Putting the Detroit Tigers at the top is getting old but they do deserve it
and they sit there again.
With an 8-2 record in their last ten games the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
take the title as this week's "Biggest Climber" (up six spots).
In a complete turn of events the San Francisco Giants (5-5 in their last 10
games) after being the "Biggest Climber" last week, tied the
Cincinnati Reds (2-8 in thier last 10 games) as the team down the most spots
this week (-6).
This week you'll notice an extra column in the Power Rankings. This
shows you where I had each team ranked in my Preseason
Power Rankings, and how many spots they've moved since then.
Essentially, this column will show which teams are performing to my preseason
expectations, which teams are under-performing them, and which are
over-performing them.
The team that has over-performed my expectations the most is--surprise--the
Detroit Tigers. I had them ranked at number 21 before the start of the
season. Now they sit at number one; twenty spots higher. The other
team this has completely out-performed my expectations is the Colorado
Rockies. After starting the season ranked 28th they now sit at number
thirteen (+15).
The biggest disappointment has been the Chicago Cubs. After starting
the season ranked 14th, they are currently ranked 28th.
Anyhow, there are some very interesting findings in that column. I hope
you enjoy this week's edition of the Serious Baseball Power Rankings:
| Rank |
Last Week
(+/-) |
Start of Season
(+/-) |
Team |
Record
(Last 10 games) |
Comment |
| 1 |
1
(-) |
21
(+20) |
 |
59-29
(6-4) |
In his last seven starts Jeremy Bonderman has a 1.82 ERA in
49.3 IP and has struck out 53 batters against only 11 walks. |
| 2 |
3
(+1) |
1
(-1) |
 |
57-31
(6-4) |
Don't be fooled by the 3-1 record that Javier Vazquez has
posted in his last seven starts. During that span he has a 7.19 ERA
and has given up 61 hits in 41.3 innings. |
| 3 |
4
(+1) |
2
(-1) |
 |
50-36
(6-4) |
You know your team is in trouble when they are claiming
players like Aaron Guiel off of waivers. In the 33 year old's career
he has posted a .246/.321/.412 batting line in 891 AB's. |
| 4 |
2
(-2) |
7
(+3) |
 |
53-33
(5-5) |
In a very weird turn of events Josh Beckett has given up 26
HR already this season. Yet that isn't the eeriest thing. That
belongs to the fact that he has given up 22 of those HR's on the road;
away from hitter-friendly Fenway Park. |
| 5 |
7
(+2) |
8
(+3) |
 |
53-36
(6-4) |
The six New York Mets named to the All-Star team represent a
franchise record for the team. |
| 6 |
6
(-) |
10
(+4) |
 |
49-39
(5-5) |
The Blue Jays seem to play better on turf, the surface of their home
stadium (Rogers Centre). On such surfaces this season they are
33-19; on
grass they are 16-20. |
| 7 |
8
(+1) |
13
(+6) |
 |
48-40
(7-3) |
SS Khalil Greene has eight multi-hit games in his last
seventeen and is batting .338/.384/.515 during that stretch. |
| 8 |
5
(-3) |
12
(+4) |
 |
47-39
(6-4) |
Even when Joe Mauer takes a day off the Twins still have a
very good catcher in their lineup. In 94 AB's as the backup catcher this
season Mike Redmond is batting .372/.381/.436. |
| 9 |
11
(+2) |
19
(+10) |
 |
46-42
(6-4) |
So far it is safe to say that Rafael Furcal has been a
disappointment for the Dodgers this season. Currently, he is batting
only .267/.346/.347 with 4 HR's. He does have 21 SB's though--if
that means anything. |
| 10 |
13
(+3) |
15
(+5) |
 |
45-43
(5-5) |
Gary Matthews Jr. is just as productive on the road as he is
at home. His Home/Road OPS split is .908/.907. |
| 11 |
12
(+1) |
5
(-6) |
 |
48-39
(5-5) |
To make room for newcomer Jeff Weaver, acquired from the Los
