe for success, though it does have Pittsburgh within five games of the Nats in the Bryce Harper sweepstakes.. - Pat Lackey
  
• 30. Nationals | Record: 50-94 | Previous Week: 30
  Here's a sobering thought: Unless John Lannan starts whiffing batters like he hasn't all season, the Nationals will not have a single pitcher on their roster record 100 strikeouts. Hurry, Mr. Strasburg. - Andrew Johnson
  

MLB Power Rankings: Boston Blitz originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 1. Yankees | Record: 90-50 | Previous Week: 1
  The Bombers have some kind of karma going in the Bronx. Tuesday's win, on Nick Swisher's homer in the ninth, was their 13th walk-off victory of the season, the franchise's most since 1978. Seven different Yankees have had a walk-off hit, and six have had a walk-off homer. At 90-50, the Yanks are 40 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 2004 season 101-61. - Ed Price
  
• 2. Cardinals | Record: 83-57 | Previous Week: 2
  The biggest question remaining for the Cards is if John Smoltz can build up enough endurance to be a viable fourth starter in the playoffs, or if they have to turn to someone like Kyle Lohse or Todd Wellemeyer. Smoltz's 28:1 K:BB ratio in St. Louis is unreal, but it might not help the Cards much if he can't pitch out of the fifth inning. - Pat Lackey
  
• 3. Angels| Record: 82-55 | Previous Week: 3
  Bobby Abreu has been credited for helping bring a more patient approach to the Angels hitters. Last year they ranked dead last in the AL in pitches per plate appearance. This year they are fifth. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 4. Dodgers | Record: 83-57 | Previous Week: 5
  It's not as bad as it would seem for the Dodgers, who have been treading water since the break. They still have the best ERA in the NL in the second half. Clayton Kershaw will miss a start with a bruised shoulder (he ran into the wall while shagging flies in batting practice), but it's not serious. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 5. Red Sox | Record: 80-58 | Previous Week: 6
  David Ortiz on Tuesday hit his 269th homer as a designated hitter, tying Frank Thomas for the all-time record. Ortiz has homered 42 times while playing first base and once as a pinch hitter. - Ed Price
  
• 6. Phillies | Record: 78-58 | Previous Week: 4
  Boy, Philadelphia could use Raul Ibanez hot again. His two homers Tuesday matched his total for the previous 35 games (124 at-bats), and his three hits came after entering in a 14-for-89 (.157) slide. But maybe his entire season is built on facing the Nationals; he has pummeled Washington for a .463 average, eight homers and 20 RBI in 13 games but in his other 97 games has hit .252 with 22 home runs and 62 RBI. - Ed Price
  
• 7. Rockies | Record: 79-60 | Previous Week: 11
  The schedule from here on out looks pretty favorable. They have 15 games against teams with losing records. They do have to play the white-hot Cardinals three times, but that's going to happen in Denver. They also have three games each against the Giants and Dodgers. If they take care of business against the weaker teams, they'll control their own destiny in both the NL West and wild-card races.
  
• 8. Rangers | Record: 78-60 | Previous Week: 7
  Tommy Hunter, Neftali Feliz, Julio Borbon ... the youth just keeps on coming for the Rangers. The future is extremely bright for Ron Washington's club, but we need not start looking ahead just yet. The Rangers are only two games back of the Red Sox in the wild-card race.
  
• 9. Tigers | Record: 75-62 | Previous Week: 9
  The Twins crept up into the race temporarily, but now the Tigers seem to have everything back under control after a six-game winning streak (which was broken Tuesday night). Now we'll see if Jarrod Washburn's knee feels a bit better than the last few weeks after his missed rotation turn.
  
• 10. Giants | Record: 76-63 | Previous Week: 10
  As usual, the Giants went on the road last week and had some problems. Even though they gave up nine runs in six games, they only won three of them. Fortunately for them, only nine of their remaining 23 games are on the road.- Jeff Fletcher
  
• 11. Marlins | Record: 73-65 | Previous Week: 15
  With Rick VandenHurk having come out of Tuesday's game with back stiffness, Chris Volstad could return to the Florida rotation on Sunday. The Marlins are 4-4 in VandenHurk's starts and have a winning record behind just two starters: Josh Johnson (20-8) and Ricky Nolasco (15-11).- Ed Price
  
• 12. Rays | Record: 72-67 | Previous Week: 8
  Wade Davis, who on Sunday held the Tigers to one run in seven innings in his first big-league start, will stay in the rotation instead of Andy Sonnanstine. Having allowed eight runs in 2 2/3 innings Monday, Sonnanstine -- sent down earlier this year -- goes to the bullpen. - Ed Price
  
• 13. Mariners | Record: 72-67 | Previous Week: 14
  There haven't been many offensive things to brag about for the Mariners, but Jose Lopez has quietly had a nice year. With 22 homers, he has increased his homer total four years in a row. Got a shot at 100 RBI, too. He's still only 25 years old. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 14. Braves | Record: 71-67 | Previous Week: 13
  Garret Anderson needs 19 hits to reach 2,500 for his career. Anderson has a .327 career on-base percentage, and the only 2,500-hit players with a lower mark were Andre Dawson (.323), Brooks Robinson (.322), Bill Buckner (.321), Rabbit Maranville (.318), Willie Davis (.311) and Luis Aparicio (.311). One reason for the low OBP: Anderson has been hit by a pitch just nine times in 8,917 plate appearances.- Ed Price
  
• 15. Twins | Record: 69-69 | Previous Week: 12
  If I believed in curses, I'd apologize for hyping up the Twins last week. Since that happened, they have gone 2-4 against the White Sox, Indians and Blue Jays. They aren't dead yet, though, because they have a nine-game homestand beginning Friday. They begin with six relatively easy games (against the A's and Indians) and close with the division-leading Tigers. In fact, the only team with a winning record left on the docket is the Tigers, whom the Twins face off against seven times.
  
• 16. White Sox | Record: 69-71 | Previous Week: 17
  The Sox won five of six (before Tuesday night's loss) after virtually destroying their own season with a 1-9 stretch ... Alex Rios has gone 12-78 (.154) with 21 strikeouts and just one walk since the White Sox took his contract off the Blue Jays hands. His .406 OPS in the Pale Hose is downright embarrassing.
  
• 17. Cubs | Record: 70-67 | Previous Week: 16
  It's certainly going to be an interesting offseason in Wrigleyville. There hasn't been a more disappointing team this side of Queens, but some of the Cubs believe the same group could contend next year by simply playing better. There is new ownership in town, so are Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella safe? We do know the Cubs are stuck with Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley. No one is trading for those guys with their contracts.
  
• 18. Reds | Record: 63-75 | Previous Week: 21
  What you need to know right now is this: Kip Wells is in the Reds' starting rotation. Kip. Wells. The 32-year-old pitcher who's been with the Pirates, Rangers, Cardinals, Rockies, Royals, Nationals, and Reds since 2006 and who hasn't been effective because of blood clots and other arm injuries since 2003. In the Reds rotation. It's been that kind of year in Cincinnati. - Pat Lackey
  
• 19. Astros | Record: 67-71 | Previous Week: 19
  Miguel Tejada's .303 average is nice, but his on-base percentage is just .333 and with just 10 homers, it's likely he's going to fall short of 15 for the second straight season. His 103 OPS+ is still worse than any season he's had since 2000, save last year. And he's going to be a free agent after this season! - Pat Lackey
  
• 20. Brewers | Record: 66-72 | Previous Week: 18
  We can add the Giants to the list of clubs that their celebration shenanigans have angered. It's one thing to celebrate like that when you're in the playoff mix, but the Brewers are six games under .500 and don't have Ned Yost to act as a fall guy again. 2008 suddenly seems like it was a very long time ago. - Pat Lackey
  
• 21. Padres | Record: 62-78 | Previous Week: 25
  Give interim hitting coach Randy Ready some credit for the Padres' resurgence over the past six weeks. They were hitting .232 and averaging 3.7 runs under former hitting coach Jim Lefebrve, and they've hit .267 and averaged 4.5 runs since Ready took over. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 22. A's | Record: 62-76 | Previous Week: 26
  Rajai Davis has emerged as a solid part of the A's future. Davis, who made the team as a backup outfielder, has played more and more as the season has progressed. He's hitting .303 with a .365 OBP and 31 stolen bases. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 23. Blue Jays | Record: 62-76 | Previous Week: 22
  Toronto is under .500 despite out-scoring its opposition by 12 runs, and you don't have to be Pythagoras to know that's hard to do. In fact, the Jays and the White Sox (even in runs scored and allowed) could be just the second and third AL teams ever to have a losing record with a positive run differential, along with the 1918 White Sox. - Ed Price
  
• 24. Indians | Record: 60-78 | Previous Week: 20
  September callup Michael Brantley is an exciting talent. The 22-year-old rookie is hitting .364 with five RBI and two stolen bases since receiving his first promotion. In Triple-A this year he had 46 steals in 116 games. If he can continue to get on base with any sort of consistency, the Indians have to think about moving Grady Sizemore -- and his power -- down in the order, if only to the two-hole.
  
• 25. Mets | Record: 62-76 | Previous Week: 24
  The Mets' current rotation is Pat Misch, Bobby Parnell, Nelson Figueroa, Mike Pelfrey and Tim Redding. Combined big-league record: 80-125. That's almost the opposite of injured ace Johan Santana (122-60). - Ed Price
  
• 26. Diamondbacks | Record: 61-79 | Previous Week: 23
  Six straight losses and the nightmare continues. It's a shame how much the efforts of Dan Haren have gone to waste. He has a 2.78 ERA and a ridiculous 0.95 WHIP in nearly 200 innings. Opponents have a measly .248 on-base percentage against him. Yet his record is just 13-8.
  
• 27. Orioles | Record: 56-82 | Previous Week: 27
  Will there be another late-season fade? (Or is it a fade when you're already out of contention?) Baltimore hasn't had a winning September since going 18-10 in 2004. Since then, the Orioles have gone 10-18, 10-18, 10-19 and 5-20 in Septembers. - Ed Price
  
• 28. Royals | Record: 53-85 | Previous Week: 29
  Not near to the extent as Zack Greinke with the pitching staff, but Billy Butler does give the Royals someone to build the offense around. Next year, they really need to see something from the uber-hyped Alex Gordon, though.
  
• 29. Pirates | Record: 54-83 | Previous Week: 28
  On Monday, the Pirates set a North American sports record by losing their 82nd game, clinching their 17th consecutive losing season. On Tuesday, Zach Duke tied a major league record by giving up hits to the first eight Cubs he faced, putting the Pirates in a 7-0 hole after one inning. On Thursday, the Steelers' season kicks off and no one in Pittsburgh will remember what the Pirates did earlier this week. - Pat Lackey
  
• 30. Nationals | Record: 47-91 | Previous Week: 30
  The Nationals win the pennant! The Nationals win the pennant! No, really. The Gulf Coast League Nationals, a rookie-league team, won the GCL championship last week by capturing the one-game playoff, 5-4 over the GCL Marlins. The Little Nats went 36-19, led by center fielder
  Eury Perez (.385), first baseman Brett Newsome (1.017 OPS) and right-hander Daniel Rosenbaum (4-1, 1.95 ERA). - Ed Price
  

MLB Power Rankings: It's Rocktember originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 1. Yankees | Record: 84-48 | Previous Week: 1
  Mark Teixeira for MVP? Let's check his numbers away from homer-friendly Yankee Stadium: .265 average, 12 homers, 43 RBI, .848 OPS. In road games, Teixeira has the 29th best slugging percentage in the AL, the 14th-best on-base percentage and the 21st-best OPS. - Ed Price
  
• 2. Cardinals| Record: 78-55 | Previous Week: 3
  With a 10 1/2-game lead in the NL Central, the Cardinals' biggest worries right now are whether or not pitching coach Dave Duncan will be back in 2010 and who they're going to draw in the first round of the playoffs. With a 5-2 record against the Dodgers, it may behoove them to actually finish with a worse record than the Phillies to avoid whichever NL West team wins the wild card, as they have a losing record against both the Giants (3-4) and Rockies (0-4). - Pat Lackey
  
• 3. Angels | Record: 78-53 | Previous Week: 2
  The bullpen is still the third-worst in the league, with a 4.70 ERA, but somehow they've made it work. Their late-game offense is bailing them out, as they've had 40 come-from-behind wins, second most in the majors. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 4. Phillies | Record: 76-53 | Previous Week: 4
  Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez were the big-name pickups, Cole Hamels was last year's postseason star and J.A. Happ is the Rookie of the Year candidate. But the other Philadelphia starter, Joe Blanton, has been pretty good. Since July 1, Blanton is 5-2 with a 2.14 ERA and
  .234 average allowed. - Ed Price
  
• 5. Dodgers| Record: 79-54 | Previous Week: 5
  Newly acquired Jon Garland is quietly one of the most durable pitchers in the majors. He's on his way to his eighth consecutive 30-start season. He's pitched on a World Series winner. He's got a 3.45 ERA over his past 12 starts. Suddenly the Dodgers have some depth, with Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla fighting for the No. 5 spot. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 6. Red Sox | Record: 77-54 | Previous Week: 7
  Since losing two of three to the hated Yankees, the Sox have picked things up a bit, winning seven of eight games. This has helped give them a decent-sized lead in the AL wild card. Keep an eye on Billy Wagner (4 IP, 0.00 ERA, 9 K). If he keeps pitching like this, the Red Sox have the best 1-2 back-end of the bullpen in the majors. - Matt Snyder
  
• 7. Rangers | Record: 74-58 | Previous Week: 6
  After Josh Hamilton's two-homer game, he has 10 bombs and 49 RBI. His OPS is .740 after having a .901 OPS last season. The Rangers are second in the majors in home runs and seventh in OPS. Can you imagine if Hamilton repeated his 2008 numbers? If he can continue his recent resurgence, that's one scary lineup - Matt Snyder
  
• 8. Rays | Record: 71-60 | Previous Week: 8
  Sean Rodriguez, the player to be named in the Scott Kazmir trade, was third in the minors in slugging (.616) and tied for sixth in homers (29). He played second base, shortstop and all three outfield positions this year in Triple-A. - Ed Price
  
• 9. Tigers | Record: 70-61 | Previous Week: 10
  Buyer's remorse? The Jarrod Washburn deal was hailed in almost all corners on July 31 (even here), but it's been nothing short of a disaster for the Tigers. He has a 6.81 ERA in six starts. The FOXSports.com report that he has been pitching with right knee soreness might explain some of that poor performance. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 10. Giants | Record: 72-60 | Previous Week: 12
  The Brad Penny signing probably doesn't have much of an impact on the Giants. San Francisco already had the second-best ERA in the league, and Penny isn't likely to improve it over his six starts. It's the offense that's going to make or break the Giants. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 11. Rockies | Record: 73-59 | Previous Week: 9
  Slotted just behind the Giants due to their series loss in San Francisco and the fact that you can trust the Giants pitching a bit more. The Jose Contreras deal doesn't do anything to change that, so the Rockies will have to hope their offensive superiority outlasts S.F. - Matt Snyder
  
• 12. Twins | Record: 67-66 | Previous Week: 16
  Maybe the American Idle just likes the Mall of America, but Carl Pavano has been a pleasant surprise since coming over from Cleveland. Pavano has gone 2-2 with a 4.06 ERA in five starts with Minnesota. With an at times shaky rotation, the Twins need more of the same. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 13. Braves | Record: 70-62 | Previous Week: 13
  Right fielder Matt Diaz led the majors in August batting average (.404), OPS (1.148) and on-base percentage (.467). And beginning Friday, Atlanta hits a soft part of the schedule, with 15 of 18 games against Cincinnati, Houston, the Mets and Washington. - Ed Price
  
• 14. Mariners | Record: 69-64 | Previous Week: 14
  Closer David Aardsma is the ninth pitcher in major league history to have at least 30 saves in the season in which he recorded his first. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 15. Marlins | Record: 68-64 | Previous Week: 11
  When the year began, Florida looked like it had the makings of a nice young rotation. But all but one member of the season-opening rotation spent time in the minors: Ricky Nolasco (sent down part of May and June), Anibal Sanchez (rehab assignment last month), Andrew Miller (optioned in July) and Chris Volstad (sent down last Friday). - Ed Price
  
• 16. Cubs | Record: 66-64 | Previous Week: 18
  I guess I have to give them credit for finding a way to stay above .500, but it's going to take a pretty miraculous final month for this team to not be the biggest disappointment in the majors. Some players are fighting for their jobs at this point (looking right at you, Geovany Soto). - Matt Snyder
  
• 17. White Sox | Record: 65-69 | Previous Week: 15
  OK, so maybe GM Kenny Williams raised the white flag, but wasn't that the right move given the situation? The Alex Rios and Jake Peavy pickups might have helped Chicago hang in the race in some alternate reality, but they were more about quietly rebuilding a rapidly aging club for the long-term haul. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 18. Brewers | Record: 64-67 | Previous Week: 20
  On one hand, they've fallen off the face of the NL playoff map and need to seriously revamp their pitching staff if they want any hope of making 2010 look more like 2008. On the other hand, they've beaten the Pirates 21 consecutive times in Miller Park. That's gotta be worth something, right? - Pat Lackey
  
• 19. Astros | Record: 63-69 | Previous Week: 21
  Hypothetical question: If you're the Astros with your slightly sub-.500 record and team full of players that are 30-plus years old (except for Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence, every productive regular is over 30), do you try and gear up for one more run with the current core in 2010 or do you start unloading, trying to rebuild a fairly empty minor-league system and be more competitive in the long run? - Pat Lackey
  
• 20. Indians | Record: 58-73 | Previous Week: 23
  Aaron Laffey is making a bid for a rotation spot out of spring training next season. In 90 innings this year, the left-hander has gone 7-3 with a 3.40 ERA. Now that Cliff Lee is off to Philadelphia, that represents the lowest ERA of any Indians starting pitcher. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 21. Reds | Record: 60-73 | Previous Week: 28
  This week, Brandon Phillips learned that there's no difference between "broken" and "fractured." The big question, though, is whether there's a difference between fifth place and sixth place in the NL Central. After trading for Scott Rolen and bringing Johnny Cueto back quickly from the disabled list, it's clear the Reds must think there is -- having won eight of 10 entering Wednesday's action . - Pat Lackey
  
• 22. Blue Jays | Record: 59-72 | Previous Week: 17
  This bullpen is going to have to be rebuilt from scratch. Toronto has just 19 saves this year (and 14 blown saves). No AL team has had fewer than 24 saves since the 1996 Tigers had 20. - Ed Price ... (Snyder's note: The Blue Jays are an abysmal 32-58 (.356) since May 19, that's why they dropped so far.)
  
• 23. Diamondbacks | Record: 60-73 | Previous Week: 24
  Dan Haren, Brandon Webb, Max Scherzer, Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds are a very solid nucleus. In the last month, they'll look to evaluate which guys will be productive enough to keep around them and look to the future. - Matt Snyder
  
• 24. Mets | Record: 59-73 | Previous Week: 19
  David Wright came off the disabled list Tuesday after missing 2 1/2 weeks with a concussion from a Matt Cain pitch. In the 15 games he missed, the Mets went 5-10 while scoring 3.7 runs per game. - Ed Price
  
• 25. Padres | Record: 58-76 | Previous Week: 26
  If last week was any indication, the Padres are going to enjoy their role as spoilers. They won back-to-back road series against the Braves and Marlins, playoff contenders. The Padres have 17 games left against the Dodgers, Giants and Rockies. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 26. A's | Record: 58-74 | Previous Week: 22
  There isn't much of interest going on with the hitters in the big leagues, but the A's are excited about the future of slugger Chris Carter. Carter, who isn't expected to get a September call-up, has hit 27 homers with a 1.011 OPS combined at Double-A and Triple-A. He's hit at least 25 homers and driven in at least 90 runs in his past three seasons. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 27. Orioles | Record: 54-79 | Previous Week: 27
  They're getting ready to shut down all their promising young pitchers to protect their arms. The young hitters have, for the most part, made good strides this year. Thus, the O's are looking to build toward a crescendo where they jump into a future pennant race -- but will it be 2010, or later? - Matt Snyder
  
• 28. Pirates | Record: 53-79 | Previous Week: 29
  As the Pirates barrel towards their record 17th consecutive losing season, they've compiled an incredible 18-49 record on the road. That's worse than even the Nationals. What makes that even more impressive is that the Bucs are 35-29 at home, even better than the Phillies. I know there's almost always a home/road split, but this is ridiculous.- Pat Lackey
  
• 29. Royals | Record: 51-81 | Previous Week: 30
  Since there's so little else to appreciate in Kansas City baseball-wise this time of year, how about some more Zack Greinke love. The right-hander is first in the AL in ERA, WHIP, complete games and shutouts and second in innings pitched and strikeouts. He should be the Cy Young winner, as Jeff Fletcher wrote Tuesday. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 30. Nationals | Record: 46-87 | Previous Week: 25
  In his first two outings for Washington after being released from the Mets and then picked up by the Nats, Livan Hernandez made quality starts -- six or more innings, three or fewer earned runs. Two more and he could tie Scott Olsen for fifth-most on the staff this year. - Ed Price ... (Snyder's note: The party is over. Nats have gone 3-12 since August 16. Booooooo!!!! )
  

MLB Power Rankings: The Home Stretch originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 1. Yankees | Record: 75-45 | Previous Week: 1
  The Bronx Bombers have it on cruise control, sporting a seven-game lead in the vaunted AL East. You don't want to peak too early, true, but the Yankees still haven't gotten every cylinder firing. That is scary news for everyone else in baseball.
  
