MLB Power Rankings: The More You Know

I could use this space to talk about how, following last week's apology to the Astros, the Astros went and lost seven games in a row while the Pirates went 3-3. But I don't want to seem wishy-washy. I meant what I said last week, and it just so happens that the Astros seemingly sought out to prove me wrong. Rather than dedicate this section to the NL Central every single time, let's just skip all that and focus on some fact-like bullet points. What kinds of performances did we see over the past seven days? Why, these kinds!

• During their current seven-game losing streak, the Astros have been outscored 46-13. The offense has hit .224/.285/.294, while Mario Mendoza's career batting line in a pitcher-friendly environment was .215/.245/.262.
  


• The Mariners, as a team, hit .225 with zero home runs. Over the same span, both the Red Sox and Blue Jays hit 13 home runs, while the Diamondbacks hit 12. 89 individual players hit at least one dinger.
  


• Yuniesky Betancourt went 2-26 with two singles and zero walks.


• Mark Reynolds came to the plate 32 times and either walked or struck out in 17 of them.


• Ben Sheets allowed 17 runs in two starts. The Padres allowed 12 runs in seven starts.


• The Cardinals gained five games in the standings on Houston and Pittsburgh and six in the standings on Milwaukee.


• Clay Hensley faced 19 batters and struck out 13 of them.


• The Yankees' pitching staff posted a 1.4 K/BB, fourth-worst in the Majors and sandwiched by the lousy Astros and the lousy Nationals.
  


• Angel pitchers posted a WHIP of 2.11, double the Cardinals' 1.06.


• Austin Jackson recorded 16 times as many hits as Chipper Jones.


• The Cardinals led the Majors by drawing 11 intentional walks. The Pirates, Mets, Padres, and Rangers tied for second, with four.
  

Statistics: the trusty fallback of the uncreative and uninspired writer. Uh on we go!

30. Pittsburgh Pirates

SBN Blog: Bucs Dugout

2010 record: 10-15

Last week's rank: 30

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 29

They're now 3-10 since a 7-5 start, and the numbers would suggest they should be much worse: their Pythagorean record is 5-20 at this point. They have two starting pitchers with ERAs over 12 (Charlie Morton and Daniel McCutchen) and one (Paul Maholm) under 6. Their closer (Octavio Dotel) has allowed an earned run in six straight appearances. They're in the bottom three in the NL in batting average, OBP and slugging, and they're entering a stretch where nine of 12 games are against their division's top two teams, the Cardinals and Cubs. Look out below.

29. Houston Astros

SBN Blog: The Crawfish Boxes

2010 record: 8-17

Last week's rank: 25

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 30

If you're prone to motion sickness, stay away from the Astros: They've already had seven and eight game losing streaks, bookending a stretch where they won eight of ten...At least they might have solved the problem with Carlos Lee: He's gone 8-for-24 since moving into the #3 spot, after going 10-for-69 batting elsewhere...A little plate patience would go a long way: Jeff Keppinger and Michael Bourn have drawn 20 walks in 186 PAs (10.8%), while the rest of the team has drawn 27 in 700 (3.9%).

28. Baltimore Orioles

SBN Blog: Camden Chat

2010 record: 7-19

Last week's rank: 29

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 27

The Orioles are still bad, but you can't take anything away from their sweep of the Red Sox over the weekend. It's like going on the Price is Right and walking away with $100 after missing out on the trip to Mexico, the jet-skis and fine China -- it's just a nice consolation prize. It's hard to be a great team when your best hitter on a day-to-day basis is Ty Wigginton.

27. Kansas City Royals

SBN Blog: Royals Review

2010 record: 10-16

Last week's rank: 28

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 20

The Royals will not hit .300 as a team this season. After spending a good chunk of April above .300 as a team, the Royals are now hitting .271 as a group. Considering they don't walk (just following franchise rules there) and don't have much power, it's easy to see where the offense is headed. Through May 3rd, Royal relievers owned a 5.56 ERA cumulatively, which explains in part why Zack Greinke is 0-3.

26. Cleveland Indians

SBN Blog: Let's Go Tribe!

2010 record: 10-15

Last week's rank: 26

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 21

Cleveland just can't score enough to win. The Indians have scored the second fewest runs per game in the AL, and are only a few decimal points ahead of the Mariners. 1B and DH, theoretically the two easiest places to find offense, have given the Indians very little. An extremely low batting average is dragging the offense down, which in a way is a good thing. There's enough patience and power to suggest a mild turnaround, but it might be too little too late.

