Shea’s MLB Power Rankings (as of 8/25/2011)
With the waiver deadline arriving, it’s safe to say we’ve officially entered baseball’s stretch run. Which teams are making a final push up the power rankings?
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Which teams are fading? Which teams are making a strong case for next season? And which teams are bona fide World Series contenders?
(Previous rankings in brackets)
1. (1) Philadelphia Phillies (83-45): They’ve been so good all year that they’re almost “under the radar.” Maybe the DL stint will rest Cole Hamels and his dead arm nicely for playoff time?
2. (2) Milwaukee Brewers (78-54): They have to hope they can secure home field for the playoffs, as the Brewers are simply not the same team on the road. They’re 31 games over .500 at Miller Park and seven games under .500 away from home. 
3. (5) Boston Red Sox (79-50): Despite the Red Sox’s laundry list of injuries, the Jon Lester/Josh Beckett tandem could still be enough to propel them through a short series.
4. (4) Atlanta Braves (78-53): Is this the team no one wants to play come October? The Braves’ bats in particular are peaking when it matters. After all the criticism, Dan Uggla reaches 30 bombs again.
5. (3) New York Yankees (77-50): Carlos Pena rumors suggest they’re still very worried about A-Rod. But shouldn’t they be plundering the waiver wire for a pitcher, not a hitter? Wandy Rodriguez! Come on!
6. (8) Los Angeles Angels (71-59): I just don’t see the talent on this roster for it to go far in the playoffs but, somehow, L.A. keeps bouncing back to press the Rangers in the American League West. Six straight wins for the Halos.
7. (9) Detroit Tigers (70-59): Few teams have done a better job addressing their needs. With Justin Verlander and their newfound team depth (Delmon Young, Doug Fister, Wilson Betemit, etc.), the Tigers are looking like a playoff sleeper.
8. (6) Texas Rangers (74-57): The way the Rangers continue to swing the bats, I have to think they’ll hold off the Angels in the West.
9. (13) Tampa Bay Rays (70-58): Too little, too late? The Rays have won 11 of 15 but haven’t gained much ground in the vicious AL East.
10. (7) Arizona Diamondbacks (71-59): Rallied from brutal skid in time to retain their National League West lead. Justin Upton and Ian Kennedy have been superb – but the young D-Backs look like a “happy to be there” team that will get ousted quickly if they make the big dance.
11. (10) San Francisco Giants (69-61): The Heath Bell waiver claim suggests that Brian Wilson’s elbow is in serious trouble.
12. (14)Toronto Blue Jays (66-63): Jose Bautista gets the headlines down south but, north of the border, Jays fans are going bonkers about the play of Canadian prospect Brett Lawrie.
13. (23) Colorado Rockies (63-68): Five straight wins. Could it be the start of another epic Rockies late-season run?
14. (11) St. Louis Cardinals (67-63): Cards fans are crushed to see them fall out of the race so late in the year. But four games over .500 is roughly what objective outsiders projected all along. What could they expect with no Adam Wainwright?
15. (17) San Diego Padres (60-71): They’ve been the best of the bottom dwellers this month, for what that’s worth.
16. (12) Cleveland Indians (63-64): At the end of April, they were baseball’s top team. Now, ranking them in the top 15 feels generous and overly nostalgic. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
17. (25) Los Angeles Dodgers (60-69): Competitive when Clayton Kershaw takes the mound but that’s about it.
18. (24) Cincinnati Reds (64-66): Which version of the Reds was the real one – the 2010 division champs or the 2011 flop? Either way, I want to see Aroldis Chapman in the rotation next season.
19. (19) Washington Nationals (62-66): Come on, Nats. Shut down Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg. Don’t jeopardize next season!
20. (18) Pittsburgh Pirates (61-68): Pretty sad that they’re seven games under .500 yet 2011 may still be remembered as the Pirates’ best season since 1992.
21. (22) Oakland Athletics (59-70)
22. (16) Chicago White Sox (63-65)
23. (29) Baltimore Orioles (50-77)
24. (15) Chicago Cubs (57-73)
25. (20) Seattle Mariners (56-73)
26. (21) New York Mets (61-68)
27. (28) Kansas City Royals (53-77)
28. (26) Florida Marlins (58-72)
29. (27) Minnesota Twins (55-74)
30. (30) Houston Astros (42-88)
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