Angeles Angels this past week, pitcher Sidney Ponson (4-4, 5.24 ERA, 33/29 K/BB) was
designated for assignment. |
| 12 |
18
(+6) |
4
(-8) |
 |
43-45
(8-2) |
With his near perfect game this past Friday against the
Oakland A's John Lackey improved his ERA to an eye-popping 2.88 in 121.7
IP. Too bad the Angels offense issn't any good, because if it were
his W-L record would definitely be better than the 7-5 mark he has
now. |
| 13 |
15
(+2) |
28
(+15) |
 |
44-43
(5-5) |
The Rockies are going to have to get better when playing
divisional opponents if they have any plans on winning the NL West--they
are only 15-19 in such games so far in 2006--because 41 of their
final 77 games are against such opponents. |
| 14 |
14
(-) |
3
(-11) |
 |
45-43
(3-7) |
Bobby Crosby has been a serious disappointment in
2006. In 294 AB's the shortstop is batting .242/.299/.361 with 8 HR
and 35 RBI. |
| 15 |
9
(-6) |
18
(-3) |
 |
45-44
(5-5) |
In his last 20 games 2B Ray Durham is batting .329/.380/.685
with 7 HR, 19 RBI and 3 SB. |
| 16 |
10
(-6) |
24
(+8) |
 |
45-44
(2-8) |
Very quietly SP Aaron Harang has had a very good season for
the Cincinnati Reds in the first half going 9-6 with a 3.70 ERA with a
120/32 K:BB ratio. |
| 17 |
17
(-) |
6
(-11) |
 |
40-47
(5-5) |
The Indians have just the guy to stop a losing
streak. In games following an Indians loss the season SP C.C.
Sabathia is 5-1 with a 1.06 ERA. |
| 18 |
21
(+3) |
22
(+4) |
 |
43-45
(6-4) |
SP Brandon Webb received the most votes among any of the
All-Stars from fellow players, managers and coaches (325). |
| 19 |
22
(+3) |
17
(-2) |
 |
44-46
(4-6) |
Even though their record is under .500 overall, the Brewers
sport a 19-10 record in one-run games. |
| 20 |
16
(-4) |
25
(+5) |
 |
43-46
(3-7) |
Remember way back at the beginning of the season when Felix
Hernandez was anointed the next "Doc" Gooden. He hasn't
really lived up to that billing so far. Going into the All-Star
break the "King" is 8-8 with a 4.95 ERA. Much of that
ineffectiveness can be traced to horrible performances on the road.
In games not in Seattle Hernandez has a 5.74 ERA in 53.3 IP. |
| 21 |
24
(+3) |
9
(-12) |
 |
40-49
(7-3) |
Going into the break 3B Chipper Jones is riding a 13-game
hitting streak. During the run he is hitting .510/.561/.922 with 4
HR and 15 RBI. |
| 22 |
20
(-2) |
16
(-6) |
 |
43-46
(5-5) |
In a limited number of AB's (178) due to injury Chris Burke
has been great. In 60 games this season he is hitting .298/.376/.483
with 5 HR, 24 RBI, and 6 SB's. |
| 23 |
19
(-4) |
20
(-3) |
 |
41-49
(4-6) |
C Ramon Hernandez has turned out to be a great free-agent acquisition
for the Orioles in 2006. Going into the break he is batting
.273/.333/.487 with 15 HR and 16 RBI. |
| 24 |
25
(+1) |
11
(-13) |
 |
40-47
(5-5) |
The Phillies have lost eight consecutive series. |
| 25 |
23
(-2) |
30
(+5) |
 |
38-48
(3-7) |
Dontrelle Willis lead the majors in hits batsmen (13). |
| 26 |
26
(-) |
26
(-) |
 |
39-50
(5-5) |
After posting a .560 OPS through May 31st Aubrey Huff has
posted a 1.011 OPS since. |
| 27 |
27
(-) |
23
(-4) |
 |
38-52
(5-5) |
Ryan Zimmerman leads the National League with 35 hits with
runners in scoring position. |
| 28 |
28
(-) |
14
(-14) |
 |
34-54
(5-5) |
Since August 1st 2005 Carlos Zambrano is 10-1 with a
2.40 ERA in road games. |
| 29 |
30
(+1) |
29
(-) |
 |
34-56
(6-4) |
Since being called back up to the big club on June 3rd
third baseman Mark
Teahen is batting .304/.370/.513 with 5 HR and 20 RBI. |
| 30 |
29
(-1) |
27
(-3) |
 |
30-60
(3-7) |
It's been a long time since a Pirates pitcher had at least
eight wins before the All-Star break like Ian Snell does this season.
The last time it was done was in 1993 by Jeff Suppan. |
