(Games through August 20)
1. Detroit Tigers (79-45, Last Week: No. 1)
Detroit has definitely come back to the pack in August. Since starting the month 6-1, the Tigers have won only three times in their last 12 games. They’ll take a three-game losing streak into a huge four game series with the White Sox this week.
2. New York Mets (75-48, LW: No. 2)
Best case scenario for Tom Glavine: the coldness he felt in his left ring finger Wednesday was due to his Raynaud’s condition, which leads to numbness and coldness due to poor circulation. Worst case: test results show what the doctors – and Mets fans everywhere – fear, a blood clot on his shoulder, which would necessitate season-ending surgery.
3. New York Yankees (74-48, LW: No. 3)
It’s another Boston Massacre. In taking the first four games of their monumental, five-game series with the Red Sox, the Yankees have opened up a 5.5 game lead in the AL West. These haven’t been nail-biters, either. The Bronx Bombers have lived up to the nickname, scoring 26 runs in Friday’s double-header, and 21 more over the weekend. It’s time for the Red Sox to start thinking Wild Card.
4. Chicago White Sox (73-50, LW: No. 4)
As the Red Sox playoff hopes dwindle to the Wild Card, the White Sox have loftier goals. Chicago has cut Detroit’s once seemingly insurmountable lead to 5.5 games and will head to Comerica Park for four games starting Monday night, when Justin Verlander and Jose Contreras square off in a battle of young and old.
5. Minnesota Twins (72-51, LW: No. 6)
Not to be outdone, the Twins are just a game behind the White Sox and have kept the look of a contender without the services of Francisco Liriano. The lefty phenom said the pain in his left elbow is gone and he’ll begin throwing Tuesday, though there’s no timetable for his return. Meanwhile, the other member of Minnesota’s dynamic duo continues to be lights out; just ask the White Sox. Johan Santana held them to one run over seven innings Sunday to earn his 15th win.
6. Boston Red Sox (69-54, LW: No. 5)
Until Curt Schilling took the mound Sunday night, Boston’s starting pitching against the Yankees could only be described in one word: pathetic. Jason Johnson gave up four runs in just 4.1 innings; Jon Lester was even worse, allowing seven runs in 3.2; and Josh Beckett, brought in to beat the Yankees en route to the World Series, was the worst, as New York scored nine times – on a major league season high nine walks – in his 5.2 innings. Yup, there’s bad news in Beantown.
7. Oakland Athletics (70-54, LW: No. 7)
The Rangers and Angels decided to fight, while the Athletics just ran away in the AL West race. Despite their 4.5 game lead, however, all is not well in Oakland. Huston Street was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained right groin and his return is unknown. Look for Justin Duchsherer and Kiko Calero to handle the closing duties in Street’s absence.
8. St. Louis Cardinals (66-57, LW: No. 8)
Mark Mulder’s healthy enough to make a return to the majors – he’ll pitch against the Mets Wednesday – but all signs point to continued struggles. Mulder, owner of a 6.09 ERA with the Cardinals this season, was 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in his three rehab starts. He walked 11 batters and struck out just six.
9. Los Angeles Dodgers (66-58, LW: No. 10)
The Dodgers, currently leading the NL West by four games, have a chance to distance themselves even further from the rest of the pack this week. They embark on a six-game road trip against San Diego and Arizona, the two teams closest to them, this week.
10. Los Angeles Angels (66-59, LW: No. 9)
It seems like Jered Weaver is mentioned in each edition of ASM’s Power Rankings and this week is no different. The sterling right-hander won his ninth consecutive game without a loss last week, joining Yankee great Whitey Ford as the only AL rookies to accomplish that feat. Weaver’s also just the fifth pitcher overall to win his first nine decisions as a starter.
11. Cincinnati Reds (64-60, LW: No. 11)
The revolving door that is Cincinnati’s bullpen was spinning again Sunday, when Eddie Guardado exited for the 15-day disabled list with tendonitis in his left forearm. The Reds continue to hang with the Cardinals, just 2.5 games back in the NL Central, and currently sit atop the Wild Card heap.
12. Toronto Blue Jays (66-58, LW: No. 12)
Roy Halladay, winner of his last three starts, picked up his Major League-leading 16th victory Sunday. The Twins’ Santana is the only other pitcher that even has 15 wins.
13. Texas Rangers (65-60, LW: No. 14)
Manager Buck Showalter and reliever Scott Feldman were among the Texas contingent that received suspensions and/or fines for their roles in two very eventful days with the Angels last week. Feldman will miss the most time, six games, for hitting Adam Kennedy with a pitch in retaliation for the two Rangers that were hit earlier.
14. San Diego Padres (62-62, LW: No. 13)
Dave Roberts might be the most underrated leadoff hitter in the game. The outfielder’s batting .303 and getting on base over 37 percent of the time. He also ranks in the top five in the NL in triples (9) and stolen bases (35) and rarely strikes out (41).
