MLB Week Eight: Top 10 Power Rankings

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NEW YORK - MAY 05: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees talks with Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox prior to their game on May 5, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Week eight in the Majors is beginning to seperate the men from the boys. The Dodgers are still playing the great ball.
The Red Sox and Yankees are atop the AL East, again.
This week also raised many questions through out the league.
Can the Mets stay afloat with all the injuries?
Has Toronto's skid knocked them out of the the top ten? Has the Padres winning streak pushed into the elite of baseball?
Are the Cardinals and Tony LaRussa ready for another run at a title?
Many teams are stepping-up and many are fading away.
Let's take a look at this week's top ten!

1. Los Angeles Dodgers 32-15 (1)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 23: Juan Pierre #9 (C) of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by pitcher Clayton Kershaw (L) catcher Russell Martin (2L) and Matt Kemp #27 who scored the winning run after a bases loaded walk to Pierre to defeat the Los Angeles

The Dodgers are staying Kings of MLB, due to the play of Juan Pierre (.385), Casey Blake (.306), and Orlando Hudson (.344).
This veteren leadership has helped young players and fans forget about Manny for the time being.
LA is still tops in the majors with a .291 BA, .374 OBP, while scoring 268 runs (2nd to Tampa Bay).
Opponents are hitting a league low .232 off the staff with an ERA of 3.73.
The question is, where is Manny going to play when he gets back?......just a joke!

2. Boston Red Sox 27-19 (5)

NEW YORK - MAY 05: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox bats against the New York Yankees on May 5, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees 7-3. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Red Sox are now in first in the AL East and moved up three spots from last weeks rankings.
With Kevin Youkilis (.379) back in the line up and Dustin Pedroia (.341) heating up, this Red Sox team is 17-6 at Fenway and 16-6 vs. the AL East. The team is batting .278 with an OBP of .360.
Scoring 248 runs and allowing only 214 runs from opponents.
They are first in the AL is saves with 14 and the staff has put up 23 quality starts.
If David Oritz gets his bat speed back the way Carlos Delgado did for the Mets, they could run away with this division.

3. Detroit Tigers 25-19 (9)

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 22: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers hits a single against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the third inning of the baseball game at Angel Stadium on April 22, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/

Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander have put the roar back in Motown. Cabrera is a monster, hitting .374, 10 HRs, 37 RBI with an OBP .437 and slugging .608.
Verlander in his last 6 starts has 60 strikeouts. In the AL, they are first in ERA (3.88) and BAA (.247), 2nd in WHIP (1.33).
If the season were to end today, the Tigers could have the AL MVP and CY Young.

4. New York Yankees 26-20 (6)

NEW YORK - MAY 21: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees in the field against the Baltimore Orioles on May 21, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The Yankees are winning in dramatic fashion and having fun doing it.
They are 7-3 over their last 10 games and have 5 walk-off wins in the month of May.
A-Rod is showing no signs that his hip surgery is going to be factor this season.
After a slow start, Rodriguez has 7 HRs and 17 RBI in 18 games back. Helping the Yankees move into 2nd place in the East, a game back of Boston.

5. St. Louis Cardinals 28-19 (NR)

ST. LOUIS - APRIL 9: Starting pitcher Chris Carpenter #29 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 9, 2009 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The Cardinals beat the Pirates 2-1. (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Unranked last week, the Redbirds have moved into first in NL Central. Albert Pujols is Albert Pujols.
The surprise is the pitching and pitching coach Dave Duncan is showing why his is the best in the game.
With a healthy Chris Carpenter, this staff is first in NL in ERA (3.61) and WHIP (1.28), allowing only 182 runs and have 4 starters with 4 or more wins.
Behind LaRussa and Duncan, this Cardinals team should compete all year.

6. Texas Rangers 27-18 (3)

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 07: Nelson Cruz #17 of the Texas Rangers bats against the Oakland Athletics during a Major League Baseball game on May 7, 2009 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Texas continues to hold court in the AL West, going 10-2 against their division and 10-6 in one-run games.
Nelson Cruz is showing that his 37 HRs in the Minors last year was no fluke, hitting .292, 12 HRs, & 32 RBI.
The Rangers are in the top ten in most batting and pitching categories in the AL and lead the Majors in complete game with 5.
An even bigger surprise, they are 3rd in the AL with 39 stolen bases.

7. Milwaukee Brewers 27-20 (4)

MILWAUKEE - MAY 14: Starting pitcher Dave Bush #31 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers the ball against the Florida Marlins on May 14, 2009 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Brewers defeated the Marlins 5-3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Like the Cardinals, the Brewers are pitching their way to the top.
Dave Bush has been a surprise going 3-1, posting a 3.92 ERA, 42 Ks, 1.11 WHIP.
Only walking 15 batters in 59.2 innings and opponents are hitting just .234 off him.
This pitching staff better keep their NL leading 26 quality starts up if they want to compete with the Cardinals, Cubs, and Reds, especially with injuries to middle infielders JJ Hardy and Rickie Weeks (out for the season).

8. Philadelphia Phillies 25-19 (7)

WASHINGTON - APRIL 13: Brad Lidge #54 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 13, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Are we beginning to see the Brad Lidge from Houston, an ERA of 8.85 and 4 blown saves.
It's not all his fault, this staff ranks at the bottom in the NL in most pitching categories including ERA (5.09) and BAA (.273)....yikes!
But, the defending champs are finding way to win and are 7-3 over their last ten games.
Playing great defense with only 14 errors all season and behind the bat of Raul Ibanez (.347, 17 HRs, 44 RBI), they are still in the team to beat in the NL East

9. New York Mets 25-20 (8)

SAN FRANCISCO - MAY 17: Gary Sheffield #10 of the New York Mets bats against the San Francisco Giants during a Major League Baseball game on May17, 2009 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

How the Mets are winning, who knows? The injury bug flew into New York and landed directly on Citifield.
With lead off hitter Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, Ryan Church all on the DL and the league's leading hitter Carlos Beltran (.367) day-to-day, the Mets have stayed within a game of the Phillies.
Even with the line up they put out there the last week, the Mets rank near the top in all batting and pitching categories, hitting .288 and an ERA of 3.88. Stepping in for Delgado, Gary Sheffield is hitting .291 with 5HRs and 17 RBI in 86 at-bats.

10. Toronto Blue Jays 27-23 (2)

OAKLAND, CA - MAY 09: Alex Rios #15 of the Toronto Blue Jays sits in the dugout before their game against the Oakland Athletics on May 9, 2009 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Blue Jays have dropped eight spots this week, due to the fact that they are winless since leaving Toronto eight days ago.
The Blue Jays are 1-9 in their last ten games and loser of 9 straight.
They are struggling to beat the good teams and East opponents with a 4-8 record.
This skid has dropped them to third in the AL East.
They still lead the AL in hitting at .283 and in quality starts at 27.
if this team doesn't wake up fast, their season could be lost by June.
Has anyone seen Alex Rios or Vernon Wells?

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