MLB Power Rankings: June 13, 2012
via DodgerThoughts.com
By Baseball Focus Staff
The Dodgers have finally knocked the slumping Rangers, now ranked third, off their perch atop the Baseball Focus Power Rankings. Newcomers to the top 10 include the Pirates and Giants.
Top 10 (Overall record, Last 10)
1) Los Angeles Dodgers (40-23, 8-2) – A model of consistency, LA pitchers have maintained a sub 3.30 ERA in each month. Ted Lilly goes down and Nate Eovaldi (1.93 ERA) comes in and doesn’t miss a beat. Even multiple Matt Kemp injuries can’t keep the Dodgers down as they have received surprising production from recent after-thoughts. AJ Ellis, Jerry Hairson Jr. and Bobby Abreu are all currently hitting over .300. (ML)
2) Washington Nationals (37-23, 8-2) – The Nationals have won eight of 10, and the rate of their maturation should be scary for the NL. After blowing out the Red Sox on Friday night, the Nats pitched well and hit in the clutch over the next two games (both winnable for the Sox) to complete a Fenway sweep. Additionally, the Nats have the best Win% in the league when scoring 3 runs or less. Meanwhile, the Sox are 28th (2-23). (PO)
3) Texas Rangers (36-26, 5-5) – Has the Yu Darvish luster already begun to fade? After starting the season 4-0 with a 2.18 ERA, he’s gone 3-4 since, giving up 3+ earned runs in five of those starts. He did strike out at least seven in four of those starts, however. (SN)
4) New York Yankees (36-25, 9-1) – The inevitable point in the season where the Yankees decide to stop coasting and play like the world-beaters they are has come. The lineup will always put the ball in the bleachers, but the secret to their recent rise to the top of the East is a 2.11 June ERA. (ML)
5) Tampa Bay Rays (35-26, 5-5) – Joe Maddon can do no wrong. Only he can bat the likes of Drew Sutton and Jeff Keppinger, lead off with slow footed Carlos Pena, user a closer who hasn’t had a sub 1.47 whip since 2007 in Fernando Rodney and STILL win games by the buckets in the ruthless and cannibalistic AL East. (ML)
6) Chicago White Sox (34-27, 6-4) – After a torrid stretch, the South Siders have gone 6-4 over their last 10 to let the hot Indians back into the AL Central mix. A big concern has to be the regression of Philip Humber (5.92 ERA) of late, as he’s given up five runs in three of his past four starts. (PO)
7) Atlanta Braves (34-28, 6-4) – After losing seven straight just two weeks ago, the team has snapped back into form, sweeping the Marlins in Miami and taking two of three in Toronto. With much-heralded prospect Julio Teheran finally coming up, their rotation (middle of the pack in ERA, WHIP, BAA) could get the boost it’s been lacking recently. (SN)
8) Baltimore Orioles (35-26, 6-4) – Adam Jones continues to show he’s worth the big contract extension he just signed. Currently, the All-Star center fielder is in the top 10 in the AL in batting average (.300), tied for fourth in home runs (17) and top 15 in RBI (37). Add in his nine SB so far, and Jones is off to his best start by a wide margin. (SN)
9) Pittsburgh Pirates (32-28, 7-3) – How does a team overcome a league worst .636 OPS and still achieve top ten status? Lights out pitching (team 3.25 ERA) and a knack for keeping those inevitably meager leads (a league-leading 85% save conversion rate). Their bats need to come alive fast to maintain their winning ways, but solid pitching has won them 12 of their last 15 and a share of the NL Central lead. (ML)
10) San Francisco Giants (35-27, 8-2) – Hard to imagine Giants fans saying “Watch out for Vogelsong this year!” during spring training. But it’s been Ryan Vogelsong (2.26 ERA) serving as the staff ace while two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum has been nothing short of abysmal. Lincecum has lost nine straight and has allowed fewer than four runs only twice since May 4. (PO)
(Also receiving votes: Reds, Marlins, Angels, Cardinals)
Bottom Five (Overall record, Last 10)
26) Houston Astros (26-35, 3-7) – Think the Astros are happy about their upcoming move to the AL West in 2013? Since 2007, the ‘Stros are a combined 9-21 against the Rangers, going 4-14 in the previous three seasons. (SN)
27) Minnesota Twins (25-35, 8-2) – Scott Diamond (1.61 ERA) is the only Twins starter with an ERA lower than 6. Considering its generally anemic offense, it’s amazing that Minnesota is 8-2 over its past 10 and has won 25 games to this point. (PO)
28) Colorado Rockies (24-36, 3-7) – How do they follow up a 7-1 run in which they take two of three from the kings of the West in the Dodgers? By, of course, promptly losing six in a row. Their team ERA has risen with every month and bringing back Jeff Francis (8 runs in 3.1 IP) is not the solution. (ML)
29) Chicago Cubs (21-40, 3-7) – Who told Alfonso Soriano that it’s 2002? Among the sport’s biggest contract albatrosses, Soriano had a solid May (seven home runs) and has remained hot in June with five home runs. (PO)
30) San Diego Padres (21-41, 4-6) – Trade him or keep him? That’s the major question for the Padres with resurgent slugger Carlos Quentin. Being from the area, the team may be compelled to finally extend one of their local sluggers. But if the price is right, anyone on the team is expendable. (SN)
(Also receiving votes: Royals, Mariners, Athletics)
Compiled by Seth Needle, Pat Ouellette, Roei Biberstain, Ben Lynch and Max Leonard
Baseball Focus 