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NOTE: The standings are based off the result of Sunday's games. Last week rankings in ( )
Rudi and Woy did the rankings, with Rudi and the North Atlanta High School Tight End on the blurbs. Thanks to NAHSTE for filling in this week, much appreciated!
Last Week's: VSN Power Rankings - Version 9
Biggest Jump: Toronto Blue Jays +5
Biggest Fall: Atlanta Braves -5
1. Los Angeles Dodgers - 42-25 (1)
2a. Texas Rangers – 40-27 (2)
2b. New York Yankees – 40-25 (5)
4. Washington Nationals – 38-26 (3)
5. Baltimore Orioles – 39-27 (8)
6. Cincinnati Reds – 38-27 (8)
7. Tampa Bay Rays – 37-29 (3)
8. Los Angeles Angels – 36-21 (10)
9. San Francisco Giants – 37-30 (7)
10.Chicago White Sox – 35-30 (10)
11. Atlanta Braves – 35-31 (6)
12a. Toronto Blue Jays – 34-32 (17)
12b. New York Mets – 35-32 (14)
14. Pittsburgh Pirates – 34-31 (13)
15. Cleveland Indians – 33-32 (12)
16. Miami Marlins - 33-33 (14)
17a. Boston Red Sox – 33-33 (16)
17b. Detroit Tigers – 32-34 (19)
19. Arizona Diamondbacks – 32-34 (18)
20. Philadelphia Phillies - 31-37 (20)
21. Oakland Athletics – 31-36 (25)
22. Kansas City Royals – 29-35 (26)
23. Milwaukee Brewers – 30-36 (21)
24. St. Louis Cardinals - 34-33 (23)
25. Seattle Mariners – 29-39 (21)
26. Houston Astros – 27-39 (23)
27. Minnesota Twins – 26-39 (28)
28a. Colorado Rockies – 25-40 (26)
28b. San Diego Padres – 24-43 (29)
30. Chicago Cubs – 22-44 (30)
Rudi and Woy did the rankings, with Rudi and the North Atlanta High School Tight End on the blurbs. Thanks to NAHSTE for filling in this week, much appreciated!
Last Week's: VSN Power Rankings - Version 9
Biggest Jump: Toronto Blue Jays +5
Biggest Fall: Atlanta Braves -5
1. Los Angeles Dodgers - 42-25 (1)Rudi: Mattingly finally put AJ Ellis in the two spot in the lineup, a move that should have happened a long time ago in my opinion. Ellis is one of the more unknown catchers in the league, but he has been putting up great numbers for them Doyers.
NAHSTE: The Dodgers are 10-6 so far this month, and are enjoying several career seasons. They can't stay this hot forever, but they've banked a lot of wins so far and the eventual return of Matt Kemp should help offset the other guys cooling off.
NAHSTE: The Dodgers are 10-6 so far this month, and are enjoying several career seasons. They can't stay this hot forever, but they've banked a lot of wins so far and the eventual return of Matt Kemp should help offset the other guys cooling off.
2a. Texas Rangers – 40-27 (2)Rudi: Yu Darvish seemed to benefit greatly from getting the few extra days of rest. Granted it was against the Astros, his 8 inning 11 strikeout performance was something fantasy owners can finally be happy with from him.
NAHSTE: After starting the season with a 17-6 April, the Rangers have gone just 23-21 in May and June. They righted in interleague play, ripping off a 7-2 stretch vs. the NL, capped off by a sweep of their "rivals" in Houston. Colby Lewis has somewhat surprisingly been their best pitcher so far.
NAHSTE: After starting the season with a 17-6 April, the Rangers have gone just 23-21 in May and June. They righted in interleague play, ripping off a 7-2 stretch vs. the NL, capped off by a sweep of their "rivals" in Houston. Colby Lewis has somewhat surprisingly been their best pitcher so far.
2b. New York Yankees – 40-25 (5)Rudi: The Yankees are on fire. Winners of 10 straight they find themselves atop the AL East. With the down year the Red Sox are having, and the inept offense down in Tampa I expect the Yankees to distance themselves from the rest of the division soon.
