Dave B’s MLB Power Rankings – Sept 18
Two weeks remain in the 2012 MLB Regular Season – the Rankings are as fluid as they have been all year. Some teams have fallen on hard times over the last couple of weeks and some have just kept clicking along.
The National League reigns supreme yet again this week and a surprise American League team has crept into the top 5.
Enough talk – let`s take a look at Dave B’s bi-weekly version of the MLB Power Rankings.
1. Washington Nationals (3) – The Nats have lost three straight games but still own the best record in the Bigs. Steven Strasburg has been shut down but it doesn`t matter. We will see what this team is made of in the next few weeks however – they have one of most difficult stretch drives of any team. Still, they are atop the Rankings and deservedly so.
2. Cincinnati Reds (1) – The Reds are a close second this week having the second best record in the game. The Reds are a complete team and are going to be one to be reckoned with in October.
3. Texas Rangers (2) – The Rangers have gone 6-4 in their last 10 games and have staked claim to the best team in the AL. Like Cincinnati, the Rangers are stacked in every aspect of the game. How about Adrian Beltre? Eight homes in 15 games.
4. Oakland Athletics (8) – 8-2 in their last 10 games and suddenly looking like a team that nobody wants to play. They are the hottest team in the game and are easily atop the Wild Card standings.
5. New York Yankees (4) – The Yanks swept the Rays over the weekend to stake their claim as one of the best. Health, experience and overall talent are coming around – no reason to think that they slip in the Rankings down the stretch.
6. Atlanta Braves (6) – Swept the Nationals on the weekend and are in the top Wild Card spot. They almost cracked the top 5 but there is too much talent at the top.
7. San Francisco Giants (7) – The Giants have gone 6-4 in their last 10 games and have opened up a 7.5 game lead in the NL West. The loss of their MVP Melky Cabrera for 50 games due to suspension hasn`t affected them at all – a sign of a good team!
8. Baltimore Orioles (5) – The Orioles won’t go away! They have been dueling with the Yanks down the stretch and are hanging tough. They are easily top 10 because of their first winning season in a very, very long time.
9. Chicago White Sox (12) – have won four straight games and have opened up a 3 game lead over the Tigers. They are an impressive 14 games over .500 and are #9 in the Rankings.
10. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (13) – are knocking on the door of the Wild Card and have been one of the better teams in the AL since their absolutely brutal first two months.
11. Detroit Tigers (11) – The Tigers had a chance to climb in the Rankings but couldn’t get it done over the weekend against Chicago. They are stacked from the staff to the order – they realistically should be higher don’t you think?
12. Tampa Bay Rays (9) – The Rays have laid an egg over the past week or so – 1-5 in their last six overall. Series losses to the Yankees and the Orioles have put a dent in their playoff aspirations. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
13. St. Louis Cardinals (14) – The Cards looked to be peaking but have gone just 3-7 in their last 10 games. They are still in the Wild Card hunt – the return of Chris Carpenter should help them down the stretch too.
14. Los Angeles Dodgers (10) – The Dodgers shut Clayton Kershaw down and appear to be waiving the White Flag on the season. They still could qualify for the post season and they are still worthy of a top 15 spot.
15. Pittsburgh Pirates (15) – have been caught by the Brewers? Insane. The Pirates have gone just 2-8 in their last 10 games. Expect them to slip out of the top 15 – they just can’t seem to stop the bleeding.
16. Milwaukee Brewers (21)
17. Philadelphia Phillies (19)
18. Arizona Diamondbacks (16)
19. Seattle Mariners (17)
20. San Diego Padres (26)
21. New York Mets (20)
22. Kansas City Royals (25)
23. Toronto Blue Jays (22)
24. Boston Red Sox (18)
25. Miami Marlins (23)
26. Cleveland Indians (24)
27. Minnesota Twins (27)
28. Chicago Cubs (29)
29. Colorado Rockies (28)
30. Houston Astros (30)
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