Photo courtesy AP
Once again, we are to the unofficial “halftime” of the MLB season. Everyone’s played more than 81 games, yes, but none of them will have four days off like they do now. Well, unless you’re an All-Star, then I guess you have only two or three days off.
Anyway, things are tightening up a little bit across both leagues. The rich are a little less rich and the poor are a little less poor. Every division leader at the break has between 51 and 59 wins. And the team with 59 wins, Oakland, only holds a 1.5 game lead in their division. It looks like Poland in 1939 right now because no one is safe.
Was that too soon?
Ah, whatever. Here’s the rankings:
MLB POWER RANKINGS – JULY 14TH
1. Oakland Athletics | 59-36 (30-15 Home, 29-21 Road) [Change From Last Ranking: ± 0]
They’ve been up here for a while now, but could the Angels possibly dethrone them?
2. Los Angeles Angels | 57-37 (32-15 Home, 25-22 Road) [+ 3]
They’re making almost every night in the AL West must-see TV.
3. Detroit Tigers | 53-38 (25-22 Home, 28-16 Road) [± 0]
Same spot they were last week, and now that once crowded division is all theirs again.
4. Los Angeles Dodgers | 54-43 (25-24 Home, 29-19 Road) [+ 2]
It’s the second half of the season and the Dodgers are surging again. Sound familiar?
5. San Francisco Giants | 52-43 (28-25 Home, 24-18 Road) [- 1]
Pitchers hitting grand slams aside, they’ve ceded the division lead to Los Angeles just like last year.
6. Milwaukee Brewers | 53-43 (25-24 Home, 28-19 Road) [- 4]
Three teams are within 4 games of them in the division. And all of them have been to October lately.
7. Baltimore Orioles | 52-42 (26-23 Home, 26-19 Road) [+ 5]
They’re winning so much right now, they don’t even nine innings to rack up “W’s”.
8. St. Louis Cardinals | 52-44 (27-20 Home, 25-24 Road) [+ 2]
They’re doing their best to take advantage of Milwaukee’s recent collapse.
9. Washington Nationals | 51-42 (28-19 Home, 23-23 Road) [± 0]
I know I’m stating the obvious, but better road play would help them pull away in the division.
10. Atlanta Braves | 52-43 (25-19 Home, 27-24 Road) [- 2]
While Washington had to play hot Baltimore, they helped by struggling against the Mets.
11. Seattle Mariners | 51-44 (24-26 Home, 27-18 Road) [± 0]
They’ve played so well on the road. If they can just win at home, watch out, American League.
12. Cincinnati Reds | 51-44 (27-21 Home, 24-23 Road) [+ 1]
Even 1.5 games out of the division lead, they’re still two spots out of a playoff berth.
13. Toronto Blue Jays | 49-47 (25-21 Home, 24-26 Road) [- 6]
They’ve been having better luck north of the border. That’ll have to change or there won’t be playoffs.
14. Pittsburgh Pirates | 49-46 (29-20 Home, 20-26 Road) [+ 1]
Even with them turning their season around a bit, the National League is just too crowded at the top.
15. New York Yankees | 47-47 (18-23 Home, 29-24 Road) [- 1]
If you want to be a starting pitcher in New York, you best make sure you medical insurance.
16. Kansas City Royals | 48-46 (22-25 Home, 26-21 Road) [± 0]
The once-threatening Royals are now again about as docile as to be expected.
17. Cleveland Indians | 47-47 (29-19 Home, 18-28 Road) [+ 1]
Might be leading the league if they didn’t have to play outside of Ohio.
18. New York Mets | 45-50 (25-23 Home, 20-27 Road) [+ 3]
One of the hottest teams in baseball. Also, one of the biggest non-factors in baseball.
19. Chicago White Sox | 45-51 (24-21 Home, 21-30 Road) [+ 3]
Who’s representing the White Sox at the All-Star game? Oh that’s right. I don’t know and I don’t care.
20. Miami Marlins | 44-50 (27-22 Home, 17-28 Road) [- 3]
Remember that crazy hot start they had at home? They’re now only 5 games from being .500 there.
21. Minnesota Twins | 44-50 (21-22 Home, 23-28 Road) [+ 3]
The All-Star festivities host will enjoy something they haven’t all season long: a packed stadium.
22. Philadelphia Phillies | 42-53 (19-29 Home, 23-24 Road) [+ 3]
Even with a great showing in Milwaukee, they’re still just 5-5 in their last ten. Yeah, exactly.
23. Boston Red Sox | 43-52 (23-26 Home, 20-26 Road) [- 3]
The defending world champions are technically cellar dwellers at the moment.
24. Tampa Bay Rays | 44-53 (22-28 Home, 22-25 Road) [+ 6]
Oh, well look who woke up and decided to join the party. I mean, ruin their draft pick, that is.
25. San Diego Padres | 41-54 (24-25 Home, 16-30 Road) [+ 3]
They’re moving up only by way of more disappointing teams. Don’t read into it too much. Or at all.
26. Houston Astros | 40-56 (21-28 Home, 19-28 Road) [± 0]
The Astros are ahead of the Rangers? What on God’s green earth is going on?!
27. Colorado Rockies | 40-55 (24-25 Home, 16-30 Road) [- 4]
Troy Tulowitzki is still healthy. That’s about the only thing that’s surprising about this team this year.
28. Arizona Diamondbacks | 40-56 (17-31 Home, 23-25 Road) [+ 1]
Mark Trumbo is back. So, hey, there’s that.
29. Texas Rangers | 38-57 (18-30 Home, 20-27 Road) [- 10]
You’re goddamn right I dropped them ten spots. They’ve won one (ONE!) game in two weeks. Wow.
30. Chicago Cubs | 40-54 (20-22 Home, 20-32 Road) [- 3]
They don’t have the worst record in baseball (ONE GAME, TEXAS! ONE!) but they’re used to this.