NAHSTE: This ranking -- any ranking other than 1, actually -- is far too low. Thanks to a lockdown bullpen (1.76 ERA, 84% LOB rate) the Bombers have gone 13-2 this month.
NAHSTE: This ranking -- any ranking other than 1, actually -- is far too low. Thanks to a lockdown bullpen (1.76 ERA, 84% LOB rate) the Bombers have gone 13-2 this month.
4. Washington Nationals – 38-26 (3)Rudi: Before getting swept out of the Bronx, the Nationals ripped off 6 in a row against the rest of the AL East. The Strasburg Inning Limit Watch sure will be fun to watch especially if Washington stays in contention all season.
NAHSTE: Bryce Harper, Conservative Hero went 3-15 with 6 strikeouts in his Yankee Stadium debut.
NAHSTE: Bryce Harper, Conservative Hero went 3-15 with 6 strikeouts in his Yankee Stadium debut.
5. Baltimore Orioles – 39-27 (8)Rudi: The return of Brian Roberts seems to have rejuvenated Orioles Magic. Baltimore finds themselves in second place in the division and still within striking distance of the Yankees.
NAHSTE: The O's went 7-2 in their latest round of interleague. Starters Jason Hammel (9 IP, 0 ER, 8 K, 2 BB) and Wei-Yin Chen (7 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, 1 BB) were dominant in the series defeat of the Braves.
NAHSTE: The O's went 7-2 in their latest round of interleague. Starters Jason Hammel (9 IP, 0 ER, 8 K, 2 BB) and Wei-Yin Chen (7 IP, 0 ER, 2 K, 1 BB) were dominant in the series defeat of the Braves.
6. Cincinnati Reds – 38-27 (8)Rudi: The Reds rattled off 6 wins in a row after sweeping in-state rival Cleveland then going to New York and taking all 3 from the Mets. They benefited from not having to face Dickey or Santana, but this offense finally seems to be clicking on all cylinders.
NAHSTE: Joey Votto currently leads the NL in all three "triple slash" categories, which would I guess be considered a SABR Triple Crown should he be able to keep it up all year.
NAHSTE: Joey Votto currently leads the NL in all three "triple slash" categories, which would I guess be considered a SABR Triple Crown should he be able to keep it up all year.
7. Tampa Bay Rays – 37-29 (3)Rudi: The Rays are going to have to start scoring more runs if they want to stay with all of the top teams in the AL East.
NAHSTE: Just 9-11 in their last 20 games, and their offense (.309 wOBA, is worse than all teams not named Oakland and Seattle) is nothing to write home about. But they remain in position to secure one of the two wild card spots, and their ability to win at the Trop (20-14 home W-L) makes them a threat in any one-game playoff scenario.
NAHSTE: Just 9-11 in their last 20 games, and their offense (.309 wOBA, is worse than all teams not named Oakland and Seattle) is nothing to write home about. But they remain in position to secure one of the two wild card spots, and their ability to win at the Trop (20-14 home W-L) makes them a threat in any one-game playoff scenario.
8. Los Angeles Angels – 36-21 (10)Rudi: Mark Trumbo continues to rake. He has something 6 bombs in the last 11 games. Jered Weaver makes his return from the DL this week and the Angels awful start is all but forgotten.
NAHSTE: 10-5 this month behind strong pitching and Mike Trout, who has been worth a team-high 2.8 WAR despite only having played in 45 games.
NAHSTE: 10-5 this month behind strong pitching and Mike Trout, who has been worth a team-high 2.8 WAR despite only having played in 45 games.
9. San Francisco Giants – 37-30 (7)Rudi: Gregor Blanco’s catch to preserve Matt Cain’s no-hitter was absolutely incredible. So was the guy hovering above McCovey Cove with a jetpack.
NAHSTE: Surprise contributions from Melky Cabrera and Gregor Blanco have given credibility to their typically punchless lineup, and Matt Cain has taken care of the rest.
NAHSTE: Surprise contributions from Melky Cabrera and Gregor Blanco have given credibility to their typically punchless lineup, and Matt Cain has taken care of the rest.
