MLB Power Rankings (Week Nine)

We've reached the one-third mark of the season...not enough to know how things will end up, but certainly enough to see how things are shaping up.

30. Washington Nationals

Normally, you could say, "Hey, they took one from the Mets," but the Mets are trotting out a Triple-A lineup.

29. Baltimore Orioles

I guess the Beltway and baseball don't mix? With the exception, of course, of Matt Wieters.

28. Oakland Athletics

The A's are hitting much better of late, and whaddya know, they've started to win games. Pitching wins championships, but offense can win you the games to get there in the first place...though this team's got way too much to do for that to really be a realistic possibility at this point. Now the question is: Where does Matt Holliday end up?

27. Colorado Rockies

They're really not this good, but you've got to give them some credit for their play this weekend against St. Louis. Actually, they've been playing well under interim manager Jim Tracy. Another week like this, and they'll shoot up for real.

26. Houston Astros

They're still worse than the Pirates. Even after the Pirates gave up Nate McLouth. That says something.

25. Cleveland Indians

There's an argument to be made that when Carl Pavano is your best pitcher, things are seriously amiss, but if you've actually looked at Pavano's recent numbers, he really has been pitching well. Yankees fans are, of course, seething.

24. Pittsburgh Pirates

With the trade of McLouth, the Pirates got rid of the last piece of their recognizable outfield (the only recognizable part of the team) but paved the way for Andrew McCutchen. No pressure, kid.

23. Kansas City Royals

When even Zach Greinke is giving up seven ER in five innings, you know it's not going well.

22. San Diego Padres

Hey, they lost the 18-inning marathon and did the whole pitching-with-a-position-player thing...

21. Arizona Diamondbacks

And they won it.

20. Florida Marlins

Need to play the Nationals more often. But that Cody Ross is something to watch in the field.

19. Chicago White Sox

By traditional standards, the Sox's play-by-play man on TV is the worst in baseball...but I find him kinda funny. It takes guts to blatantly cheer from the press box.

18. Seattle Mariners

Russell Branyan is having himself quite the season.

17. Minnesota Twins

Look, I know Detroit is running away with the AL Central...but the Twins should really make a better fight of it. They have it in them to be much better than this.

16. Atlanta Braves

The McLouth deal should signal that the Braves are going for it, but they've got a lot to do to undo the PR damage they suffered by releasing Tom Glavine in the manner they did.

15. Toronto Blue Jays

Roy Halladay is singlehandedly keeping this team treading water. Alex Rios has some PR damage control to do of his own after a YouTube video surfaced showing him being inappropriately rude to a fan, even though said fan is a notorious autograph hound who has bothered some on the Yankees as well.

14. LA Angels

Feels good to have a pitching staff back, don't it? Imagine how good it would feel to have a bullpen, too...

13. Tampa Bay Rays

Despite all the injuries, they're still playing pretty well. It'd be foolish to count them out at this point, but they need to make a move soon.

12. New York Mets

I know, I know, their record is much better than this, but the number of injuries would be comical if it wasn't so...crazy. Only two in their lineup right now were starters on Opening Day: David Wright, who has been streaky as all hell, and Carlos Beltran, who's battled a nasty virus as well.

11. San Francisco Giants

Well, they do say pitching wins championships...if only it wasn't for the Dodgers, they'd have an actual shot.

10. Cincinnati Reds

I don't know how they're still winning, but they are.

9. Chicago Cubs

Getting Carlos Zambrano back has certainly helped. The team's started to win again.

8. St. Louis Cardinals

How good is Albert Pujols? Last night he got two RBI on a sac fly.

7. Texas Rangers

Don't let the record fool you, but they've struggled this year against plus-.500 teams. They did, however, take two of three from Boston, so there is something to be said for that. Nelson Cruz is turning into something special.

6. Philadelphia Phillies

They really need to do something about Brad Lidge. I know he's your closer, but you won't win championships when your closer has six blown saves and it's only June. Maybe try Ryan Madson in that spot?

5. Detroit Tigers

I'm not sure another team has a better starting three than Justin Verlander-Edwin Jackson-Rick Porcello right now, but Jackson has historically been hit-or-miss and Porcello's still a rookie, so I'd still be careful.

4. Milwaukee Brewers

I'm not sure anyone picked them to be better than the Cubs (though some may have thought them better than the Cardinals), but they are. Really and truly. A Brewers fan went with us to Saturday's game and cheered CC the entire time.

3. Boston Red Sox

They're keeping pace step-by-step with the Yankees, and the two could run away with the division, and the AL's best records, if Tampa can't pick it up.

2. New York Yankees

Since the Yankees are the team in first, they get a higher nod, but they're still not as good as...

1. LA Dodgers

You know, this team might be playing better without Manny Ramirez, and while the Yanks might be the Comeback Kids, the Dodgers have some late inning magic of their own.