| MLB Power Rankings Week Of 07/
06/
2008 |
| Rk |
Team |
Last Wk |
Rise/Fall |
High/Low |
Comment |
| 1 |
 Rays |
1 |
- |
1/24 |
There's no place like home for the Rays. Literally. No team has won more in their home ballpark than the Rays. But putting a nice touch on their body of work before the break will mean winning road series in the Bronx and Cleveland. With Troy Percival on the DL and the rest of the 'pen looking quite ordinary, the Rays have an easy assignment at the trade deadline.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 2 |
 Angels |
4 |
(+2) |
2/12 |
The Angels haven't gotten what they wanted from their outfield this season, in terms of offensive production. That's prompted many to speculate that Matt Holliday is headed to Anaheim. Vlad Guerrero is on-pace for just 24 homers. Unless he picks it up in the second half, he'll also probably fall short of the 100-RBIs mark for the first time this decade. Either Vlad is due for a monster second half, or we've just witnessed him turn the corner on the downside of his career.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 3 |
 Cubs |
3 |
- |
1/13 |
The Cubs are starting to falter a bit, but good news could be on the way with Alfonso Soriano expected back earlier than expected. It's been a fairly quiet season for Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, both of whom are on pace to finish with less than 30 homers. All that probably means is both are due for big second halves. Home dates against the Reds and Giants should allow the Cubs to recover a bit before the break.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 4 |
 Red Sox |
2 |
(-2) |
1/4 |
Swept by the Rays, the BoSox found the perfect elixir to their woes — a trip to the Bronx. Unfortunately for Red Sox Nation, it appears the Rays are a problem that's not going away. The Red Sox should know this week just how much longer David Ortiz will need on the DL. That news should help them set a game plan for the upcoming trade deadline.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 5 |
 White Sox |
5 |
- |
5/19 |
With four hitters posting double-digit homers, the White Sox appear to be just fine in the power department. With three members of the rotation owning sub-4 ERAs, the White Sox probably don't need outside help there either. It's indeed starting to look like the South Siders will be the quietest of the contenders at the trade deadline. And why shouldn’t they be? With the Twins staying power in the standings suspect, it's not like the Chicago should fear what it sees in the rear view.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 6 |
 Cardinals |
6 |
- |
4/20 |
The Cards would be comfortably in first in any other NL division. While that may be hard to take, it does mean good things about their wild-card chances. Road trips to Philly and Pittsburgh ensure a difficult end before the break. The Cards could use a boost to their rotation later this month, although we doubt it will be anything major, per the season M.O.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 7 |
 Phillies |
10 |
(+3) |
5/16 |
What a way to finish before the break — three against the Cards and D-backs. The Phils have held up well against what's been a very difficult schedule over the past month. It's no secret that Philly needs another arm (or two) to solidify itself down the stretch. Now out of the mix for C.C. Sabathia, the Phils may opt for a strong No. 2 like A.J. Burnett. The good news is that no other team in the East is likely to improve itself much via trade in the next few weeks.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 8 |
 Twins |
7 |
(-1) |
7/26 |
Taking a series against the Tigers certainly had to make Twins fans rest a bit easier. The Twins are showing no signs of slowing down, but this week's schedule may take care of that. Road dates at Boston and Detroit could provide an effective barometer as to whether they should get busy during trade time. If the Twins are able to somehow make it to the break with a lead in the Central, that could be the type of confidence boost to ensure outside help is on the way.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 9 |
 Brewers |
9 |
- |
6/23 |
A well-timed hot streak put the Brewers in the thick of the wild-card and NL Central races. Management rewarded the team by trading for C.C. Sabathia. Coupled with Ben Sheets, Sabathia gives the Brewers one of the NL’s most formidable 1-2 punches. But they better make it worthwhile because neither is likely to be with the team next season.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 10 |
 Athletics |
8 |
(-2) |
7/25 |
It's hard to imagine the A's ever passing the Angels if they never win a series against them. But Oakland follows its latest setback against its rivals to the south with a strong series against the first-place White Sox. With four games against the M's and a home set vs. the Angels coming up before the break, the A's have a shot to make a statement going into the second half. Make no mistake, this is a big week.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 11 |
 Yankees |
11 |
- |
3/23 |
The Yanks could do themselves and the rest of the AL East a favor this week by cooling the Rays during their pair in the Bronx. Strangely, there’s one last bit of interleague business to deal with at Pittsburgh before the weekend set in Toronto. The stage is set for the Yanks to muddy the East picture if they can spear the Rays on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 12 |
 Marlins |
12 |
- |
6/29 |
We have to wonder what type of effect last Saturday’s loss to the Rox will have on the Marlins going forward. It’s getting obvious just how bad the team needs bullpen help if their surprise season is to continue. Ricky Nolasco has been a pleasant surprise, allowing seven runs total in his last five starts (4-0).
