By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media
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| Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515 |
There are still a few teams hovering in playoff contention that I can see falling and few that are currently making a charge. Currently all 30 General Managers are racking their heads as the July 31st trade deadline approaches quickly. I can tell what every team needs to do if they want to be top dog on my MLB Power Rankings.
1. Yankees (31-24) (Last Month: 4) - The Yanks are doing enough to lead the A.L. East and sit on top of my June Power Rankings, but rest assure that Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia cannot be what they roll out with in the post season. It would not end well.
2. Red Sox (31-26) (LM: 7) - Finally Carl Crawford has found some life and Red Sox erased the dreadful start. With Daisuke lost for the season to Tommy John and John Lackey not worth 1/16th of his current salary the Bo-Sox could use some extra arms if they want to over take their rivals.
3. Phillies (34-23) (LM: 1) - The best record in National League cannot have the fall far from the top P.R. spot, but the offense has been invisible. Not even the four aces can always make up for one run days. They have to find some offense somewhere.
4. Cardinals (34-25) (LM: 12) - It feels like smoke and mirrors, but no Adam Wainwright no problem. Slumping Albert Pujols - they have scored the most runs in the Majors. If the Red Birds get healthy they could end up running away with the N.L. Central.
5. Giants (32-25) (LM: 14) - The defending champs have found enough offense to climb atop the N.L. West. they are playing with the same formula that won them a title last year, of course there is no Buster Posey getting called up from the minor and the actual Buster Posey can barely walk.
6. Indians (33-22) (LM: 13) - Ladies and gentleman, your American Leauge MVP; Asdrubal Cabrera. Th Tribe have not stopped hitting since Opening Day behind Asdrubal and company and pitching has been good enough to keep the in every ball game. I'm scared to say they are legit though, because I still see them eventually losing out to the pressures of October.
7. Rangers (32-26) (LM: 3) - Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz's activation from the DL could not have come soon enough. Without those two big boppers the Rangers were an average team. With them they are one of the scariest offenses in baseball.
8. Angels (30-29) (LM: 9) - The Halos could still use a little more offense and little more depth behind Jered Weaver and Dan Haren in the rotation, but they are still a team that can go on a 10-game winning streak and I would not be the least bit surprised.
9. Brewers (31-26) (LM: 5) - My May Power Rankings said they Crew would take off once Greinke got back and while they have not supplanted the Cardinals in the division yet, the trio of Gallardo, Greinke, and Marcum will be dangerous down the stretch.
10. Reds (30-28) (LM: 6) - In the midst of a little late May slump the Reds are still a threat in the N.L. Jay Bruce and Joey Votto have become one of the scariest 1-2 punches in baseball. I will not be surprised if we return to my blog in July and they are in the top 5.
11. Marlins (31-24) (LM: 8) - The Marlins are legit, but maybe not the reasons I though they would be. Josh Johnson is hurt, Javier Vazquez is awful, yet the bullpen and young hitters Gaby Sanchez, Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton have the Fish in the mix.
12. Rays (29-28) (LM: 11) - The emergence of Matt Joyce and Jeremy Hellickson has kept the Rays within the reach, but they need to decide quickly whether they are contenders or pretenders before other teams with the pay roll.
13. Braves (32-26) (LM: 15) - They have a great 1-through-12 pitching staff yet for some reason every aspect of their play does not quick often enough to make up ground on the Phils and Marlins. This a team that could sky up the rankings come July, but they need to prove it to me on the field first.
14. A's (27-31) (LM: 10) - It's a tight race out West and the young aces cannot be perfect. That offense constitutes they need to be perfect. Now the question is will they look for offense at the deadline.
15. Rockies (26-30) (LM: 2) - The blow of Jorge de la Rosa being lost for the season really has brought Colorado to dark times. While the searching for pitching the offense has lost its swagger too.
16. Tigers (29-27) (LM: 17) - Jim Leyland has had to field some make shift lineups with the likes of Andy Dirks and Don Kelly, but Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello might be strong enough to lift them to a Central crown.
17. Mariners (30-27) (LM: 29) - In the second straight year where pitching is winning out, the M's have found themselves a nice little rotation to back King Felix Hernandez. Michael Pineda is on the fast track to Rookie of the Year.
18. Diamondbacks (32-26) (LM: 27) - Much like the M's the D'Backs are arguably the hottest team in the N.L., but I do not see that much sticking power. Dan Hudson and Ian Kennedy have been good, but I'm not sure if they are read to carry a team to a pennant.
19. Royals (25-32) (LM: 16) - They've continued to hit, but the pitching has not lived up to his side of the deal. And of all people, typically reliable closer Jokim Soria has been moved from the role.
20. Dodgers (26-32) (LM: 18) - If Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier continue to be the only two players in the lineup to hit, then it won't matter how bad the back end of the bullpen is because there will never be a save opportunity.
21. Cubs (23-32) (LM: 21) - The problems are endless for the lovable losers and I think the Wrigley Faithful might actually be beginning to hate Mike Quade. I see nothing positive he has done there since being hired.
22. White Sox (28-31) (LM: 19) - The Chi Sox may be coming out of a two-month long funk and I would not be shocked if they pull that division out, because I don't buy the Tribe. They really need Adam Dunn to wake up.
23. Pirates (27-29) (LM: 28) - Go figure. Out of the young offensive talent they have it has been the resurgent starting pitching that has them flirting with a .500 record. Kevin Correia became the 1st 8-game winner and Maholm, Morton and McDonald have been tremendous.
24. Blue Jays (29-28) (LM: 20) - I guess Jose "Joey Bats" Bautista is the real deal, but the Jays are still not ready to compete in the A.L. East. Kyle Drabek and Brendan Morrow are still a year or two away from reaching their full potential.
25. Orioles (25-30) (LM: 23) - So much for the great off season of offense acquisitions becuase the O's offense has been poor. Luckily the pitching has been OK or this could be another year with empty stands and scattered Baltimore Boo Birds.
26. Padres (25-33) (LM: 30) - Like they did not see this coming when they traded Adrian Gonzalez. Not really sure why the have not called up Anthony Rizzo from AAA, but I'm sure the phone will ringing off the hook in July. Heath Bell would look nice in a contending team's bullpen.
27. Mets (26-31) (LM: 24) - We have reached the part of the Power Rankings that is down right ugly. Meet the Mets and their disgruntled owner and frustrated manager. Start the trading of pieces and begin building for 2015.
28. Nationals (25-32) (LM: 25) - Geez. Who would have thought Jayson Werth was not worth have of 126 million and could not carry an offense? Oh yea, this guy. Way to blame it on Teddy and the Presidents Race, Jayson. Maybe you guys just cannot hit.
29. Twins (19-37) (LM: 22) - I did not want to beleive it at first becuase I think Ron Gardenhire is a great manager, but they just keep pulling trigger on a gun with no ammo. Mauer hurt, Morneua playing through injury and a pitching staff that is lost in the Target Field sky.
30. Astros (23-35) (LM: 26) - The only articles printed on the Stros these days are what kind of return can they can get for Carlos Lee or Hunter Pence. Another bang up job by Ed Wade. Maybe Jeff Bagwell can come out of retirement and hit third.