10.Chicago White Sox – 35-30 (10)Rudi: This division is a crapshoot. No one is going to run away with the Central all year which should make for some exciting baseball down the stretch. Oh, and Adam Dunn just hit another home run.
NAHSTE: Playing good ball, giving Hawk plenty to cheer about. Paul Konerko is continuing to redefine his career arc and Adam Dunn is back to his usual Three True Outcomes self.
NAHSTE: Playing good ball, giving Hawk plenty to cheer about. Paul Konerko is continuing to redefine his career arc and Adam Dunn is back to his usual Three True Outcomes self.
11. Atlanta Braves – 35-31 (6)Rudi: The names Brandon Beachy and Dr. James Andrews being thrown together in the same statements has Braves fans preparing for a collapse already.
NAHSTE: The lineup has been anemic without Frederick Freeman and Chipper Jones, and the starting rotation could be left with a gaping hole at the top should Brandon Beachy's elbow injury turn out to be serious.
NAHSTE: The lineup has been anemic without Frederick Freeman and Chipper Jones, and the starting rotation could be left with a gaping hole at the top should Brandon Beachy's elbow injury turn out to be serious.
12a. Toronto Blue Jays – 34-32 (17)Rudi: This just in – another Blue Jays starter had to leave the game early. The pitching staff is getting hurt game after game, but the offense is keeping them afloat.
NAHSTE: The enigmatic Blue Jays can't seem to get any positive traction this season. Sweeping the Phillies helps, but that was preceded by a 1-5 stretch that included two starting pitchers going down to injury. Toronto look to be yet again one season away from serious contention.
NAHSTE: The enigmatic Blue Jays can't seem to get any positive traction this season. Sweeping the Phillies helps, but that was preceded by a 1-5 stretch that included two starting pitchers going down to injury. Toronto look to be yet again one season away from serious contention.
12b. New York Mets – 35-32 (14)Rudi: R.A. Dickey is on one of the most dominant stretches from a starting pitcher ever. The numbers this guy has put up recently are out of this world.
NAHSTE: Still hanging around, but they've leveled off considerably. Speaking of leveling off, David Wright's average has stabilized to the .320 range, but his slugging has increased and he's still OPSing just over 1.000 on the year. He might be worth the money.
NAHSTE: Still hanging around, but they've leveled off considerably. Speaking of leveling off, David Wright's average has stabilized to the .320 range, but his slugging has increased and he's still OPSing just over 1.000 on the year. He might be worth the money.
14. Pittsburgh Pirates – 34-31 (13)Rudi: The Pirates fell back to Earth a bit this past week. After finding themselves in a tie for first in the division they lost 4 in a row and are now just above the .500 mark.
NAHSTE: Terrible offense, but we all know that. Their strength so far has been pitching, yet the staff as a whole ranks middle of the road in most of the significant rate stats. There's nothing there that suggests this is a good collection of pitchers, though they do currently enjoy the league's 10th lowest opposing BABIP (.282), which is always good.
NAHSTE: Terrible offense, but we all know that. Their strength so far has been pitching, yet the staff as a whole ranks middle of the road in most of the significant rate stats. There's nothing there that suggests this is a good collection of pitchers, though they do currently enjoy the league's 10th lowest opposing BABIP (.282), which is always good.
15. Cleveland Indians – 33-32 (12)Rudi: After dominating the Reds last season, the Indians were swept at Great American Ball Park last week in the first series of the Ohio Cup.
NAHSTE: Jason Kipnis leads the American League with 17 stolen bases, and his HR total, 11, is second only to Robinson Cano league-wide among 2B. If the walk-rate comes around, Cleveland could have an elite offensive player on their hands.
NAHSTE: Jason Kipnis leads the American League with 17 stolen bases, and his HR total, 11, is second only to Robinson Cano league-wide among 2B. If the walk-rate comes around, Cleveland could have an elite offensive player on their hands.
