Welcome to another edition of "Serious Baseball" Power Rankings.
This week, the team that climbed the most spots was the Washington National;
jumped seven spots due to a 7-3 record in their last ten games, and a Pythagorean
Record (24.5-27.5) almost four games better than their actual record
(21-31).
The team that dropped the most spots was the Houston Astros (-7). Aside
from posting a 3-7 record in their last ten games, they also have a Pythagorean
record (23.6-28.4) that is almost three games worse than their actual record
(26-26).
You may notice the Florida Marlins rank rather highly this week (24).
In case you are wondering why they are rank so high, just take a look at each of
the teams below them and their record in their last ten games (the Marlins are
better than all of them). Also, the Marlins happen to have a Pythagorean
record (21.7-27.3) that is almost six games better than their actual record
(16-33)! A difference that big is unheard of this early in the
season.
And lastly, for the second week in a row the Detroit Tigers are the best team
in the land.
| Rank |
Last Week
(+/-) |
Team |
Record
(Last 10) |
Comment
|
| 1 |
1
(-) |
 |
35-16
(8-2) |
The Tigers have had a total of five winning streaks of five or
more games so far in 2006. |
| 2 |
3
(+1) |
 |
33-17
(7-3) |
Despite not picking up a decision in his first game off the
DL, Jose Contreras picked up right where he left off in that game against
the Blue Jays. In seven innings the right-hander only allowed one
run and five hits. |
| 3 |
2
(-1) |
 |
33-18
(7-3) |
It is sure to be a tough stretch for the Cardinals
when pitcher Chris Carpenter (4-2, 2.63 ERA) goes on the DL. They hope though,
that he will only have to miss one start, which would have occurred on
Tuesday. |
| 4 |
6
(+2) |
 |
31-19
(7-3) |
As of Sunday, the New York Mets have hit home runs in
nine of their last ten games, and 26 of their last 30 |
| 5 |
9
(+4) |
 |
29-22
(8-2) |
The Dodgers do most of their damage against left-handed
pitching. Against southpaws this season they have a team OPS of
.907, against right-handers that number falls to .749. |
| 6 |
5
(-1) |
 |
29-21
(7-3) |
The Diamondbacks' pitching staff has thrown five shutouts so
far this season. In 2005 they threw a total of ten. |
| 7 |
4
(-3) |
 |
30-19
(6-4) |
The Red Sox were sure to be excited when Coco Crisp returned
to their lineup this past Sunday after missing about a month and a half
due to injury. Their excitement was tempered though when that same
day they had to place RP Mike Timlin, and OF Wily Mo Pena on the 15 day
DL. |
| 8 |
7
(-1) |
 |
29-20
(6-4) |
With their 6-5 victory over the Royals this past Sunday, the
Yankees improved to 34-7 against Kansas City at Yankee Stadium the past
ten years. |
| 9 |
10
(+1) |
 |
28-22
(5-5) |
The Blue Jays have found themselves in the position to sweep
a series seven times this season, and haven't once completed the deal. |
| 10 |
13
(+3) |
 |
27-24
(6-4) |
The Atlanta Braves ratio of Saves to Blown saves is
13:12. Yet they are still three games over
.500. |
| 11 |
17
(+6) |
 |
27-24
(6-4) |
Michael Young doesn't have a hit in his last four games
(through Sunday). This is big news because the last time he went
hitless that long was in August of 2002! |
| 12 |
8
(-4) |
 |
27-24
(5-5) |
After going 10-3 in road games for the month of April, the
Rockies have gone 3-11 in games away from home so far in May. |
| 13 |
11
(-2) |
 |
26-25
(5-5) |
It appears that Jason Schmidt is back. After a rocky
2005 (12-7, 4.40 ERA), the right-hander is dealing in 2006 to the tune of
a 4-2 record and a 2.78 ERA in 74.3 IP. |
| 14 |
12
(-2) |
 |
28-23
(4-6) |
The Reds were shutout two straight days this past Friday and
Saturday (by the Diamondbacks). That was the first time that had
happened to them since September 23-24 of 2003. |
| 15 |
14
(-1) |
 |
26-25
(4-6) |
It seems like Rickie Weeks has taken to batting in the
leadoff spot rather nicely. In 106 AB's in the top spot, he is batting
.311/.393/.491 with 5 HR and 9 RBI. |
| 16 |
19
(+3) |
 |
24-26
(5-5) |
The Indians 11-0 win versus the Minnesota Twins this
past Thursday was the most lopsided victory by the Indians over the Twins
in Minneapolis since June 14, 1969. |
| 17 |
16
(-1) |
 |
26-24
(4-6) |
The only starting pitcher on the Phillies
with at least seven starts that has an ERA under 5.00 is right-hander
Brett Myers (3-2, 2.86). |
| 18 |
25
(+7) |
 |
21-31
(7-3) |
By hitting his 11th HR in the month of May this past Sunday,
Alfonso Soriano tied a club record for HR's in a month (Henry Rodriguez,
1996 Montreal Expos). |
| 19 |
24
(+5) |
 |
23-27
(6-4) |
With thier loss to the Los Angeles Angels this past Monday,
the Twins fell to 1-12 in games played outside the Central Time Zone (how
that for a weird statistic?) |
| 20 |
26
(+6) |
 |
22-29
(5-5) |
It wasn't John Lackey's fault he went 0-2 this past
month. In six May starts Lackey had a 3.57 ERA in 40.3 IP, struck out 30 batters and only walked eleven. |
| 21 |
18
(-3) |
 |
26-25
(3-7) |
The Padres offense must hate playing at home in Petco
Park. In their home stadium the Friars team OPS is .646.
On the road they have a much better .798 mark in that category. |
| 22 |
15
(-7) |
 |
26-26
(3-7) |
In day games this season Houston pitchers have a 3.53
ERA. In night games, they have a 5.09. |
| 23 |
23
(-) |
 |
23-28
(4-6) |
The Baltimore
offense definitely isn't at their best when they face left-handed
pitchers; shown by the .684 OPS they have against
them. Against right-handers though, they have a much higher .792
mark. |
| 24 |
29
(+5) |
 |
16-33
(5-5) |
Marlins' hurlers appear to like the pitcher-friendly
dimensions of their home ballpark in 2006, at least more than they like
road ballparks. At home they have a 4.56 ERA, while on the road that
number jumps to 5.06. |
| 25 |
20
(-5) |
 |
23-28
(1-9) |
After a slight cool-down period at the beginning of the
month, Nick Swisher seems to have turned it back around in the last seven
days by batting .385/.469/.615 with 1 HR and 5 RBI. |
| 26 |
21
(-5) |
 |
22-31
(4-6) |
The Seattle Mariners rank third in the American League in
Quality Starts (27), behind the Detroit Tigers (32), and the Chicago White
Sox (31). |
| 27 |
22
(-5) |
 |
21-30
(4-6) |
Thirty-five of the Devil Rays first 48 games have been
decided by three runs or less. |
| 28 |
28
(-) |
 |
17-34
(4-6) |
The main culprit in the Pirates horrible record: a
4-22 record on the road. |
| 29 |
27
(-2) |
 |
19-31
(2-8) |
In the past 24 games, a period where they went 5-19, the
Cubs are batting a putrid .152 with runners in scoring position. |
|
30
|
30
(-) |
 |
12-37
(2-8) |
Doug Mientkiewicz has hit safely in 10 of his last 13 games
and has posted a .302/.373/.453 batting line during that stretch. |
