For the third week in a row the Chicago White Sox rank number one.
Our biggest climbers of the week are the smoldering-hot San Diego Padres (9-1
in their last 10 games) who moved up thirteen spots to number twelve. The
team that dropped the most spots was the San Francisco Giants (3-7 in their last
10 games), down nine spots from last week.
Notice spots 11 through 13 (Diamondbacks, Padres, and Phillies). All
three of those teams jumped at least 10 spots from their ranking last
week. Also notice the top five. Honestly, how many of you would have
predicted that 3/5 of this group would be made up of the Cincinnati Reds,
Detroit Tigers, and Colorado Rockies?
| Rank |
Last Week
(+/-) |
Team |
Record
(Last 10 games) |
Comment |
| 1 |
1
(-) |
 |
22-9
(8-2) |
Of all the ways for the White Sox' 10-game winning streak to
end you would never think it would stop at the hands of the Kansas City
Royals...who came back to beat them in the ninth inning this past
Friday. |
| 2 |
3
(+1) |
 |
21-11
(6-4) |
After stealing eight bases in the first two weeks of the
season, OF/INF Ryan Freel hasn't stolen another since April 17th. |
| 3 |
5
(+2) |
 |
20-12
(7-3) |
The 250 hits the Detroit Tigers piled up as a team in April
was the most in franchise history. |
| 4 |
6
(+2) |
 |
21-10
(7-3) |
Before knocking a career-high five base hits this past
Friday against the Atlanta Braves, Jose Reyes was in a 10-53 slump. |
| 5 |
7
(+2) |
 |
20-13
(7-3) |
The Rockies didn't just "get by" without Todd
Helton while he was out with an intestinal ailment, they played great
baseball posting an 8-5 record in 13 games. |
| 6 |
9
(+3) |
 |
18-11
(8-2) |
Newest Yankee Johnny Damon had four multi-hit games in the
past week. |
| 7 |
2
(-5) |
 |
20-13
(5-5) |
John Rodriguez has been great this past week going 9-17
(.529), and posting a 1.226 OPS. |
| 8 |
8
(-) |
 |
18-15
(7-3) |
By losing to the Yankees this past Friday night, Vicente
Padilla remained the only starting pitching on the Rangers to record a
loss since April 11th. (He also lost on April 15th at Oakland). |
| 9 |
4
(-5) |
 |
19-13
(4-6) |
The main reason behind the Astros hot start so far in
2006 is
a 10-2 record in one-run games. |
| 10 |
11
(+1) |
 |
19-12
(6-4) |
Coming into their Saturday night match up against LHP Eric
Bedard, the Red Sox were batting a meager .232 against southpaws as a
team. |
| 11 |
21
(+10) |
 |
18-14
(7-3) |
Johnny Estrada, Luis Gonzalez, and Chad Tracy have all been
unconscious this past week. Combined, the three of them went 32/76
(.421) with 5 HR's and 22 RBI's. |
| 12 |
25
(+13) |
 |
17-15
(9-1) |
In day games this season SS Khalil Greene is 15/45 (.333),
with 4 HR's and 15 RBI's. In night games he is batting .145 with
only one HR and 4 RBI. |
| 13 |
24
(+11) |
 |
17-14
(8-2) |
Last year the Phillies brought up Ryan Howard from the ranks
of Triple A and it turned out to be a great move. This season, they
may do the same with Cole Hamels. At Triple A Scranton, Hamels is
2-0 with a 0.39 ERA, 36 Strikeouts, 10 hits allowed, and has only one walk
in 23 IP. |
| 14 |
16
(+2) |
 |
17-14
(5-5) |
Is it possible to have started the season worse than Aaron
Hill has? So far in 99 AB's he only has 18 hits (.182/.194/.253) and
hasn't hit a HR. |
| 15 |
19
(+4) |
 |
16-15
(7-3) |
Mark Ellis responded very well to a demotion to the number
nine spot in the lineup this past Sunday by going 4-4 with a HR against
the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. |
| 16 |
13
(-3) |
 |
17-16
(4-6) |
Before throwing out Pablo Ozuna attempting to steal second
base on May 2nd, Victor Martinez had been 0-26 this season when trying to
throw out base-stealers. |
| 17 |
12
(-5) |
 |
16-16
(4-6) |
It wasn't a good day for the Brewers on Sunday. Not
only was Ben Sheets scratched from his scheduled start with stiffness in
his shoulder, 1B Prince Fielder left the game that day with tightness in
his groin. |
| 18 |
9
(-9) |
 |
15-17
(3-7) |
Newest San Francisco Giant Matt Morris hasn't been pitching
very well after winning his first two starts of the season. Since
then he is 0-3 and has allowed 22 earned runs in 24 IP (8.25 ERA). |
| 19 |
18
(-1) |
 |
15-17
(5-5) |
Through Friday, Dodgers relievers were charged with eleven
losses, the most in the Major Leagues. |
| 20 |
14
(-6) |
 |
14-17
(1-9) |
Since LHP Sean Marshall has been called up to the big club
he has been a pleasant surprise for the Cubs. In six starts he
is 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA and has 26 strikeouts against only eleven
walks. |
| 21 |
15
(-6) |
 |
14-19
(2-8) |
It's definitely not a good thing for the O's
when 2B Brian Roberts is injured. Since he went on the DL because of
a groin pull, Baltimore is 1-7. |
| 22 |
17
(-5) |
 |
14-19
(2-8) |
It's time to admit that maybe Darin Erstad isn't
as good as he used to be. Last year in 609 AB's he posted a .696 OPS. This season
he is currently injured and has a .629 OPS in 80 AB's. |
| 23 |
22
(-1) |
 |
13-18
(4-6) |
Jeff Francouer may be ending his season-opening
slump this past week. In the past seven days the Braves
right-fielder is 9/29 (.310/.310/.621), with 2 HR and 8 RBI. |
| 24 |
23
(-1) |
 |
14-20
(5-5) |
Even Mariner fans are starting to show their
frustration. The paid attendance for Monday's home game against the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays was a putrid 16,102--the smallest crowd in the
history of Safeco Field. |
| 25 |
20
(-5) |
 |
13-20
(3-7) |
The Devil Rays rank 26th in the entire Major
Leagues in team ERA (5.31). |
| 26 |
26
(-) |
 |
13-19
(4-6) |
Since Torii Hunter was moved to the cleanup
spot at the beginning of May he's been hitting much better. In that
time he is 13/29 (.448/.500/.759), with 2 HR and 7 RBI. |
| 27 |
27
(-) |
 |
11-21
(4-6) |
Home isn't so sweet for the Nationals so far in
2006. In thirteen games played in the District of Columbia they are
only 3-10. On the road they are a respectable 8-11. |
| 28 |
30
(+2) |
 |
9-24
(4-6) |
In the month of May the Pirates pitching staff
is actually pitching very well; believe it or not. Their ERA is
3.29, but their record is still only 2-5. |
| 29 |
29
(-) |
 |
8-22
(3-7) |
Where is the Angel Berroa that won the AL
Rookie of the Year in 2003? Since that season, when he posted a .789
OPS, up to this past Monday his combined batting line is .263/.301/.374
(.675 OPS). |
| 30 |
28
(-2) |
 |
8-21
(2-8) |
Hanley Ramirez has been a pleasant surprise for
the Marlins offense in 2006 with his .867 OPS in 118 AB's. His
defense though, has been a different story. With six errors in 130
chances he ranks 13th among 15 qualifying NL shortstops in fielding
percentage. He also ranks 10th among those same shortstops in Zone
Rating. |
