MLB Power Rankings: Movement Abounds During Week Six
With several of the bottom teams in the game riding hot streaks, this week’s edition of the MLB Power Rankings has quite a few changes.
We are still early enough in the season where a hot streak or two can shake up the MLB Power Rankings. Likewise, a cold streak can send a team dropping down the ranks, especially if the teams around them are performing well. And then, for those teams that we keep waiting to have the switch go on and to start to perform, there comes a time when the waiting has to end.
All of those aforementioned thoughts factored in to this week’s Power Rankings. There has been quite a bit of a shakeup amongst the standings. A new team has taken over the top spot, and two teams have entered the top ten for the first time this season.
Meanwhile, several teams have dropped in the rankings. The Chicago Cubs, in particular, have plummeted down the board, as they have dropped below .500 and are looking thoroughly lifeless on the field. One has to think that they will improve, but it is no longer a matter of when that will happen.
Let us take a look through this week’s MLB Power Rankings as we head into Week Seven.There is certainly a lot to go over from Week Six.
San Diego Padres. 30. team. 127. How much longer can the Padres keep trotting Jered Weaver out to the mound? At this point, he has nothing left. If the hope was to flip him at the deadline for a prospect, those dreams have long since faded into a nightmare. Do Weaver a favor and release him while he still has some dignity.. . Previous: 30th
. Previous: 29th. San Francisco Giants. 29. team. 40. Was it really that long ago that we all thought the Giants would contend for the World Series? Instead, they have cratered faster than Charlie Sheen’s sobriety. One positive from the past week has been Buster Posey, who hit four homers. Of course, they were all solo shots…
team. 4. Somehow, after losing six games in a row, the Pirates managed to earn a split with the Diamondbacks. In the grand scheme of things, that won’t matter, as the Pirates are likely facing a fire sale soon. The Andrew McCutchen trade watch has officially started once again.. . Previous: 24th. Pittsburgh Pirates. 28
team. 17. Only five players in MLB history have won an MVP award while playing for a losing team. With the performance that Freddie Freeman has put together this year, hitting 12 homers and posting a 1.197 OPS, he could well add his name to that list.. . Previous: 26th. Atlanta Braves. 27
Previous: 25th. Oakland Athletics. 26. team. 96. Yonder Alonso had never hit double digit home runs in a season before this year. He is already up to a dozen homers, and is not showing any signs of slowing down. Is it really his new approach designed to put the ball in the air, or should we be looking at his performance a bit more closely?.
82. Justin Bour is continuing his hot start to the season. He had homered in three consecutive games before yesterday, and is up to seven on the season. While Giancarlo Stanton and Marcel Ozuna get all the attention, Bour is starting to become a solid player in his own right.. . Previous: 19th. Miami Marlins. 25. team
24. team. 7. What is it about Alcides Escobar hitting leadoff that makes the Royals offense show up? He is absolutely the last player that should be in such a role, and yet, the team responds when he’s there. Maybe the Royals can turn their season around after all.. . Previous: 30th. Kansas City Royals
The Mets have a 5.13 ERA from their starting rotation thus far. That is the worst mark in baseball, a full tenth of a run worse than the Cincinnati Reds. While the Reds offense has been able to carry them, the Mets have just been a complete disaster on every front.. . Previous: 22nd. New York Mets. 23. team. 3
Philadelphia Phillies. 22. team. 6. Last year, the Phillies had a hot start in April to delude the fanbase into thinking they would contend. This season, not so much. At least the front office can get to work on unloading some of these bridge veterans, and see what the young kids can do.. . Previous: 17th
21. team. 102. After stealing two more bases yesterday, Mike Trout became the youngest player in MLB history to reach the 150 homer/150 stolen base club. He is not showing any signs of slowing down. Could he join Barry Bonds in the 400-400 club some day?. . Previous: 23rd. Los Angeles Angels
39. After the Blue jays failed to address their left field position, Ezequiel Carrera essentially took the spot by default. The 29 year old is having a career year, with a .327/.347/.459 batting line. He may not be considered a fourth outfielder any longer.. . Previous: 27th. Toronto Blue Jays. 20. team
Previous: 20th. Seattle Mariners. 19. team. 62. Four of the Mariners five man rotation are on the disabled list. Ryan Weber, who came up to make a spot start, was injured 3.2 innings into his outing. And yet, the Mariners still hovering around .500. If they can get healthy, they might be able to make a push for the Wild Card..
Previous: 12th. Detroit Tigers. 18. team. 63. The Tigers have played exactly .500 ball thus far in May. The problem is that they have played seven of their twelve games against the A’s and the Angels, and went 3-4 in those contests. Unless they start beating up the mediocre teams, they will stay around .500 all season..
