It was expected by many that the Boston Red Sox would be at the top of many power polls for most or all of the 2011 baseball season. But it wasn’t until this week that the streaking Sox – winners of nine in a row – vaulted to the top of The Wife Hates Sports MLB Power Rankings.
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees fall one spot to second, while two other teams from the east – the Braves and Phillies – sit in the third and fourth slots.
Kevin Youkilis and the Boston Red Sox – riding a nine-game win streak – have surged to the top of this week’s MLB Power Rankings
KP’s MLB Power Rankings: June 13, 2011
Note: Points tallied as of Monday morning, and do not reflect the results of night games
1. Boston Red Sox – 39-26 (129 points) – Last Week: #5
The Red Sox have won nine straight, including the last six on the road against division opponents, outscoring Toronto and New York by a combined score of 60-19.
2. New York Yankees – 36-28 (118 points) – Last Week: #1
With this kind of lineup, it has to be a surprise to many that Curtis Granderson currently leads the Yankees in both home runs (20) and RBI’s (47).
3. Atlanta Braves – 38-29 (98 points) – Last Week: #6
A six-game win streak last week was headlined by a lot of great pitching, but it has to be noted that the Braves earned these wins against the struggling Marlins and Astros.
4. Philadelphia Phillies – 40-26 (94 points) – Last Week: #4
The duo of Raul Ibanez and Ryan Howard has combined for 21 HR and 75 RBI’s – an impressive stat. On the other end, a painful stat – 129 combined strikeouts.
5. St. Louis Cardinals – 38-29 (93 points) – Last Week: #2
On a team that features Albert Pujols – arguably the best hitter in the game – it’s Lance Berkman that leads the team in AVG (.317), HR (16), RBI’s (46) and OBP (.431).
6. Texas Rangers – 36-31 (78 points) – Last Week: #3
Many critics questioned Mitch Moreland taking a major role at 1B, but he’s responded in 2011 by posting a .305 average, 8 HR, 20 RBI’s and a .371 OBP in 190 AB’s.
7. Milwaukee Brewers – 38-29 (76 points) – Last Week: #9
Prince Fielder has carried Milwaukee’s offense
With free agency potentially around the corner, Prince Fielder is responding with great numbers: 19 HR, 58 RBI’s and a .303 average in 238 AB’s.
8. Tampa Bay Rays – 35-31 (51 points) – Last Week: #15
In 27 combined starts this season, David Price and James Shields have 19 quality starts and have struckout 182 batters.
9. Arizona Diamondbacks – 36-30 (49 points) – Last Week: #10
Here’s a name many haven’t heard: Daniel Hudson, who has a 7-5 record, 10 quality starts and 81 strikeouts in 92 innings this season.
10. Cincinnati Reds – 34-33 (49 points) – Last Week: #16
Jumping six spots this week, the Reds can thank its pitching staff, who didn’t allow an opponent to score more than four runs over the last seven games.
11. Detroit Tigers – 36-30 (48 points) – Last Week: #17
The duo of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer has combined to throw 20 quality starts on the season, with a dominating record of 15-5.
12. San Francisco Giants – 37-29 (43 points) – Last Week: #11
The stats tell just how strong the Giants’ rotation has been: Vogelson (1.81 ERA), Bumgarner (3.23 ERA), Cain (3.36 ERA), Lincecum (3.41 ERA) and Sanchez (3.47 ERA).
13. New York Mets – 32-34 (31 points) – Last Week: #24
The Mets open a three-game road set against the red-hot Braves, sending Gee, Niese and Dickey to the mound.
14. Colorado Rockies – 31-34 (27 points) – Last Week: #19
While Ubaldo Jimenez has struggled, Jhoulys Chacin has taken over as the team’s best starter, posting a 2.90 ERA and 7-4 record in 13 starts.
15. Cleveland Indians – 35-29 (25 points) – Last Week: #8
Should the Indians think about moving Fausto Carmona later this season? The starter has struggled, posting a 3-8 record and 5.71 ERA in 14 starts.
