MLB Power Rankings

We’re at the halfway point of the baseball season, and while we’re preparing to watch the “Chris Davis vs. Prince Fielder Showdown” in the HR Derby, it’s time for another look at the MLB Power Rankings. As always, this is only based on what we’ve seen so far…

MLB Power Rankings – July 15, 2013

NOTE: Previous Power Ranking in parenthesis.

1. (1) St. Louis Cardinals (57-36) – 21 games above .500 already, 7-3 in their last 10 games, +127 run differential is tops in baseball by a landslide, what’s not to like? They’ve allowed the second fewest runs in baseball, and have scored the third most. They are also the first team to repeat at #1.

2. (2) Boston Red Sox (58-39) – Boston has the most wins in baseball with 58, and only trail the Cardinals in run differential. Like St. Louis, they lead an extremely tough division at the All-Star Break.

3. (6) Pittsburgh Pirates (56-39) – The Pirates have had tremendous pitching through the first half, allowing only 311 runs. The second best total is 335…

4. (8) Detroit Tigers (52-42) – The Tigers have seemingly improved more as the season has progressed. Miggy Cabrera is on pace for another MVP season and Prince Fielder is killing it also. On the pitching side, Verlander hasn’t even been their best pitcher, Scherzer has!

5. (11) Tampa Bay Rays (55-41) – No team is hotter than the Rays, who enter this break winning 9 of their last 10 games.  Will this break slow them down?

6. (4) Atlanta Braves (54-41) – While they are extremely beat up all over their lineup, they are preparing to bring back Brandon Beachy very soon.

7. (5) Oakland Athletics (56-39) – I am judging the A’s very harshly based on their record. The problem I have is that I simply can’t believe their record at this point…

8. (3) Cincinnati Reds (53-42) – I really like what they are doing at home (14 games over .500), but not what they are doing on the road (3 games under).

9. (7) Texas Rangers (54-41) – The Rangers are in the position they always seem to be in. They haven’t dominated teams though like they have over the years though. Does that matter?

10. (10) Baltimore Orioles (53-43) – It’s all about Chris Davis, who could hit the most HR’s of any non-steroid man in baseball history. 37 at the break!

11. (9) New York Yankees (51-44) – Jeter came back, only to get injured again. Will he and A-Rod ever play on the field together this season? I say no.

12. (15) Cleveland Indians (51-44) – Another big surprise this season have been the Indians. They are barely behind Detroit in the division. My best guess is that they fall off the pace though.

13. (20+) LA Dodgers (47-47) – By now, we’ve all heard about Puig and his terrific start to his career. In fact, he’s been so good that he took this struggling team and has led them back into playoff contention. The will take the division lead within the next month for good.

14. (13) Arizona Diamondbacks (50-45) – They, not the Dodgers, are in first place in the division. But if you read what I said above, I think that changes soon.

15. (17) Washington Nationals (48-47) – They are just hanging around. They haven’t played their best yet this season, but they haven’t played bad either.

16. (19) Philadelphia Phillies (48-48) – They have some closer issues (Pap has 5 blown saves), but they aren’t too far behind in the division.

17. (20+) LA Angels (44-49) – They started horrifically, but they have bounced back behind Mike Trout. They have a ways to go to make the playoffs though.

18. (20+) Toronto Blue Jays (45-49) – Similar to the Angels, the Blue Jays have underperformed this year. But they have inched back closer to .500 as the season wore on. But in the AL East, they remain in 5^th place.

19. (12) Colorado Rockies (46-50) – Carlos Gonzales has been terrific again this season, but he needs more help.

20. (14) San Francisco Giants (43-51) – Congrats to Lincecum on his no-hitter a few nights ago. Maybe he’s back to being an ace?

21. (16) Kansas City Royals (43-49) – After being .500 not long ago, a 3-7 mark recently as put them well below .500 again.

22. (20+) Chicago Cubs (42-51) – Some nice play recently has given those loyal Cubs fans hope.

23. (20+) Seattle Mariners (43-52) – I like some of their young players, is their hope in the future?

24. (20+) New York Mets (41-50) – Similar to the two teams above, they haven’t been that bad this season, and have some serious hope for next year (thanks to Matt Harvey).

25. (18) San Diego Padres (42-54) – After I was starting to believe in them as a quality team, they go 2-8 in their last 10 games.

26 – 28 (20+) – Minnesota, Milwaukee, Chicago (Sox) – Three fairly equal teams that will be players in the trade market this year for sure.

29. (30) Miami Marlins (35-58) – Out of the cellar, thanks to Houston.

30. (20+) Houston Astros (33-61) – Wow, this team sucks. -143 in run differential is astounding.

By: The Sports Guys