Chicago Cubs. 17. team. 9. The Cubs are below .500. Joe Maddon is spending more time worrying about robotic umpires than getting his team going. Miguel Montero called them lifeless, and has issued warnings that the season could get out of hand. This is quite the post championship hangover.. . Previous: 4th
Jose Quintana has struggled this season, posting a 2-5 record with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.42 WHiP. Could all the trade discussions be getting to him? Considering the White Sox are expecting quite the haul of prospects for his services, these struggles are coming at the worst possible time.. . Previous: 13th. Chicago White Sox. 16. team. 128
21. Sending Blake Snell to the minors was absolutely the right decision for the Rays. He could not locate his fastball, and did not appear to have any confidence in his teammates. Those teammates, incidentally, were getting tired of Snell refusing to accept responsibility for his performance. Maybe a trip to Durham will result in some maturity.. . Previous: 18th. Tampa Bay Rays. 15. team
14. Is it too early to start the Chris Sale for MVP discussion? All he has done is put together seven consecutive starts with ten or more strikeouts, while utterly dominating virtually every team that he has faced. Just imagine if he had gotten some run support in the early part of the year.. . Previous: 8th. Boston Red Sox. 14. team
2. For all of the concern about the Twins bullpen at the start of the season, Brandon Kintzer has taken to the closer role quite well. He has saved ten of his eleven chances, posting a 2.12 ERA and a 1.12 WHiP. It has been a remarkable start to the season.. . Previous: 16th. Minnesota Twins. 13. team
12. team. 126. Maybe the overall record does not show it, but the Rangers are going on a run. They have won six in a row, and are starting to get some pieces back. If the Rangers can get healthy, and Adrian Beltre performs at his usual level, reports of the Rangers demise may have been premature.. . Previous: 21st. Texas Rangers
Cincinnati Reds. 11. team. 61. Bronson Arroyo was probably one rough start from hanging up his cleats for good. Then, suddenly, the 40 year old went on a solid run. That has continued into May, where he has a 3.118 ERA and a 1.15 WHiP in his 11.1 innings. It has been a remarkable turnaround.. . Previous: 9th
11. No Zach Britton? No problem, at least thus far. Brad Brach has been solid as the Orioles closer in Britton’s absence, notching saves in eight of his ten chances. Baltimore has to hope that his implosion on Wednesday was an aberration, and not a sign of things to come though.. . Previous: 5th. Baltimore Orioles. 9. team
8. team. 108. The Colorado Rockies had a 4.14 ERA in 2010, the best mark in franchise history, Right now, they have a 4.30 ERA, which would be the third best mark in the Rockies 25 year history. If you want to know why they are winning, look no further than the pitching staff.. . Previous: 10th. Colorado Rockies
76. Maybe it’s time to take the Brewers seriously. Even with Ryan Braun being injured, and Eric Thames in a slump, they still won six of their last seven games. Now that Corey Knebel has taken over from the human petrol can known as Neftali Feliz, the Brew Crew should be in good shape going forward.. . Previous: 14th. Milwaukee Brewers. 7. team
8. Zack Greinke gave the Diamondbacks a vintage performance on Thursday, allowing just one run on one hit and a walk, striking out eleven over eight innings. If he has rediscovered his form, and is getting comfortable in the desert, this could be a fun year for Arizona.. . Previous: 7th. Arizona Diamondbacks. 6. team
team. 33. The Cardinals are, in a lot of ways, like a horror movie villain. You just can’t kill them. After a terrible start to the season, here they are, leading the National League Central once more, and having won eight of their past ten games. It’s the Cardinal Way.. . Previous: 15th. St. Louis Cardinals. 5
Previous: 6th. Los Angeles Dodgers. 4. team. 71. At times, we take Clayton Kershaw’s greatness for granted. But did you know that he ranks 24th in MLB history with a 2.37 ERA? In fact, the next closest active player, Chris Sale, ranks 157th all time. We are seeing one of the all time greats in the prime of his career..
Previous: 1st. Washington Nationals. 3. team. 90. What is it about the Phillies that give the Nationals so much trouble? The are 6-5 against Philadelphia, and 16-7 against everyone else. For a team that is running away with the National League East, that is one strange development..
135. As teams keep trying to find their own version of Andrew Miller, the Astros have just that in Chris Devenski. He has been close to untouchable, striking out 43 batters in 23.1 innings, and allowing only 19 baserunners. He could be that x-factor that can turn the tide in a postseason series.. . Previous: 3rd. Houston Astros. 2. team
Next: Yankees place Chapman on DL
team. 43. He may not be getting a lot of attention because of the Yankees young stars, but Starlin Castro is having a great season. His .341 batting average is fourth in the American League, and he ranks second with 46 hits. Add in his seven homers, and Castro could be heading back to the All Star Game this season.. . Previous: 2nd. New York Yankees. 1