It’s Friday. There’s people on summer hours. So, this is probably the last post we do before POI, The Skyline and then your UFC 100 preview. But, it’s a long one. So sit back and strap it down. Your MLB Power Rankings heading into the All-Star Break.
1.) Los Angeles Dodgers (54-31): They’ve got Manny back. They didn’t struggle without him. The Giants are playing out of their minds and the Dodgers are still 7 games clear of them. These guys are making the playoffs obviously, but mark it down. They are not going to the World Series. Peak too soon in baseball and you don’t finish strong.
2.) New York Yankees (51-34): Bring it on Red Sox fans. You’re 5-5 in your last 10, and the Yankees are 8-2. We told you not to sell on these guys at the start of the season and we’re being validated. In that stadium, this offense is going to excel like no other offense in the league. The bullpen issues are starting to clear up with Phil Hughes and Coke. “And the New York Yankees are going to the World Series!” (circa 2003. Suck it Red Sox)
3.) Boston Red Sox (51-34): The plethora of starters will keep them in it and we’re just glad the Yankees won’t have to play them in a 5 game series in October. Bats are cooling off. Jason Bay and Youkilis are cooling off. Pedroia and Ortiz are heating up though. We’d rather have the first two hot.
4.) San Francisco Giants (47-38): Every time we do this list, they go up. If they’re higher next week, we don’t know what we’ll do. Top four teams from 2 divisions? Weird. But the pitching on this team cannot be denied.
5.) Texas Rangers (47-37): They just finished a dominating series against the Angels. Hamilton is back. If he returns to last years form, there’s no stopping the Rangers. And now they’re in on the Roy Halladay sweepsteaks. We’ll take back our Yankee comments if the Rangers get Halladay.
6.) Tampa Bay Rays (47-39): Rays are chugging along but they don’t have what it takes this year to beat the reloaded and refocused Yanks and Sawks. The young pitching hasn’t been nearly as good as last year. Neither has the infield defense. Zobrist can hit, but doesn’t have Aki’s glove.
7.) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (46-37): The only reason they’re below the Rays is they can’t beat the team leading their division. You’ve gotta win inter-division games. 2-7 against the Rangers is awful.
8.) Colorado Rockies (46-39): That hot streak has cooled as they’re only 6-4 in the last ten. But this team is still dangerous. Just wait until Marquis hits that second half collapse. Aaron Cook is going to have to carry a lot more weight.
9.) Chicago White Sox (44-41): A lot of you are saying, “What the hell?” Just us explain. The Sox have been extremely hot as of late. The weather is heating up in Chicago, they’re playing a soft schedule right now and they’ve closed the gap in the AL Central to 2.5 games. We want the Twins to win this division. The Sox are our pick to land Halladay and if they do, they’ll run away with the Central.
10.) St. Louis Cardinals (47-40): They have Albert Pujols. Redundant, right? Joel Piniero has been impressive though. Big series this weekend against the Cubs.
11.) Detroit Tigers (46-38): Still leading the AL Central but get ready for a fall. They beat up a weak schedule the last two weeks and now are starting to hit the meat of it. Mags is in a platoon role. The chemistry on this team just isn’t there. Verlander is the only starter that scares us too.
12.) Philadelphia Phillies (45-38): Phillies are showing us something. Yet another team that if they add Halladay, expect to see them rise in our rankings. But their pitching is awful. Hamels is overrated and hurt. Moyer is old. J.A. Happ is the best option and he’s a rookie. 2nd best offense in the NL though.
13.) Florida Marlins (45-42): 7-3 in their last ten and only 2 games back of the Phillies. Nolasco needs to come back but Josh Johnson is nasty. Another great offense that lacks the pitching to really get us excited.
14.) Seattle Mariners (44-41): Russell Branyan has been a nice surprise, hasn’t he? Ichiro is being Ichiro. King Felix has grown into his court. These guys are one season away from being true contenders in the AL West but they’ll stick around until late August, early September.
15.) Minnesota Twins (43-43): If not for that Yankees sweep, the Twins were really starting to rise up. The pitching has been so inconsistent and Kevin Slowey is on the DL. We’ll stand by our pick to win the AL Central but the pitching woes need to be put under the rug. Offensively, this is no longer a small ball team. They can crush with the best.
16.) Milwaukee Brewers (44-41): Ryan Braun trashed his GM. The GM fired back. A young team is going through some growing pains and having trouble holding composure. In a division that is up for grabs, now is not the time to implode. Need to go into the second half with momentum.
17.) Chicago Cubs (44-41): Man, we were so excited a few days ago when we won 3 out of 4 against Milwaukee. Then, we went back to our anemic ways on offense and couldn’t score against the Braves. Atlanta can pitch. So, were not too discouraged. But with Dempster and Soto on the DL right as Ramirez comes back, the Cubs will have to tread water for a little while longer.
18.) Toronto Blue Jays (43-44): For mere record reasons only. This team has fallen apart. 2-8 in their last 10. The bullpen is a mess. They might trade their best player. Probably a good idea since the division is out of reach.
19.) Atlanta Braves (41-44): The Braves have the pitching to win a lot of ball games. But without Chipper Jones and Brian McCann, this offense leaves you looking at a list of names going, “WHO?” Nate McLouth has helped in the leadoff spot but they just don’t have the run production to get going right now.
20.) Houston Astros (42-43): Where did these guys come from? Expected to see them a lot farther down the list. Oh that’s right. They just played the Nationals. As you were.
21.) Cincinnatti Reds (41-43): Pitching woes are starting for a young staff. Cueto got blown up in a Philadelphia. They have one of the worst run differentials in baseball. Going nowhere. Fast.
22.) New York Mets (40-44): Wow. 22nd out of 30 teams. In New York? David Wright even declared, “We suck right now.” We agree David. Until you get healthy, you’ll continue to suck. And you need starters 2-5.
23.) Baltimore Orioles (38-47): We’re still high on the Orioles as they are building a good, young team. The Erik Bedard trade makes the A.J. Pierzynski trade that the Twins made with the Giants look like a steal. They got so many good pieces for a pitcher that is always hurt. 2 years away, but when they get there, they’ll be dangerous.
24.) Kansas City Royals (37-48): They’ve got Greinke. Good stuff. The rest is crap. And they’re hurt. Everywhere. Next.
25.) Piitsburgh Pirates (38-47): Let the firesale continue. LaRoche. Other LaRoche. Matt Capps. Buyers?
26.) Arizona Diamondbacks (36-50): To trade Haren or not? We say no.
27.) Oakland Athletics (35-48): Holliday trade is taking way too long. Value is wayyyyy down.
28.) San Diego Padres (35-50): Too bad Peavy isn’t healthy. You could get a lot for him. If the jackass would waive his no-trade clause.
29.) Cleveland Indians (34-52): Is there a more disappointing team in baseball? We don’t think so. These guys were expected to do something. They traded DeRosa and got essentially nothing for him. Trade Wood. Trade Cliff Lee and get some parts. Trade V-Mart. Pull a Marlins. It’s time to blow it up.
30.) Washington Nationals (25-59): We have nothing to say. YOU SUCK. SO DO YOUR FANS. Prerequisite: Need to have fans for them to suck. Eff this city.
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