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 13 |
 Rangers |
16 |
(+3) |
13/30 |
Remember when Ron Washington was on his last leg? So much for that. Now it appears the A’s may not be the Angels’ only danger in the West. With four games against the Halos and three against the White Sox, the Rangers will get an acid test this week to see just how far they’ve come.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 14 |
 Orioles |
13 |
(-1) |
12/30 |
Not too many pundits expected the O’s to be above .500 this late in the season. They’d need a prolonged hot run to actually be in contention in the AL East, but there’s something to be said for being one of baseball’s 15 teams with a .500 or better record at this point of the season.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 15 |
 Tigers |
15 |
- |
3/27 |
The Tigers faltered a bit last week, dropping a series against the Twins and then struggling against the lowly Mariners. Magglio Ordonez’s strained oblique sounds like it was something that could linger. Miguel Cabrera put a scare in the team with a sore hip. With four more against the Twins this week, the Tigers could hit the break in good shape if they’re able to take three or sweep.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 16 |
 Diamondbacks |
14 |
(-2) |
2/16 |
The D-backs almost fell out of first place over the weekend. At this point, such an event seems to only be days away anyway. How can a team with two starting pitchers named to the All-Star team be this bad? Well, the answer is painfully obvious when you look at the lineup. The D-backs have two starters hitting over .300 and the rest of the regulars are batting under .260.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 17 |
 Dodgers |
19 |
(+2) |
5/21 |
Hey, the boys are back in town. Nomar Garciaparra and Andruw Jones have come off the DL (for now). What an accomplishment it would be for the Dodgers to be in first heading into the All-Star break after such a terrible first half. Now that the team has backed out of the C.C. Sabathia sweepstakes, it must hope that Brad Penny’s latest setback isn’t serious.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 18 |
 Mets |
18 |
- |
5/20 |
The Mets are staying afloat in the East and could get even closer to the lead this week thanks to a soft schedule. Pedro Martinez may actually be a liability instead of an asset down the stretch. Pedro has allowed five or more runs in his last three starts. Carlos Delgado is hitting for more power, but his average is still stuck in the .230s.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 19 |
 Blue Jays |
21 |
(+2) |
6/23 |
It was another rough week for the Jays after dropping sets to the lowly Mariners and formidable Angels. Alex Rios (four HRs) has been a disappointment this season in the power department. He’s made up for it somewhat with his legs, stealing 21 bases. His mid-.280s average ranks as the best among Jays regulars.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 20 |
 Reds |
24 |
(+4) |
18/28 |
The Reds took full advantage of the banged-up Nats by sweeping their series over the weekend. Cincy should become an epicenter of trade talks for the rest of the month. It’s funny how the arrivals of Edinson Volquez and Jay Bruce have some veterans hoping to remain Reds due to an expected bright future.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 21 |
 Braves |
17 |
(-4) |
9/21 |
Jeff Francoeur’s been sent Class AA to get straightened out. The Reds made a similar move last year with Edwin Encarnacion and it worked. Francoeur is only one of a myriad of things ailing Atlanta, the biggest of which is health. Road sets at the Dodgers and Padres present the Braves an opportunity to enter the break on a strong note.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 22 |
 Astros |
22 |
- |
10/24 |
Lance Berkman was a slam dunk qualifier to the All-Star team, but Carlos Lee will need help. What a difference three homers and two RBIs make, as that and about 50 points worth of average are all that separate Berkman and Lee. Things could get ugly fast if Roy Oswalt’s hip injury is serious.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 23 |
 Pirates |
20 |
(-3) |
17/29 |
Last week started promising enough, with the Bucs taking a series against the Reds before getting swept by the surging Brewers. Fans may not like this, but the front office deserves some credit for hanging onto Jason Bay long enough for him to boost his trade value. Now let’s see what the Pirates can get in return.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 24 |
 Giants |
25 |
(+1) |
23/30 |
Barry Zito looked like his old self beating the Dodgers on Saturday night. The Giants have parlayed their workman-like attitude and the D-backs’ collapse into a shot at winning the NL West. Unlike the two teams ahead of them, we don’t expect the Giants to be big players in the upcoming trade market. But one big free-agent signing in the off-season and this team’s back in business.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 25 |
 Royals |
23 |
(-2) |
22/29 |
How quickly things change. The Royals were one of baseball’s toughest outs in mid-to-late June. Now they’ve lost three consecutive series. Sets against the White Sox and M’s take the Royals into the break of a season that’s so far seen them slightly exceed expectations.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 26 |
 Rockies |
28 |
(+2) |
10/30 |
Talk of the Rockies making a miracle run in the NL West took a bit of hit when Troy Tulowitzki landed back on the DL. Wins like the Rox had over Florida on July 4 are the type of events that could spur such a run. But if Matt Holliday is dealt, then fans will be forced to take it down a notch.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 27 |
 Indians |
26 |
(-1) |
1/27 |
Getting Matt LaPorta for C.C. Sabathia is a pretty darn good deal if LaPorta lives up to the billing. Obviously, any thoughts Tribe fans had left remaining about a miracle rally in the Central are out the window. With dates against the Tigers and Rays, this would be a bad week for morale to be down.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 28 |
 Mariners |
30 |
(+2) |
7/30 |
What’s this? The M’s are getting hot? Way too little way too late. But nonetheless, maybe a brief hot run can ease the city’s sting over losing the Sonics. The M’s have now won their last four series and could get another on Monday vs. the Tigers.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 29 |
 Padres |
29 |
- |
17/30 |
The Pads are less than 10 games out in the wacky and weak West. That means they’re at a crossroads with the trade deadline approaching. We don’t think GM Kevin Towers will mortgage anything for a run this year, but don’t expect him to be a major seller either. The Pads should do their damage in the offseason.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
| 30 |
 Nationals |
27 |
(-3) |
24/30 |
Talk about bad luck. The Nats get back Austin Kearns then lose Elijah Dukes to a knee injury. Nick Johnson, Ryan Zimmerman, Lastings Milledge, Kearns, Chad Cordero and now Dukes are all major contributors who have missed time with injuries. Don’t get us wrong, the Nats were bad. But they didn’t need bad luck to pile on like it has.
Team: Home | Stats | Fantasy |
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