What’s up folks? I’m the new guy around here and I’ll be handling the MLB Power Rankings on a weekly basis. Let’s get this underway shall we?
(All stats via MLB.com)
MLB Power Rankings- 7/13/14
The Tops
1. Oakland A’s (58-35, two game lead in AL West)
What’s not to like? 7-3 in their last 10 games and are still holding off the red-hot Angels for the division lead. The name of the game has been pitching, pitching, and, you guessed it, more pitching. With a team ERA of 3.08, the A’s have taken their serviceable and improving offense to 13 games over .500. My only question: does this team have enough firepower in the muscle game to compete. They currently sit sixth place in slugging in the American League.
2. Detroit Tigers (53-37, 7.5 game lead in AL Central)
Weak division? Yes, but a record of 28-15 on the road tells me a different story. It doesn’t matter where you play them, they will still find a way to win. That’s a sure sign of a healthy ball club and having Miguel Cabrera never hurts the cause. Heading into the new week riding a five game win streak, the Tigers look primed to take the division with ease this year. Their offense has been tearing the cover off the ball, second only to Colorado in terms of team average and slugging (.280/.447). I would not be surprised at all to see them make a move for some help on the mound and their 3.95 ERA.
3. Los Angeles Angels (56-37, trailing Oakland by two games in AL West)
Okay before I get destroyed for putting Detroit before them I just have one thing to say about this team: streaky. There is no doubt that the Angels have been high flying as of late, winners of nine out of their last ten. A little over a month ago this was a close to .500 clubhouse. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Mike Trout is the best player in baseball. It’s about time his team starts acting like it and they have done so. Someone finally woke up the sleeping giant that is Albert Pujols, who has been M.I.A. since his tenure with the Cardinals. While the average is not Pujols-esque, the 20 dingers and 63 RBI have taken much of the pressure off Trout and forcing pitchers to pick their poison.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (52-43, 0.5 game lead in NL West)
Rough week for the other side of Orange County as they have only mustered four wins out of their last ten. Here’s what the Dodgers over the rest of the National League and that is depth. Their pitching staff is a prime example with obvious reasons. Kershaw is a once in a generation talent, Greinke would be a number one option in 90 percent of the league, and even Ryu shows signs of brilliance. This is a ball club that is built to win and built to win now. My question is: can they keep Puig and the offense’s head on straight enough to provide consistency? Kershaw cannot go seven innings of one run ball and take the loss like he did two years ago.
5. Saint Louis Cardinals (52-43, T-1st in NL Central)-
No Yadi, No Wacha, No Problem. There is no doubt that losing Molina (thumb surgery) for three months will hurt. You just cannot simply replace a player of his caliber and they’ll especially miss him on the pitching staff. Here’s the good news: Adam Wainwright has been lights out all season long (12-4 1.83 ERA) and help is on the way. Joe Kelly returns to the rotation to provide a familiar face. The offense has to step up, this is a lineup (very similar I might add) that set the record for average with RISP just a season ago. My question: Can 1B Matt Adams (.330 average) keep up this kind of production in his first real full-time season?
Rest of the League
6. Milwaukee Brewers
7. San Francisco Giants
8. Baltimore Orioles
9. Atlanta Braves
10. Seattle Mariners
11. Washington Nationals
12. Cincinnati Reds
13. Pittsburgh Pirates
14. Toronto Blue Jays
15. Cleveland Indians
16. Kansas City Royals
17. New York Yankees
18. Miami Marlins
19. New York Mets
20. Tampa Bay Rays
21. Chicago White Sox
22. Minnesota Twins
23. Philadelphia Phillies
24. Boston Red Sox
25. Chicago Cubs
26. San Diego Padres
27. Colorado Rockies
28. Houston Astros
29. Arizona Diamondbacks
30. Texas Rangers
On a more serious note: My thoughts and prayers are with Brewers IF Jean Segura who has lost his nine month old son. He will be placed on the bereavement list and it is not known when he will return, but at this point that is the least important part.
For more on sports injuries, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
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