Categories
MLB

MLB Power Rankings: September 22

Shea Matthews’s weighs in with another edition the the 2011 MLB power rankings. The Tigers are Number 1. Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez deserve all the credit they get….

Shea’s MLB Power Rankings (as of 9/22/2011)

This week’s MLB power rankings showcase a few teams unexpectedly on the ropes and a few teams unexpectedly clawing their way back into the playoff hunt.

IF YOU LOVE BETTING ON MLB TRY BETONLINE.COM TODAY!! GREAT SIGN UP BONUS & MLB ODDS!!

(Previous rankings in brackets)

1. (1) Detroit Tigers (90-65): Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez deserve all the credit they get. But what about the magic of Doug Fister? 7-1 with a 2.02 ERA since arriving from Seattle in a trade. This is your unsung hero.

2. (3) New York Yankees (95-60): They continue to hum along and Mariano Rivera’s save record was another nice pat-yourself-on-the-back moment for the Yankees. But if their ragtag pitching staff implodes in the playoffs, no one will look back on 2011 fondly.

3. (5) Texas Rangers (90-65): With Detroit playing so well and Texas boasting so many dangerous hitters, it’s enough to wonder if the Yankees and Red Sox would enter playoff series against these two teams as the underdogs.

4. (7) St. Louis Cardinals (86-69); It doesn’t feel like they have the depth to do any damage in a playoff series but you can never count them out because of Albert Pujols. The Cards are just 1.5 games back of Atlanta for the National League Wildcard through Wednesday.

5. (2) Philadelphia Phillies (98-57): A five-game losing streak knocks them out of the top two for perhaps the first time all year but the slight lull isn’t a surprise for a team that won its division so early.

6. (10) San Francisco Giants (84-71); The late-season surge is nice (9-1 over their last 10) but it’s probably too late. A weekend series with the Diamondbacks looms large but they have a better shot at the Wildcard than the NL West crown now.

7. (9) Milwaukee Brewers (91-65): They’ve cooled off of late but I still believe the Brew Crew will challenge the Phillies hard in the playoffs. Don’t forget about Zack Greinke, who has quietly posted great numbers but has gone unnoticed because he started the season late.

8. (6) Arizona Diamondbacks (90-66): Like the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays, they’ve had the young pieces in place for a playoff run for a few seasons now. Nice to see everything finally clicking – especially for 20-game winner Ian Kennedy.

9. (8) Los Angeles Angels (85-70): Even if they can’t catch Texas, there’s hope for next year with Jered Weaver signed long-term and Mark Trumbo and (maybe) Mike Trout emerging as sluggers to build around.

10. (4) Tampa Bay Rays (85-70): If they hadn’t hit a brick wall in the Bronx this week, they would’ve leapfrogged Boston by now. Remaining games include four more against the Yankees and three against Toronto. Not easy.

11. (13) Toronto Blue Jays (78-77): If they played Boston in a playoff series today, you could make a strong case that the Jays would win the series. Outstanding rookie Brett Lawrie’s season is done after he broke his finger but he should be fresh and healed for 2012.

12. (11) Atlanta Braves (88-68): Despite their struggles, I still think the Braves have potential to do more damage than the Cards or Giants if they hold on for the NL Wildcard. Better hitting than San Fran, better pitching than St. Louis.

13. (12) Boston Red Sox (88-68): When injuries are such a big reason for a team’s skid, we can’t write it off as a mental thing that can be overcome. Boston just might not have the horses to reach the finish line before Tampa Bay.

14. (15) Washington Nationals (75-79): Behold, the Strasburg effect! The kid has a 1.29 ERA and 0.64 WHIP – with zero walks – over three starts. He has no wins yet but the Nats are 8-2 over their last 10. His mere presence seems to be buoying the team. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

15. (20) Baltimore Orioles (65-90): The O’s are taking a page from the Blue Jays and really irritating the AL East contenders, going 7-3 over their last 10.

16. (22) Los Angeles Dodgers (77-77): Matt Kemp is up to 40 steals but needs five homers over his final eight games to achieve true glory and make the Dodgers’ 2011 season meaningful.

17. (19) Seattle Mariners (66-89): The way Seattle is pushing the youth movement, will Ichiro become a trading chip next July? 2012 is the final year of his current contract.

18. (14) Cincinnati Reds (76-80): Could the Reds not take a page from Washington and give Aroldis Chapman a few late-season starts, just for fun?

19. (26) Chicago Cubs (69-87): The days of Sammy Sosa, Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Steve Bartman and division titles seem like an eternity ago, don’t they? The Cubbies are officially irrelevant.

20. (16) Kansas City Royals (68-88): They’ve won eight of 10.Can’t forget about them next year, though we seem to say that every year, don’t we?

21. (29) San Diego Padres (68-88)
22. (25) Chicago White Sox (76-79)
23. (21) Cleveland Indians (76-78)
24. (18) Oakland Athletics (69-86)
25. (28) Florida Marlins (71-85)
26. (17) Pittsburgh Pirates (69-87)
27. (24) Houston Astros (53-102)
28. (27) New York Mets (73-82)
29. (23) Colorado Rockies (70-85)
30. (30) Minnesota Twins (59-95)

We’re almot at the end of another MLB gambling season. It’s time to NOW bring your best baseball betting hat to the table for gambling on baseball. Cappers Picks all season long provides MLB baseball gambling predictions, so check back often.

**CLICK HERE TO GRAB OUR BEST Picks Packages for 2011 MLB Betting!**

By Shea Matthews

Shea Matthews the Senior Writer at CP. Lives and breathes sports. He made the transition from athlete to sports journalist at a young age, writing in TV & national papers. Shea applies his knowledge to sports betting + handicapping daily, and shares winning picks with the world.