MLB Power Poll

Here's a new weekly feature that I'm going to try out every week. With the summer heating up, it's finally time to weed out the best and the worst in the MLB. My goal is to rank the current Top 10 teams in baseball with a short description as well as list the Bottom 5 each and every Monday. Let's play ball.




Top 10
1.) NY Yankees (33-24)- Top to bottom, this is the best team in baseball right now. The Yanks have only a one game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East standings heading into a big rivalry series with the BoSox. They'll need to bring their "A" game to keep that lead.  Teammates Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson ranks 2nd and 3rd in HR. Props to the pinstripes pitchers for holding opponents to three runs or less over their last seven games.




2.) Texas Rangers (34-26)- No MLB team has been hotter than the Rangers lately. This team has heated up with the Texas sun thanks to a five game win streak. They've also taken eight of their last 10 games. SP Alexi Ogando is now unbeaten through his first 11 games this season.
3.) Philadelphia Phillies (35-24)- Despite a shaky stretch, the Phils still hold the largest divisional lead in baseball with a three game advantage over Florida. The return of Chase Utley should really jump start an offense that hasn't been nearly as good as the pitching staff this year. Shane Victorino's retun from injury is a nice boost too.
4.) St. Louis Cardinals (36-25)- Busch Stadium may be one of the game's most beautiful fields, but the Cards have found comfort away from home with the most road wins in the league to date. Albert Pujols has re-established himself with two walk-off bombs against the Cubs this weekend.
5.) Milwaukee Brewers (33-26)- Home is where the heart is for the Brewers. They hold the top home mark in the MLB with an impressive 21-7 record at Miller Park. Zack Greinke has been a welcome return since missing more than a month with a broken rib. After a rocky start, he's reeled off four straight victories.
6.) Boston Red Sox (33-26)- Boston currently owns the AL wildcard spot. While one major Red Sox signee has busted so far (Carl Crawford), another has been brilliant (Adrian Gonzalez). The former Padres slugger continues to rake. Gonzo was the first to 50 RBI in baseball and leads the BoSox with a .339 average.
7.) Cleveland Indians (33-24)- What's wrong with the Indians. Since having the game's best record in mid-May, Cleveland has fallen off a cliff losing seven of their last 10. Fausto Carmona and Justin Masterson led the staff early on, but they're both winless since May 3. Despite the negatives, the Indians still have a 2.5 game lead in the AL Central standings.
8.) Arizona Diamondbacks (33-27)- The D-backs have quietly been red-hot out in the desert. That's what happens when you go 18-5 over the last three plus weeks. Props to JJ Putz who has transformed last year's horrendous bullpen with 17 saves so far. Justin Upton is also on pace for a 30-30 season. Very nice.
9.) Seattle Mariners (31-28)- This may seem a little high for an M's team that often has trouble scoring runs, but I'm going to give credit where credit is due. Seattle's pitching staff has been the best in baseball this season. King Felix has done a nice job in his Cy Young defense and how about Michael Pineda, Doug Fister, Jason Vargas, and Eric Bedard all sporting sub-4.00 ERA's.
10.) San Francisco Giants (33-26)- The west coast love continues with the defending champs. San Fran regained the NL West lead, but they're going to have a tough time keeping it with the loss of Buster Posey and the surging D-Backs knocking on the door. Just like the M's, it's the Giants pitching staff who has excelled. Of course, Tim "The Freak" Lincecum has been lights out, but check out Ryan Vogelsong's surpring 4-1 record.

Bottom 5
26.) Oakland Athletics (27-33)- Swept twice in a row by the Yanks and Sawx. Things get easier with the O's on tap.
27.) Kansas City Royals (25-34)- So much for that hot start. A league worst six wins on the road.
28.) Minnesota Twins (21-37)- Still the worst record in baseball, but showing signs of life with a four game winning streak.
29.) Houston Astros (23-37)- When your part-time closer (Mark Melancon) leads the team in wins, you know you're in trouble.
30.) Chicago Cubs (23-34)- A six game skid. Carlos Zambrano's team tearing tirade. This squad is in shambles.

 by Andy Adamson