No, we didn’t forget Father’s Day. It’s just that Dad’s Day didn’t quite sync up with GuysNation’s schedule for new MLB Power Rankings. Yes, as an homage to fathers everywhere, we are remaining very much stuck in our ways. And why would Father’s Day be on a Sunday anyways? If you want to give him a gift he’ll actually enjoy, make Father’s Day a Monday and give him a long weekend.
Certainly beats the hell out of that tie.
Teams everywhere we’re wearing light blue paraphernalia yesterday to signal the quasi-holiday. But for the Athletics, that’s about as far as the blues go. The new team atop our Power Rankings, Oakland is playing, well, Oakland baseball. That Yoenis Cespedes throw was the perfect metaphor for this team. It wasn’t pretty, they made things harder on themselves than necessary, and they still ended up with unbelievable results.
And while we’re on the subject of unbelievable results, the Royals are the hottest team in baseball at the moment. They’ve ridden an active seven-game winning streak to within sneezing distance of the Detroit Tigers, who continue to be rather timid.
And that’s just the A.L. You want to talk about the National League? How about the Giants, who’ve lost 6 of their last seven and still — still — have the best record in baseball. Sure, that gap has shrunk now to half a game, but half a game ahead is better than half a game behind, no matter the race.
Speaking of races, this is how I’ve got the teams stacking up come mid-June.
MLB POWER RANKINGS – JUNE 16TH
1. Oakland Athletics | 42-27 (19-13 Home, 23-14 Road) [Change From Last Ranking: + 1]
Like I said, 300-foot lob to nail the runner at home after an error pretty much sums up the A’s.
2. San Francisco Giants | 43-27 (23-15 Home, 20-12 Road) [- 1]
While were in the middle of this cold streak, it’s hard to tell if it’s a bump in the road or a tailspin.
3. Toronto Blue Jays | 41-30 (20-17 Home, 21-13 Road) [+ 3]
Perhaps I’m too high on them here, but 4.5 games is huge lead for the A.L. East.
4. Milwaukee Brewers | 41-29 (20-15 Home, 21-14 Road) [- 1]
Hard-charging St. Louis is starting to breathe down their neck.
5. Detroit Tigers | 36-29 (18-16 Home, 18-13 Road) [- 1]
The Central is this year’s biggest surprise as far as contentious divisions go. Detroit can’t slow down.
6. Los Angeles Angels | 37-31 (20-14 Home, 17-17 Road) [+ 1]
The only slight concern with L.A. is their play away from home, but, hey, Hamilton’s back.
7. St. Louis Cardinals | 37-32 (19-14 Home, 18-18 Road) [+ 2]
This weekend is proof positive: when they hit for power, their virtually unbeatable.
8. Los Angeles Dodgers | 37-34 (15-20 Home, 22-14 Road) [± 0]
They continue to underperform at Chavez Ravine. Helps explain why they don’t have the division.
9. Atlanta Braves | 36-32 (20-15 Home, 16-17 Road) [- 4]
They’re giving everyone else in the division every reason to take the lead from them.
10. New York Yankees | 35-33 (13-16 Home, 22-17 Road) [± 0]
Some big home stands in their future should do their record some good. Should.
11. Washington Nationals | 35-33 (19-15 Home, 16-18 Road) [+ 4]
A 5-1 road trip out west became a 5-5 trip in less than 96 hours.
12. Baltimore Orioles | 35-33 (16-17 Home, 19-16 Road) [± 0]
Manny Machado’s going to get many more balls thrown at him if he keeps throwing his bat around.
13. Miami Marlins | 35-33 (23-13 Home, 12-20 Road) [+ 1]
This continues to baffle me. Jeffrey Luria must’ve made a deal with the devil. Assuming it’s not him.
14. Seattle Mariners | 35-34 (15-20 Home, 20-14 Road) [+ 2]
I’m putting them this high expecting them to get hot soon. I may be wrong, though. I probably am.
15. Kansas City Royals | 36-32 (18-16 Home, 18-16 Road) [+ 9]
A disastrous two weeks followed by a terrific two weeks results in a net push over the last month.
16. Texas Rangers | 34-35 (16-19 Home, 18-16 Road) [- 5]
Now nearly ten games behind the A’s. Quickly looking like their September will be meaningless.
17. Colorado Rockies | 34-35 (19-14 Home, 15-21 Road) [- 4]
They’ve fallen ten spots over the last four weeks. They are who we thought they were.
18. Cleveland Indians | 35-35 (21-11 Home, 14-24 Road) [+ 5]
Their sudden rise only further complicates things in an already complicated A.L. Central.
19. Pittsburgh Pirates | 34- 35 (20-16 Home, 14-19 Road) [± 0]
The numbers suggest they just aren’t going to be able to turn this thing around.
20. Cincinnati Reds | 33-35 (17-17 Home, 16-18 Road) [± 0]
Cincinnati, on the other hand, would appear to have a better chance. Rookie manager and all.
21. Minnesota Twins | 32-35 (15-17 Home, 17-18 Road) [± 0]
If they’re this close to .500 when the season ends, it has to be considered a success.
22. Chicago White Sox | 33-37 (19-18 Home, 14-19 Road) [- 4]
They’re closer to leading their division than the Bucs or Pirates are. Think about that.
23. Boston Red Sox | 31-38 (17-19 Home, 14-19 Road) [- 6]
I don’t think the defending champions will be playing playoff baseball this year.
24. New York Mets | 31-38 (16-20 Home, 15-18 Road) [- 2]
They won yesterday. That’s about all I can say that’s positive about the Metropolitans.
25. Houston Astros | 32-39 (17-20 Home, 15-19 Road) [+ 3]
George Springer will be a deity in eastern Texas before the 2014 season is through.
26. Arizona Diamondbacks | 30-42 (12-24 Home, 18-18 Road) [+ 3]
Seem ripe to turn a corner. Will spend the second half of the season ruining their draft pick.
27. Philadelphia Phillies | 29-38 (16-21 Home, 13-17 Road) [- 1]
In all honesty, they could be flirting with 100 losses come the end of the season.
28. San Diego Padres | 29-40 (16-19 Home, 13-21 Road) [- 3]
With Arizona looking better, this is my odds-on favorite to finish in the N.L. West cellar.
29. Chicago Cubs | 28-39 (15-14 Home, 13-25 Road) [+ 1]
They actually have a winning record since our last ranking two weeks ago. Go figure.
30. Tampa Bay Rays | 27-43 (14-20 Home, 13-23 Road) [- 3]
I don’t even pretend to know where rock bottom is for this team at this point.