• 2. Angels | Record: 72-45 | Previous Week: 2
  Rookie pitcher Trevor Bell has celebrity lineage. His grandfather, Bob Bell, was Bozo the Clown on TV for 25 years. He's in the Clown Hall of Fame. - Jeff Fletcher [Snyder's note: I'm really, really excited to see an Angels vs. Yankees postseason series. Hopefully it happens]
  
• 3. Cardinals | Record: 68-53 | Previous Week: 4
  The Redbirds have gone 15-5 since July 26, not only wrestling first place back from the Cubs, but basically putting them away in the process -- taking advantage of the Cubs' awful streak of late.
  
• 4. Phillies | Record: 67-49 | Previous Week: 5
  The champs' weakness early in the season was obviously starting pitching, but now they have too many. A nice problem to have as they head down the stretch with Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ, Pedro Martinez, Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer all quite capable of eating innings.
  
• 5. Dodgers | Record: 71-49 | Previous Week: 3
  Maybe all that's gone wrong is they've just seen their luck even out in close games. The Dodgers won 20 of their first 29 one-run games. Since then, they've lost six of seven. Now their Pythagorean record (an estimate based on runs scored vs. runs allowed) is only one game off from their actual record. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 6. Rangers | Record: 67-51 | Previous Week: 7
  If you would have told Rangers fans heading into the season they'd be tied with the Red Sox for the AL wild card in mid-August, they'd have surely been happy. Now, you know they're hungry and want that playoff berth.
  
• 7. Red Sox | Record: 67-51 | Previous Week: 6
  Say what you want about David Ortiz, but he still has power. Since June 6, Big Papi has 17 home runs, which means he's hitting one every 12 at-bats. That's a pace of close to 50 over the course of a full season. Of course, he's not doing much else, as that .319 OBP illustrates.
  
• 8. Rays | Record: 64-54 | Previous Week: 8
  They can't seem to crawl any closer, but they are clinging to three games out in the wild-card race. Getting Pat Burrell and B.J. Upton hot would be nice (Tuesday night could have been the start).
  
• 9. Rockies | Record: 66-53 | Previous Week: 9
  Ubaldo Jimenez is a legitimate ace. The 25-year-old has won five straight decisions and has a 2.87 ERA since the beginning of May. He's the type of pitcher who could scare teams in October.
  
• 10. Tigers | Record: 63-55 | Previous Week: 10
  They're definitely pushing their chips to the middle of the table this year. Dave Dombrowski made another small move to bolster the depth, getting Aubrey Huff Monday. They have what they need to get the job done in the mediocre AL Central.
  
• 11. Marlins | Record: 64-55 | Previous Week: 11
  The Fish are playing some great baseball, winning eight of their last 10. Trouble is, they can't seem to gain any ground. The top of the NL houses teams all playing well at the moment, possibly save for the Dodgers. Don't expect Florida to go away, though.
  
• 12. Giants | Record: 65-54 | Previous Week: 13
  The first 2 1/2 weeks with Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Garko have yielded mixed results. Sanchez has hit .304, but Garko has batted just .224 with eight RBI, half of them coming on Tuesday night. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 13. Braves | Record: 62-57 | Previous Week: 12
  The Braves are going to need more from their investment in Derek Lowe if they plan to topple the three teams they trail in the wild-card standings. Lowe's ERA is currently 0.57 higher than his previous worst mark in the NL.
  
• 14. Mariners | Record: 61-58 | Previous Week: 14
  A total of 14 Seattle players have spent time on the disabled list this year, the most in the American League. That doesn't even take into account that some players, like Adrian Beltre, have been on the DL twice. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 15. White Sox | Record: 61-59 | Previous Week: 16
  They're definitely within striking distance of the division-leading Tigers, but the White Sox need to play with more consistency. Sure, they can take three of four from the best team in baseball, but they're only 25-28 against their own division.
  
• 16. Twins | Record: 57-62 | Previous Week: 18
  It's amazing to watch the development of Joe Mauer as an all-around hitter. He had everything but power before this season. In 2009? He's hit 25 home runs in 363 at-bats, helping him to an AL-leading .653 slugging percentage (it ain't close, either).
  
• 17. Blue Jays | Record: 55-62 | Previous Week: 17
  As the Jays fall further and further out of any semblance of a race, they are still somehow clinging to a positive run differential. It's a testament to how dominant they were early in the season in addition to the strength of the AL East.
  
• 18. Cubs | Record: 60-57 | Previous Week: 15
  Since reaching a season-high nine games over .500 on August 4, the Cubs are 3-9 -- with two of the wins coming at home against the Indianapolis Indians Pittsburgh Pirates. If new ownership is ever put in place, an argument could be made the administration needs to be gutted (starting with Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella).
  
• 19. Mets | Record: 56-63 | Previous Week: 24
  Starting to look presentable, and they should be getting David Wright and Carlos Beltran back in time for September. Of course, it's gonna take a 2007 Rockies-type effort to have a realistic shot at the playoffs.
  
• 20. Brewers | Record: 58-61 | Previous Week: 19
  Unlike the Cubs, the Crew seems to play to the level of their competition. They won two of three in Los Angeles against the mighty Dodgers, but have also lost four of six to the Padres in the past several weeks and their last two against the Pirates.
  
• 21. Astros | Record: 57-62 | Previous Week: 20
  Unfortunately for Astros fans, the team probably hasn't been bad enough to warrant a change in direction in the offseason according to management. Meanwhile, the team will just get older and the farm system has very little to offer in terms of future help.
  
• 22. Athletics | Record: 53-66 | Previous Week: 22
  In the past month, the A's have picked up the players they hope will form the left side of their infield into the next decade. They got third baseman Brett Wallace from the Cardinals in the Holliday trade and they signed shortstop Grant Green out of USC. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 23. Indians | Record: 51-67 | Previous Week: 23
  Hopefully, for Cleveland's sake, Grady Sizemore can get things fixed before next season. This year has been a disaster for him, considering his age and immense potential.
  
• 24. Diamondbacks | Record: 54-66 | Previous Week: 21
  Unlike most of the teams mired down here in the rankings, there is a great reason to watch the Snakes the rest of the way: Mark Reynolds and his home runs. It's looking like 50 is a sure thing, and he's right on the heels of Albert Pujols for the home run title.
  
• 25. Nationals | Record: 43-76 | Previous Week: 26
  They started to settle down a bit, going 3-3 last week. Still, they are playing far too well to end up with the No. 1 overall draft pick again next June. Since July 21, they are 16-10. They also signed Stephen Strasburg. Lots of good news in Washington -- during baseball season. That just sounds weird, no?
  
• 26. Padres | Record: 51-70 | Previous Week: 28
  Chris Young's season-ending surgery was bad news for the base-stealers in the National League. Young was the worst pitcher in the league at holding runners. Since 2006, opposing baserunners were successful in 120 of 126 steal attempts with Young on the mound. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 27. Orioles | Record: 48-71 | Previous Week: 25
  After what had to have been an encouraging first half, the Orioles are now 8-23 since the All-Star break. There's a lot of young talent, but can they grow into a winner before it's all traded away?
  
• 28. Reds | Record: 50-68 | Previous Week: 27
  Sure, they've been decimated by injuries, but there are plenty of guys who haven't stepped up and done what has been expected of them as well. Brandon Phillips, Aaron Harang, Johnny Cueto and Willy Taveras, among others, need to be better.
  
• 29. Pirates | Record: 48-70 | Previous Week: 29
  Ross Ohlendorf, who came over the in the Xavier Nady trade, is 4-1 with a 2.72 ERA in his past six starts. He's only 26 and it is his first full season as a starter in the majors. Give him time and he'll make that trade look smart. I'll bet you'll be able to say the same for most of the recent deals, if everyone is patient enough.
  
• 30. Royals | Record: 47-72 | Previous Week: 30
  On the other hand, the Royals are paying eight figures to Gil Meche and Jose Guillen, neither of whom will be members of the team next time they even sniff a winning record. Mike Jacobs, David DeJesus and a few others probably could have been moved as well. The message: The Pirates will have the franchise turned around sooner than KC. At least they have enough guts to take the PR hit as they try to build a team. The Royals are treading water.
  

MLB Power Rankings: Week 20 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

• 1. Yankees | Record: 70-43 | Previous Week: 3
  Can we hand the Yankees the division title now? The last time they blew a lead of more than 5 1/2 games was in 1933, when they led the American League by six games on June 7 but finished second, seven back of Washington. - Ed Price
  
• 2. Angels | Record: 67-44 | Previous Week: 1
  Failing to re-sign Mark Teixeira worked out OK for the Angels. First baseman Kendry Morales has a .927 OPS and 25 homers, and he's making 3 percent the salary of Teixeira, who has a .942 OPS and 29 homers. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 3. Dodgers | Record: 69-45 | Previous Week: 2
  Thanks largely to Matt Kemp, the Dodgers' No. 8 hitters have hit .329 with a .385 on-base percentage, a .506 slugging percentage and 16 homers, all National League bests. Their .891 OPS is better than the No. 4 hitters for all but three teams in the NL. - Fletcher
  
• 4. Cardinals | Record: 63-52 | Previous Week: 6
  With Matt Holliday, the Cards are 11-7. Unfortunately for them, they're not the only team near the top of the National League raising their level of play lately. They're virtually tied with the Rockies, who lead the NL wild card race, and are a game better than the Giants and Marlins. So long as they keep playing well they'll be fine, but there is less room for error for this team than people might realize. - Pat Lackey
  
• 5. Phillies | Record: 62-48 | Previous Week: 4
  Philadelphia is 33-19 on the road, a .635 winning percentage, and has a chance to be the first NL team since the 2004 Cardinals with more than 50 road wins. Now if the Phillies can just improve on than 29-29 home mark. - Price
  
• 6. Red Sox | Record: 64-48 | Previous Week: 5
  Since June 4, Boston has one road win over an AL team other than Baltimore. Among the Red Sox not getting it done away from Fenway: J.D. Drew (.232), David Ortiz (.201 with three homers in 189 at-bats) and Jason Varitek (.191 with four homers in 157 at-bats). - Price
  
• 7. Rangers | Record: 62-49 | Previous Week: 10
  The Rangers are 9-3 against the AL West-leading Angels -- who they still trail by five games. They must be looking around, saying, "a little help, please!?!" They are also 5-1 against the Red Sox, who seem to be their primary concern right now (in the wild card, where the Rangers trail the Red Sox by just 1 1/2 games). - Matt Snyder
  
• 8. Rays | Record: 61-52 | Previous Week: 8
  Tampa Bay became Russ Springer's ninth team when it claimed him off waivers from Oakland, and Springer is the ultimate career middle reliever. His eight career saves are fewest ever for a pitcher with 650 or more relief appearances, and his streak of 374 games since his last save (April 24, 2001, for Arizona) is the longest current one in the majors. - Price
  
• 9. Rockies | Record: 62-51 | Previous Week: 9
  If we could look only at stats from June 8 and beyond, Troy Tulowitzki would be an MVP candidate (or, I guess we'll say a candidate to finish second behind Albert Pujols). Since then, the smooth-fielding 25-year-old shortstop is hitting .320 with 17 homers, 44 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 13 doubles and a 1.069 OPS. - Snyder
  
• 10. Tigers | Record: 59-53 | Previous Week: 13
  The Tigers have been treading water the last few weeks -- fortunately, in the AL Central, that's all you need to do to hold onto your division lead. Though I suppose it's possible Rick Porcello's takedown of Kevin Youkilis, after trying to hop away from him, will inspire the team and send them on a tear. - Tom Fornelli
  
• 11. Marlins | Record: 60-53 | Previous Week: 14
  When Houston manager Cecil Cooper had Nick Johnson intentionally walked on Monday, it was the first time ever a runner was put on base to get to Hanley Ramirez. And Ramirez, who was leading the NL in batting, followed with an RBI single. "I was shocked," Jorge Cantu told The Palm Beach Post. - Price
  
• 12. Braves | Record: 59-54 | Previous Week: 18
  If pitching is enough, Atlanta has a chance. Since June 28, Javier Vazquez is 5-0 with a 2.59 ERA, striking out 46 and walking only nine in 48 2/3 innings; Jair Jurrjens is 4-2 with a 3.19 ERA; and Derek Lowe is 4-1 with a 3.40 ERA. - Price
  
• 13. Giants | Record: 61-52 | Previous Week: 11
  You know about the top of the rotation, with Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, but you probably didn't realize the Giants also had the best bullpen ERA in the majors (3.36). - Fletcher
  
• 14. Mariners | Record: 59-54 | Previous Week: 17
  It's been nearly a year since Ichiro Suzuki went hitless in consecutive games. Since his triple oh-fer Aug. 13-15, 2008, Suzuki has played 146 games without two consecutive goose eggs, the longest such streak since Stan Musial went 174 games in 1943 and '44. - Fletcher
  
• 15. Cubs | Record: 58-53 | Previous Week: 7
  Well, let's see ... they can't win on the road, can't win series against teams with winning records, the bullpen has trouble holding leads, the offense can't muster big innings despite stockpiling hits (three runs on 10 hits Tuesday night, five runs on 17 hits Sunday). Oh, and they can't seem to stay healthy. Other than that, things are going just great for the Cubs and us die-hard fans. (I'm gonna go play in traffic -- come get me when the Bears begin regular season play) - Snyder
  
• 16. White Sox | Record: 58-56 | Previous Week: 12
  The White Sox followed up their deadline acquisition of Jake Peavy by getting Alex Rios from the Blue Jays for nothing, meaning they've added $150 million to their payroll in two weeks. Unfortunately, while they're spending money like a playoff team, they're still not really playing like one. They've averaged two errors a game in August, and are the worst fielding team in the American League with 87 errors this season. - Fornelli
  
• 17. Blue Jays | Record: 54-58 | Previous Week: 16
  Letting Rios go on waivers to the White Sox opens right field for Travis Snider, eventually. Snider, Toronto's top hitting prospect (13 homers in 156 Triple-A at-bats), didn't come up right away, however, perhaps to prevent him from being arbitration eligible until after the 2012 season. "I think we'll probably get Snider back here," manager Cito Gaston said Tuesday. - Price
  
• 18. Twins | Record: 54-58 | Previous Week: 15
  Things just haven't been going Minnesota's way lately. They've lost five of six, Kevin Slowey's gone for the year, Glen Perkins just hit the DL, and Francisco Liriano has an 8.14 ERA in his last four starts. Carl Pavano might be their best pitcher right now, and unfortunately he can't pitch against the Tigers every day. If they don't get their rotation turned around quickly, the Twins could be out of the race by September. - Fornelli
  
• 19. Brewers | Record: 55-57 | Previous Week: 19
  Six losses in their last 10 have dropped the Brewers more or less out of playoff contention this year. They're 6 1/2 back of both the Cards and the wild card. GM Doug Melvin is allegedly still pursuing a starter but at this point, he might be best served by circling the wagons and waiting until the offseason. - Lackey
  
• 20. Astros | Record: 55-58 | Previous Week: 20
  Just a little over two weeks ago they surprisingly found themselves in the middle of both the NL Central and wild card race, but they've dropped 10 of 15 since then, including five of seven against the Cubs and Cardinals. Roy Oswalt is back in the rotation this week, but it's just not going to be enough to get the Astros back into the race. - Lackey
  
• 21. Diamondbacks | Record: 52-62 | Previous Week: 23
  The Diamondbacks are still incredibly young, and it appears they are already building momentum for 2010 -- when, remember, they'll have Brandon Webb back atop the rotation. They are 9-4 since a July 28 loss to the Phillies (and that includes a three-game sweep at the hands of the red-hot Nationals). - Snyder
  
• 22. A's | Record: 50-63 | Previous Week: 24
  Since the All-Star break, the A's are fourth in the league in hitting and second in runs. That includes what they have done after trading their two hottest hitters, Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera. - Fletcher
  
• 23. Indians | Record: 49-63 | Previous Week: 25
  Maybe the Indians knew what they were doing by trading away Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez. They're 6-3 since August 1, and have won 12 of their last 17 games overall. It's amazing how much easier the game of baseball gets when there's no pressure -- just like it did last season after they dealt CC Sabathia. - Fornelli
  
• 24. Mets | Record: 52-61 | Previous Week: 22
  With David Wright given a day of rest Tuesday, the Mets' lineup had just one player batting better than .262 (Luis Castillo, .300) and Fernando Tatis hitting third for the first time since May 28, 2001, for Montreal. It's amazing that five NL teams are averaging fewer runs per game than this team. - Price
  
• 25. Orioles | Record: 47-66 | Previous Week: 21
  Right fielder Nick Markakis is quietly having another excellent year. He's on pace for 193 hits, 52 doubles, 19 homers and 112 RBI and leads the AL in outfield assists. Markakis has reached base safely in 32 straight games, the longest active streak in the majors. - Price
  
• 26. Nationals | Record: 40-73 | Previous Week: 28
  Guess Washington doesn't want the No. 1 pick in the draft two years in a row. The Nationals are just 4 1/2 games behind the Royals for the second-worst record in the majors. That gap was 11 1/2 games on the morning of July 21. - Price
  
• 27. Reds | Record: 49-63 | Previous Week: 30
  They're just not playing very well right now. The Reds sit three games above the Pirates for last place in the NL Central, and that's even with the Pirates recent eight-game losing streak. Now Scott Rolen is headed to the disabled list and they're facing two series with the scorching-hot Nationals (that sounds weird) and the Giants before they get to face off with the Pirates. - Lackey
  
• 28. Padres | Record: 48-66 | Previous Week: 29
  If you haven't been paying attention to the Padres -- and why would you? -- you should take a look next time Mat Latos pitches (Friday at St. Louis). A 21-year-old righty with a fiery temperament, Latos has put up impressive numbers in his first five starts: 4-1 with a 2.43 ERA and an 0.944 WHIP. - Fletcher
  
• 29. Pirates | Record: 46-66 | Previous Week: 26
  They've looked awful since the trade deadline, dropping eight straight before a win against Colorado last night. That's bad, but improving their draft position in a year that will include Bryce Harper and maybe even Stephen Strasburg isn't a bad thing, especially for a team that's clearly decided to punt the remainder of the 2009 season. - Lackey
  
• 30. Royals | Record: 44-68 | Previous Week: 27
  All the Royals have left to play for at this point is a chance to ruin somebody's season. They're 15 games out of first, but do have 26 games remaining against the Tigers, White Sox and Twins, including each of their next 11 games. So they'll definitely play some role in deciding the AL Central champion. - Fornelli
  