25. Milwaukee Brewers

SBN Blog: Brew Crew Ball

2010 record: 10-15

Last week's rank: 17

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 5

Somehow, the Brewers managed to win one of four in San Diego despite being outscored 21-2. Counting three shutouts this weekend, they've already been held to one run or less seven times in their first 25 games while allowing 5.52 runs per game. Things might get worse before they get better: They're only four games into a ten game, eleven day west coast road trip. They're already seven games back of the Cardinals, and could see their season slip away if they can't find a way to right the ship soon.

24. Washington Nationals

SBN Blog: Federal Baseball

2010 record: 13-12

Last week's rank: 24

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 24

The Nats are finally playing above-.500 baseball. Can it last? Probably not. Ryan Zimmerman and Ivan Rodriguez have been hitting way over their heads. And while Willie Harris and Ian Desmond playing full-time helps on defense, it won't mask what is still one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball. That could change soon, though, as Stephen Strasburg is promoted from AA to AAA this week. If he continues to pitch well, Mike Rizzo and co. will have a hard time keeping him out of an already-thin rotation.

23. Cincinnati Reds

SBN Blog: Red Reporter

2010 record: 13-13

Last week's rank: 27

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 28

The lineup and rotation haven't been anything to write home about, but the bullpen is keeping them in games, with four pitchers (Francisco Cordero, Mike Lincoln, Arthur Rhodes and Danny Herrera) combining to post a 2.18 ERA in 45.1 innings of work...Mike Leake continues to have an excellent rookie season, but the Reds will have to be careful with his innings in his first professional season. Can they afford to skip starts and limit pitch counts for their best starting pitcher? 

22. Chicago White Sox

SBN Blog: South Side Sox

2010 record: 11-15

Last week's rank: 21

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 23

Pitching figured to be the strength of the 2010 White Sox. So far however, it hasn't worked out that way. The team's starting pitching has been especially bad, posting a 5.07 ERA as a group, which is second-worst in the American League. That figure includes John Danks and his 1.85 figure, by the way. Predictably, the Sox have gotten horrible production from their DHs this season, just as everyone expected. Sox DHs have hit a cumulative .177 this season.

21. Atlanta Braves

SBN Blog: Talking Chop

2010 record: 11-14

Last week's rank: 11

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 22

A three-game set versus Houston proved to be the right medicine for the Braves, whose prior nine game losing-streak had given them a strong hold on the NL East basement. It was an effortless sweep--Jason Heyward continued to lead the offense, the bullpen pitched well and the so-far inconsistent starting pitching produced three consecutive solid outings, including an 8-inning gem from Tommy Hanson. Really, the Braves played better in April than their record suggests, and provided expected improvements from their starters, they can still compete in a tight NL East.

20. Arizona Diamondbacks

SBN Blog: AZ Snakepit

2010 record: 12-14

Last week's rank: 22

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 9

The bullpen continues to blow chunks; their collective ERA for the year is now up above seven. The offense is the only thing keeping them afloat: Kelly Johnson continues to hit like Albert Pujols, but the best OPS+ on the team belongs to Dan Haren, who is 9-for-18 so far. Arizona is 10-0 when scoring more than five runs, and 0-9 when scoring less than five.

19. Toronto Blue Jays

SBN Blog: Bluebird Banter

2010 record: 14-13

Last week's rank: 19

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 10

Almost pitching no-hitters is cool and the Jays have been doing that a lot lately. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter much when you're going on five-game losing streaks. The Jays took three of four from Oakland, though, showing the offense hasn't fallen off the map just yet -- or that surprisingly good pitching. The Jays just started an 11-game road trip, which will be a huge test for the young club.

18. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

SBN Blog: Halos Heaven

2010 record: 12-15

Last week's rank: 14

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 15

The Orioles, obviously, have the lowest run differential in the American League. Who would you guess would be second-to-last? Cleveland? Kansas City? Chicago? Wrong, wrong, and wrong. It's actually the Angels, who - after 27 games - have been outscored by 37 runs, including a 17-8 loss to the Red Sox on Monday night. The team hasn't hit particularly well, but the real problem has been the pitching, with an AL-worst ERA of 5.23. They've walked too many, and the ball's been sailing out of the park to the tune of 36 homers allowed. The bullpen has a K/BB of 1.2. Jered Weaver's been great, and Joel Pineiro's been okay, but they can't do it alone.

17. Los Angeles Dodgers

SBN Blog: True Blue LA

2010 record: 11-14

Last week's rank: 20

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 16

Off to the worst start since leaving Brooklyn, going 8-14 before taking the last three from the Pirates. The rotation is wobbling: Opening Day starter Vicente Padilla is out at least another month, and Charlie Haeger showing why the knuckleball is a dying art (7.45 ERA). They'll be glad to see Manny back next weekend, as the team is 4-8 without him appearing.

