This week marks the return of the Detroit Tigers to the top spot. Even
though last week's number one, the New York Mets, is 7-3 in it's last ten games;
the Tigers claimed their old spot by going 9-1 in that same stretch.
The team that moved up the most spots this week was the red-hot Minnesota
Twins (9-1 Last 10 games) who jumped ten spots to number seventeen and have
evened their actual record on the season.
The team down the most spots is the Washington Nationals who fell nine spots,
to number twenty-five after posting a 3-7 record in their last ten games.
Something interesting to notice this week is that four teams, Minnesota,
Detroit , the Oakland Athletics, and Florida Marlins, are 9-1 in their last ten
games.
| Rank |
Last Week
(+/-) |
Team |
Record
(Last 10 games) |
Comment |
| 1 |
2
(+1) |
 |
47-24
(9-1) |
The Tigers already have more wins this season
than they had in their horrendous 2003 campaign (43). |
| 2 |
1
(-1) |
 |
43-26
(7-3) |
On the Mets recent 10 game road trip 1B Carlos
Delgado went 15-34 (.441/.476/.882), with 4 HR and 15 RBI. |
| 3 |
3
(-) |
 |
44-25
(8-2) |
The White Sox offense doesn't waste any
time. In the first inning this year their team batting line is
.325/.392/.543 for an OPS of .935; their highest mark of any inning. |
| 4 |
4
(-) |
 |
40-28
(5-5) |
Among 100 qualifying pitchers Tim Wakefield
ranks 99th in run support when he pitches (3.19 Runs per nine
innings). That explains his 4-8 record in spite of his good ERA of
3.97. |
| 5 |
5
(-) |
 |
38-30
(3-7) |
The Yankees beat up on teams starting pitchers
more than they do their bullpens. Against starters in 2006 the
Yankees team batting line is .297/.392/.481 (.873 OPS). Against
relievers their batting line is a much worse .271/.367/.411 (.778 OPS). |
| 6 |
8
(+2) |
 |
42-26
(7-3) |
It has not been a good June so far for LHP Mark
Mulder. In three games started this month he is 1-1 with a 9.20 ERA in 14.7
IP. In that stretch he has also given up five HR's and hitters are
batting .394 against him. |
| 7 |
10
(+3) |
 |
38-32
(6-4) |
SP Kameron Loe's (sore right elbow) trip to the
disabled list may be just what he needs to get things together. After
posting a 3.89 ERA in the month of May, the right-hander has posted an
11.25 ERA in four June starts. |
| 8 |
14
(+6) |
 |
38-32
(9-1) |
The A's have allowed the second-least amount of
runs in the AL so far this season (298, second to the Detroit Tigers) |
| 9 |
9
(-) |
 |
37-32
(4-6) |
On the Blue Jays recent seven game home stand OF
Alexis Rios went 4-22. All four of those hits were home runs. |
| 10 |
6
(-4) |
 |
38-32
(2-8) |
The Reds have lost 15 times this year when their starting
pitcher posts a quality start. |
| 11 |
7
(-4) |
 |
36-33
(3-7) |
Nomar Garciaparra's career batting average
against the Oakland A's is a robust .370. |
| 12 |
17
(+5) |
 |
36-33
(5-5) |
CF Mike Cameron has eight extra-base hits in his
last nine games, a period where he has posted a .743 slugging percentage (Through Monday). |
| 13 |
18
(+5) |
 |
35-35
(6-4) |
Against NL teams with a winning record in 2006 the
Rockies have struggled; going 16-21. |
| 14 |
11
(-3) |
 |
36-34
(2-8) |
The Diamondbacks have been swept in three of
their last four series. And in the only series they didn't get swept
in, they won one of three games against the San Francisco Giants. |
| 15 |
20
(+5) |
 |
35-36
(6-4) |
While it has been a good year for Rickie Weeks
offensively (.296/.380/.421, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 15 SB), that hasn't been the
case defensively. Through Monday, Weeks led
all Major Leaguers with 20 errors. |
| 16 |
19
(+3) |
 |
36-34
(7-3) |
The series that the Astros dropped to the Royals
this past weekend was only the third time Houston had lost a series at
home this season. |
| 17 |
27
(+10) |
 |
34-34
(9-1) |
It was a long time between wins for Carlos
Silva. Between his recent victory against the Boston Red Sox and his
last one 36 days had elapsed. |
| 18 |
12
(-6) |
 |
35-35
(3-7) |
On the whole it has been a good thing when the
Phillies bullpen comes into games. Against Philadelphia starters
this season opposing batters are hitting .292/.356/.492 (.848 OPS), against relievers they are
hitting a much worse .263/.336/.413 (.749 OPS). |
| 19 |
13
(-6) |
 |
35-35
(3-7) |
As you would think for a team full of ageless
wonders, the Giants rank dead last in the NL in stolen bases with 15; of which Omar Vizquel has seven. |
| 20 |
15
(-5) |
 |
31-38
(2-8) |
There was a bright spot in this weekends sweep
at the hand of the Milwaukee Brewers for Indians fans: During
the three games it appears as if Jhonny Peralta's bat finally came alive
as he went 8-13 (.615) with a HR. |
| 21 |
21
(-) |
 |
34-37
(6-4) |
Talk about a bad year. After posting a
batting line of .263/.369/.541 (.910 OPS) last season, Richie Sexson is batting
.205/.283/.382 (.665 OPS) in 2006. |
| 22 |
23
(+1) |
 |
29-37
(9-1) |
Even though the Marlins are playing their best
baseball right now, their offense isn't performing that great. In
June Marlins hitters have an OPS of .708; far
worse than what they produced in April (.765 OPS), or May (.784 OPS). |
| 23 |
24
(+1) |
 |
31-39
(4-6) |
In 2005 the Angels allowed only 45 unearned
runs. So far in 2006 they've already allowed forty-eight (Through
June 16). |
| 24 |
25
(+1) |
 |
32-39
(4-6) |
The Orioles have posted a .223/.299/.371 (.670
OPS) batting
line against left-handers this season while posting a .287/.346/.440 (.786
OPS) line
against righties. |
| 25 |
16
(-9) |
 |
32-40
(3-7) |
For one reason or another Washington Nationals
hitters seem to hit best when there is one out. With no outs they
have a .744 OPS collectively, and with two outs their OPS is .659. But, with one out they
have an OPS of .831. |
| 26 |
22
(-4) |
 |
30-40
(1-9) |
Hitters are just teeing off against Braves
pitchers this month. In June opposing batters are hitting a collective
.291/.364/.514 (.878 OPS) against Atlanta hurlers. |
| 27 |
29
(+2) |
 |
29-41
(5-5) |
The Devil Rays have played a Major League high
41 games on the road so far in 2006; they haven't fared well going 15-26
in such affairs. |
| 28 |
26
(-2) |
 |
27-42
(4-6) |
Thursdays have not been kind to the Cubs in
2006. So far this season they are 0-6 in games played on that
day. |
| 29 |
28
(-1) |
 |
26-45
(4-6) |
If Jason Bay gets voted in as a starter at this
year's All-Star game (he currently ranks third in votes among NL
outfielders) he will be the first Pirate to start a Mid-Summer Classic
since 1993 (Andy Van Slyke). |
| 30 |
30
(-) |
 |
19-49
(4-6) |
Mark Teahan did not enjoy the Royals recent
seven game road trip at all. During the time away he went 4-23
(.174/.174/.304) with 0 HR and 0 RBI. |