MLB Power Rankings: Week 19 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 1. Angels | Record: 63-41 | Previous Week: 4
  Second baseman Howie Kendrick clearly got the message when he got a surprise demotion to Triple-A in June. Since returning, Kendrick has hit .388. The Angels, by the way, won 16 of the 19 games he played after his return. - Jeff Fletcher
• 2. Dodgers| Record: 66-41 | Previous Week: 3
  After they beat the Braves on Sunday, Atlanta catcher Brian McCann was impressed: "They're better than a really good team. Their lineup 1-8 is probably the best you're going to find." - Fletcher
• 3. Yankees| Record: 64-42 | Previous Week: 1
  They got to watch from first place as the national media fawned all over the Red Sox deadline deals. Why didn't the Yankees make any significant ones? Well, probably because they have pretty much everything they need in-house. They have now already won two straight since uncharacteristically dropping three in a row to the White Sox. - Snyder
• 4. Phillies | Record: 59-45 | Previous Week: 2
  Ruben Amaro Jr. was mocked this offseason for the deal he gave Raul Ibanez. Not only has Ibanez raked, but he pulled off the Cliff Lee heist, acquiring a pitcher nearly as good as Halladay at a fraction of the price. The dividends have been instant. Lee pitched a complete game in his Phillies debut -- his third in his last four starts. - Andrew Johnson
• 5. Red Sox | Record: 62-43 | Previous Week: 7
  Wait, what? How do I have them ranked fifth and not first? I thought we were all supposed to hand them the hardware after the trade deadline? Obviously they are a legitimate threat to win it all, but let's settle down a bit. Victor Martinez isn't Babe Ruth and the Sox still trail the Yanks in the AL East -- and the Rays aren't going away, either. Please don't misconstrue my comments into something they aren't. They are still a top-five team. - Snyder
• 6. Cardinals | Record: 59-50 | Previous Week: 8
  Where to start with this team right now? Matt Holliday's .488 batting average since joining the team? Albert Pujols hitting his NL-record fifth grand slam of the season on Tuesday night? Ryan Ludwick's Player of the Month Award for July? Chris Carpenter leading the NL in ERA? This is a very good squad that is hitting their stride. - Pat Lackey
• 7. Cubs | Record: 57-48 | Previous Week: 5
  Lots of things are going right for the Cubs, but I won't be confident enough to rank my admitted favorite team above the Cardinals until the bullpen quits blowing close games and making huge leads shrink. If the starting pitching can stay healthy and the offense can continue to hit like they have for the past month or so, the 'pen will make or breaks a third straight playoff berth. - Snyder
• 8. Rays | Record: 59-48 | Previous Week: 10
  A bit similar to the Cubs, it seems like every time the Rays start getting hot, something comes up. They lost three of four, and have since won four of five. Getting Wednesday night against the Red Sox would be big, but they really need to be consistent. Getting Scott Kazmir and Pat Burrell going would be a start. - Snyder
• 9. Rockies | Record: 59-47 | Previous Week: 11
  Who would have known the same personnel would play so much better under Jim Tracy than Clint Hurdle? Since firing Hurdle, the Rox have gone 41-19 (which would prorate to pace of 111 wins in a 162-game regular season) and would make the playoffs if the season ended today. - Snyder
• 10. Rangers | Record: 59-46 | Previous Week: 6
  It's been a great season for the young Rangers to build upon. Unless they get scorching hot sometime in the next month, it looks like that's all it's going to be. They aren't playing poorly, but have still fallen 4 1/2 games behind the superior Angels and trail the Red Sox by three in the wild-card race. - Snyder
• 11. Giants | Record: 59-48 | Previous Week: 13
  They haven't won a road series against a team with a winning record since taking two of three in Los Angeles May 8-10. The only other road series they've won since then have been against Oakland, Washington and Arizona -- three of the worst teams in baseball. - Fletcher
• 12. White Sox | Record: 55-52 | Previous Week: 12
  Chicago shocked the world when they got Jake Peavy minutes before the deadline, and it seems to have lit a fuse in the team. They've won four of their last five games against the Yankees and Angels, and Gordon Beckham has been better than advertised. - Tom Fornelli
• 13. Tigers | Record: 55-50 | Previous Week: 9
  The Jarrod Washburn trade was just the type of move this team needed -- despite his rough debut outing -- though they could have used another bat as well. Still, pitching is what's going to win the AL Central and they have the best rotation in the division. Well, until Peavy is healthy. - Fornelli
• 14. Marlins | Record: 55-51 | Previous Week: 16
  Is everyone sleeping on the Nick Johnson acquisition? The injury-prone first baseman cost virtually nothing in terms of prospects, is an above-average hitter at his position and has the added benefit of nudging the woeful Emilio Bonifacio out of the lineup. Florida isn't going away in the wild-card race. - Johnson
• 15. Twins | Record: 53-53 | Previous Week: 19
  They went out and filled a black hole in their middle infield and appeased their stars by landing Orlando Cabrera, but is he enough? We'll find out when they play the Tigers this weekend sandwiched between a schedule chock full of Indians and Royals. - Fornelli
• 16. Blue Jays | Record: 51-55 | Previous Week: 18
  Either the Blue Jays think they can contend with Roy Halladay anchoring a stellar rotation (with Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan back healthy) in 2010 or the Jays think they'll get more in a trade at a later time. Regardless, it's awfully tough to sit here and blame a team for holding on to one of the best pitchers in baseball with over a year left on his deal. - Snyder
• 17. Mariners | Record: 55-51 | Previous Week: 15
  David Aardsma seems to have finally found a home with his fifth team in five big-league seasons. Aardsma had zero saves in 128 games with a 5.29 ERA before this season. This year he has 25 saves and a 1.64 ERA. - Fletcher
• 18. Braves | Record: 54-53 | Previous Week: 14
  With a flurry of top prospects arriving in the big leagues in recent weeks, is it time to wonder whether Atlanta should give Jason Heyward a look? Certainly you don't want to rush him, but the Braves' outfield is lousy and Heyward is hitting an other-worldly .422 in 27 games at Double-A Mississippi. - Johnson
• 19. Brewers | Record: 53-54 | Previous Week: 20
  Their best hope to contend this year was to pick up Cliff Lee or Roy Halladay. They were unwilling to part with Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel, so that was out of the question. They didn't even get Jarrod Washburn, and so they settled for Claudio Vargas and probably a third-place finish in the NL Central. Really, that's probably fine. There's enough talent in Milwaukee for the team to contend again in 2010. - Lackey
• 20. Astros | Record: 53-54 | Previous Week: 17
  With five losses in seven games against the Cubs and Cardinals last week, the Astros went from surprise contenders in the NL Central to a .500 club that's watching two better teams pull away from them. That's not unexpected, but what was unexpected was the trade deadline passing without Ed Wade acquiring a veteran reliever or starter to try and make a run at a division title his team has no realistic shot at. - Lackey
• 21. Orioles | Record: 45-61 | Previous Week: 22
  Massive strides are being made with the young talent on a seemingly daily basis. The latest was a solid major league debut from 22-year-old phenom Brian Matusz. The future is bright, but will they suffer the same fate as the Blue Jays -- merely being in the wrong dividision? - Snyder
• 22. Mets | Record: 50-56 | Previous Week: 23
  Should they have been sellers at the deadline given the absurd injury ordeal the team is dealing with? The easy answer is yes, but at second glance it doesn't appear that the Mets would have had a lot of parts to give. That lack of depth is what has them in this mess in the first place. - Johnson
• 23. Diamondbacks | Record: 48-59 | Previous Week: 24
  What looked to be a franchise with one of the brightest futures in baseball just a year and two months ago had fallen apart earlier this season. They've gone 16-10 since July 4, but it's a day late, a buck short for the Snakes. Maybe they can still salvage the strong, young foundation and look to contending in 2010. - Snyder
• 24. A's | Record: 46-60 | Previous Week: 27
  Bobby Crosby was genuinely shocked that the A's didn't give him his old shortstop job after they traded Orlando Cabrera. Sometimes the players are the last ones to see the writing on the wall. - Fletcher
• 25. Indians | Record: 44-62 | Previous Week: 25
  The only person the Indians didn't trade in the last few weeks is the guy who bangs the drum at Progressive Field all the time. Unfortunately he's no longer pounding the drum, but his own face instead, as are a lot of Indians fans right now. There's always 2011. - Fornelli
  
• 26. Pirates | Record: 45-61 | Previous Week: 26
  As hard as it is for Pirate fans to accept it, gutting the current roster to restock the farm system was the right move for an organization going nowhere for the 17th straight season. The rest of this season will be tough to watch if it goes anything like Yusmiero Petit's near no-hitter against them on Tuesday, but for the first time in a while, there's light at the end of the tunnel for the Pirates, even if its still two or three years away. - Lackey
• 27. Royals | Record: 41-65 | Previous Week: 28
  They designated Sidney Ponson for assignment this week, so there should be a lot more food to go around for everybody in the clubhouse spread. Will a better-fed team lead to more wins? Probably not. They just can't seem to get anything positive going. - Fornelli
• 28. Nationals | Record: 35-72 | Previous Week: 30
  A furious six-run eighth inning Tuesday night got lowly Washington its first win over the Marlins this season. It only took 10 tries. More than any other team, the Nationals have been victimized by Florida lately. The Fish are 23-4 since the start of last season against the Nats. - Johnson
• 29. Padres | Record: 44-64 | Previous Week: 29
  When the Padres listened to trade offers for Adrian Gonzalez at the deadline, they apparently got some pretty interesting offers. The guess here is that they'll hold a full-scale auction for him in the offseason, looking for a Teixeira-like haul. - Fletcher
• 30. Reds | Record: 45-61| Previous Week: 21
  The only reason that Walt Jocketty could've wanted to acquire Scott Rolen was to attempt to contend in 2010. That was a pipe dream before the news that Edinson Volquez would be lost for most of next season. What will Jocketty and the Reds do now?- Lackey [Snyder's note: I don't care about the record for the entire season when doing this particular ranking. The Reds have lost 14 of their last 15. They are 6-23 since our Independence Day and 19-41 since May 27. No one is presently worse.]

MLB Power Rankings: Week 18 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB Power Rankings

• 1. Yankees | Record: 61-38 | Previous Week: 3
  Amazingly, the Yankees haven't been alone in first place this late in the season since 2006. And thanks to their new stadium, they are the second team ever to have six players hit 15 homers or more in the team's first 100 games (Cano, Damon, Matsui, Rodriguez, Swisher, Teixeira). - Ed Price
  
• 2. Phillies| Record: 57-40 | Previous Week: 1
  Jamie Moyer (10-7 at age 46) is the second-oldest pitcher to reach double digits in wins, after Phil Niekro in 1986. His next start is Saturday at San Francisco, and he hasn't beaten the Giants on the road since July 16, 1987. - EP
  
• 3. Dodgers| Record: 62-37 | Previous Week: 1
  Even if the Dodgers have "slowed down" (read: gotten caught by the Yankees), it didn't take Manny Ramirez long to get back into his rhythm. Since returning from his suspension, Ramirez has hit .306 with a 1.040 OPS. He was hitting .348 when he was suspended. - Jeff Fletcher
• 4. Angels | Record: 59-40 | Previous Week: 4
  Who was leading the majors in hitting in July, through Monday? If you guessed Angels shortstop Erick Aybar (.436), pat yourself on the back. You read the box scores very closely. Clearly, everything's coming up LAA. - JF
  
• 5. Cubs| Record: 53-45 | Previous Week: 12
  Well, hello there. If it isn't yooooooour Chicago Cubs back in first place. Kind of amazing what Aramis Ramirez's return really means to this team (not just from an offensive standpoint). Of course, this could just be God setting up the Lovable Losers of Wrigleyville for another late-season/early-playoff collapse, but right now, they're in a pretty good spot. (It also simply could have been me blessing Wrigley with my presence; I recall something similar happening last year as well.)
  
• 6. Rangers | Record: 55-42 | Previous Week: 9
  They showed a lot of resiliency by ripping off seven wins in eight games even as the flu turned their clubhouse into a hot zone. Sadly, it doesn't look like Doc Halladay will be scrubbing in to help them over the last two months, which means they'll need to make do with Get Well balloons. - Josh Alper
  
• 7. Red Sox | Record: 58-40 | Previous Week: 5
  Boston retired Jim Rice's No. 14 on Tuesday -- the third jersey retired since 2000 (also Fisk, Pesky) after going 11 years without such a ceremony. As for the present, Boston has a key trip coming up: Baltimore, Tampa Bay and New York, beginning Friday. - EP
  
• 8. Cardinals | Record: 54-48 | Previous Week: 6
  Despite trading for Matt Holliday -- the biggest free agent bat out there -- the Cardinals have managed to cough up the NL Central lead to their archrivals. Still, despite their current second-place status, the Redbirds have (assuming health) a pretty good 1-2 punch in both their batting order (Albert Pujols-Holliday) and their rotation (Chris Carpenter-Adam Wainwright) so this race should go down to the wire.
  
• 9. Tigers | Record: 52-46 | Previous Week: 8
  Detroit ranks 11th in the American League in team OPS, but with Holliday off to St. Louis, the Tigers' best chance for an impact bat for the stretch run appears gone. If Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson keep rolling and Armando Galarraga and Rick Porcello right the ship, it might not matter in the mediocre AL Central. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 10. Rays | Record: 54-46 | Previous Week: 7
  Matt Garza, Wednesday's scheduled starter, has allowed one homer in his past six starts, just one stolen base all year (in three attempts) and has a .222 opponents' average. But he's just 7-7, thanks to lousy run support. - EP
  
• 11. Rockies | Record: 54-45 | Previous Week: 11
  The Rox hit the trading deadline in pretty nice shape. No glaring needs outside of the bullpen and they may have filled that in-house by promoting Jhoulys Chacin from Double-A Tulsa. The 21-year-old whiffed two in his big-league debut and has star written all over his skinny frame. - JA
  
• 12. White Sox | Record: 51-49 | Previous Week: 13
  If Mark Buehrle isn't the most underrated pitcher in the major leagues (Adam Wainwright?), then he's one of the two or three most underrated. The perfect game reminded all of us of that, as did his streak of 45 consecutive outs that extended into the sixth inning of his first start after the perfecto Tuesday night. Too bad he couldn't hold on for the win and keep Chicago a game ahead of the Twins in the standings. - AJ
  
• 13. Giants | Record: 54-46 | Previous Week: 10
  After Tim Lincecum struck out 15 on Monday night, a scout said he was throwing the "best changeup I've seen in 20 years." Pretty good, considering Lincecum didn't even throw a changeup when he got to the big leagues. - JF
  
• 14. Braves | Record: 51-48 | Previous Week: 16
  Tim Hudson, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to pitch Friday in Triple-A. Meanwhile, the Atlanta rotation already leads the majors in starters' ERA. Although it might not matter for NL East purposes given the current Phillies' lead.- EP
  
• 15. Mariners | Record: 51-48 | Previous Week: 14
  A recent cold streak may have made the team a longshot to still contend, but first-year GM Jack Zduriencik still may want to hold on to assets like Jarrod Washburn. Even a strong second-place finish could build some goodwill in Seattle. - JF
  
• 16. Marlins | Record: 51-48 | Previous Week: 18
  This is a key stretch for the Fish. Including the current series against Atlanta, seven of Florida's next eight series area against winning teams (Braves, Cubs, Nationals, Phillies, Astros, Rockies, Astros, Braves). - EP
  
• 17. Astros | Record: 50-50 | Previous Week: 15
  What amazes me about this team isn't that they're still hanging around (OK, that actually is kind of amazing), it's that they still continue to stock so much veteran talent away. I know Carlos Lee's contract isn't ideal, but the guy is heating up and is already on pace for 25 homers, 100 RBI and a .310 average.
  
• 18. Blue Jays | Record: 49-51 | Previous Week: 20
  Adam Lind could get 85 extra-base hits. The last seven players to do so at age 25 or younger: Prince Fielder, Grady Sizemore, Mark Teixeira, Albert Pujols, Vernon Wells, Lance Berkman, Alex Rodriguez. - EP
• 19. Twins | Record: 50-50 | Previous Week: 17
  Oddly enough, pitching has been the problem for the Twins this season, with the club having allowed the sixth most runs in the American League in 2009. Losing Kevin Slowey, who led the team in wins and had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of five, for the season isn't going to help Minnesota get its starting rotation on track heading into the final two months. - AJ
  
• 20. Brewers | Record: 49-50 | Previous Week: 19
  It seems wrong to hinge the entire season on Manny Parra's next few starts (even if my fantasy season might be hinging on it) but the reality is that the Brew Crew's pitching right now is straight up weak. Parra looked fantastic (as Lackey noted last week) in early returns, but got knocked around by the Braves on Friday. Wednesday night's start against the Nats is a must-win, just for the sake of confidence.
  
• 21. Reds | Record: 45-53 | Previous Week: 21
  Dusty Baker obviously knows how to get the best out of his players: Brandon Phillips' response to Baker benching him? Why hitting .174, slugging .304 and driving in four runs over the last seven days. At least there was a home run during what appears to be a streak quite indicative of the rest of Cincy's season.
  
• 22. Orioles | Record: 42-56 | Previous Week: 23
  Baltimore has gone 2-16 in road division games this year, which is why the O's are again looking forward. The next piece to arrive is Chris Tillman, who is 8-6 with a 2.70 ERA at Triple-A and is expected to start Wednesday against Kansas City. Lefty Brian Matusz, meanwhile, is 7-0 with a 1.59 ERA since moving up to Double-A. - EP
  
• 23. Mets | Record: 47-51 | Previous Week: 22
  Somehow, Fernando Tatis -- with 108 career home runs -- has hit more grand slams (eight) than 500-homer guys Mel Ott, Mike Schmidt and Frank Robinson, and as many as Eddie Mathews and Willie Mays. -EP
  
• 24. Diamondbacks | Record: 43-57 | Previous Week: 26
  Bright spot amid the wreckage: Stephen Drew has a 1.071 OPS in July, which follows a strong June and provides hope that there are better days ahead for the somnolent Diamondbacks offense.
  - JA
  
• 25. Indians | Record: 42-59 | Previous Week: 29
  One-time top prospect Andy Marte found his way back to the major leagues Tuesday night, going 2-for-3 in his 2009 big-league debut. Marte, who was acquired in the Coco Crisp trade in 2006, has a .211 career average in the majors, but he put up a .327/.369/.593 line in 82 games at Triple-A Columbus this season. - AJ
  
• 26. Pirates | Record: 43-57 | Previous Week: 25
  Talk about their failures all you want (and there are plenty of them!) but the reality is -- at least to me -- that this is a Pirates team on the rise. Well, relatively anyway; there's a ton of young talent hanging around: Andrew McCutchen has slowed a bit, but Garrett Jones and Ryan Doumit combined for 42 total bases over the past seven days, with both slugging above .690 during that span.
  
• 27. Athletics | Record: 41-57 | Previous Week: 24
  If the A's brass gives Trevor Cahill any grief about the fact that he's allowed a team-leading 21 homers, he can point to the fact that Oakland record for homers allowed is 39, a mark held by Hall of Famer Catfish Hunter. Second is 38 by Curt Young, who is the A's pitching coach. - JF
  
• 28. Royals | Record: 39-59 | Previous Week: 27
  Even with Cleveland selling off spare sparts before the July 31 deadline, Kansas City is in an awfully familiar place -- the cellar of the AL Central. Since 2000, the Royals have finished in last place five times and finished higher than fourth just one time -- in 2003, when they wound up in third place at 83-79. - AJ
  
• 29. Padres | Record: 38-62 | Previous Week: 28
  Adrian Gonzalez is just the fourth player to have at least three 25-homer seasons for the Padres. Will he get a chance to go for a fourth, equaling Ken Caminiti? Although the Padres might be able to help themselves by trading him, the guess here is they won't take the PR hit to do it. - JF
• 30. Nationals | Record: 31-68| Previous Week: 30
  Washington right-hander Collin Balester, from Orange County, Calif., credits surfing for helping build his arm strength. Balester's father,Tom, runs a surfboard manufacturing company. (Ed. Note: Yes, this is considered "upside" when talking about the Nats.) - EP

MLB Power Rankings: Week 17 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 1. Dodgers | Record: 59-34 | Previous Week: 1
  If Jason Schmidt can even approach what he once was, he'll make the Dodgers even more dominant. However, a guy doesn't miss two years and then just pick up where he left off. The Dodgers are still going to be trolling for a starter. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 2. Yankees| Record: 55-37 | Previous Week: 3
  The team that usually does its giving to free agents is showing its charitable side this month with "HOPE week" (Helping Others Persevere & Excel). Every day this week, the team will reach out to an individual, family or organization that has been active in its community. - Ed Price
  
• 3. Phillies| Record: 52-38 | Previous Week: 7
  If Philly stays this hot and no one in the NL East improves, the Phillies could clinch division title before Labor Day. And winning five games before the All-Star break and rolling it into another five afterward is a decent way of "staying hot." - EP
  
• 4. Angels | Record: 46-35 | Previous Week: 5
  If Dustin Pedroia can win the MVP, why can't Chone Figgins? Figgins is hitting .310 with a .395 OBP and he's leading the league with 72 runs. He also plays good defense. With Vlad and Torii Hunter out, this Figgins is the guy you have to worry about, even without power. - JF
  
• 5. Red Sox| Record: 55-37 | Previous Week: 2
  Why Boston values pitching depth: When Tim Wakefield goes on the DL, the Sox plug in Clay Buchholz. Meanwhile, the Yankees turned to Sergio Mitre to fill the spot opened by Chien-Ming Wang's trip to the disabled list. - EP
  
• 6. Cardinals| Record: 48-42 | Previous Week: 8
  They've still got their two-game lead in the NL Central and they've been mentioned in both Roy Halladay and Matt Holliday talks. Albert Pujols made his desire to win known prior to this season; the Cards may be looking to load up and make a run in the weak National League this season. - PL
  
• 7. Rays | Record: 51-42 | Previous Week: 4
  Lefty Scott Kazmir, who left his last start with a sore forearm, is said to be good to go Thursday. If he and David Price (12 innings, 13 strikeouts, three walks in past two outings) get on the right track, Tampa Bay can make a charge. - EP
  
• 8. Tigers| Record: 48-42 | Previous Week: 6
  Good news-bad news time! Good news: the Tigers won in Rick Porcello's last start (Tuesday night; yes, I am indeed cheating a bit). Bad news: Porcello stunk again. On the bright side, the Tigers are at least leading what has turned out to be a horribly disappointing division.
  