16. Miami Marlins - 33-33 (14)Rudi: The Marlins can’t seem to get the whole consistency thing down. They started bad, ripped off a lot of good wins, and now are struggling again. Carlos Zambrano has gotten knocked around in his last two outings.
NAHSTE: A 21-8 May has been followed by a 4-11 June. What was supposed to be a potent lineup has failed to produce. Only the Padres and Pirates have scored fewer runs than Miami's 239.
NAHSTE: A 21-8 May has been followed by a 4-11 June. What was supposed to be a potent lineup has failed to produce. Only the Padres and Pirates have scored fewer runs than Miami's 239.
17a. Boston Red Sox – 33-33 (16)Rudi: A 33-33 record only gets you last place in the gauntlet that is the AL East. They need to hurry up and do something with Youk so they can get Gonzalez out of RF and put Middlebrooks back at 3B.
NAHSTE: The offense has outscored the rest of the division by 30 runs, and the pitching is coming around. The starting rotation has posted a 3.22 ERA in the month of June, good for 8th-best in the majors.
NAHSTE: The offense has outscored the rest of the division by 30 runs, and the pitching is coming around. The starting rotation has posted a 3.22 ERA in the month of June, good for 8th-best in the majors.
17b. Detroit Tigers – 32-34 (19)Rudi: The Tigers just can’t seem to get rolling. A preseason favorite to run away with the AL Central, they still find themselves under .500. Luckily the division is weaker than a pregnant girl’s knees so fans should not panic yet.
NAHSTE: The Tigers' pitching staff has allowed 303 runs this year, the 7th highest total in the bigs. The main culprit? A team defense that ranks 29th out of 30 teams in UZR.
NAHSTE: The Tigers' pitching staff has allowed 303 runs this year, the 7th highest total in the bigs. The main culprit? A team defense that ranks 29th out of 30 teams in UZR.
19. Arizona Diamondbacks – 32-34 (18)Rudi: Arizona needs to make room for Trevor Bauer. The time is now.
NAHSTE: It is almost July, and the Diamondbacks do not have a single player with double-digit home runs. Justin Upton's power shortage (.364 SLG, .106 ISO) is particularly disconcerting for the defending NL West champions.
NAHSTE: It is almost July, and the Diamondbacks do not have a single player with double-digit home runs. Justin Upton's power shortage (.364 SLG, .106 ISO) is particularly disconcerting for the defending NL West champions.
20. Philadelphia Phillies - 31-37 (20)Rudi: Phillies fans should be in full panic mode. The team is in last place and is a whopping 9 games back of the Nationals. Who knows when Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are coming back. Good luck.
NAHSTE: Jonathan Papelbon has thrown the exact same amount of innings as Chad Qualls. Qualls has appeared in 29 games, Papelbon has appeared in 27. Discuss.
NAHSTE: Jonathan Papelbon has thrown the exact same amount of innings as Chad Qualls. Qualls has appeared in 29 games, Papelbon has appeared in 27. Discuss.
21. Oakland Athletics – 31-36 (25)Rudi: At least they aren’t as bad as the Mariners.
NAHSTE: Team offensive ranks this season: Runs, 24th, Batting Average, 30th, On-Base Percentage, 27th, Slugging Percentage, 29th. Yikes.
NAHSTE: Team offensive ranks this season: Runs, 24th, Batting Average, 30th, On-Base Percentage, 27th, Slugging Percentage, 29th. Yikes.
22. Kansas City Royals – 29-35 (26)Rudi: I have no idea why we ranked the Royals so high this weak. I’ll attribute this to Woy ranking the Cardinals 31st out of 30 teams.
NAHSTE: After a dreadful start, franchise cornerstone Eric Hosmer is batting .299/.367/.471 in his past 23 games. Still waiting for the homers to return though.
NAHSTE: After a dreadful start, franchise cornerstone Eric Hosmer is batting .299/.367/.471 in his past 23 games. Still waiting for the homers to return though.
23. Milwaukee Brewers – 30-36 (21)Rudi: Time to start taking offers for Greinke.
NAHSTE: Even with Zack Greinke, the staff as a whole has been a disappointment. The Brewers staff ranks 22nd in the league in ERA.
