Major League Baseball Power Rankings

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 22 Juni 2013 | 21.22

1. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS [unchanged]
Record: 47-26
Last 10: 6-4

As the Cardinals roll along with the best record in baseball people are starting to take notice of more than Yadier Molina's league-leading batting average. Say hello to sophomore Matt Carpenter, who's found a home at second base and recently fashioned an 18-game hitting streak. He's in the NL top 10 in hitting.

2. CINCINNATI REDS [up from 5]
Record: 44-30
Last 10: 6-4

Close on the tail of the Cardinals are the Reds in baseball's winningest division (top three clubs). Jay Bruce has seven home runs in June for Cincy, and how many predicted that Mike Leake would be 7-3 with a 2.64 earned-run average? He's had his ERA under 2.00 for the second month in a row, going 5-1 with a 1.15 ERA since April.

3. BOSTON RED SOX [up from 4]
Record: 44-31
Last 10: 4-6

The Red Sox may be burning through closers faster than Jim Leyland can strike up another Lucky, but they have to be pleased by the consistency of Daniel Nava. He's played left, right and first base with surprising efficiency but it's those 45 RBI and high on-base percentage that has All-Star voters writing him onto their ballots.

4. OAKLAND ATHLETICS [up from 7]
Record: 43-32
Last 10: 5-5

It is time to give the A's Josh Donaldson his due. The converted catcher not only flashes some fine glovework at the hot corner for Oakland, but he's a mainstay of their attack with a plus-.300-average and 45 RBI. Not bad for the 27-year-old who hit only .241 last year. Bartolo Colon, meanwhile, is showing life begins at 40, with a 9-2 record.

5. ATLANTA BRAVES [down from 2]
Record: 43-31
Last 10: 4-6

You knew the Braves had corner power with Freddie Freeman holding down first base and leading Atlanta with 48 RBI but look across the diamond and there you'll find Chris Johnson at third. The 28-year-old may not be the next Chipper Jones but after coming over from Houston he's a nice compliment to Freeman with a solid .318 batting average.

6. BALTIMORE ORIOLES [up from 10]
Record: 42-31
Last 10: 7-3

Another first and third combo for your viewing pleasure, especially if you're an Orioles fan, is Chris Davis and Manny Machado. Davis jumped up to a MLB-leading 26 home runs with two Wednesday in Detroit - one to left, one to right - while Machado, now mentioned as an equal with Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, was the first to reach 100 hits and was halfway to Earl Webb's all-time one-season doubles record of 67.

7. PITTSBURGH PIRATES [up from 9]
Record:
Last 10: 4-6

With a 3.25 team ERA, third-best in baseball, the Pirates sail on in the tough National League Central, despite a less than fearsome attack and a propensity to strike out. Lefty Jeff Locke has impressed with a 6-1 record and ERA of just over two. He nearly had another win but Jason Grilli blew a save after being perfect in his first 25 opportunities.

8. TEXAS RANGERS [down from 3]
Record: 41-32
Last 10: 3-7

Seems like the lineup juggling that Rangers manager Ron Washington performed - moving Nelson Cruz into the three spot - helped get Texas back on track as they took three of four from Oakland. Washington employed 50 different lineups in the team's first 72 games. Recently returned Ian Kinsler shook off three stitches in his chin to carry on. The Dallas Stars were impressed.

9. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS [down from 8]
Record: 39-33
Last 10: 4-6

The other catching Montero, Miguel, the one still in the big leagues (sorry, Jesus) is on an upswing for the Diamondbacks. After 26 homers and 86 RBI last year for Arizona, Montero struggled out of the gate and was hitting only .180 in mid-May. Since then he's been raking in the desert at a .361 clip to get back to his normal range.

10. DETROIT TIGERS [up from 11]
Record: 40-31
Last 10: 5-5

It was a pretty good sign when Max Scherzer came out firing in April with three 10-plus strikeout games that he was one Tiger with plenty in his tank. He trails only Yu Darvish of Texas on the K charts but it's that 10-0 record that is getting the most attention in Detroit. He's 3-0 in June with a 1.80 ERA, wresting away ace of the staff honours from Justin Verlander.