• 9. Rangers| Record: 50-41 | Previous Week: 9
  They've played .500 ball since the start of June despite pitching only slighter worse than they did during their May surge. Their offense, on the other hand, has dropped off significantly, which makes for an abnormal state of affairs in Arlington. - Josh Alper
  
• 10. Giants | Record: 50-42 | Previous Week: 10
  This 10-game trip is critical for the Giants. They started it by losing two of three in Pittsburgh. Now they're in Atlanta, and next they'll go to Colorado. The latter two stops will be tough tests for a Giants team that has played poorly on the road all year. - JF
  
• 11. Rockies | Record: 51-42 | Previous Week: 12
  Welcome back Franklin Morales! One of the stars of Colorado's run to the 2007 World Series collapsed in 2008 and got sent to Triple-A after two poor April starts, but he's come back with a vengeance. Since his July 7 recall, he's given up one hit in five scoreless innings out of the 'pen. The Rockies are 8-3 since that date. - JA
  
• 12. Cubs | Record: 47-44 | Previous Week: 18
  Thanks to the schedule-makers giving them a four-game series against the Nationals to open the second half, the Cubs are again in the thick of the NL Central race. Despite all their struggles, they're still just one hot streak away from overtaking the Cardinals. Seven games against the Reds and Astros starting this weekend might be a good place to start. - PL
  
• 13. White Sox | Record: 48-44 | Previous Week: 14
  The offense has slowed down over the past week, but fortunately for the Pale Hose, the pitching picked up. Nice outings by Clayton Richard, Mark Buehrle and Gavin Floyd helped bring the Chisox within two games of the division lead. They'll need John Danks to pick up steam if they want to make a run for the playoffs, though.
  
• 14. Mariners | Record: 49-43 | Previous Week: 12
  Barring an injury, Ichiro Suzuki is going to become the first player to have nine consecutive 200-hit seasons to start his big league career. Of course, he was also the first player to have eight in a row. - JF
  
• 15. Astros | Record: 47-46 | Previous Week: 19
  If it's July, it must be time for the Astros to pull themselves into contention, despite no one really having any idea how they're doing it. They're very quietly 12-6 in July and now find themselves deadlocked with the Cubs and Brewers for second in the NL Central. That four-game set with the Cubs next week is already looming large. - PL
  
• 16. Braves | Record: 47-46 | Previous Week: 20
  After bottoming out at 34-40 during interleague play, Atlanta has rallied to get back above .500. The Braves' starting pitchers have just three losses in July. Say what you want about swapping Ryan Church for Jeff Francoeur (boooring) but at least it's a shift in the clubhouse attitude, right? - EP
  
• 17. Twins | Record: 47-46 | Previous Week: 13
  Scott Baker is showing signs of life, Francisco Liriano hasn't been horrible and Nick Blackburn, well, Nick Blackburn got his face kicked in during his last start. But cut the guy some slack. He's been anchoring this rotation all year. Speaking of slack, Justin Morneau picked it up the last week while Joe Mauer decided to pull the patented Home Run Derby Fade.
  
• 18. Marlins | Record: 47-47 | Previous Week: 15
  The same weekend Florida got swept by Philadelphia, it broke ground on its new stadium, scheduled to open in 2012. Was there any clearer message to look toward the future? On the bright side, at least this team is full of younger stars. - EP
  
• 19. Brewers | Record: 47-46 | Previous Week: 16
  I've been saying it since March and I'll keep saying it now; if the Brewers get another starting pitcher before July 31, they're going to be a real contender. And keep an eye on Manny Parra; in two starts since returning from Triple-A, he's thrown 15 innings, struck out 13, and yielded just one earned run. -PL
  
• 20. Blue Jays | Record: 46-47 | Previous Week: 17
  Anyone for realignment? Toronto is 35-27 outside the AL East. How about an AL Great Lakes division, along with Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago? - EP
  
• 21. Reds | Record: 44-48 | Previous Week: 21
  Very slowly, the wheels seem to be coming off in Cincinnati. After hanging around .500 for most of the year, they're now five games under and closer to the last place Pirates than the three-way second place deadlock. The best news for them is that Edinson Volquez is throwing and nearing a rehab assignment. Maybe his return can help them right the ship a little.- PL
  
• 22. Mets | Record: 44-48 | Previous Week: 22
  If Gary Sheffield goes on the disabled list, a possibility if his sore hamstring doesn't improve, the Mets would have 1,347 career homers on the DL -- and pretty much no one capable of hitting one on the active roster. - EP
  
• 23. Orioles | Record: 41-51 | Previous Week: 23
  Baltimore is on pace for 54 road losses, which would be the franchise's most since 1988, when the O's went 20-61 away from home and lost 107 overall. So, on the bright side, they're not totally horrible at home. Right? Right??? - EP
  
• 24. Athletics | Record: 36-47 | Previous Week: 24
  With all the talk about Matt Holliday, it's gone largely unnoticed that the A's might be unloading a few more players before the July 31 deadline. Orlando Cabrera could be attractive, as could reliever Mike Wuertz. - JF
  
• 25. Pirates | Record: 41-51 | Previous Week: 27
  Word out of Pittsburgh today is that Adam LaRoche has become the latest Pirate to walk the plank out of town. He won't be the last before July 31 either. Who will follow LaRoche? Freddy Sanchez? Jack Wilson? John Grabow? Matt Capps? All of the above? - PL
  
• 26. Diamondbacks | Record: 39-54 | Previous Week: 24
  Are the Diamondbacks a cautionary tale about building around youth, or do these things just take some time? There's evidence on both sides of that equation, but the only thing that's for sure is that Dan Haren deserves much, much better. - JA
  
• 27. Royals | Record: 37-55 | Previous Week: 26
  I remember thinking "why didn't I pick them to win the division???" back when they were close to leading the division. Now I remember why -- this is still a team on the up-and-up though, I think, even if the second half could be a long one for Royals' fans (and Zack Greinke's Cy Young hopes).
  
• 28. Padres | Record: 37-56 | Previous Week: 29
  Fish tacos are excellent. Sea World is a lot of fun, and it's not nearly as crowded as other theme parks. Legoland, a little north in Carlsbad, is perfect for kids 3-8 ... What? You don't want to go to San Diego to see the Padres, do you? - JF
  
• 29. Indians | Record: 36-57 | Previous Week: 28
  Hey! I did pick these guys to win the division, which actually makes a lot of sense given my past history with such things. The Tribe have been awful all season and will probably continue to be awful for the rest of it. I know people blame Eric Wedge and I guess that's fair, but shouldn't they be making a move for some keepers at this point?
  
• 30. Nationals | Record: 27-66| Previous Week: 30
  Turnover isn't helping. Just two pitchers remain from Washington's Opening Day roster, John Lannan and Joe Beimel. But the Nats are still on pace for the worst NL team ERA (not including mile-high Colorado) since the 2000 Cubs and Astros. - EP
  

MLB Power Rankings: Week 16 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 1. Dodgers | Record: 56-32 | Previous Week: 1
  Jonathan Broxton is out with a sore toe that might end up being a chronic problem if the Dodgers don't do something about it. In the meantime, you can bet the Dodgers are looking for a little depth for their late-inning relief. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 2. Red Sox| Record: 54-34 | Previous Week: 2
  The embarrassment of riches in the starting rotation continues to carry the Sox, which is a good thing given the recent slump in the bullpen. Would they entertain the notion of moving John Smoltz to relief to balance out their pitching staff? - Josh Alper
  
• 3. Yankees| Record: 51-37 | Previous Week: 3
  The New York papers are abuzz with talk of a trade for Roy Halladay, a sure sign that a solid first half hasn't satisfied everyone's expectations for the Bronx Bombers. It would be cheaper, though, if Joba Chamberlain could get back on track and give them regular quality starts. - JA
  
• 4. Rays | Record: 48-41 | Previous Week: 10
  Have they been stalking Boston and New York while waiting to make their move, or are the defending American League champions stuck in a hangover that they can't get out of? A good start to the second half may tell the story. - JA
  
• 5. Angels| Record: 49-37 | Previous Week: 4
  The bullpen, a major issue in the first half, finally started putting it together in the past few weeks. Angels relievers had allowed an .809 OPS through June 22, and .666 since then. - JF
  
• 6. Tigers | Record: 48-39 | Previous Week: 8
  The Tigers are pretty average offensively, but it should be fun to watch the race for team leader in home runs down the stretch. Brandon Inge leads the team with 21, but Curtis Granderson and Miguel Cabrera both have 18. Given Inge's display at the Home Run Derby, bet on one of the other two to finish with the most.
  
• 7. Phillies | Record: 48-38 | Previous Week: 9
  The sluggish start appears to be a thing of the past, and now the defending champs can start turning an eye to October. Rebounds from Cole Hamels and Jimmy Rollins would do wonders, but giving Lou Marson a look behind the plate could make for a big improvement at the weakest spot in the Phillies lineup. - JA
  
• 8. Cardinals | Record: 49-42 | Previous Week: 5
  You can always count on Albert Pujols, but he's likely to get the Barry Bonds treatment down the stretch. Can the rest of the Cardinal offense pick up the slack? You know they are going to get good pitching, barring injury. - Matt Snyder
  
• 9. Rangers | Record: 48-39 | Previous Week: 6
  Chris Davis is gone for now, but the Rangers still have two sub-par regulars in their lineup in catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and shortstop Elvis Andrus. Both are a big part of their future, but with the team in contention this year, they need to get them going or find suitable temporary replacements to hang with the Angels.
  
• 10. Giants | Record: 49-39 | Previous Week: 7
  Jonathan Sanchez pitched a no-hitter, so now may be the perfect time to trade him. Even though he looked great in the no-no (against the Padres) and he said he's made adjustments to be more consistent, there is still enough doubt with him that the Giants ought to swap his potential for a proven bat right now, if possible. - JF
  
• 11. Rockies | Record: 47-41 | Previous Week: 12
  How about some love for catcher Chris Iannetta? He doesn't sport a high batting average, but there are plenty of other things to like -- 20 extra-base hits, a .350 on-base percentage and a .463 slugging average. Those numbers are reminiscent of Jason Varitek (in a good way).
  
• 12. Mariners | Record: 46-42 | Previous Week: 14
  If the M's are going to find a bat somewhere, they might want to consider trading Brandon Morrow. Obviously something hasn't worked with his development in Seattle, but he's still young and talented enough that other teams will see his value. - JF
  
• 13. Twins | Record: 45-44 | Previous Week: 16
  If you're looking for a team to push the Tigers for the division crown down the stretch, this is it. The Twins are in the middle of the pack in the American League offensively and have seen their pitching improve of late. Mediocrity in the junior circuit should be enough to win the Central division.
  
• 14. White Sox | Record: 45-43 | Previous Week: 13
  Bartolo Colon doesn't seem all that broken up over Michael Jackson's death as manager Ozzie Guillen intimated a while back. The portly right-hander has been impressive in a pair of rehab starts in the minor leagues, posting a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings of work. At that rate, he'll be back in the White Sox rotation before long.
  
• 15. Marlins | Record: 46-44 | Previous Week: 15
  Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco have kicked things into a high gear since the start of June and have carried the Marlins into the mix for a playoff spot. Staying there will likely take a return to form from Dan Uggla since the team isn't likely to make a significant (aka costly) move for outside help. - JA
  
• 16. Brewers | Record: 45-43 | Previous Week: 11
  Once J.J. Hardy starts to hit, they'll have one of the most prolific offenses in the league, but that hasn't been a question mark thus far. They simply have to get much better starting pitching to make the postseason for the second consecutive year. - MS
  
• 17. Blue Jays | Record: 44-46 | Previous Week: 21
  A 3-12 stretch to end the first half, Roy Halladay trade talks and a sputtering offense lead to only one question for the Canadian nine. When do the Maple Leafs get back on the ice? - JA
  
• 18. Cubs | Record: 43-43 | Previous Week: 18
  They have the talent to make a run, but do they have the intangibles? They need to get healthy, and people like Alfonso Soriano and Milton Bradley need to earn their significant salaries. - MS
  
• 19. Astros | Record: 44-44 | Previous Week: 20
  It's hard to see how they can stick close to .500 with only two decent starting pitchers, but they've done it thus far. Michael Bourn has been a real pleasant surprise to the offense. - MS
  
• 20. Braves | Record: 43-45 | Previous Week: 17
  Getting rid of Jeff Francoeur helps psychologically, but Ryan Church isn't going to be the difference-maker the Braves need on offense. They're always willing to make a deal, though, and no one has run too far away from them yet. - JA
  
• 21. Reds | Record: 42-45 | Previous Week: 19
  Track the progress of Homer Bailey. If he blossoms into what everyone thought he would two years ago, the Reds have serious starting pitching flexibility in the offseason -- which should allow them to trade for a better offense. - MS
  
• 22. Mets | Record: 42-45 | Previous Week: 22
  The Mets have a built in excuse thanks to the copious injuries they've suffered this season, but Omar Minaya still needs to answer the question of why he thought such a top-heavy team could stand the 162-game gauntlet without more depth to help them weather the storms. - JA
  
• 23. Orioles | Record: 40-48 | Previous Week: 24
  All signs continue to point toward a brighter future, which means it's time to jettison the guys who can help this year's contenders. Danys Baez, Aubrey Huff and maybe even George Sherrill are the kinds of players that should find bidders before July 31 and shouldn't be in Baltimore on August 1 - JA
  
• 24. Diamondbacks | Record: 38-51 | Previous Week: 28
  The Diamondbacks are an enormous disappointment, but they have two players who make it worth it to watch them anyway. Justin Upton looks like he could became one of next great stars in the game, and Dan Haren is every bit as good as Tim Lincecum (without the video game commercial, of course).
  
• 25. Athletics | Record: 37-49 | Previous Week: 27
  Now the Matt Holliday Trade Watch is going to go to Defcon 1. The guess here is that he's going to wind up in St. Louis, but the A's aren't going to get Brett Wallace back. - JF
  
• 26. Royals | Record: 37-51 | Previous Week: 25
  Anyone care to explain the Yuniesky Betancourt trade for Kansas City GM Dayton Moore? Yes, the Royals' shortstop situation is bleak, but Betancourt fits in well at the position in that sense -- he's a lousy defender and a worse hitter. Making matters worse, Moore surrendered a pair of prospects to swing the deal.
  
• 27. Pirates | Record: 38-50 | Previous Week: 23
  They are fully committed to rebuilding while letting the kids play. There are some more trades coming, and that will make 2009 yet another losing season. This administration, though, is building the right way. They aren't looking to break the streak with one season and then start losing again. They are trying to build a lasting winner, and you have to take some lumps in the process. - MS
  
• 28. Indians | Record: 35-54 | Previous Week: 29
  It's all over but the shouting for the Tribe in '09. Now it's time to wonder and speculate if the Indians will move any more big pieces for future gains. Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee figure to be the center of that talk, but neither is a slam dunk to go with both signed for next season.
  
• 29. Padres | Record: 36-52 | Previous Week: 26
  San Diego has shuffled 46 players in and out of games already this year. If you can name more than 15 of them, give yourself a pat on the back. Or get a life. - JF
  
• 30. Nationals | Record: 26-61| Previous Week: 30
  Jim Riggleman is in the dugout now, but the only reason to pay attention to the Nationals is the coming deadline to sign first overall pick Stephen Strasburg. If they fail, this will go down as the worst season in baseball history no matter how many games they wind up winning. - JA
  

MLB Power Rankings: Week 15 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

• 1. Dodgers | Record: 53-30 | Previous Week: 1
  Randy Wolf has an excellent shot at shedding a dubious distinction this year. Wolf's 259 starts are the most by any active National League pitcher who hasn't pitched in the playoffs. Roy Halladay leads the AL with 271, and he'll need a trade to snap his streak. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 2. Red Sox| Record: 50-33 | Previous Week: 2
  It took three months, but the cracks are starting to show. Given how last season ended for him, the Red Sox have to be concerned about Mike Lowell, and they might need some sort of infielder. Of course now, with Daisuke Matsuzaka's season in jeopardy, it's a lot harder for Boston to deal from its pitching depth. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 3. Yankees| Record: 49-34 | Previous Week: 3
  Whether it was the "rest" he got in South Florida or the rejuvenative powers of actress Kate Hudson, Alex Rodriguez has been on fire since the drama in Miami passed. Entering play Tuesday night, he was hitting .341 with five homers and 17 RBI since June 21. Not coincidentally, the Yankees have closed the gap in the AL East over that span. - AJ
  
• 4. Angels | Record: 46-35 | Previous Week: 5
  The bats have been on fire for more than a month now. Since May 30, the Angels have hit .289, best in the league, and averaged 6.0 runs per game. (Ed. Note: And the Rangers would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you darned kids!) - JF
  
• 5. Cardinals| Record: 46-39 | Previous Week: 11
  Since June 1, rookie Colby Rasmus has an OPS that's hanging around 1.000 and has hit six of his 11 homers on the year. Combined with Albert Pujols, that might be all the offense that this pitching staff, led by a revitalized Chris Carpenter, needs to stay in front of the NL Central. - Pat Lackey
  
• 6. Rangers | Record: 45-36 | Previous Week: 8
  And yet, despite the Angels' success, the Rangers remain. Of course, Chris Davis is the worst human being to ever walk the planet (fantasy-related exaggeration applies) but at least there's the potential call up of Justin Smoak, whose addition to all my keeper-league teams has paved the way for the cult-fueled, best fantasy team name ever: "Smoakstack Lightning."
  
• 7. Giants | Record: 45-38 | Previous Week: 9
  Randy Johnson's injury could leave the Giants with a vulnerable rotation. While he's out, they'll have two outstanding starters and three question marks. The Giants' prediction that Johnson will only miss three weeks is also iffy. He's 45. - JF
  
• 8. Tigers | Record: 45-38 | Previous Week: 6
  It's kind of odd to see Brandon Inge edge Miguel Cabrera onto the final fan vote All-Star ballot, but when you account for his defense at third, he's probably more valuable than his teammate. Inge is also leading all Tigers in home runs with 19 on the year. - AJ
  
• 9. Phillies | Record: 43-38 | Previous Week: 10
  Woo, mediocrity. You know things are getting bad/awkward for the Phils in the pitching department when they're looking at Pedro Martinez as a potential starter. For crying out loud, fellas, just go make a play for Halladay. Adding Doc to this squad would not only lock up a repeat in the division, but it would probably make the Phils the favorite to repeat. Yes, I do know it's easier said than done.
  
• 10. Rays | Record: 45-39 | Previous Week: 4
  Don't look now, but manager Joe Maddon is quietly making the oft-maligned bullpen by committee work. No one in the bullpen has more than six saves -- J.P. Howell and the injured Troy Percival are tied for the team lead -- and five other relievers have closed out a game for the Rays this season. - AJ
  
• 11. Brewers | Record: 43-40 | Previous Week: 7
  They're bringing Manny Parra back up from Triple-A, but he won't fix their rotation woes. If the Brewers don't find someone to back Yovani Gallardo soon, they might find themselves behind both the Cardinals and the suddenly surging Cubbies in the standings. - PL
  
• 12. Rockies | Record: 44-39 | Previous Week: 13
  I love it when teams that are supposed ot be rebuilding -- a winter removed from shipping face-of-the-franchise Matt Holliday out of town -- somehow don't get the memo and manage to contend despite the lack of pitching on paper. OK, Jason Marquis kind of counts because he throws the ball towards the plate at varying speeds. But still, this just can't last.
  
• 13. White Sox | Record: 43-40 | Previous Week: 17
  Paul Konerko became the first White Sox player since Harold Baines in 1982 to hit three home runs in a game in the Windy City Tuesday night. Ranked 11th in the American League in runs scored, that's just the type of boost the offensively-challenged Pale Hose need heading into the second half of the season. - AJ
  
• 14. Mariners | Record: 43-39 | Previous Week: 18
  Admit it, you didn't think that Russell Branyan would still be putting up monster numbers halfway through the season. The guy is ahead of Mark Teixeira in average, homers, OBP and SLG. And he doesn't play in a ballpark where popups to right are homers. - JF
  
• 15. Marlins | Record: 44-41 | Previous Week: 16
  Of course, on the other hand, maybe semi-shoddy teams can compete.That's probably because Ricky Nolasco is as hot as they come right now, striking out 42 in his last five games (four of which were wins) while walking only four over that same span. Fuego.
  
