Photo courtesy USA Today Sports
This is our second-to-last edition of Power Rankings for the season. The rosters have expanded, fantasy baseball playoffs are in full swing, and pumpkin beers are in the shelves.
Calendar be damned, it sure feels like fall baseball is here.
Of course, that doesn’t mean things are slowing down in either league. Coaches are being fired resigning for personal reasons, pennant races are tightening, and that reliever you’ve never heard of just took the mound making you feel like a failure of a baseball fan.
It’s a special time of year, making for a special time to crank out some Power Rankings. Here’s what we’ve got going on heading into mid-September:
MLB POWER RANKINGS – SEPTEMBER 8TH
1. Los Angeles Angels | 87-55 (47-24 Home, 40-31 Road) [Change From Last Ranking: ± 0]
Even without Garrett Richards they look unstoppable. Can you say Fall Classic favorites?
2. Baltimore Orioles | 83-59 (43-28 Home, 40-31 Road) [+ 2]
Baltimore? Yes, Baltimore. Great baseball has led to the largest division lead in the majors.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers | 81-62 (38-34 Home, 43-28 Road) [- 1]
The division is tight. But hey, no pressure, no diamonds, right? And there are plenty of gems here.
4. Washington Nationals | 80-61 (44-27 Home, 36-34 Road) [- 1]
First they can’t beat Atlanta, and now they’ve dropped five of six to Philly in September. Look out.
5. St. Louis Cardinals | 79-64 (44-28 Home, 35-36 Road) [+ 3]
Now in control of the division, things look a lot like they have in seasons past.
6. Kansas City Royals | 79-62 (38-32 Home, 41-30 Road) [± 0]
The Royals are urging people to go to see a winning team. Call them the Tampa Bay of the Midwest.
7. Oakland Athletics | 80-62 (45-27 Home, 35-35 Road) [± 0]
Being stuck down here seems a lot more fair now given their play the last two weeks.
8. San Francisco Giants | 78-65 (38-33 Home, 40-32 Road) [+ 1]
For such a championship pedigree, San Fran sure is flying under the radar.
9. Pittsburgh Pirates | 74-68 (44-28 Home, 30-40 Road) [+ 4]
McCutchen graces the cover of SI and the Bucs sneaks into a wild card spot. Cover Curse be damned!
10. Seattle Mariners | 78-64 (36-36 Home, 42-28 Road) [± 0]
Still hanging on here, but the Nats kindly pointed out King Felix isn’t invincible.
11. Detroit Tigers | 78-65 (36-32 Home, 42-33 Road) [± 0]
I think we found out what’s wrong with Verlander. He’s a part of too many nude photos.
12. Atlanta Braves | 74-69 (40-31 Home, 34-38 Road) [± 0]
It’s still hard to see them missing the playoffs. Then again, it’s becoming even harder to see them in it.
13. Milwaukee Brewers | 74-69 (37-34 Home, 37-35 Road) [- 8]
How do you describe what’s up with Milwaukee? The term ‘Hindenberg’ comes to mind.
14. Cleveland Indians | 74-67 (43-28 Home, 31-39 Road) [+ 2]
Milwaukee’s collapse helps their cause, but it’s probably too little too late.
15. New York Yankees | 73-68 (36-34 Home, 37-34 Road) [- 1]
The farewell tour for Jeter is coming to a head. The writing is on the wall for this year’s Bombers.
16. Toronto Blue Jays | 73-69 (37-31 Home, 36-38 Road) [- 1]
The only difference between them and Tampa Bay is they didn’t sell when they should have.
17. Cincinnati Reds | 67-76 (37-34 Home, 30-42 Road) [+ 2]
2014’s epitaph will read, “Cause of Death: Road Play.”
18. Miami Marlins | 69-72 (40-34 Home, 29-38 Road) [- 1]
They still play Washington eight times. Something tells me they would love to play spoiler.
19. New York Mets | 68-75 (33-35 Home, 35-40 Road) [- 2]
To say the Mets can still make October is like saying all NBA owners are racially sensitive.
20. Tampa Bay Rays | 69-75 (33-42 Home, 36-33 Road) [- 2]
They’ve started playing like the season is over. Their front office thought so a month ago.
21. San Diego Padres | 66-76 (40-31 Home, 26-45 Road) [± 0]
Tonight’s Chargers season opener is a long time coming for San Diego sports fans.
22. Philadelphia Phillies | 66-76 (33-38 Home, 33-38 Road) [± 0]
They look willing and able to play spoiler. And they start a series with Pittsburgh today.
23. Boston Red Sox | 63-80 (31-41 Home, 32-39 Road) [+ 3]
I’m a little surprised we’re not hearing even whispers of John Farrell’s job being in trouble.
24. Chicago Cubs | 64-79 (35-36 Home, 28-43 Road) [- 1]
They’ll coast home in the NL Central cellar just as most of us expected.
25. Chicago White Sox | 63-79 (34-36 Home, 29-43 Road) [- 1]
And to think it was this team putting pressure on the Tigers in September just a few years ago.
26. Houston Astros | 63-80 (35-39 Home, 28-41 Road) [+ 1]
Bo Porter was the wrong man to ax. It wasn’t his fault the team had zero talent.
27. Minnesota Twins | 61-82 (30-42 Home, 31-40 Road) [- 2]
They’re just rolling over for their opponents at this point.
28. Arizona Diamondbacks | 59-84 (29-43 Home, 30-41 Road) [± 0]
I suppose, given their atrocious start, 28th is something of a moral victory.
29. Colorado Rockies | 59-84 (39-35 Home, 20-49 Road) [± 0]
Almost 30 games under .500 on the road. That’s an impressive feat. Or maybe infamous.
30. Texas Rangers | 54-89 (25-43 Home, 29-46 Road) [± 0]
I’m going to feel really bad if it turns out Ron Washington really did resign for personal reasons.