16. Seattle Mariners – 34-32 (25 points) – Last Week: #14
Seattle rookie SP Michael Pineda hasn’t won since May 21st
Rookie phenom Michael Pineda has not won a start since May 21st, and a few nights ago, theTigers lit him up for five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.
17. Toronto Blue Jays – 32-34 (24 points) – Last Week: #7
The Jays’ ten spot drop this week was aided by a four-game losing streak where Toronto was outscored 38-8, including 30-5 over its last two at Boston.
18. Chicago White Sox – 33-35 (21 points) – Last Week: #22
Adam Dunn continues to post abysmal numbers in the AL. In 200 AB’s this season, Dunn has 7 HR, 29 RBI’s and an ugly .180 batting average.
19. Pittsburgh Pirates – 32-33 (18 points) – Last Week: #18
During the upcoming road trip, the Pirates will face the struggling Astros and Indians, teams that have had issues in recent weeks.
20. Florida Marlins – 32-32 (16 points) – Last Week: #13
The struggling Marlins have just two wins since May 29th, and they gave up 26 runs over the last three games against the D’Backs (all losses).
21. Los Angeles Angels – 31-36 (14 points) – Last Week: #12
The Angels fell nine spots in the most recent poll, and now face a 12-game road trip that sends the team to Seattle, New York (Mets), Florida and to Dodgers Stadium.
22. San Diego Padres – 29-38 (6 points) – Last Week: #20
Ryan Ludwick continues to be the team’s most productive hitter, leading in average (.266), HR (8), RBI’s (38) and hits (63).
23. Los Angeles Dodgers – 31-36 (2 points) – Last Week: #23
Matt Kemp leads the Dodgers in all major hitting categories: Batting average (.331), HR (20), RBI’s (56), OBP (.411) and hits (81).
24. Washington Nationals – 30-36 (-2 points) – Last Week: #25
Ryan Zimmerman – batting .357 in 28 AB’s this season – will provide a needed boost to the offense when he returns from injury in the near future.
25. Baltimore Orioles – 30-33 (-15 points) – Last Week: #27
Mark Reynolds’ bat is starting to heat up some, as the power hitting third basemen has belted 12 HR and finally raised his average above the Mendoza line (.203).
26. Oakland Athletics – 28-39 (-20 points) – Last Week: #21
Since May 30th, the A’s have won just once, and have scored three runs or less in eight separate games during that stretch.
27. Kansas City Royals – 29-37 (-20 points) – Last Week: #26
Just how much has the Royals’ pitching staff struggled? Bruce Chen, who has only seven starts on the year, is the team’s current leader in wins, with 4.
28. Minnesota Twins – 26-39 (-54 points) – Last Week: #30
Exiting the cellar for the first time this year, the Twins have lost just three times in the month of June, and outscored the Rangers 14-2 over the last two games.
29. Chicago Cubs – 26-39 (-58 points) – Last Week: #28
In his start following a thrashing of his team and teammates, Carlos Zambrano tossed 6 1/3 innings, giving up seven walks and seven earned runs. Ouch.
30. Houston Astros – 25-42 (-75 points) – Last Week: #29
SP Bud Norris has been a nice story for the Astros, posting a 4-4 record in 13 starts, with a 3.67 ERA and 81 K’s in 81 innings.
Note: RED = Falling 3+ spots from last week, GREEN = Rising 3+ spots from last week
The Wife Hates Sports’ MLB Power Rankings system has a method to its madness, attempting to be different and not just rank by popularity and record. It mixes a secret formula of six completely different categories, meshed into a points system. The categories don’t just include team results regarding record, but how each team has performed recently, as well as incorporating some statistics on both a team’s offense and pitching staff, too.
REV–
Nice. Real nice.
But if you’re spraining your thumb, you may just be as injury prone as Tiger.
I think I sprained my thumb scrolling so far down to find the Orioles.
ZING!