• 16. Twins | Record: 43-31 | Previous Week: 14
  With a loss to the Yankees and the White Sox's win over the Indians, the Twins slipped back into third place in the AL Central Tuesday night, but, possessing the best run differential in the divison, it figures to be Minnesota, not the South Siders, pressing the Tigers for the division crown as the summer presses on. - AJ
  
• 17. Braves | Record: 41-43 | Previous Week: 21
  Javier Vazquez has to be the most frustrated man on the planet right now. He's pitching Cy Young-caliber ball, but the Braves refuse to score for him. Of course, Derek Lowe and all the other pitchers probably aren't thrilled either. Nate McLouth has been a welcome addition and this team is starting to improve a little, but one has to wonder if an, ahem, Holliday vacation would be helpful.
  
• 18. Cubs | Record: 41-41 | Previous Week: 20
  Even with a loss to the Braves Tuesday night, the Cubs have won five of seven. Ryan Dempster's out, but Aramis Ramirez is back and Milton Bradley had an .839 OPS and a .453 OBP in the 19 games before the most recent loss. Despite their inconsistency this year, the division hasn't run away from them and they're still very much in contention for a playoff spot. - PL
  
• 19. Reds | Record: 41-41 | Previous Week: 15
  Dusty Baker alert: Johnny Cueto is on pace for more than 200 innings after throwing only 174 last year. He's already starting to fade; in his last four starts (including Monday's debacle against the Phillies) his ERA is 9.87 and opponents are OPSing 1.016 against him. - PL
  
• 20. Astros | Record: 44-42 | Previous Week: 22
  The 'Stros are two games over .500, but they've been outscored by more than 30 runs this season. This team is currently relying on big performances from past-their-prime guys like Miguel Tejada and Mike Hampton, which kind of makes it feel like they're held together by duct tape. I just can't see them hanging around in contention much longer. - PL
  
• 21. Blue Jays | Record: 43-42 | Previous Week: 12
  It seems like every couple of months J.P. Ricciardi says he'd be open to trading Roy Halladay and then nothing happens. The reason? Because he's just being realistic. Of course, he'd consider dealing Halladay -- as good as he is. There isn't an executive in the game who wouldn't. - AJ
  
• 22. Mets | Record: 39-43 | Previous Week: 23
  WTF, man. When you add two high-quality closers to a team that only needs bullpen help in a surprisingly mediocre division, that's supposed to be a recipe for a trip to the playoffs. Unfortunately for management, the Red Cross has been permanently stationed at Citi Field this season and even under the NYC microscope, they seem to be getting a bit of a free pass. For now.
  
• 23. Pirates | Record: 38-47 | Previous Week: 23
  Trading away 2/3rds of your starting outfield is a sure-fire way to make sure runs are hard to come by. The Pirates' front office is building for the future, which is fine, but their current offense, which only stands to get worse with the trade deadline and potential deals for Adam LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez looming, is pathetic and probably won't get them out of the cellar this season. - PL
  
• 24. Orioles | Record: 36-47 | Previous Week: 24
  Baltimore has plenty of extremely talented hitters in its lineup. Who would have thought that designated hitter Luke Scott would be leading the team in OPS (.949) at this point in the season, though? The next closest regular is Adam Jones, who had an .858 OPS entering play Tuesday. - AJ
  
• 25. Royals | Record: 36-47 | Previous Week: 25
  Number of regular Kansas City contributors with an on-base percentage above .350: three. Number with an on-base percentage below .300: Five. That goes a long way toward explaining why the Royals are last in the junior circuit in runs, and why they never had much of a chance to hang in the divison race all year. - AJ
  
• 26. Padres | Record: 35-47 | Previous Week: 26
  Tony Gwynn Jr., who wasn't even good enough to be in the big leagues with the Brewers, has hit .304 since he was acquired by the Padres. Gwynn's success also cleared the way for the Padres to unload Scott Hairston for three more players. Kevin Towers: Super Genius. - JF
  
• 27. Athletics | Record: 35-47 | Previous Week: 27
  When Brett Anderson shut out the Red Sox on Monday, it snapped the team's 151-game streak without a complete game, which was the longest in Oakland history by 55 games. (Ed. Note: On the downside, the team still stinks, Holliday has to be moved and Moneyball looks dead. So there's that.) - JF
  
• 28. Diamondbacks | Record: 34-49 | Previous Week: 29
  You want the easy answer? Brandon Webb. He's basically done for the year and potentially as a Diamondback. Although it obviously makes way more sense to point out that I had them in the World Series (it's cool, it happens every year). At least -- and I feel like a broken record saying this -- Justin Upton is a total stud. Also: Dan Haren; he's quite good.
  
• 29. Indians | Record: 33-51 | Previous Week: 28
  The Cleveland front office has already declared manager Eric Wedge's job safe for the rest of the season, but most observers are still trying to figure out how things went so horribly wrong. You can start with Fausto Carmona, a soft back-end of the rotation and a softer bullpen, but it seems like the problems run deeper than that. - AJ
  
• 30. Nationals | Record: 24-58 | Previous Week: 30
  And now we reach the point in the show when I get angry that I used up all my (potentially) funny "Guess what? This team still sucks really, really badly!" song titles. So I'm stuck trying to think of things that might be amusing. Then I remember if you're a Nationals fan, you're not reading Power Rankings anyway and just move on.
  

MLB Power Rankings: Week 14 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

• 1. Dodgers | Record: 49-28 | Previous Week: 1
  Every week we have to come up with a new way to say the Dodgers are very good. How 'bout this one? The Dodgers are the only team in the majors that has five players with at least 40 RBI. And none of them are named Manny Ramirez. He comes back Friday, in case you haven't heard. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 2. Red Sox| Record: 48-29 | Previous Week: 2
  No Mike Lowell? No problem. Kevin Youkilis plays third and Mark Kotsay or Jeff Bailey plays first. It helps that the last four series before the All-Star break are against Baltimore, Seattle, Oakland and Kansas City. - Ed Price
  
• 3. Yankees| Record: 43-32| Previous Week: 3
  Eric Hinske played on the 2007 (Boston) and 2008 (Tampa Bay) AL East winner and AL champions. Maybe that's why the Yankees got him. Or maybe it was so Derek Jeter has another former Rookie of the Year he can talk to. - EP
  
• 4. Rays | Record: 43-36 | Previous Week: 7
  Tampa Bay leads the majors in run differential, which indicates the Rays could continue their hot streak and climb up the standings. If Scott Kazmir (five innings, two runs Saturday against Florida) really is straightened out, then the AL East had better watch out. - EP
  
• 5. Angels| Record: 42-32 | Previous Week: 11
  The heavy preseason favorite in the AL West, the Angels finally got into sole possession of first place over the weekend. Ervin Santana is expected back soon. Brian Fuentes is leading the league in saves. Everything is good in Halo-ville, as long as the starters can go eight innings every night. - JF
  
• 6. Tigers | Record: 42-35 | Previous Week: 9
  Jim Leyland says his club can't stay in contention without more offense. That hardly seems true in the mediocre AL Central, but Detroit could use a little more pop. The Tigers rank eighth in the AL in runs, ninth in on-base percentage and 10th in OPS. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 7. Brewers | Record: 40-36 | Previous Week: 6
  They look to be the best team in a very mediocre division. They can virtually bury the Cubs by taking care of business in a four-game series in Milwaukee beginning Thursday. Also, Casey McGehee is making people forget about Rickie Weeks. What a deep lineup. - Matt Snyder
  
• 8. Rangers | Record: 40-35 | Previous Week: 5
  Things aren't going well, as the Angels have taken slight control of the division and appear to really be on their way to full health. Texas getting Josh Hamilton back from injury should help, and Ian Kinsler continues to be just awesome, but they need to find a way to deal for pitching before the trade deadline. - MS
  
• 9. Giants | Record: 41-34 | Previous Week: 13
  The Giants need a bat, and Miguel Tejada would be a good fit. Yes, he'd be a rental, but for just that reason the Giants might be able to get him for cheap. Tejada could play third and Pablo Sandoval could play first. The Astros just have to realize they are out of it, even though they're often the last ones to figure it out. - JF
  
• 10. Phillies | Record: 39-34 | Previous Week: 4
  Philadelphia will get Raul Ibañez back. The Phillies will probably get a starting pitcher via trade. But will they get Jimmy Rollins back on track? If all three happen, the Phils will repeat as division champs in a surprisingly weak NL East. - EP
  
• 11. Cardinals | Record: 41-37 | Previous Week: 8
  Adding Mark DeRosa was huge with all the patchwork lineups the Cardinals have been running out there. He's a great fit. They'll still need more consistency to make the postseason. Oh, by the way, Albert Pujols shouldn't be pitched to. Ever. How does he not get the Barry Bonds treatment of 200 walks per season? - MS
  
• 12. Blue Jays | Record: 43-37 | Previous Week: 18
  Scott Rolen has an 18-game hitting streak, best of his career and the longest active streak in the majors. He has a shot to bat .300 for the first time since 2004. The Blue Jays, however, remain in the AL East, which is rather unfortunate. - EP
  
• 13. Rockies | Record: 40-36 | Previous Week: 20
  It will be interesting if the Rockies' run deters upper management from dealing players like Brad Hawpe and Garrett Atkins (and Todd Helton if he'd allow a trade). The Rockies' great play of late signifies less that they can win now and more that they have a great, young group of players (the core of Stewart, Fowler, Tulowitzki, Jimenez, Street, Iannetta, Gonzalez, etc.). To keep building and stop clinging to the past would be the correct route. - MS
  
• 14. Twins | Record: 40-39 | Previous Week: 14
  Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau get all the love in Minnesota, but how about a little for Jason Kubel? The designated hitter is third on the team in home runs and hitting .313 with a .925 OPS. Now about that starting pitching ... - AJ
  
• 15. Reds | Record: 37-37 | Previous Week: 15
  It's going to be very interesting to see how the Reds act during trade season. They really, really need a power bat to stick in left field. Will they be able to add payroll? If so, will they shed prospects to try and win now, even though the young group will probably be even better next season? - MS
  
• 16. Marlins | Record: 40-39 | Previous Week: 17
  Seeing a chance to steal the division, Florida is being "aggressive" in trying to trade for a reliever, according to an official of an AL team. The Marlins are without closer Matt Lindstrom (elbow) and their only reliever older than 30 -- Kiko Calero (shoulder). - EP
  
• 17. White Sox | Record: 38-38 | Previous Week: 21
  There is some talk in the Windy City that GM Kenny Williams should be a seller at the July 31 trade deadline, but why? No one in the Central is going to run away from the White Sox, and, with a boost from the offense, Ozzie Guillen's crew could easily wind up back in the postseason. The return of Carlos Quentin should help matters. - AJ
  
• 18. Mariners | Record: 39-36 | Previous Week: 18
  Although he's been overshadowed by Zack Greinke and Roy Halladay, Felix Hernandez is pitching better than anyone in the AL lately. He finished June 4-1 with a 0.94 ERA. For the season he's 8-3 with a 2.54 ERA. - JF
  
• 19. Mets | Record: 38-38 | Previous Week: 12
  Gary Sheffield was supposed to be a part-time player when the Mets picked him up after the Tigers released him. Now he leads the depleted Mets in homers. The Mets' game plan has become: hope they don't fall too far out in the next 2-3 weeks and then make a run when Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes return. - EP
  
• 20. Cubs | Record: 36-38 | Previous Week: 16
  And so the season from Hell continues. Once it looks like a corner is turned (solid Rich Harden outing Monday), the offense gets handcuffed by Ross Ohlendorf. Aramis Ramirez's absence is not the only reason this team is underachieving, thus, his return isn't going to provide some magic elixir to their struggles. - MS
  
• 21. Braves | Record: 35-40 | Previous Week: 19
  How's Atlanta's offense? Ask Javier Vazquez. In five June starts, Vazquez had a 1.98 ERA, with 39 strikeouts, seven walks and a .197 average allowed. And he went 1-3. The Braves were held to two runs or fewer 12 times in June. - EP
  
• 22. Astros | Record: 36-38 | Previous Week: 24
  Seriously, this is all Drayton McLane needs. The Astros farm system is as barren as Oklahoma was during the Dust Bowl. Why? They trade prospects for veterans every season, even when they aren't in the race. They are presently only 4 1/2 games out with trading season on the horizon. Yet, they don't have enough talent to stick around. - MS
  
• 23. Pirates | Record: 36-41 | Previous Week: 22
  Where are all the "fans" crying about the Nate McLouth trade now? Andrew McCutchen is a star in the making. Meanwhile, the Pirates have a positive run differential and are only six games out in the Central. - MS
  
• 24. Orioles | Record: 34-43 | Previous Week: 26
  Who knew Mark Hendrickson could be a decent reliever? He was 1-4 with a 6.35 ERA and .990 OPS allowed in the rotation, but since going to the bullpen he has a 3.60 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. - EP
  
• 25. Royals | Record: 33-43 | Previous Week: 23
  Greinke seems to have put a three-start rough patch to begin June behind him. The Kansas City right-hander has nudged his ERA back below 2.00 and has won his last two starts while posting a 1.88 ERA. - AJ
  
• 26. Padres | Record: 33-42| Previous Week: 25
  Right-hander Chad Gaudin is worth watching. Yes, he's seemed to be a bit injury prone, but he's got some absolutely filthy stuff when he's on. He was a lights-out reliever for the A's in 2006 and excellent starter for most of 2007. He showed his talent again on Sunday when he gave up one hit to the Rangers in seven innings, in Texas. - JF
  
• 27. Athletics | Record: 33-43 | Previous Week: 28
  It's easy to say the A's were just destined to stink all along, but they really have been hit pretty hard by injuries. Let's not forget that their No. 1 pitcher (Justin Duchscherer) and their closer (Joey Devine) both had surgery before the season even started. Those were guys they really were counting on, not to mention guys like Eric Chavez, whose production would have been a bonus. - JF
  
• 28. Indians | Record: 31-47| Previous Week: 27
  Carl Pavano is the only other Cleveland starter to take the hill as many times as reigning AL Cy Young Cliff Lee this season, though of course his performance hasn't been nearly as good. Pavano has a 5.56 ERA -- more than two runs higher than Lee -- but his strikeout rate is higher than Lee's and his walk rate is lower. - AJ
  
• 29. Diamondbacks | Record: 30-46 | Previous Week: 29
  Coming off a 2007 division title, the Snakes stormed out of the gates in 2008 to the tune of a 21-9 record. With a young and deep nucleus, it looked to be their division for a long time. Man, that seems so long ago, doesn't it? Now they just suck. - MS
  
• 30. Nationals | Record: 22-53 | Previous Week: 30
  End of an error? The Nats acquired Lastings Milledge from the Mets on Nov. 30, 2007. Between then and Tuesday, when Washington sent him to Pittsburgh, the Nats went 81-154 - at least 14 games worse than any other team. - EP
  

MLB Power Rankings: Week 13 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

• 1. Dodgers | Record: 43-22 | Previous Week: 4
  They quietly made a statement over the weekend, taking two of three from the Rangers in Arlington. They beat a division leader from the superior American League, and did it in their ballpark. Chad Billingsley and Randy Wolf each handled a lineup (with a DH) tougher than what they see on most nights in the NL, especially in the NL West. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 2. Red Sox| Record: 39-25 | Previous Week: 1
  When can we officially proclaim that Big Papi is back? David Ortiz homered again Tuesday. He's gone deep four times this month and is hitting .342 with 10 RBI in June. If Boston can get its shortstop situation sorted out as well -- Jed Lowrie is set to go on a rehab assignment this weekend -- it will have most of its early-season question marks answered. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 3. Yankees| Record: 37-27 | Previous Week: 2
  The day Alex Rodriguez returned to the Yankees lineup, CC Sabathia pitched a complete game shutout in Baltimore. Including that start, the burly left-hander is 4-1 with a 2.83 ERA over his last seven starts and is holding opposing hitters to a .193 average. Now about A.J. Burnett ... - AJ
  
• 4. Phillies | Record: 36-26 | Previous Week: 3
  The Phillies are good. (Yes, it's shortened as an excuse for a soapbox moment.) Look, if someone -- anyone, blogger, "professional" sports "writer" points out that a player in Major League Baseball is having a great season that is out of line with their previous statistical performance and says "It could possibly be steroids," no more complaining, OK? That's the world we live in. It sucks for the guys who are clean -- and it will for quite some time -- but deal with it people. You're paid millions to play baseball; infinity times the credit your way if you're clean, but it's part of the culture right now. (/trips awkwardly off soapboax)
  
• 5. Rangers| Record: 36-27 | Previous Week: 7
  Hey-o! What do you know? The Texas Rangers, as previously predicted by some geniuses, are doing quite well. Of course, Chris Davis could probably do some people (can I get an "Amen!" fantasy owners???) some good by learning to hit and generally not be terrible. Seriously, guy. You're killing me.
  
• 6. Brewers | Record: 36-29 | Previous Week: 5
  Suddenly, their lack of pitching is turning into a crisis. Manny Parra, who they had hoped would provide a solid No. 2 to Yovani Gallardo, has been demoted to Triple-A and the Brewers really have no in-house replacement. Luckily for them, the rest of the division has struggled over the past two weeks as well and they're still in first place. - Pat Lackey
  
• 7. Rays | Record: 35-31 | Previous Week: 14
  The Rays have quietly slipped a game back of the Blue Jays in the division and won six of their last seven games, including a victory over the red-hot Rockies Tuesday night in which they pounded out a team-record 11 extra-base hits. The time to write Tampa Bay off as one-year wonders is still far off in the distance. - AJ
  
• 8. Cardinals | Record: 35-30 | Previous Week: 11
  In a complete 180 from last year, their rotation and bullpen have been mostly lights out thanks to Chris Carpenter's strong return and Ryan Franklin's dominance, but their offense (other than Albert Pujols, of course) has been terrible, with just one non-Pujols (that'd be Colby Rasmus) starter hitting an above average OPS. - PL
  
• 9. Tigers | Record: 34-30 | Previous Week: 12
  Detroit has put itself in a good position as it heads toward the midway point of the season, but there is plenty of room for upgrades. With Jeremy Bonderman out until September and Dontrelle Willis really struggling, the Tigers could use another starting pitcher, and if Carlos Guillen can't return soon, they could probably use a bat as well. - AJ
  
• 10. Blue Jays | Record: 35-31 | Previous Week: 6
  Hopefully the doctors get Doc Halladay healed up soon. The right-hander strained his thigh last Friday, and is now headed to the disabled list. He's leading the league in wins, strikeout-to-walk ratio and innings pitched and is in the top five in strikeouts, WHIP and complete games. He isn't mentioned often enough in the conversation about best pitchers in the game. - AJ
  
• 11. Angels | Record: 34-29 | Previous Week: 13
  The team made a statement in the past week by demoting two players who figured to play prominent roles: second baseman Howie Kendrick and reliever Jose Arredondo. This is a team that is supposed to win now, so they'll be looking to do whatever it takes. If Kelvim Escobar doesn't solve their bullpen problems, look for them to make a trade (Huston Street?). - JF
  
• 12. Mets | Record: 33-29 | Previous Week: 18
  Gary Sheffield has been on an absolute tear over the past week -- he's hit 3 taterjacks and slugged .760 over the past seven days, helping the Mets fill an offensive void generated by an abundance of injuries.The Mets are going to need more than that (see: pitching/bullpen help) though if they want to take the division.
  
• 13. Giants | Record: 34-30 | Previous Week: 17
  The Giants played four consecutive series against teams with losing records, and they won all four. That's a good start. Now they'll face a tougher stretch the rest of the month. Aside from another series agaisnt the A's, they play the Angels, Rangers, Brewers and Cardinals, all contenders. That should give GM Brian Sabean a good indication of whether his team is a legit wild-card contender or not. - JF
  
• 14. Twins | Record: 33-33 | Previous Week: 20
  So when do we start to wonder if Joe Mauer can actually hit .400 over a full season? The Minnesota catcher has two batting titles to his name already, and, after a 4-for-4 night Tuesday and a 1-for-4 night Wednesday, is hitting .425 on the year. The AL is not short for MVP candidates, but, all apologies to Jason Bay, Torii Hunter, et al., this isn't much of a race right now. - AJ
  
• 15. Reds | Record: 32-31 | Previous Week: 15
  Still hanging around .500 despite playing without Edinson Volquez, Joey Votto, and Edwin Encarnacion. Without Votto in the lineup, their highest regular OBP belongs to Brandon Phillips at a paltry .342. Dusty Baker might not be a fan of on-base percentage, but someone on this team has to start getting on base. - PL
  
• 16. Cubs | Record: 30-30 | Previous Week: 10
  As you may have noticed, the .500 Cubbies had their PR value inflated a touch last week. That's because Snyder was filling in, obviously. Although, they did -- at least for a little while -- start making a move for the division. However, Fukudome's .056 OBP over the past seven days is relatively impressive, no? At least that's not supposed to be his strength or anything ...
  