16. Seattle Mariners

SBN Blog: Lookout Landing

2010 record: 11-14

Last week's rank: 13

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 26

The Mariners welcomed Cliff Lee back into the fold by scoring four runs in three games during a weekend sweep by Texas. It's the second consecutive weekend sweep of Seattle, and this one drove the front office to making some moves. They didn't make the obvious one, though, as Mike Sweeney remains. Ultimately, however, the team won't hit until Jose Lopez and Chone Figgins start approaching their career averages. Without those two, it doesn't really matter how little comes out of DH. A three-game set against the Rays will be a huge test of this team's mettle; a sweep would drown them, but a couple wins could serve as a huge confidence boost.

15. Oakland Athletics

SBN Blog: Athletics Nation

2010 record: 13-14

Last week's rank: 8

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 13

The A's once stood at a division-leading 12-8, but a miserable week dropped them into second place as the lineup didn't hit and the pitchers didn't pitch. One could say the injuries are beginning to pile up, as this team minus Brett Anderson, Justin Duchscherer, Kurt Suzuki, Mark Ellis, Coco Crisp, and Travis Buck isn't much of a team at all. Still, it's not like the healthy Eric Chavez, Rajai Davis, or Kevin Kouzmanoff have really been helping. This is a deep team, but it's a deep team lacking in front-line talent, so it really needs more consistent contributions from almost everybody if it intends to stay in the race.

14. Florida Marlins

SBN Blog: Fish Stripes

2010 record: 13-12

Last week's rank: 16

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 19

It's business-as-usual for the Fish, as an above-average pitching staff and average offense buoy lagging team defense. Josh Johnson continues to turn in dominant performances, while on the other side of the ball, Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla are in midseason-form. Rookie Gaby Sanchez continues to impress at the plate and the bullpen has been good enough. Really, Florida is just waiting on some offense from their outfield. Not even projected to be healthy opening day, Cody Ross gets a pass, but youngsters Cameron Maybin and Chris Coghlan could be facing platoon-situations or straight-benching soon. Last year's rookie-of-the-year, Coghlan, has been especially disappointing, and without the injury-excuse of his fellow outfielders.

13. Boston Red Sox

SBN Blog: Over The Monster

2010 record: 12-14

Last week's rank: 9

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 18

The Red Sox are the hottest and coldest team in baseball. After sweeping Toronto, they head to Baltimore to get swept themselves. They've been back and forth all season. Maybe they'll be turning for good after rolling over the Angels on Monday with 17 runs. Still, the team has shown zero consistency.

12. Chicago Cubs

SBN Blog: Bleed Cubbie Blue

2010 record: 13-13

Last week's rank: 15

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 12

Does anyone know what to make of this team at this point? Not that long ago we were wondering how bad it could get. Now, Alfonso Soriano is hitting .385/.450/.827 in his last 15 games, Carlos Zambrano has allowed one earned run in four innings of relief work, and the Cubs have won seven of ten, somehow managing to sneak two winning streaks and a three-game losing streak into that stretch. Where this team is headed is anyone's guess, but right now they're the only NL Central team within five games of the Cardinals.

11. New York Mets

SBN Blog: Amazin' Avenue

2010 record: 14-12

Last week's rank: 23

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 25

The smoke-and-mirrors pitching that fueled a highly-successful homestand got exposed in two meltdown innings by Mike Pelfrey and Johan Santana against the Phillies. Santana's meltdown, featuring a walk of Jamie Moyer with the bases loaded and a subsequent grand slam, caused the Mets to leave the division lead and much of their dignity behind in Philly. Even if the pitching continues to regress, though, the Mets can hope, with good reason, the bats of Jose Reyes and Jason Bay finally coming alive will keep them in the race. A possible late-May return from Carlos Beltran wouldn't hurt either.

10. Colorado Rockies

SBN Blog: Purple Row

2010 record: 13-13

Last week's rank: 10

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 11

No matter how well Ubaldo Jimenez or (the injured) Jorge De La Rosa pitch, they can't start every day. The team is 4-12 in games not started by that duo, and that's why Colorado is hanging out at .500. (The injured) Brad Hawpe has raked, hitting .357 with an OPS+ of 194, and Miguel Olivo leads the team in home runs. Pythagorean record is 16-10, so that's a sign for optimism.