NAHSTE: Even with Zack Greinke, the staff as a whole has been a disappointment. The Brewers staff ranks 22nd in the league in ERA.
24. St. Louis Cardinals - 34-33 (23)Rudi: I refuse to comment truthfully on this team until Woy ranks them truthfully.
NAHSTE: Still dangerous due to their deep lineup, but the pitching needs to stabilize itself. Their supposed big dogs are underperforming, while their back-end guys have stepped up huge and provided big innings. We'll see which of those trends reverses itself sooner.
NAHSTE: Still dangerous due to their deep lineup, but the pitching needs to stabilize itself. Their supposed big dogs are underperforming, while their back-end guys have stepped up huge and provided big innings. We'll see which of those trends reverses itself sooner.
25. Seattle Mariners – 29-39 (21)Rudi: The Mariners seem to be stuck in Power Ranking purgatory. I don’t think they have gotten out of the bottom 10 all season.
NAHSTE: What this team has lacked in wins and runs, it has made up for in random, completely meaningless novelty no-hitters. Charlie Furbush and Tom Wilhelmsen, two members of the no-no sextet, are each posting strikeout rates above 10 per 9.
NAHSTE: What this team has lacked in wins and runs, it has made up for in random, completely meaningless novelty no-hitters. Charlie Furbush and Tom Wilhelmsen, two members of the no-no sextet, are each posting strikeout rates above 10 per 9.
26. Houston Astros – 27-39 (23)Rudi: Home Record: 18-14. Away Record: 9-25. Woah.
NAHSTE: It's a shame the rest of the team is so bad, because otherwise the Jed Lowrie-Jose Altuve double-play combo could get some legitimate shine. It's been one of the better up the middle duos in the National League, with both players OPSing over .800.
NAHSTE: It's a shame the rest of the team is so bad, because otherwise the Jed Lowrie-Jose Altuve double-play combo could get some legitimate shine. It's been one of the better up the middle duos in the National League, with both players OPSing over .800.
27. Minnesota Twins – 26-39 (28)Rudi: Hey! They moved up a spot in the rankings and this might be the highest they have been ranked all season.
NAHSTE: Mauer and Morneau are 90% back to their pre-injury levels of performance ... and the team still sucks.
NAHSTE: Mauer and Morneau are 90% back to their pre-injury levels of performance ... and the team still sucks.
28a. Colorado Rockies – 25-40 (26)Rudi: Somehow, someway the Rockies might find a way to fall below the Padres in the NL West standings. That is embarrassing.
NAHSTE: Rockies pitchers are giving up almost two home runs per 9 innings in June, and their 8.09 ERA for the month is nearly two full runs above the next worst staff.
NAHSTE: Rockies pitchers are giving up almost two home runs per 9 innings in June, and their 8.09 ERA for the month is nearly two full runs above the next worst staff.
28b. San Diego Padres – 24-43 (29)Rudi: Even the A’s have scored more runs than this team.
NAHSTE: This team was obviously not expecting to compete this year, but the fact that the core young players are doing so terribly should cause alarm. Cameron Maybin's .207/.290/.313 slash line would look pretty god damn bad even if the Padres hadn't just given him a 5-year extension. Since they have, it looks downright atrocious.
NAHSTE: This team was obviously not expecting to compete this year, but the fact that the core young players are doing so terribly should cause alarm. Cameron Maybin's .207/.290/.313 slash line would look pretty god damn bad even if the Padres hadn't just given him a 5-year extension. Since they have, it looks downright atrocious.
30. Chicago Cubs – 22-44 (30)Rudi: Ryan Dempster continues to pitch lights out which is good news for the Cubs as they should be able to get a decent haul from a contending team at the trade deadline.
NAHSTE: Might have been a good time to trade Bryan LaHair three weeks before his OBP sank 100 points overnight. Oh yeah, and Starlin Castro is a shitbum.
NAHSTE: Might have been a good time to trade Bryan LaHair three weeks before his OBP sank 100 points overnight. Oh yeah, and Starlin Castro is a shitbum.
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