• 17. Marlins | Record: 32-34 | Previous Week: 22
  Ricky Nolasco and Josh Johnson both provided above-average quality starts for the Fish this past week, helping them to surge back ahead of the Braves in the "just not quite good enough to win but mediocre enough to be better than some teams" NL East race.
  
• 18. Mariners | Record: 31-33 | Previous Week: 19
  Brandon Morrow is a starter. No, he's a reliever. No, he's a starter. No, he's a reliever. That's probably not the best way to develop a pitcher talented enough to be the No. 5 pick in the draft. At what point recently were the Mariners so good that they should have been putting the short-term needs of the club ahead of the long-term development of Morrow? - JF
  
• 19. Braves | Record: 30-33 | Previous Week: 12
  A three-game losing skid heading into Thursday's action (and yes, they lost again) helped to push the Braves nearly seven games behind the division-leading Phils. If this sounds familiar, it should: when Atlanta has struggled over the past few years, it's been in large part because an early-to-midseason swoon helped drop them too far back in the race to catch up.
  
• 20. Rockies | Record: 31-33 | Previous Week: 18
  Colorado probably deserves a little more credit than 20th overall simply based on a 9-1 record in their last ten games. The only problem is that the Dodgers are so far ahead of everyone else in this division that it didn't do much besides bring them within 10 games of the NL West lead. Also: The Rox just aren't that good.
  
• 21. White Sox | Record: 30-34 | Previous Week: 21
  Between a sputtering offense and the lackluster performances of John Danks and Gavin Floyd, the South Siders need some good news. Jose Contreras, who returned from a voluntary assignment in the minors on June 8, has provided a little. He's thrown eight shutout innings in each of his two starts since re-taking his spot in the Chicago rotation. - AJ
  
• 22. Pirates | Record: 30-34 | Previous Week: 23
  Andrew McCutchen is still clicking along nicely in the leadoff spot and in center field, but this is still a team without much power and with a spotty rotation that may be better than last year's, but certainly still isn't great. They may hang around .500, but more trades are coming. - PL
  
• 23. Royals | Record: 29-34 | Previous Week: 13
  Zack Grenke has gotten all the love a Kansas City pitcher can get over the first 2 1/2 months of the season, but Gil Meche deserves some attention too. Greinke's second banana has thrown a quality start in four of his last five turns in the rotation. - AJ
  
• 24. Astros | Record: 29-33 | Previous Week: 24
  Letting Pudge Rodriguez set the all-time MLB record for games caught is really the only excuse to have him in the lineup at this point. He's hitting .247/.280/.407. These guys are creeping around .500, but don't let that fool you. Like the Pirates, they're still not very good. - PL
  
• 25. Padres | Record: 28-35 | Previous Week: 25
  Remember when the Padres won nine in a row? What was going on with that? Since that inexplicable streak, they have not even managed to win two in a row. They are 5-12 (before Tuesday). Oh, and they also lost Jake Peavy. Maybe for the season. Still, can't beat the weather, or the fish tacos, in San Diego. - JF
  
• 26. Orioles | Record: 27-37 | Previous Week: 22
  If you had Nolan Reimold as the best Orioles rookie this year, raise your hand. The Baltimore left fielder has seven home runs since he was called up to the majors in mid-May, a pace that projects to 38 over a full season of action. - AJ
  
• 27. Indians | Record: 29-38 | Previous Week: 29
  But for his first two starts of the season, Cliff Lee has picked up in 2009 where he left off in 2008. The reigning AL Cy Young winner had a 9.90 ERA after his second start of the year, but he has a 2.07 ERA in 12 starts since. - AJ
  
• 28. Athletics | Record: 27-36 | Previous Week: 16
  You can get a pretty spirited discussion going among baseball people if you ask which of the A's young starters has the best future. (I say Trevor Cahill.) While we're waiting to find out who's right, the A's are going to continue going through some big ups and downs with the staff, while mostly going through downs with the lineup. - JF
  
• 29. Diamondbacks | Record: 27-38 | Previous Week: 29
  Will Brandon Webb ever return? Will it even matter? A D'backs team (hello, National League version of Cleveland) that had high hopes heading into 2009 looks poised to be a tremendous disappointment for the entire season. On the bright side, at least they're stacked with young talent -- always a nice moral victory.
  
• 30. Nationals | Record: 16-46 | Previous Week: 30
  Which band should we reference this week? Led Zeppelin ("Song Remains the Same")? The Talking Heads ("Same as it ever was")? Aerosmith ("Same Old Song and Dance")? Do you see where I'm going with this? Yes, I'll stop asking questions and start taking requests now.
  

MLB Power Rankings: Week 11 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

• 1. Red Sox | Previous Week: 6
  As consistent as anyone in baseball and they own the AL East. And is there hope for Big Papi? He's sporting a seven-game hitting streak, in which he's hitting .276 with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI. The rest of the league better hope not, this team is good enough without him.
  
• 2. Yankees| Previous Week: 2
  What's with the role reversal? Since 2003, the Yankees haven't been the World Series and the Red Sox have won two. This year, the Yankees have lost all six games against the Red Sox. If not for that, they'd easily be the best team in baseball. As it stands, they'll have to settle for second. Is that the Yankee way?
  
• 3. Phillies| Previous Week: 5
  The defending champs are road warriors, with a 21-9 record away from home. Still, you'd like to at least see a winning home record to accompany it, no? Raul Ibanez is on pace for .327-58-162 in the triple crown categories. His career highs? .304-33-123. Maybe he just needed to be rescued from Seattle/Kansas City?
  
• 4. Dodgers | Previous Week: 1
  The Dodgers hit .283 and averaged 5.6 runs per game in the 29 games before Manny Ramirez was suspended. In the next 29 games they have averaged 4.9 runs and hit .278. They were 21-8 with him, and 18-11 without him. Conclusion: Manny Ramirez is good, but so are the rest of the Dodgers. (By Jeff Fletcher)
  
• 5. Brewers| Previous Week: 3
  They've got to be looking over their shoulders at this point, but if you had told them they'd be sporting a 2 1/2-game lead right now heading into the season, they'd most certainly have taken it after losing their two aces from last season. If they want to maintain it, J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart and Manny Parra have to be better.
  
• 6. Blue Jays | Previous Week: 10
  What, you thought they were going away? When the Jays lost nine in a row, it seemed a pretty common sentiment that it was the beginning of the end. Since then, though, the offense has resurrected itself and they've crawled back to within a 1 1/2 games of first.
  
• 7. Rangers | Previous Week: 4
  Still clinging to that division lead, but all three teams behind them are coming strong. Something's going to have to be done about the pitching before the trade deadline, or the offense is going to have to be even better than usual. Maybe they could deal Chris Davis? They have the depth to offensively replace him, and it might eliminate some of the headaches he provides -- which probably outweigh his 12 home runs worth of benefits.
  
• 8. Tigers | Previous Week: 8
  The 1-2 punch of Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson is as balanced and exciting as they come. Jackson's just a steady and consistent force, second only to Zack Greinke in ERA. Verlander is punching out guys at an exhausting pace (11.3 per nine innings -- which leads the majors). He also has a 1.12 ERA in his last eight starts. The Tigers are 15-9 when either starts, and 17-17 when they don't.
  
• 9. Mets | Previous Week: 9
  While the offense deals with serious injury-related holes, the pitching has kept them right in striking distance of the hated Phillies. Only the Cubs, Dodgers and Giants have allowed less runs. Maybe Tuesday night's homer-fest was a sign they'll start to hit as well?
  
• 10. Cubs | Previous Week: 16
  Shhhh! No one needs to talk about how the team is starting to swing the bats a bit better and is 8-4 since a potentially season-crippling eight-game losing streak. They've snuck into second place -- by percentage points -- but could use benefit from some anonymity for a bit. Just pretend you don't see them here.
  
• 11. Cardinals | Previous Week: 7
  That's five straight losses. I'll never understand why anyone pitches to Albert Pujols, by the way. He's hitting .320. The team average -- which includes his figure -- is .253. He has a 200-plus-point advantage on everyone in slugging percentage. He has 51 RBI. No one else even has 30. Put him on and make someone else beat you.
  
• 12. Braves | Previous Week: 15
  Atlanta made a splash with the Nate McLouth trade in an effort to bolster their offense. And then it was promptly shutout in its first two games with him, but have rebounded with three straight wins and 19 runs since.
  
• 13. Angels | Previous Week: 13
  Defense and a strong bullpen have always been points of pride around the Big A, but this year has been an exception. The Angels have 11 blown saves (tied for most in the league), a 5.87 bullpen ERA (worst in the league) and a .685 defensive efficiency (10th in the league). (By Jeff Fletcher)
  
• 14. Rays | Previous Week: 14
  They have the players to be better than average. They just need to play better. Do I need to name names? OK. B.J. Upton, Pat Burrell, Dioner Navarro, Andy Sonnanstine, Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour ... I'll just stop. Don't let the naysayers proclaim 2008 a fluke, Rays.
  
• 15. Reds | Previous Week: 11
  Hanging right with the Cardinals and Cubs in the Brewers' rearview mirror, but how long can it last without Joey Votto? The Reds already needed another big bat -- I've recommended Matt Holliday for left field -- and now they have to deal with losing their best hitter.
  
• 16. A's | Previous Week: 29
  You surprised that the A's are hot now that it's June? You shouldn't be. The A's have had a winning record in June seven years in a row. Their 128-70 record in June over that span is the best in baseball by 11 1/2 games (NYY, 116-78). (By Jeff Fletcher)
  
• 17. Giants | Previous Week: 17
  A lot of Giants fans probably feel like closer Brian Wilson is taking years off their lives with his typical high-wire act, but he's really not that bad. Among all relievers with at least five saves, Wilson is a little below the middle of the pack with a 1.37 WHIP. He's better than Jonathan Papelbon (1.40). (By Jeff Fletcher)
  
• 18. Rockies | Previous Week: 28
  Maybe they just needed to fire Clint Hurdle? The Rox have now won six games in a row, and it wasn't against lackluster competition either. It likely won't last, but it's good to see some of the kids swing the bats -- like Ian Stewart's tear late last week.
  
• 19. Mariners | Previous Week: 19
  Remarkably, the M's are still floating around .500, thanks to a league-leading 3.74 ERA, which balances their league-worst 3.77 runs scored per game. They still need to trade some of their veterans (Adrian Beltre, Erik Bedard) to improve the long-term prognosis. (By Jeff Fletcher)
  
• 20. Twins | Previous Week: 18
  You have to play better on the road if you want to compete for a postseason spot. An 8-19 record away from home just isn't good enough when there are 34 contests of those type on the docket. If they do climb back into the thick of things, we have to talk about Joe Mauer for MVP.
  
• 21. White Sox | Previous Week: 12
  There isn't much in sports more enjoyable yet unoriginal than an Ozzie Guillen tirade. We've seen so many before, yet it never really gets old. Maybe that's just me. He is right about one thing, albeit indirectly, they need to start scoring more runs.
  
• 22. Marlins | Previous Week: 23
  They are 18-30 since their inexplicable start, but 10-6 since May 23. With such a young foundation, we'll be seeing hills and valleys like that all season. Keep an eye on Josh Johnson (5-1, 2.73) as a dark horse in the Cy Young race.
  
• 23. Pirates | Previous Week: 24
  The Bucs are 16-11 outside their division. The problem is they are only 10-21 inside it -- and that's where much of their schedule resides. The Nate McLouth trade wasn't nearly as bad as many fans thought, by the way. Andrew McCutchen is worth the price of admission.
  
• 24. Astros | Previous Week: 27
  Same problem as the Pirates. The Astros are 12-8 outside the division but 13-23 in it. Did Miguel Tejada lie about his age in the opposite direction? The 35-year-old (?) is hitting .357 and leads the majors with 82 hits and 21 doubles (tied with two others in doubles).
  
• 25. Padres | Previous Week: 20
  The Padres sure like to give fans their money's worth. Their 18-inning game on Sunday was the team's second game of at least 16 innings this year. They have played the two longest games this season. Last year they played a 22-inning game and an 18-inning game. (By Jeff Fletcher)
  
• 26. Orioles | Previous Week: 21
  It would be interesting to see what they could do in, say, the NL West. Instead, they are stuck trying to keep pace with some monsters. The Rays can't even keep their nose above .500. All the O's can do is continue to build. An outfield of Nick Markakis, Nolan Reimold and Adam Jones is a very nice start.
  
• 27. Indians | Previous Week: 26
  The rise of Mark DeRosa's power is remarkable. Before 2006, he had never hit more than eight homers. Then he went for 13 and 10. Last season, he jumped all the way to 21 -- as a 33-year-old. Now, he's hit 10 in the current season and is on pace for 27. He's never driven home more than 87 runs, but he's on pace for 113. He can also play six positions. And he's on the trading block.
  
• 28. Royals | Previous Week: 22
  Zack Greinke gave up nine hits and five earned runs in five innings last time out. His ERA is up to 1.55. The team is already nine games under .500. Trouble is on the horizon, even in this incredibly mediocre division. .
  
• 29. Diamondbacks | Previous Week: 25
  Would Brandon Webb really have made much of a difference this year? Dan Haren's got a 2.33 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 83 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 85 innings. And he's 4-4. There's potential here, but right now they are just bad. Real bad.
  
• 30. Nationals | Previous Week: 30
  The more things change, the more they stay the same. This team is liable to make dubious history, despite having a pretty serviceable offense. Welcome home, Stephen Strasburg.

MLB Power Rankings: Week 10 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

• 1. Dodgers | Previous Week: 1
  Here's something that ought to worry the rest of the NL. We all know about their offense, with or without Manny, but their pitching ranks second in the league, even though they have the fourth youngest staff in the league, with an average age of 27.4. Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw are studs in the making. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 2. Yankees| Previous Week: 5
  It's a pretty tough run of the schedule: Rangers and Rays this week, Red Sox and Mets next week. But things are going pretty good when you can't find a rotation spot for Chien-Ming Wang. Or is it Phil Hughes? Still, expect a trade for bullpen help sometime before July 31. - Ed Price
  
• 3. Brewers| Previous Week: 3
  People were surprised when they assumed control of first place back on May 16, but they're still there more than two weeks later. If they're going to keep this up, though, they're going to need someone to step up in that rotation besides Yovani Gallardo, whether it's Manny Parra or whether they go out and get someone before the trade deadline again. - Pat Lackey
  
• 4. Rangers | Previous Week: 6
  Josh Hamilton's hurt -- possible surgery for a possible sports hernia could be forthcoming -- and Vincent Padilla is on waivers now. The former is a scary move but the latter just indicates that the Rangers are dead serious about making a playoff run. And it might seem a touch crazy, but there are at least two geniuses (me, Snyder, duh) who thought it was possible from the get-go.
  
• 5. Phillies| Previous Week: 7
  Despite starting pitching problems and despite closer hiccups, the Phils are 15-4 since losing two of three to the Dodgers at home last month. Philadelphia's biggest strength may be resiliency: It has a 7-14 record when trailing after six innings, along with seven wins in its last at-bat. - EP
  
• 6. Red Sox | Previous Week: 2
  Boston is testing the theory that you can't have too much pitching. John Smoltz is on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment. Clay Buchholz is 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA in Triple-A. And Justin Masterson would be starting for a lot of teams. - EP
  
• 7. Cardinals | Previous Week: 4
  Chris Carpenter's been nails (see what I did there?) since his return, so that leaves third base as the big question mark on the Cards right now. Troy Glaus seems to be progressing and might actually return at some point, but the Cardinals are still interested in looking outside the organization for help. If they can shore up the hot corner, they might be tough to beat in the Central. - PL
  
• 8. Tigers | Previous Week: 8
  Justin Verlander's unreal May (5-0, 1.52 ERA) received plenty of attention, but let's not forget Edwin Jackson, who finally, truly seems to be living up to the hype. The right-hander, who wasn't good enough to beat out Andy Sonnanstine for a spot in Tampa Bay's postseason rotation last year, ranks third in the American League with a 2.30 ERA.- Andrew Johnson
  
• 9. Mets | Previous Week: 10
  Shortstop Jose Reyes, first baseman Carlos Delgado and right fielder Ryan Church are on the DL. Center fielder Carlos Beltran can't shake a stomach bug. And backup shortstop Ramon Martinez left Tuesday's game with a dislocated pinky. Other than that, Mets are pretty healthy. - EP
  
• 10. Blue Jays | Previous Week: 17
  Toronto has lost one series all year at Rogers Centre, dropping two of three to the Yankees on May 12-14. Suprising AL runs leader Marco Scutaro had his streak of seven straight multi-hit games halted on Tuesday, the longest such streak for a Jays player since 2003 (Mike Bordick). - EP
  
• 11. Reds | Previous Week: 14
  This is still hanging around in the standings, but with Joey Votto on the DL and Edinson Volquez slow to come back from his DL trip with another injury, they could find themselves slipping by the wayside quickly. Aaron Harang is slipping a bit after a great start and he's going to have to find his form again to keep that from happening. - PL
  
• 12. White Sox | Previous Week: 22
  If you believe the rumors, Chicago seems preoccupied with adding a starting pitcher for the stretch run, but maybe GM Kenny Williams should be chasing a bat during trading season. The Pale Hose rank 11th in the American League in runs and have gotten particularly poor performance from second base, third base and shortstop. The recently called up Gordon Beckham could fix some of that, but still ... - AJ
  
• 13. Angels | Previous Week: 12
  You know you might have a good season when this happens: You bring up a journeyman like Matt Palmer to replace one of your 23 injured starters and he goes 5-0. Palmer is the first pitcher in at least 55 years to have zero major league wins before age 30 and then win his first five starts after turning 30. - JF
  
• 14. Rays | Previous Week: 9
  Tampa Bay is consitently inconsistent. Yet to get more than one game over .500 and unable to win back-to-back series all year. It doesn't help that the Rays have made seven roster additions in the past two-plus weeks. - EP
  
• 15. Braves | Previous Week: 11
  That Atlanta was no-hit for 6 2/3 innings Tuesday by Randy Wells tells you pretty much all you need to know about the Braves offense. Of course, Atlanta might be due for a surge shortly here, adding Nate McLouth via trade, cutting Tom Glavine and calling up Tommy Hanson in the hopes of sparking the team.
  
• 16. Cubs | Previous Week: 21
  We could copy-and-paste from a few weeks ago. They are just treading water at or above the .500 mark and stay within striking range in a tough NL Central. The problem, though, is that now it's June. It's time to stop saying things like "it's early, they'll start playing better" and look for actual, substantive results. One thing we do know: They really need Aramis Ramirez. - Matt Snyder
  
• 17. Giants | Previous Week: 18
  It seems the Giants finally put together a team that knows how to win at home. San Francisco is 18-9 at AT&T Park. They've been worse than usual on the road, though. It's odd, because the Giants are a team built on pitching, so far five of their road series have been at other pitcher-friendly parks (San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle). Must just be uncomfortable hotel beds. - JF
  
• 18. Twins | Previous Week: 20
  Is the Francisco Liriano that dazzled us in 2006 ever coming back? It sure doesn't seem like it. Liriano's bloated 6.60 ERA through 11 starts this season means every time he takes the mound could be his last in Minnesota's rotation in the near-term. - AJ
  
• 19. Mariners | Previous Week: 19
  Small ball anyone? The Mariners lead the league in sacrifices. They are third in percentage of productive outs. They are fifth in moving runners from second to third with no outs. All that great fundamental baseball stuff has added up to .... being last in the league in runs. "Small ball" is for teams that can't hit. - JF
  
• 20. Padres | Previous Week: 15
  If you're a Padres fan, do you want your team to win? If hanging around .500 and giving the illusion of having a shot prevents your team from making the necessary rebuilding moves, it's the worst thing you can do. The clinical term is Giants Syndrome. No one in this division is catching the Dodgers. The other four teams all should be aimed at 2010 or beyond. - JF
  
• 21. Orioles | Previous Week: 23
  With its offense and pitching staff (second in homers allowed), Baltimore doesn't do pitching duels. Monday's 1-0 win at Seattle was the franchise's first since May 9, 2007, and first on the road since May 13, 2004. - EP
  
• 22. Royals | Previous Week: 13
  Kansas City activated Joakim Soria from the disabled list Tuesday, and it should be a welcome return. The Royals closer is the only reliever on the team's active roster with at least five appearances and an ERA below 3.00. - AJ
  
• 23. Marlins | Previous Week: 24
  Anibal Sanchez came off the DL to start Tuesday, and Opening Day starter Ricky Nolasco could be back from his demotion soon, as he has a 2.40 ERA in two Triple-A games. Is that enough to stop a six-week slide (14-27 since an 11-1 start)? - EP
  
• 24. Pirates | Previous Week: 21
  Three straight wins over the Mets (a five-run comeback, a win over Johan Santana and a rout of Mike Pelfrey) keeps them out of the cellar for now. Zach Duke actually out-dueled Santana Tuesday night and Matt Capps seems to be re-gaining his stride in the closer's role. This team won't contend for anything, but I'm starting to really believe they aren't as bad as we thought they'd be when this season started. - PL
  
• 25. Diamondbacks | Previous Week: 25
  Bright spot and beast Justin Upton continues to tear along early in June after a simply sizzling May, but the rest of the lineup is straight up mediocre, to put it nicely. One more bright spot: Brandon Webb is scheduled to return soon. Bad news is that the Snakes are already 13 1/2 games back of the Dodgers at this point.
  