11. NEW YORK YANKEES [down from 6]
Record: 39-33
Last 10: 3-7

Can these really be the Bronx Bombers with a .238 team batting average? Back surgery for Kevin Youkilis and a rapid return to the disabled list for Mark Teixeira after only 15 games with a .151 average haven't helped the Yankees keep pace in the potent AL East. Even Robinson Cano has slowed down to a .219 average in June with just seven RBI.

12. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS [up from 14]
Record: 31-28
Last 10: 4-6

Say hey, but it's a pretty feisty National League West going on out there for the defending World Series champion Giants. Now Madison Bumgarner has joined the near brawl game with a wayward toss at San Diego's Jesus Guzman a night after he did a little too much styling at the plate after a home run. Guzman repaid Bumgarner with a homer later.

13. TAMPA BAY RAYS [down from 12]
Record: 38-35
Last 10: 4-6

Welcome to the big leagues, Wil The Thrill Myers. Say hello to the other half of the pillar that holds up your Tampa Bay Rays, Evan Longoria. After 37 homers, 109 RBI in the minors last season, the 22-year-old Myers, obtained from Kansas City in the seven-player deal involving James Shields, should be in the show for good. And he looks like he'll be very good.

14. TORONTO BLUE JAYS [up from 20]
Record: 35-36
Last 10: 8-2

Remember that Silver Slugger from 2009, a red-haired Blue Jays' first baseman named Adam Lind? Well, he's back and better than ever. Some special attention by hitting coach Chad Mottola in Las Vegas last year formed the basis for Lind's revival and after a slow start this year, he's barrelling the ball all over the field at a .400 clip for the month.

15. WASHINGTON NATIONALS [up from 16]
Record: 29-30
Last 10: 4-6

Many forget that Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond hit .292 last year with 25 homers and 73 RBI to play an important role in Washington becoming a contender. Desmond, 27, blasted a grand slam in the 11th inning to key a win against divisional rival Philadelphia and followed Thursday vs. Colorado with his 11th homer as the Nats scrambled back to .500.

16. SAN DIEGO PADRES [up from 20]
Record: 37-36
Last 10: 5-5

Four starters from the Padres' opening day lineup were on the disabled list by mid-June though San Diego is managing to remain in contention in the National League West. Now they've lost super stealer Everth Cabrera, who shares MLB's stolen bases lead with Boston's Jacoby Ellsbury with 31 thefts. Cabrera was leading the Padres in hits and runs.

17. CLEVELAND INDIANS [unchanged]
Record: 36-35
Last 10: 6-4

That sweet music is coming from the bat of Indians backstop Carlos Santana. A career-high 10-game hitting streak has the 27-year-old back up into the .280's after a cold spell worse than the April winds off Lake Erie. Santana was actually hot in April, hitting .395 in 21 games before he struggled along at a .180 pace for 29 games. Everything's back in tune now.

18. COLORADO ROCKIES [down from 13]
Record: 37-37
Last 10: 4-6

Home cooking wasn't a good idea for Canadian Jeff Francis, who visited Toronto and served up 10 hits and eight runs to the Blue Jays. That dropped Francis' record to 2-5, and his 6.58 ERA in 11 starts convinced the Rockies they needed another chef. Francis was dispatched to Colorado Springs quicker than you can say Gordon Ramsay and Roy Oswalt was summoned as his replacement.

19. KANSAS CITY ROYALS [up from 26]
Record: 25-32
Last 10: 4-6

There's little mystery why the Royals have been able to claw their way back towards .500 and it's spelled p-i-t-c-h-i-n-g. Kansas City ranked fifth in team ERA and earned series wins over Minnesota, Houston, Detroit and Tampa Bay before Cleveland took two of three from them. Despite a 2.72 ERA James Shields hasn't had a win since April 30.

20. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES [down from 15]
Record: 35-38
Last 10: 7-3

Michael Young notched his 999th and 1,000th RBI Wednesday, but his Phillies lost after he gave them a brief 2-0 lead. Jonathan Papelbon's run of successful saves was halted at 13 and the Philadelphia closer blew two chances in three games against the Nationals. Phils' management insists Papelbon and Cliff Lee will not be available at the July trade deadline.

21. MINNESOTA TWINS [down from 19]
Record: 33-36
Last 10: 5-5

That huge sigh of relief you heard coming from the Twin Cities was from Justin Morneau as he snapped his homerless drought after 168 at bats and 43 games. It was only his third round-tripper for the Canadian slugger, who hit 34 in his MVP 2006 season, but he is leading the Twins with 42 RBI and is second to Joe Mauer on the club in average.

22. LOS ANGELES ANGELS [up from 23]
Record: 26-34
Last 10: 3-7

On the eve before his Bobblehead Night at Angel Stadium, you could see C.J. Wilson's head going up and down in appreciation as he watched Mike Trout perform. Trout turned a routine hit into a double and scored the only run in Wilson's two-hit performance that led to his sixth win of the season. Trout also preserved the 1-0 advantage with a great catch.

23. SEATTLE MARINERS up from 24]
Record: 32-42
Last 10: 5-5

The Mariners' third pick in the 2012 draft has already arrived in Seattle and catcher Mike Zunino, 22, is learning the ropes from 41-year-old Henry Blanco, a Blue Jay for the first two months of the season. Zunino homered in just his second start for Seattle while Blanco belted a grand slam in last Saturday's 4-0 win over Oakland.

24. LOS ANGELES DODGERS [down from 21]
Record : 30-41
Last 10 : 3-7

That's a pretty formidable 2-3-4 line-up combo the Dodgers are running out there on a daily basis. Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez. Puig's still red-hot with hits in all but two of his first 16 games while Gonzalez, a four-time All-Star, figures to be a strong candidate to represent Los Angeles at New York's Citi Field. Ramirez impressed in a rare Dodgers visit to Yankee Stadium, ripping four hits.

25. CHICAGO WHITE SOX [down from 22]
Record: 29-41
Last 10: 4-6

Adam Dunn had home run totals of 40-40-40-40-39 and 39 six years running. The White Sox slugger has struggled with his average all season, hitting .141 in April and .165 in May but now he's making his hits count for Chicago. He's had 44 hits but has knocked in 43 runs and with 19 homers he's on track for -- you guessed it -- 40 home runs.

26. CHICAGO CUBS [Up from 27]
Record: 29-42
Last 10: 4-6

Nothing like learning from the master. The Cubs had catcher Welington Castillo studying the receiving and throwing techniques of four-time All-Star Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals. Then Chicago got a first-hand look at what Molina can do with the bat as the NL's leading hitter broke a tie in St. Louis with a two-homer homer.

27. NEW YORK METS [down from 24]
Record: 23-33
Last 10: 6-4

For one day, the Mets ruled the NL East. That was Tuesday when they tag-teamed the Braves with Matt Harvey's 13 strikeouts and six shutout innings of four-hit ball from Zack Wheeler in his Major League debut to spark a double-header sweep. It's those 160 other ball games they've got to handle but you've got to start somewhere.

28. MILWAUKEE BREWERS [up from 29]
Record: 29-42
Last 10: 5-5

It was the first time that Ryan Braun had been placed on the DL in his Major League career and now the Brewers are worried his stay is going to be longer than first expected. Braun injured his thumb June 9 and tried to play through the pain but now he's seeing a Phoenix hand specialist and it looks like he may be gone for a month with rest the only option available.

29. HOUSTON ASTROS [down from 28]
Record: 28-46
Last 10: 6-4 30. MIAMI MARLINS [unchanged]
Record: 23-49
Last 10: 5-5

On June 17th Giancarlo Stanton belted two homers against Arizona to reach 100 for his career. It was his 400th game and he joined Atlanta boppers Eddie Mathews and Bob Horner as the only players who debuted before they were 21 to reach the 100-homer plateau before 400 games. As for the rest of the Marlins...


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