  |
|
|
|
MLB Weekly Power RatingsThe Red Sox Remain at the Top, but Everything Else Has ChangedEven after a week where the Red Sox went 2-5, they still hold the top spot by virtue of having the best record in baseball and the largest disvision lead in the MLB.
1. Boston Red Sox (40-22; 1st Place AL East). The Red Sox were saved form a winless week by brilliant pitching from Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling, the latter of whom threw 8 1/3 innings of no-hit ball against the Oakland A's. But how much further can this team go? Are they the best, or are they nearing the end of their 2007 season's one great run? (Last Week:1) 2. Los Angeles Angels (40-23; 1st Place AL West ). The Halos had yet another great week, winning 7 of their last 8 over struggling opponents Baltimore, Minnesota and St. Louis. With Cincinnati, Houston, Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Baltimore coming up this month, watch for the Angels to move to the top of the pack. Soon, Angels fans and Red Sox haters alike hope. Soon. (Last Week: 5) 3. Cleveland Indians (37-23; 1st Place AL Central). Believe it or not, Fausto Carmona, who went 1-10 in his 2006 rookie year, is currently 7-1 with a 3.11 ERA, which makes him an early -to-midseason Cy Young Award candidate. Besides Beckett and John Lackey of the Angels, Fausto's main competition is teammate C.C. Sabathia. Bigger than a mountain and stronger than a prize bull, the mammoth left-hander leads the AL in wins (9-1), is fourth in strikeouts (83), and is 13th in ERA (3.40). That pitching, combined with the continued slugging of Grady Sizemore, Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta and Travis Hafner have the Indians' motor humming like a 250 straight-six on a 1969 Chevelle. (Last Week: 3) 4. San Diego Padres (36-25; First Place in NL West). Sure, they are 1/2 game behind the Mets for the best record in the Senior Circuit. But while the boys from Shea were busy losing 7 of their last 10, the Padres won 7 out of 10 to leapfrog the Dodgers for first place in the West. That, combined with their upcoming soft schedule (including Tampa, the Cubs and Baltimore), could put the Padres in the the top three by next week's power rankings. (Last Week: 9) 5. New York Mets (36-24;1st Place NL East) . They are still the best team in the National League, but for the last week, the Mets have played like anything but a potential champion. They dropped 5 of 6 to the D-Backs, Phillies and the Tigers. With the Dodgers, the Twins and the suddenly-hot New York Yankees on the horizon, the Mets must find their A-game right now if they want to keep the Braves and Phillies at bay. (Last week: 2) 6. Detroit Tigers (35-26; 2nd Place AL Central). Their pitching has been injured all year, and lately, the staff and bullpen have underperformed, but the team leads the AL in offense behind the hitting of MVP-favorite Magglio Ordonez (.367 13 HR, 56 RBI) and Comeback Player candidiate Gary Sheffield (.270, 16 HR, 42 RBI, 55 runs). (Last Week: 4). 7. Milwaukee Brewers (33-29; 1st Place NL Central). They continue to fall after their brilliant 24-10 start. Are they a contender, or were they just a flash in the pan? One thing seems certain: Prince Fielder (.294, 22 HR, 49 RBI) looks very much like the real thing. (Last Week: 7). 8. Los Angeles Dodgers: (35-27; 3rd Place NL West). This team needs to hit some dingers. Some taters. And not the french-fried kind 'a potaters, neither, mm-hmmm. Recently, the Dodgers talked about taking on the last two year's of Jason Giambi's mammoth contract, but that seems like an impossibility now. Perhaps Jim Thome would be a good short term solution. But the best possible scenario for Big Blue would be to trade for Miguel Carbrera and sign him to a very handsome extension. With their top three starting pitchers seemingly all in the midst of their prime, Cabrera's bat and glove could raise this team to a World Series ontender this year. 9. Arizona Diamondback (36-27; 2nd Place NL West). They could be higher, but then they lost a close one to the Red Sox. Now they are lucky to be on the list at all. 10. Philadelphia Phillies (32-30, 3rd Place NL East). Since their 4-11 disaster to start the season, the Phillies are 28-19, a winning percentage that would put them atop most divisions in baseball. They have also won 7 out of 9 games against very tough competition. Ryan Howard is starting to hit. Chase Utley is showing why he is so valuable. Shane Victorino and Aaron Rowand have been great offensive surprises. The team's pitching is still a bit shaky, especially with Feddy Garcia going out again on June 10, 2007. Adam Eaton and John Lieber will have to give the Phillies quality starts every outing until Garcia returns. That is a tall order. __________________________ World's Greatest Baseball Slang Dictionary
The copyright of the article MLB Weekly Power Ratings in Baseball is owned by James Lincoln Ray. Permission to republish MLB Weekly Power Ratings in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