• 26. Indians | Previous Week: 26
  How long should Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro wait before becoming a seller? The Tribe are buried at the bottom of the AL Central, but the division isn't running away from them. Even so, injuries to Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore make it seem awfully unlikely that the Indians have a run in them. - AJ
  
• 27. Astros | Previous Week: 29
  On the bright side, they did defend their honor by taking two of three from the Pirates. On the not so bright side, Cecil Cooper recently got the dreaded "vote of confidence," and if things don't start turning around, the Roy Oswalt sweepstakes will probably begin in earnest. - PL
  
• 28. Rockies | Previous Week: 27
  The Rox just canned the most-likely-overrated Clint Hurdle recently, and that signals that they're -- finally -- ready to stop looking at 2007 like it might actually happen again. (Although I suppose dealing Matt Holliday earns them a little credit for looking forward.) Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez, you are the children. And that makes you the future.
  
• 29. Athletics | Previous Week: 28
  The future is officially here for the A's. They recalled right-hander Vin Mazzaro to start against the White Sox on Tuesday night. Mazzaro is the third member of the A's trio of hotshot young pitching prospects, joining Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill. Now all three are in the big-league rotation. There have been comparisons between this group and Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito. That's premature, but they are worth watching. - JF
  
• 30. Nationals | Previous Week: 30
  Washington has gone 15 straight games without a first-inning run. Not a good way to support a young rotation with a flammable bullpen. Soon it'll be time to start scouting for No. 1 overall pick in 2010. - EP
  

MLB Power Rankings: Week 9 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

• 1. Dodgers | Previous Week: 2
  Who needs Manny Ramirez? On Monday the Dodgers scored seven runs in the fourth inning and eight runs in the seventh inning. It was the first time since June 24, 1950 that the Dodgers scored at least seven runs in multiple innings within the same game. - Jeff Fletcher
• 2. Red Sox | Previous Week: 3
  Huge news in Boston when David Ortiz was dropped to sixth in the order Tuesday night. How will the Nation react when the Red Sox take it a step further and admit Ortiz shouldn't play at all? Much handwriging then. Oh yeah, Big Papi is signed for $12.5 million this year and next. - Ed Price
• 3. Brewers | Previous Week: 4
  Ryan Braun's wrist injury (suffered when he was hit by a pitch on Tuesday night) doesn't seem serious, which is good news for the NL Central leaders. Their offense is raking as expected and they can't afford to lose their best hitter. But how long will that bullpen, lead by Carlos Villanueva, Mitch Stetter, Mark DiFelice, Todd Coffey, and the ageless Trevor Hoffman keep shutting down opponents? - Pat Lackey
• 4. Cardinals | Previous Week: 13
  In four starts this year, Chris Carpenter hasn't allowed an earned run. If -- and this is a big if -- he stays healthy, the Cards are boosting their staff with one of the best in the National League. Adam Wainwright's turning it up a notch as well. If the front office can find some offense to pair with Albert Pujols, this team might become the favorites to win the NL Central. - PL
• 5. Yankees | Previous Week: 5
  Mark Teixeira has clearly benefitted from the return of Alex Rodriguez, but the key to the Yankees' hot streak has been improved starting pitching, particularly CC Sabathia pitching like he was supposed to before the All-Star break; the Yankees starters went six or more innings in just 19 of the first 32 games, but 10 of 14 since. - EP
• 6. Rangers | Previous Week: 6
  It's time to believe, kiddos. The Rangers are, shall we say, "fa' real." An awkward three-game losing streak to the Tigers was followed by an immediate bounceback series against the Astros, a Rangers sweep. But even as good as this Texas crew can be, their pitching has to carry them, which makes Matt Harrison's seven earned runs against the Yankees so terrifying.
• 7. Phillies | Previous Week: 7
  The only thing the Phillies do better than hit home runs is allow them. Philadelphia has been looking for rotation help, and it has to wonder if Jamie Moyer - 0-4, 9.62 ERA, .699 slugging percentage allowed in his past five starts - is (finally) finished. The struggles of closer Brad Lidge just complicate matters. - EP
• 8. Tigers | Previous Week: 9
  The aforementioned sweep of the Rangers helped the Tigers hold onto the lead in the AL Central ... as has Justin Verlander's decision to not be horrible anymore. Edwin Jackson's been fantastic (and had a shutout running until the sixth inning Tuesday) and Rick Porcello is looking like the real deal as well.
• 9. Rays | Previous Week: 10
  Tampa Bay's starting middle infield is out: second baseman Akinori Iwamura with a season-ending knee injury and shortstop Jason Bartlett with a sprained ankle. The Rays have to find a way to stay afloat until those interleague series against the Rockies and Nationals, June 12-18. - EP
• 10. Mets | Previous Week: 12
  The Mets are so banged up that Fernando Tatis was their No. 5 hitter on Tuesday. But it looks like Oliver Perez is in midseason form; on a rehabilitation start at Triple-A on Tuesday, he walked five and threw 88 pitches in 4 1/3 innings. - EP
• 11. Braves | Previous Week: 15
  Atlanta hasn't won more than three in a row all season but is hanging around within striking distance of the top of the NL East. Jair Jurrjens has allowed more than two runs just once in his 10 starts and has given up three homers in 61 innings. - EP
• 12. Angels | Previous Week: 11
  Vladimir Guerrero is back, but don't assume that he's going to transform the Angels offense. Remember, Vlad had been slipping in recent years, and he was only hitting .250 before he got hurt. It's possible he's on the Big Papi Hitting Program. - JF
• 13. Royals | Previous Week: 16
  The Zack Greinke Love Train rolls on! Greinke went the distance again Tuesday night, throwing another complete game, while allowing one run. So, yes, we should all we be disappointed. Gil Meche or Brian Bannister or someone, however, has to step up and take the role as the No. 2 pitcher in this rotation if KC wants to make a postseason run.
• 14. Reds | Previous Week: 19
  Joey Votto seems to have shaken off his inner-ear infection nicely with three homers in his four games back. Keep an eye on Johnny Cueto. He faded after his phenomenal start last season, but in nine starts this year, he's rocking a 2.37 ERA thanks to greatly improved walk and home run rates and is a big part of the great pitching staff that's keeping the Reds afloat in the NL right now. - PL
• 15. Padres | Previous Week: 26
  Included in the 10-game winning streak was a streak of six consecutive wins in which the Padres had seven hits or fewer. No team had accomplished that since at least 1954. The first nine games of the streak were all at home, and No. 10 snapped an 11-game road losing streak. - JF
• 16. Cubs | Previous Week: 8
  They finally ended their eight-game losing skid with a rain-shortened six-inning win. Against the Pirates. Aramis Ramirez is out, Milton Bradley and Geovany Soto look lost at the plate, and Ryan Dempster looks a lot like Ryan Dempster in every year but last year. It's still early, but the Brewers and Cardinals are for real and the longer the Cubs take to put things together, the more trouble they could be in. - PL
• 17. Blue Jays | Previous Week: 1
  Toronto has collapsed faster than Jose Canseco in an MMA bout. The Jays were in first place on Sunday morning and in third place by Monday night. The Toronto offense has flown south for the winter, apparently. - EP
• 18. Giants | Previous Week: 18
  Jesus Guzman, now is your chance. The Giants, desperate for anyone to add life to their offense, are going to give the positionally-challenged Guzman a shot. If he hits, they'll let him stand in the field without a glove at all. - JF
• 19. Mariners | Previous Week: 17
  Ichiro Suzuki is 35 and he has 3,140 hits between the majors and Japan. Considering that he's averaged well over 200 hits a year, don't be surprised if he makes a run at Pete Rose's 4,256. No, it wouldn't count, but it would still be pretty cool. Maybe then the all-time hit leader could be in the Hall of Fame. - JF
• 20. Twins | Previous Week: 22
  Francisco Liriano continues to unimpress, which is the exact opposite of what Justin Morneau is doing in Minny, quietly posting yet another MVP-caliber season. Nick Blackburn is somehow the best pitcher in the rotation, which says something: specifically, "if everyone else would pitch better, this team might be winning the division."
• 21. Pirates | Previous Week: 9
  After two hits on Tuesday, Freddy Sanchez now has 10 hits in his last 14 at-bats. And with a single in the same game, Andy LaRoche stretched his hitting streak to 11 games in which he's hitting .428. Which is to say that the Pirates might not be a great (or even good) team, but at least they can be interesting to watch. - PL
• 22. White Sox | Previous Week: 20
  My sources (well-placed, natch) tell me that Carlos Quentin could be headed to the disabled list with his recent injury, despite some positive prognostications to the contrary. That doesn't bode well for a ChiSox team that happens to be seeing an early AL Central lead slip away quickly. Of course, when Paul Konerko is the only guy with double digit homers and both Gavin Floyd and John Danks are struggling, well, yeah, things aren't really looking up.
• 23. Orioles | Previous Week: 23
  Super prospect Matt Wieters arrives on Friday and now he just needs some good pitchers to catch; Adam Jones quick return from an injury also continues to make this team watchable. At least Baltimore is getting a chance to evaluate some young hurlers like Brad Bergesen and Jason Berken. - EP
• 24. Marlins | Previous Week: 25
  Only one team has started 11-1 or better and finished with a losing record: the 2002 Indians. The Marlins are threatening to become the second such team. Perhaps they should try basketball instead, with four pitchers 6-foot-7 or taller - Chris Volstad (6-foot-8), Sean West (6-foot-8), Andrew Miller (6-foot-7) and Josh Johnson (6-foot-7).
• 25. Diamondbacks | Previous Week: 27
  Brandon Webb remains disabled. Except not in that kind of way; simply in the kind of way that can't manage to help the Diamondbacks to much of anything. Or, really, to help any of the fantasy teams that I bothered to keep him on. Thanks a lot, B. On the bright side, now that the team is less than relevant, Justin Upton is starting to turn into a monster, hitting over .350 for May.
• 26. Indians | Previous Week: 29
  I love going to MLB.com and seeing the words "Carl Pavano" packaged with "seven brilliant innings." It lets me know that someone running the only thing that Bud Selig's done well in his tenure as commish at least has a sense of humor. Or, possibly ... could the Tribe be turning a corner? Right.
• 27. Rockies | Previous Week: 27
  Brad Hawpe and Todd Helton are the only true bright spots on the offensive side of the ball for the Rockies. Jason Marquis occupies that role on the pitching side. Neither of those statements are fantastic. Silver lining: at least they aren't the team wasting Matt Holliday's final year before free agency!
• 28. Athletics | Previous Week: 28
  Who'd have guessed Josh Outman would end up being the A's best starter at the season's quarter pole? Outman, acquired in the Joe Blanton deal last year, has four quality starts in the last five times he's taken the ball. - JF
• 29. Astros | Previous Week: 21
  Eight losses in 10 games has them in the NL Central basement by two full games, which makes them the only sixth-place team in baseball. They do have nine games against the Pirates, five against the Nationals, and four against the Rockies before the All-Star break, which could help them start to move things in the right direction. - PL
• 30. Nationals | Previous Week: 30
  Washington envisions a future rotation of Ross Detwiler, Jordan Zimmerman, Craig Stammen, John Lannon and Shairon Martis. Come to think of it, that is the Nats' current rotation. Some Strasburg guy might get in the mix, too. Meanwhile, the Giants, Mariners, Mets and Red Sox (longshot) have inquired on first basemen Nick Johnson. - EP

MLB Power Rankings: Week 8 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 27 May 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

• 1. Blue Jays| Previous Week: 1
  Before losing Monday, Toronto reached 13 games over .500 for the first time since August 1999, when Carlos Delgado was 27 and its outfield was Jacob Brumfield, Brian McRae and Shawn Green. Hard to paint the Jays as a fluke when their run differential is plus-59 through 42 games. (by Ed Price)
  
• 2. Dodgers | Previous Week: 6
  They lost four of their first five games after Manny Ramirez was suspended, but they seem to have stopped the bleeding. Clayton Kershaw, who is going to be a star, took a no-hitter in the eighth on Sunday, helping the Dodgers finish off two winning series on the East Coast. (by Jeff Fletcher)
  
• 3. Red Sox | Previous Week: 3
  Boston is 14-4 at home, and it gets Kevin Youkilis back from a strained left oblique on Wednesday and Daisuke Matsuzaka back from a sore shoulder on Friday. (EP)
  
• 4. Brewers | Previous Week: 8
  With Rickie Weeks out, a lot of pressure falls on Mat Gamel to immediately hit at the big league level. His minor league numbers are very good; if he can keep them up the Brew Crew might miss Weeks less than people think. They've surged to the front of the division on surprising pitching. If Jeff Suppan, Braden Looper, and Dave Bush can continue to give back-of-the-rotation support, their run to the top of the division may last longer than people think. (by Pat Lackey)
  
• 5. Yankees | Previous Week: 10
  A-Rod is batting just .194, but since he came back they're 9-2. Over that span, Mark Teixeira is hitting .341 with six homers and 15 RBI. Also, CC Sabathia in his past three starts is 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA. (EP)
  
• 6. Rangers | Previous Week: 7
  As I touched upon in the intro, many across the writing industry are going to great lengths to tell you why the Rangers are legit. They could have saved themselves some time had they just read my Opening Day piece on why Texas would be legit and said, "this dude must have had a freaking crystal ball." Yes, it's fun to gloat, so here's hoping it keeps up.
  
• 7. Phillies | Previous Week: 9
  Nothing like a visit from the Nationals to get things pointing in the right direction. Raul Ibanez making everyone who questioned his signing look like a fool is helping also. The left fielder has 13 home runs to go with the NL's best OPS. (by Josh Alper)
  
• 8. Cubs | Previous Week: 11
  Despite the two-game losing streak, the Cubs are still 11-5 in the month of May. While the Aramis Ramirez injury will continue to haunt them, everything else is pointing in the right direction for the team who won 97 last year.
  
• 9. Tigers | Previous Week: 12
  Dontrelle Willis collected his first win in a few years. He was actually brilliant -- allowing only a hit and 2 walks in 6 1/3 innings. He'll need to be more efficient moving forward, but that's a huge sign for the Tigers. This team is getting contributions from unlikely places, too, which is the antithesis to the 2008 version, where many big names came up short all year long.
  
• 10. Rays | Previous Week: 15
  Tampa Bay has still yet to reach two games over .500, but the bigger question is: How did Jason Bartlett become the top offensive shortstop in the AL? You know, the Jason Bartlett who came into the season with a career .699 OPS? (EP)
  
• 11. Angels | Previous Week: 17
  Amazing how John Lackey was just rusty and lacking control with his first two pitches of the year to the Rangers' Ian Kinsler, but then two days later in Seattle he didn't walk anybody. With Vladimir Guerrero expected back by this time next week, the Angels are becoming whole again. (JF)
  
• 12. Mets | Previous Week: 4
  They certainly keep things entertaining. In the last week the Mets have had seven steals in a game, seen a starting pitcher commit three balks and had a player fail to touch third base in a game in which they made five errors. How entertaining they remain will have a lot to do with how well they fill Carlos Delgado's spot in the lineup. (JA)
  
• 13. Cardinals| Previous Week: 2
  A lot changes in a week and, suddenly, this Cardinal team that spent most of April and early May in first is staring up at two other NL Central clubs. Chris Carpenter comes back on Wednesday and could give a big boost to a pitching staff that needs it if he can stay healthy, but Chris Duncan is cooling off (.589 OPS in May) and Ryan Ludwick is on the DL. Someone's going to have to step up and help Albert Pujols if these guys want to stay in the mix. (PL)
  
• 14. Royals | Previous Week: 5
  Unfortunately, Zack Greinke can't pitch everyday. Otherwise the Royals would rule the mediocre-at-best AL Central and probably the entire league. They have won three of four to try and erase that ugly six-game losing streak from last week, though, so let's not give up on them.
  
• 15. Braves | Previous Week: 16
  Not being masters of their domain is killing Bobby Cox's bunch. If the Braves could just play above .500 in their own ballpark, they'd be leading the NL East. It's either that or scoring a few more runs which seems well beyond their means. (JA)
  
• 16. Reds | Previous Week: 14
  They're still hanging around as Jay Bruce heats up, Joey Votto continues to mash when he's in the lineup (though he's suffering from dizzy spells again this week), and their pitching staff shuts down everyone. Will they be content to hang around .500 and wait for their young players to progress a bit more, or will they try to go out and get a bat to contend in 2009? (PL)
  
• 17. Mariners| Previous Week: 19
  The folks at Safeco Field sure will be excited on Friday night. Not only is it Felix Hernandez bobblehead night, but Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey Jr. will be together again. Too bad both are showing their age. They should each retire at the end of this season, so they can go into Hall of Fame together in 2015. (JF)
  
• 18. Giants | Previous Week: 13
  Aaron Rowand was going about as badly as a major leaguer can be going, then Johan Santana showed up in town and Rowand got three hits, including a homer, against the two-time Cy Young winner. He's already taken over for Barry Zito as the No. 1 Whipping Boy of Giants fans, so he'd better keep hitting if he wants to lose that tag. (JF)
  
• 19. Pirates | Previous Week: 25
  They've won six of eight since their eight game losing streak. Nate McLouth is on fire (3 homers, 1.005 OPS since May 10th) and their offense has actually shown some life of late. Combined with their starting pitching, which is still looking much improved, and there's hope in Pittsburgh that this team might not finish in last place this year. (PL)
  
• 20. White Sox | Previous Week: 21
  A good -- and much needed win -- Tuesday night can't really take the focus off how bad the Sox have looked lately. Granted, they were steamrolled by the best team in baseball, but they need more from Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Alexei Ramirez and whoever is playing second. Carlos Quentin's eventual return could help, otherwise it could be a long season on the south side.
  
• 21. Astros | Previous Week: 24
  The offense is coming around; only Geoff Blum and Kaz Matsui have OPS+ below 100 right now. The problem is that the pitching is still Wandy Rodriguez and a bunch of stiffs. Roy Oswalt's gotten some bad bounces and will come around, but Brian Moehler and Mike Hampton won't. (PL)
  
• 22. Twins | Previous Week: 20
  As incredible as Joe Mauer's play at home plate was -- and good God was that an amazing play -- it hasn't aided the Twinkies in stopping the bleeding. They've now lost five straight. Starting pitching continues to be a major concern, as Nick Blackburn (2-2, 4.38) appears to be their best. Just a heads-up, that's not a good thing.
  
• 23. Orioles | Previous Week: 23
  Baltimore, on a 41-inning homerless drought and out-scored 40-4 in the seventh inning this season, has had some dreary plane flights. The Orioles are 0-5 in the final games of road series - "getaway days," as they're known. (EP)
  
• 24. Padres | Previous Week: 28
  Here's another vote for trading Adrian Gonzalez. The Padres clearly need more than just him. Although his contract is very reasonable, he's only signed through 2011, assuming the option is exercised. The Padres are showing no signs of being contenders while he's still around -- especially not if they trade Jake Peavy, as expected. (JF) [Editor's note: Thanks to Fletch for agreeing with my overly astute idea to trade Gonzo. Reinforcement from a respected journalist is always good.]
  
• 25. Marlins | Previous Week: 18
  Note to the National League: If you don't let Hanley Ramirez beat you, there's not much chance that anyone else in the lineup is going to pick up the slack. Until they do, the Marlins are going to continue their downward trend. (JA) [Editor's note: Since that amazing start, the Marlins are an embarrassing 7-20]
  
• 26. Diamondbacks | Previous Week: 22
  Good thing they fired Bob Melvin. You see, the DBacks are currently riding high with a two-game winning streak. Nevermind the fact that A.J. Hinch was 1-6 before the backs put up a couple dubyas. There is far too much potential to be this bad, but right now they scare no one.
  
