This week we see a shake up in the top ten as San Diego plummets with Cincinnati and Atlanta both moving forward. The Houston Astros also deserve mention for the gains they have made in recent weeks. The Yankees hold down the top spot yet again with the Rays still right on their heels.
Rankings After the Jump:
1. The New York Yankees (Last Week #1 Tie) – The Yankees regain a slim lead over the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East and in the Power Pulse rankings for this week. The Yankees are the best offensive team in baseball being the only team that has scored over 700 runs this season. They have the top Run Differential at +176.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (Last Week #1 Tie) – Despite falling out of their tie with the Yankees, the Rays are right there trailing by a single game in the AL East. In addition to being second in the standings, the Rays are also second in run differential at +142
3. Texas Rangers (Last Week #4) – Texas moves up a spot this week to number 4 but the 3-6 spots are tightly bunched and you couldn’t get much argument at picking any of these teams over the others. The Rangers are getting the nod for third due in large part to owning the largest division lead of the leaders at 9.5 games. With that cushion they should be able to rest Cliff Lee some if his ailing back calls for it.
4. Minnesota Twins (Last Week #5) – The Twins check in this week at number 4 up one spot from last week. You might notice that all American League teams are occupying the top 4 spots. The Twins are feeling pressure from the Reds and Braves but get the nod this week for their consistency. Since taking over the division lead from the White Sox, the Twins have been very consistent without the peaks and valleys that the other teams have suffered.
5. Cincinnati Reds (Last Week #6) – I personally take all credit for the Reds run to the top and the utter collapse by St. Louis. Since pronouncing the Reds dead after their series sweep at the hands of the Cardinals, the Reds have went 14-4 since that series sweep and now have a commanding 8 game lead over the Cardinals going into this weekend’s series. Fear the toothpick.
6. Atlanta Braves (Last Week #7) – The Braves continue to lead a tight race for the NL East. Top prospect Freddie Freeman was just called up to provide some depth at first base. Derek Lowe is hurting and will miss his next start but the Braves are as they have been throughout the season. Just kind of cruising along.
7. San Diego Padres (Last Week #3) – The Padres are this weeks biggest loser tumbling 4 spots from number 3 to number 7. This fall is the result of a seven game losing streak at the hands of the Phillies and the lowly Diamondbacks. Despite the losing streak, the second place Giants have only been able to shave off a couple of games in the division race.
8. Philadelphia Phillies (Last Week #8) – The Phillies are keeping the pressure on the Braves in NL East and are currently two games up on the Giants in the wildcard race. The fighting Phils are now healthy and should be a potent offensive team the rest of the way.
9. Boston Red Sox (Last Week #9) – You can look at the Red Sox’s 75-58 record and consider that they would be 2 games behind the Twins in the Central, Tied with the Rangers, three games behind the Braves and Reds, and 1.5 games behind the Padres. Instead they trail the Yankees by 8 games and the Rays by 7 for the Wild Card.
10. San Francisco Giants (Last Week #10) – The Giants round out the top 10 of this weeks Power Pulse Rankings. The Padres have lost seven straight and the Giants have closed to within 3 games. Tim Lincecum got a much needed win. We’ll see if the Padres continue to feel the pressure or right the ship soon.
11. Toronto Blue Jays (Last Week # 11) – You can read everything that I wrote about the Red Sox and apply it to the Blue Jays as well. In the National League they would still be mentioned as being in the wild card race however, in the American League they are already looking to next year.
12. Colorado Rockies (Last Week #12) – The Rockies hold steady at number 12 this week on the strength of winning seven of their last ten games. Winning on the road will need to be a priority for this team next season as they sport a good 43-21 record at home but are only 26-42 on the road.
13. Chicago White Sox (Last Week #15) – The White Sox jump up two spots and you can’t say that they are sitting passive. They just claimed Manny Ramirez off of waivers in a last ditch effort to run down the Twins in the central.
14. Florida Marlins (Last Week # 14) – The Fish look to be solidifying themselves into third place in the NL East as the Mets have started to fade. The Marlins have some nice young pieces in Hanley Ramirez, Josh Johnson, and Mike Stanton. Just need some veteran pick ups to take the next step.
15. St Louis Cardinals (Last Week #13) – What the heck happened to the Cardinals? They have lost five in a row and eight of their last 10 heading into their series with the Reds. The bad news is that it will take a sweep just to get them back within shouting distance of the division lead.
16. Los Angeles Dodgers (Last Week # 17) – The Dodgers move up a spot and have to be feeling pretty good about saving nearly 4 million dollars that was still owed to Manny Ramirez. Ted Lilly has been a nice pickup and it looks like they may try and resign him for next season as well.
17. Oakland Athletics (Last Week #17) – I have a soft spot for the Money Ball A’s. It is almost amazing to me how they can hang in the race nearly every season before fading somewhat at the end. This club is young and will be improving yet again next season.
18. Houston Astros (Last Week #21) – The Astros jump up three spots and continue their trend of playing solid baseball. Winners of three in a row and eight of their last ten. They are playing the game the right way by doing the little things and are being rewarded for it.
19. Detroit Tigers (Last Week #19) – While the Tigers are fading they are still worth watching if for no other reason than to watch Miguel Cabrera. He has turned in another solid season in a very pitcher friendly ball park.
20. Los Angeles Angels (Last Week #20) – It’s sad to suggest that the Angels season ended due to an injury in a home run celebration. This team just doesn’t have the offensive firepower without Kendry Morales to compete with the likes of the Rangers.
21. New York Mets (Last Week #18) – The Mets slide continues this week falling three spots to number 21. They traded Jeff Francouer to the Rangers for the stretch run and probably wish they could unload Carlos Beltran and his contract on someone. Watched this team play the Braves this week and they just appear to be a rudderless ship.
22. Milwaukee Brewers (Last Week #22) – A three game losing streak has the Brewers tied with the Astros for third in the central division. While the club probably isn’t too worried about the standings, they have been disappointingly floundering of late losing seven of their last ten.
23. Chicago Cubs (Last Week # 25) – Starlin Castro is chasing the batting crown, and the Cubs are talking to potential managerial candidates. Eric Wedge has been interviewed and is soon to be followed by Ryne Sandberg and former Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez. All the while the Cubs jump up two spots in this week’s rankings.
24. Kansas City Royals (Last Week 23) – The Royals pitching staff has surrendered 702 runs this season which is better than only Milwaukee and Arizona. Conversely only the Yankees have scored more runs than the Royals have allowed.
25. Seattle Mariners (Last Week #24) – The Mariners have the worst offense in baseball scoring only 431 runs on the season. That is about 30 runs behind what Pittsburgh has done this year.
26. Washington Nationals (Last Week #26) – It just seems to get worse for the Nationals. On top of Stephen Strasburg needing Tommy John surgery, they fired Rob Dibble from their broadcast team because of comments he made about Strasburg. Then there is Nyjer Morgan who returned from a suspension for throwing a baseball into the stands and hitting a fan only to be involved in a bench clearing brawl with the Marlins. The Nationals at one point were having a promising season but now it appears to be coming apart.
27. Baltimore Orioles (Last Week #28) – Buck Showalter and company move up a spot and have played much better since he took over as manager. That atleast should be worth some optimism heading into next season.
28. Arizona Diamondbacks (Last Week #29) – The D’Backs move up a spot via sweeping the first place Padres and winning six of their last ten games.
29. Cleveland Indians (Last Week #27) – The Indians tumble two spots and sit a whopping 24 games behind the Twins in the Central division.
30 Pittsburgh Pirates (Last Week #30) – The Pirates maintain their lead in the race for next year’s #1 draft pick.