I’m back with all new power rankings for the week (sorry about the absence last week, started a little journey called college). Not much has changed in the top five as far as who they are, but where they are is worth looking into (All statistics via MLB.com)
The Tops:
1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (76-52, tied for lead in AL West)
This….has been a long time coming. The Halos have been waiting to pounce on Oakland for about a month now and after going 7-3 in their last ten games, they finally rose to the occasion. Losing Richards will hurt worse than a lot of folks will originally think. Richards was quietly having himself a top ten starting pitcher season performance before his knee injury. Pujols is showing signs of wear and tear, Trout will be Trout, but my main concern is with the rest of the lineup. Can Hamilton and the rest of the supporting cast answer the call and start producing on a more consistent level?
2. Washington Nationals (75-54, 8 game lead in NL East)
Hello there. We’ve been expecting you Washington. The Nats are finally starting to look like the team every baseball writer in the nation was raving about at the start of last season. 9-1 in their last ten proves they are the hottest team in baseball without a question. With a competent starting rotation that boasts the likes of Strasburg and Gonzalez, they are well equipped for a deep playoff run. Jayson Werth’s beard is the most magnificent sight this side of the Atlantic. What doesn’t this team have? Crucial playoff experience. Many of these guys were not on the team when the Cardinals took them down in 2012.
3. Oakland A’s (76-52, tied for lead in AL West)
Well, it was a good run atop the Last Word leaderboard. But, like the offense lately, all good things eventually come to a close. There has been something missing from their lineup in the last several weeks *cough* *Cespedes* *cough cough* In all seriousness, there is a void in their lineup and is causing a disruption in the rhythm of this ballclub. After going 4-6 in their last ten, they opened the door for the Angels to take over the division. No need to sweat just yet, they still have a large lead in the Wild Card if need be.
4. Baltimore Orioles (73-55, 6 game lead in AL East)
The AL East is not what it used to be, but the Orioles are indeed for real. Arguably the toughest division in baseball is the AL West and they are 21-12 against those teams this season. Combine that with a +56 run differential, you got yourself a solid team. They were not expected to do much this year, but with Nelson Cruz going over 30 home run, the offense has been overachieving. Scary to think what this team could do if Chris Davis could ever put it all back together….
5. Kansas City Royals (72-57, 2 game lead in AL Central)
Yes, this is actually happening guys. Kansas City took one look at the David Price trade and (metaphorically of course) laughed in the face of the rest of the MLB. This has been an absolutely terrifying team to play in the last several weeks as they have not only caught up to and passed the Tigers, but they also have been able to hold them off. Regardless of whether they take the Central or not, it looks like we could finally see some October baseball for the Royals.
Rest of the League:
6. Los Angeles Dodgers
7. Seattle Mariners
8. Saint Louis Cardinals
9. Milwaukee Brewers
10. Detroit Tigers
11. San Francisco Giants
12. Atlanta Braves
13. Pittsburgh Pirates
14. New York Yankees
15. Cleveland Indians
16. Toronto Blue Jays
17. Tampa Bay Rays
18. Miami Marlins
19. New York Mets
20. Cincinnati Reds
21. Chicago White Sox
22. San Diego Padres
23. Philadelphia Phillies
24. Chicago Cubs
25. Minnesota Twins
26. Houston Astros
27. Boston Red Sox
28. Colorado Rockies
29. Arizona Diamondbacks
30. Texas Rangers
Thank you for reading. You can follow me on twitter @jesse_smith29. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
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Main Photo Credit: Keith Allison via Photopin CC