9. Texas Rangers

SBN Blog: Lone Star Ball

2010 record: 14-12

Last week's rank: 18

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 17

The Rangers beat the White Sox, swept the Mariners, and doubled up on the A's on the back of a rejuvenated Rich Harden. I'd say that counts as a pretty good week. The roster is still littered with question marks, but with Harden possibly returning to form and Justin Smoak beginning to hit, that's two big answers right there, as the Rangers look like the first team in the division to really get itself righted. It wouldn't be much of a surprise if they hung on to first place from now through the end of the year.

8. Detroit Tigers

SBN Blog: Bless You Boys

2010 record: 16-11

Last week's rank: 12

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 8

Austin Jackson's month as Ichiro has helped the Tigers, especially recently. Since April 25th, Jackson has posted a .513/.548/.744 batting line, raising his season averages to .377/.427/.526. Someone please pass these figures along to the New York media.

7. San Francisco Giants

SBN Blog: McCovey Chronicles

2010 record: 14-10

Last week's rank: 6

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 7

Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum are a combined 8-0 with a 1.40 ERA over 70+ innings. Would have been 9-0 if the bullpen hadn't coughed up a ninth-inning lead against the Phillies. Pitching generally remains stellar, offense is about average, with Nate Schierholtz now ahead of Panda Pablo in OPS+. However, Mark DeRosa in LF is well short of acceptable (.214/.321/.286).

6. San Diego Padres

SBN Blog: Gaslamp Ball

2010 record: 16-10

Last week's rank: 7

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 4

The surprising Padres continue to...well, surprise. In a recent six-game stretch against the Brewers and Marlins, they allowed seven runs, scoring 31. Jon Garland has an ERA barely above two, and Wade LeBlanc has allowed one run over three starts. Adrian Gonzalez is the only Padres regular with an OPS over .800, but given where they play, that isn't a shock.

5. Philadelphia Phillies

SBN Blog: The Good Phight

2010 record: 14-11

Last week's rank: 4

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 6

While everyone around them debated the relative merits of Ryan Howard's new contract extension, the Phillies took a critical series from their rival Mets to regain a tenuous hold on the division lead. And while Roy Halladay continues to dominate the inferior league, Philadelphia welcomed the return of Joe Blanton, with Kyle Kendrick unsurprisingly imploding in the fifth starter-role. Luckily, Juan Castro has done a better job filling for the injured Jimmy Rollins, although it's doubtful how long that will last, considering Castro's career .231 BA. With Ryan Madson also succumbing to injury, the Phillies are merely hanging on, while they wait for the cavalry of rehabbing regulars to return.

4. Minnesota Twins

SBN Blog: Twinkie Town

2010 record: 17-9

Last week's rank: 3

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 1

After an 11-4 start, the Twins have gone 6-5, and now face the prospect of some undefined amount of time without Joe Mauer in the lineup. Luckily, this is one of the deepest Twins teams in years. Ron Gardenhire may need to find more playing time for Jim Thome (1.004 OPS through Sunday) and less for Jason Kubel (.648 OPS) however. Helping matters: even without Joe Nathan, the Twins still have one of the best bullpens in the league, as evidenced by a 2.77 ERA to start the season.

3. St. Louis Cardinals

SBN Blog: Viva El Birdos

2010 record: 18-8

Last week's rank: 5

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 14

They're 10-3 at home after a 6-1 homestand against the Reds and Braves, have either led or been tied for the lead in the NL Central every day this season, and they've already opened up a five-game lead on the second place Cubs and Reds. Four of the Cardinals' five starters have an ERA under 3. Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright were expected to be impressive, but Jaime Garcia has been a revelation - a 1.12 ERA in five starts isn't what you'd usually expect from the last guy to make the roster.

2. New York Yankees

SBN Blog: Pinstripe Alley

2010 record: 17-8

Last week's rank: 2

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 3

The Yankees, especially Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada, continue to beat up on teams. They had a pretty easy week against the Orioles and the White Sox, and sure enough, they took care of business, winning five of seven while scoring 44 runs in the process. The big loss is Curtis Granderson, who is expected to miss a month due to a groin strain. So Randy Winn couldn't have chosen a better time than Monday evening to blast his first home run of the season.

1. Tampa Bay Rays

SBN Blog: DRays Bay

2010 record: 18-7

Last week's rank: 1

Last week's Beyond The Box Score rank: 2

This team continues to roll. The Rays lost just two games this week, but only surrendered seven total runs in those losses. That's what good times do -- if they lose, you don't get killed in the process. The pitching is holding together and the offense is still scary. Where are the holes? Are there any holes?