15. Arizona Diamondbacks (62-62, LW: No. 15)
Rumors persist that Shawn Green will be traded before the waiver deadline, possibly to the Mets. Any potential Green trade would allow top prospect Carlos Quentin to play right field on a daily basis. Quentin’s collected 10 extra-base hits in 65 at-bats since joining the Diamondbacks in late July.
16. Philadelphia Phillies (61-62, LW: No. 17)
Despite taking three of four from the Mets last week, the Phillies still find themselves 14 games back in the division. In a weak National League, though, they’re just 2.5 games off the pace for the Wild Card. Believing they have a shot at the postseason, Philadelphia traded two minor leaguers to Seattle Saturday for Jamie Moyer. The 43-year-old left-hander was 6-12 with a 4.39 for the Mariners.
17. Houston Astros (59-65, LW: No. 16)
The Astros are one of the teams that have taken a step back in the National League, despite its parity – if that’s how you want to classify it. You couldn’t tell Sunday, however, as Roger Clemens pitched Houston to a 3-1 win and himself to his 346th career victory in Milwaukee.
18. Colorado Rockies (59-65, LW: No. 18)
Count the Rockies as another NL pretender exposed by stronger competition. The Mets swept Colorado at Shea Stadium this weekend, dropping the Rockies seven games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and five back of the Wild Card.
19. Milwaukee Brewers (59-65, LW: No. 20)
Update on the Carlos Lee situation: he still leads Milwaukee in home runs (28) and RBI (81). Fortunately, it looks like Bill Hall – 27 homers – should soon overtake Lee in the former category.
20. San Francisco Giants (59-65, LW: No. 21)
Barry Bonds told a group of reporters Sunday that he wants to remain a San Francisco Giant for the remainder of his career. In that case, he better be comfortable with a huge pay cut and a role off the bench because it would be a complete shock for the Giants to promise Bonds – despite his mantle full of MVPs and legions of fans – anything more.
21. Atlanta Braves (58-65, LW: No. 23)
It’s rare that a three homer game gets overshadowed, but that’s exactly what happened to Chipper Jones last Monday. Jones’ three bombs were nice, but the story was unknown Matt Diaz tying a National League record by hitting safely in 10 straight at-bats.
22. Florida Marlins (57-66, LW: No. 22)
Despite the great seasons Ryan Zimmerman and Prince Fielder are having, Josh Johnson has to be the NL’s Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old is 11-6 with a league-leading 2.84 ERA and has only allowed more than three earned runs in a start three times.
23. Seattle Mariners (56-68, LW: No. 19)
Felix Hernandez has been an enigma this year, following up dominant stretches with performances like last Sunday’s 5.2-inning, seven run start. His control has also been very off and on: he’s walked two or less batters 16 times, but has had five starts with four or more bases on balls. Look for “The King” to put it all together in 2007.
24. Cleveland Indians (56-67, LW: No. 24)
While the Indians’ playoff hopes were dashed a long time ago, the Tribe will still have an impact on the postseason. They’ll play 24 of their last 39 games against the Tigers, Rangers, White Sox, Twins, and Athletics.
25. Baltimore Orioles (55-69, LW: No. 25)
Erik Bedard is finally living up to his potential. The lefty, who’s won 12 games for a bad Orioles team, was brilliant against the Yankees last week, allowing just one run in six innings. Bedard had a great stretch from his start against Florida on June 21 through a July 28 start against the White Sox, a seven-game span that saw him go 6-0 with 1.08 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched.
26. Washington Nationals (54-70, LW: No. 26)
Apparently, Alfonso Soriano “doesn’t know what to think anymore” after the Nationals put him through waivers recently, despite the fact that the majority of players are passed through at some point throughout the season. With his interesting personality, his situation is one that I’m most looking forward to this winter.
27. Chicago Cubs (53-70, LW: No. 27)
Ryan O’Malley made quite a debut last week, shutting out the Astros for eight innings. With all their bad luck with Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, maybe it’s time the Cubs get something from a 26-year-old rookie like O’Malley. Things have to even out at some point for the perpetually most underachieving squad, right?
28. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (49-75, LW: No. 28)
If the Devil Rays can get guys like Delmon Young and B.J. Upton, among a handful of other young players, and let them gel into a team, they might at least become competitive in the AL East. They already have the ace, Scott Kazmir, who struck out 10 Blue Jays in just five innings last week.
29. Pittsburgh Pirates (47-77, LW: No. 29)
With a month and a half away, Freddy Sanchez is looking more and more like the NL’s batting champion. His .352 league-best average is 16 points better than second-ranked Miguel Cabrera.
30. Kansas City Royals (45-81, LW: No. 30)
If the playoff races aren’t exciting enough for you, watch the Kansas City Royals try – futilely, most likely – to play .500 baseball for the rest of the season. They need to go at least 18-18 over their last 36 games to avoid a third consecutive 100-loss season.
Robert recently graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in journalism, along with an emphasis in sports journalism from the university's Center for Sports Journalism. Dear Old State also provided him with friends and memories that will last a lifetime. Currently home in New Jersey, Robert's working on taking life's next step, so if you have any tips, feel free to contact him.
He can be reached at robert.ziegler@atomicsportsmedia.com.