• 27. Rockies | Previous Week: 27
  Remember in Major League when Lou Brown says, "the veterans are playing back to form and the rookies are coming along quicker than I thought?" Yeah, well, this team is the complete opposite. Save for a few examples (Brad Hawpe and Todd Helton), everyone appears to be underachieving. You can't win many games that way.
  
• 28. Athletics | Previous Week: 29
  It is getting ugly around the green and gold. You could argue that the only two players who have performed up to expectations so far are Dallas Braden and Kurt Suzuki. One of them is going to end up an All-Star because of it. Three pitchers who were in the A's rotation at times last year are now in the minors. (JF)
  
• 29. Indians | Previous Week: 26
  I'll cancel out my horn-tooting that is the Texas Rangers with this one. I picked the Indians to win the AL Central. I wasn't alone by any stretch, but I look at that roster and wonder what the hell we were all thinking. The starting rotation is bad, the bullpen is worse, the defense is suspect, and the offense is Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez surrounded by a bunch of role players. This is a bad team. Buyers should be lining up at the trade deadline.
  
• 30. Nationals | Previous Week: 30
  The only game they won last week was the game that saw Ryan Zimmerman's hitting streak end at 30 games. On the bright side, they only had to play 14 innings to lose two games on Saturday. If you're going to lose, might as well make it as quick as possible. (JA)

MLB Power Rankings: Week 7 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 20 May 2009 11:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

• 1. Blue Jays | Previous Week: 1
  Does Toronto know something about the pitching that every other team doesn't? Not only do the Jays have arguably the best pitcher in the game in Roy Halladay, but they have a seemingly limitless line of guys ready to step in behind him. The latest gem? Brett Cecil, who picked up his first win in the major leagues over the weekend and has a 0.64 ERA in two starts. - Andrew Johnson
  
• 2. Cardinals| Previous Week: 3
  Very quietly, the Cardinals have racked up the second best record in the National League. Albert Pujols is absolutely raking at the plate and leading the second best offense in the NL. The rotation is holding together well without Chris Carpenter, who might be back before the end of the month, and the bullpen, which was a huge problem last year, has been awesome. This team isn't going away. - Pat Lackey
• 3. Red Sox| Previous Week: 4
  Boston is nipping on the heels of Toronto,and there's reason to think it can get better going forward. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester both sport inflated ERAs and figure to improve as the season progresses, and David Ortiz can't possibly be this bad. (Can he?) The schedule-makers also seem to have smiled on the Red Sox; Boston travels to the West Coast this week for the last time in 2009. - AJ
  
• 4. Mets | Previous Week: 20
  A seven-game winning streak turned frowns upside down in Queens, but they'll reverse themselves if the Mets keep losing when Johan Santana is on the hill. The ace has a 0.78 ERA, but the Mets are just 4-3 in the games he's started. - Josh Alper
  
• 5. Royals| Previous Week: 6
  After successfully navigating through National Zack Greinke Week (seriously -- the accolades would have been almost too out of control were he not pitching this well) the Royals remain first overall in the AL Central. If the they can get some combination of their pitchers to maintain consistency (Gil Meche, Brian Bannister maybe?) these guys are going to contend all season.
  
• 6. Dodgers | Previous Week: 1
  The Dodgers only had Manny Ramirez for two months last year and they won the division, so they figure if they have him for four this year, they still come out ahead. That said, now's a good time to get a Mannywood T-shirt on eBay. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 7. Rangers | Previous Week: 12
  The AL West, following Seattle's collapse last week, is not, um, "strong." Much like the Rangers' pitching. And pardon the broken record, but despite the lack of arms, this team can score at freaking will. Chris Davis is really starting to come around and swing the bat like everyone thought he would before the season and that just means more taterjacks.
  
• 8. Brewers | Previous Week: 15
  After a slow start, a run of games against the Pirates has sent the Brewers back towards the top of the division. Prince Fielder's bat is finally coming alive, Yovani Gallardo has been superb, and Rickie Weeks is really showing some pop and looking like he might finally turn into the hitter Brewers fans have been waiting to see for years. They're going to have to keep this pace up, though, if they're going to stay in contention in this division. - PL
  
• 9. Phillies | Previous Week: 8
  Jimmy Rollins has been dropped in the batting order, but the Phillies may need a more severe shakeup to their pitching staff if their fortunes are going to take a turn for the better. Cole Hamels finally won though, so at least that's something. - JA
  
• 10. Yankees | Previous Week: 9
  Aubrey Huff's mocking fist pumps once again drew attention away from Joba Chamberlain's actual performance on the mound -- the thing that actually matters to the Yankees. Chamberlain has the best ERA of any New York starter, is tied for the team lead in wins and has two fewer strikeouts than A.J. Burnett, who tops the Yankees with 36, but has started one extra game. - AJ
  
• 11. Cubs | Previous Week: 11
  They're treading water without Derrek Lee right now, but the Cubs have been here before and know there's no reason to blow the doors off the season in April or early May. All the pieces are still here, even with Milton Bradley and Rich Harden struggling and there's no reason to panic yet, especially if Kosuke Fukudome can extend his hot start beyond the All-Star break. - PL
  
• 12. Tigers | Previous Week: 10
  Was that a Justin Verlander sighting? Why yes, I do believe it was! Verlander lowered his ERA under 5.00 with a complete-game shutout against the hapless Indians last week; with the continued emergence of Rick Porcello and the absolute blistering bat of Miguel Cabrera, maybe there won't be an immediate firesale in Detroit after all.
  
• 13. Giants | Previous Week: 16
  The Manny suspension certainly leveled the playing field in the NL West for the Giants. Their lineup is still not nearly as good as LA's, but Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and -- yes, even Barry Zito -- have combined to make a formidable trio in the rotation. - JF
  
• 14. Reds | Previous Week: 13
  Jay Bruce is starting to hit after a slow start and Joey Votto is absolutely raking, but they don't have much punch besides those two. Johnny Cueto has been awesome lately and Aaron Harang has shaken off his bad 2008. I'm still not certain they can piece enough together around these guys to hang around the big guns at the top of the division. Not this season, at least. - PL
  
• 15. Rays | Previous Week: 17
  There's little doubt about what has held the fourth-place Rays back so far this season. Matt Garza is the only starting pitcher with an ERA under 4.00, and the bullpen hasn't been nearly as good as it was last year. Luckily for Tampa Bay, there's a stockpile of arms waiting in the minors if things don't get better soon. - AJ
  
• 16. Braves | Previous Week: 23
  It's amazing what being able to see the ball has done for Brian McCann. The catcher is 6-for-16 since returning to the lineup, which could make glasses the new hotness around the major leagues. - JA
  
• 17. Angels | Previous Week: 19
  If the Angels can get to June 1 at .500 or better, the division title is theirs. They have too much talent sitting on the disabled list, and by Father's Day they expect to have John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Dustin Moseley and Vladimir Guerrero back. - JF
  
• 18. Marlins | Previous Week: 7
  The Marlins have lost 14 of 20 games after their torrid start, which just goes to show you can't possibly schedule the Nationals often enough. Perhaps their ballpark becoming Landshark Stadium will make them swim faster. - JA
  
• 19. Mariners | Previous Week: 5
  What? Midnight so soon? At 15-10, the Mariners really had the looks of a team that could contend in the soft AL West. But then they went and lost six in a row. Sure, it could just be a hiccup, but you don't get the feeling that's a hiccup for a team that lost 101 games a year ago. - JF
  
• 20. Twins | Previous Week: 14
  It's really quite simple: this team can go exactly as far as the trio of Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker and Kevin Slowey take them. And perhaps that's just third in the division (where they sit now), but those three arms are far too talented to not emerge at some point this year.
  
• 21. White Sox | Previous Week: 18
  Can't hit, can't pitch, can't field. Hell, their pitchers can't even hit the batters they're throwing at. Good thing they're in the AL Central where being horrible is all you need to contend this season. (Ed. Note: The Royals and every single media member -- 4,583 at last count -- who combined to make last week so special for Greinke beg to differ with Mr. Fornelli's pessism about that divsion.) - Tom Fornelli
  
• 22. Diamondbacks | Previous Week: 24
  Justin Upton continues to swing a hot bat for the Snakes, but there's one problem: he's kind of alone in that aspect. Chris Young and Conor Jackson continue to scuffle, and there's no question that this team really, really misses both Brandon Webb and Stephen Drew, the latter of whom is just off the disabled.
  
• 23. Orioles | Previous Week: 26
  No surprises from the Baltimore pitching staff so far. Predictably, the O's rank 12th in the American League in ERA. Hey, at least the offense is fun to watch. Replace Gregg Zaun with Matt Wieters and Felix Pie with Nolan Reimold and this might be the best lineup in the majors. - AJ
  
• 24. Astros | Previous Week: 29
  The saving grace for this team right now is that the Pirates lost eight in a row and forcefully moved them out of the cellar. Besides Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence, no one is doing much at the plate and besides Wandy Rodriguez, their rotation has been pitiful. There's not going to be a second-half surge this year. - PL
  
• 25. Pirates | Previous Week: 21
  Before their win against St. Louis last night, they'd lost eight in a row, mostly due to their bad offense and absolutely horrible bullpen. Those two things aren't likely to get much better in the near future, so expect to see this team a lot more than the team that finished April above .500. But hey, at least Zach Duke's comeback looks like it might be for real. - PL
  
• 26. Indians | Previous Week: 25
  Cliff Lee has regained some of the form that earned him the Cy Young last year, lowering his season ERA to 3.45. The problem is that the rest of the rotation has been horrible. Although Jeremy Sowers was so horrible in his most recent start that he negates anything positive from the young pitchers on the Tribe.
  
• 27. Rockies | Previous Week: 29
  Is it cool if I just write "offense - decent, pitching - mediocre" here for the rest of the season? Guh. Fine. I suppose Ubaldo Jiminez has flashed some bright spots, but he's too inconsistent to trust for any length of time. Jorge De La Rosa hasn't been horrible either, but much like Jason Marquis learned, terra firma creeps up fast and hard when you pitch at Coors.
  
• 28. Padres | Previous Week: 24
  Poor Heath Bell. He'd have had a chance at a pretty nice year if he was playing for another team. Bell was perfect in seven save opportunities in the Padres first 12 games. In the next 20 he had one opportunity. At least he converted it. - JF
  
• 29. A's | Previous Week: 28
  The A's have only had four games this year in which a starter got an out in the seventh inning or later, tied with the Phillies for the fewest in the majors. It's impossible to win that way, especially when you also have the worst offense in the league. - JF
  
• 30. Nationals | Previous Week: 30
  It's an all positive visit to the Power Rankings for the Nats. They won a series in Arizona, Ryan Zimmerman's hit in 30 straight games and, well, we're trying to be positive so we'll leave it at that. - JA
  

MLB Power Rankings: Week 6 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 13 May 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MLB Power Rankings: Where MLB FanHouse's editors, writers and bloggers team up to break down the who's who and the what's what in the baseball world.

• 1. Dodgers | Previous Week: 2
  Remember that slump for Manny Ramirez? He hit .278 with no homers in his first 11 games. Over his next 14 games he hit .420 with six homers and a .524 on-base percentage. Manny, though, has been saying that Andre Ethier (.316-6-25 through Monday) is really the team's best player. - Jeff Fletcher
  
• 2. Blue Jays| Previous Week: 6
  Toronto has 16 games with 10-plus hits, most in the majors. But the Jays have yet to play the Yankees, Red Sox or Rays (that ends Tuesday when New York visits Toronto). - Ed Price
  
• 3. Cardinals| Previous Week: 3
  Rick Ankiel is bionic or something. (Ed. Note: Did I mention he's also the subject of this week's HausCast with Will Leitch!) He is a power pitcher turned power hitter who can play center field, and apparently he can hit a wall full speed and emerge without overly bad damage. What a physical specimen. The bullpen has settled in and Chris Carpenter's return is getting closer. This is a complete team. In the meantime, Adam Wainwright's control could become a concern (20 walks in 35 1/3 innings). - Matt Snyder
  
• 4. Red Sox | Previous Week: 1
  The last time they won their first five meetings with the Yankees was 1985, when Tim Wakefield was only 18. Jason Bay's hot streak helps offset Papi's cold one, which is so bad that he's being put in the PTI oddsmakers section for "hitting a home run." - EP
  
• 5. Mariners| Previous Week: 4
  Denny Stark lost his first big league game in five years on Tuesday. Actually, it was the first time he'd pitched in the majors in five years. Stark has had not one, but two Tommy John surgeries since then. Rumor has it that his next one's free. The fact that the Mariners had to turn to Stark indicates their pitching is getting banged up, but they're still holding their own. - JF
  
• 6. Royals | Previous Week: 15
  The Zack Greinke Mania Super Party Fiesta Bandwagon is in full effect right now; Greinke just pitched his second complete-game shutout of the season, he landed the Sports Illustrated cover and he even managed to make Fornelli not just optimistic, but enthused to the point of using "joy to watch" in a headline. Can you imagine how full this train would be if Alex Gordon could stay healthy or hit?
  
• 7. Marlins | Previous Week: 10
  Are the Fish for real? Josh Johnson and Chris Volstad certainly are. There's no question about Hanley Ramirez. But something ... something still kind of lurks out there; Lackey said it best when he pointed out (via email) that they just don't look "good on the field." Fortunately, no one in the NL East has been that great lately.
  
• 8. Phillies | Previous Week: 5
  All things considered -- the ridiculously bad starting pitching, Jimmy Rollins stinking up the joint -- this team is doing pretty well. They're a 1/2 game ahead of the Fish, and if Cole Hamels can regain anything other than Adam Eaton Form, they might actually do some damage; of course, he has to prove he's healthy first.
  
• 9. Yankees | Previous Week: 12
  New York is the first team ever to have three different players in the same season homer from both sides of the plate in a game: Melky Cabrera, Nick Swisher and Mark Teixeira. But they still need Alex Rodriguez back ASAP. - EP
  
• 10. Tigers | Previous Week: 6
  Hey-o! Rick Porcello pitched a gem on Tuesday, going an extremely strong (and efficient!) seven shutout innings against the Twins. Miguel Cabrera continues to straight mash, yet, he somehow has less home runs than both Curtis Granderson and Brandon Inge. Still, if this team stays in contention, Miggy has to at least be an early-season MVP candidate.
  
• 11. Cubs | Previous Week: 7
  The four-game winning streak helped to alleviate some of the concern about a 2-7 stretch prior to that. The upcoming schedule isn't especially tough (five against the Astros, six against the Padres, and three against the Pirates, all before May 27), so if the Cubs can get healthy while playing their best ball, they'll be grouped more with the Cardinals than the amoeba in the middle of the division. - MS
  
• 12. Rangers | Previous Week: 18
  Same old, same old. Kevin Millwood and Frank Francisco are pitching well, Ian Kinsler is mashing the ball and Josh Hamilton is dealing with injuries. His return will help, but not as much as Nolan Ryan stepping into the way-way-back machine and managing to throw 38 complete games this year. Don't bet on that happening.
  
• 13. Reds | Previous Week: 14
  Johnny Cueto is dealing, Aaron Harang is solid, and Edinson Volquez has put together back-to-back outstanding outings. The bullpen has been doing the job for the most part, too. The problem is the Reds rank near the bottom in most offensive categories. Maybe the seven runs against Florida Tuesday night will jump-start the bats. - MS
  
• 14. Twins | Previous Week: 19
  This is a team that's really underperforming on the mound right now: Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano and Kevin Slowey will all end up in a better spot than they're at right now. (At least that's what I keep telling myself anyway.) Justin Morneau remains quite awesome and Joe Mauer's return is certainly a boost.
  
• 15. Brewers | Previous Week: 25
  Though he's miscast as a leadoff hitter (low OBP, awful K/BB ratio), how about that power Rickie Weeks is flashing -- and in clutch situations, no less. Once J.J. Hardy totally settles in, and Tuesday night was a good start, this is one scary offense. They are pitching adequately enough to stick around in the race all summer. - MS
  
• 16. Giants | Previous Week: 21
  Ah, it's just like old times around around AT&T Park. The team is mediocre, but there's a Hall of Famer at the end of his career pushing for a milestone. Randy Johnson, who goes for win No. 298 Wednesday night in Colorado, actually sits at the same as locker Barry Bonds once occupied. "The hitting sure isn't rubbing off, is it?" Johnson quipped. - JF
  
• 17. Rays | Previous Week: 20
  Evan Longoria was franchise's first-ever Player of the Month award-winner for April, but the team as a whole is 5-2 vs. Red Sox and 7-14 against everyone else. Fortunately, they have an opportunity to make up ground on eight-game trip to New York, Boston and Baltimore. - EP
  
• 18. White Sox | Previous Week: 11
  I didn't think that Carlos Quentin could possibly live up to last year's expectations. Whoops. Of course, I was pretty sure Gavin Floyd couldn't either, and it looks like I was right about that, at least for the time being, considering, you know, Bartolo Colon has a lower ERA right now.
  
• 19. Angels | Previous Week: 23
  They sent Matt Palmer, a 30-year-old journeyman, to the mound against CC Sabathia in New York and walked away with a victory. If this team can hang around and win despite all that's gone wrong, there really is a higher power watching this team. Or Mike Scioscia's just a good manager. One of the two. - JF
  
• 20. Mets | Previous Week: 16
  Some semi-amusing irony: Carlos Beltran is playing like the best center fielder in the NL and yet, somehow this team continues to flounder. That's because their starting pitching is roughly equivalent to a stinkbomb outside of Johan Santana. Oliver Perez heading towards the bullpen is a pretty good example of that.
  
• 21. Pirates | Previous Week: 9
  When Matt Capps can't hold a lead, the honeymoon is most certainly over. As they have had to do for far too long, the Pirates will be looking toward the future by the end of May. There's not enough here to compete in a weak division, let alone one with the Cardinals, Cubs, Brewers and Reds all looking pretty solid. - MS
  
• 22. Diamondbacks | Previous Week: 24
  Perhaps the entire world needs to scrutinize Justin Upton some more: he's taken nothing but a browbeating from nearly every media member remotely near the Diamondbacks over the past few weeks, and then he finally decided to flash his talent. Of course, Brandon Webb and Stephen Drew are still on the DL, so yeah, there's still a ways to go.
  
• 23. Braves | Previous Week: 13
  The Braves probably aren't this bad, but, I mean, come on -- the bullpen's been coughing up wins like Sergio Garcia coughs up majors (what? you would have preferred a Lindsay Lohan joke?) and Jordan Schafer has, unsurprisingly, cooled off. Also, no one on the team has more than three home runs, which is reasonably comical.
  
• 24. Padres | Previous Week: 17
  Adrian Gonzalez is the best player that most of the country still doesn't know about. He's Teixeira three years ago: a power-hitting Gold-Glove-caliber first baseman playing in anonymity for a losing team. Admit it: You didn't know Gonzalez was second in the NL with nine homers, did you? Playing in Petco, too. Wait till the Red Sox get him in 2012. - JF
  
• 25. Indians | Previous Week: 27
  What's that old saying? "A team with Carl Pavano in it's starting rotation is probably going to suck?" Yes, that is it. Cliff Lee's appears to be turning the corner, but that might be because his ERA over his past three games is a lot less scary than the 26 hits he's allowed in 21 innings. At least Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez are hitting the ball.
  
• 26. Orioles | Previous Week: 22
  Nick Markakis is 10-for-24 (.417) in the first inning of games, but he could use some starting pitchers who can make a lead stand up. Monday's win at Tampa Bay is Baltimore's only one in a road division game. - EP
  
• 27. Rockies | Previous Week: 29
  The hitting has been a bit abysmal, even if Dexter Fowler (five stolen bases!) is the truth; . The pitching, of course, has been typically awful, although Jason Marquis is an extreme outlier. Or, what we who play fantasy sports call "a tremendous sell high."
  
• 28. Athletics | Previous Week: 26
  Bob Geren had a meeting with the starters to explain to them that they needed to start getting deeper into games. Gee, how come he didn't have a meeting with Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi explaining that they needed to start hitting more home runs. The A's team ERA is in the upper part of the AL, but they seem on the verge of taking a dive if the starters continue to slump and the overworked bullpen hits a skid. - JF
  
• 29. Astros | Previous Week: 28
  They're in last place, Roy Oswalt left a start with an injury, Big Puma is hovering around the Mendoza line, Miguel Tejada has less power than Michael Bourn, their closer is hurt. On the bright side, Wandy Rodriguez has put together a solid early season (2.19 ERA in six starts). - MS
  
• 30. Nationals | Previous Week: 30
  In good news, the Nats scored a very impressive 10 runs on Tuesday. In bad news, that game was suspended. Of course it was. Other good news: the Ryan Zimmerman and Jordan Zimmermann (who need a collective nickname) both look quite good.
  

MLB Power Rankings: Week 5 originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 06 May 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments