MLB Power Rankings 2012: What the Experts Are Saying About Top Movers This Week

Sure, I could tell you what I think about some of the movers and shakers in baseball the past week. Or I could drop some knowledge from the experts on you.

Yeah, you want the latter. I get it. Cue the Rodney Dangerfield impersonation.

In this edition of the Major League Baseball power rankings, we head to the baseball experts to learn a bit more about some of the surprise teams in this young season.

Please, give them your respect.

1. Texas Rangers (20-10)

So yeah, that Josh Hamilton guy is pretty good, huh?

2. Tampa Bay Rays (19-11)

If Matt Moore settles in as the season goes on, you're looking at the best rotation in the American League.

3. Baltimore Orioles (19-11)

Buster Olney of ESPN (Insider) weighs in on this Orioles team, with some bonus opinion on the Toronto Blue Jays:

"

Should we take the Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles seriously? Absolutely, because the AL East is playing out like a NASCAR race that has 20 caution flags; everybody is in the lead pack. If Jason Hammel keeps pitching this well, or if the Blue Jays get production from the back end of their rotation, then why shouldn't Toronto and Baltimore believe contention throughout the summer is possible?

"

4. Washington Nationals (18-11)

Stephen Strasburg may see his season shortened due to the mandated innings count he is apparently on. And that's a shame, because as Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post notes, he's probably the best pitcher in the game right now.

"

Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Strasburg, 23, will make his seventh start this season simply as one of the best pitchers in baseball, maybe the very best.

“I think right now, yeah, he is,” Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty said. “There are guys who are more accomplished. If you want to win a game right now, who do you want? There’s no doubt.”

Strasburg, named the National League’s pitcher of the month for April, has a 1.66 ERA, 38 strikeouts and seven walks in 38 innings. His curveball defies physics. His change-up darts like a balloon losing air.

"

If he keeps pitching like this, the Nationals are going to be very difficult to beat this season.

5. Atlanta Braves (19-13)

With all of the focus on the moves made by the Nationals and Miami Marlins and the rapid-aging of the Philadelphia Phillies, many people forgot about the Braves before this season. Think they remember now?

6. St. Louis Cardinals (19-11)

Albert Pujols leaves in free agency, but no worries, because Carlos Beltran is hitting .288 with 10 home runs and 26 RBI. Chris Carpenter is injured, but no worries, because Lance Lynn is 6-0 with a 1.40 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 37 strikeouts.

No worries in St. Louis, indeed.

7. Los Angeles Dodgers (19-11)

Matt Kemp was the best baseball player in the world until Josh Hamilton hit four home runs in one game. Now, he might only be the second-best baseball player in the world. One way or the other, I'm sure the Dodgers will take it.

8. Cleveland Indians (17-12)

I'm not sure that the Indians will hold off the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central over the long haul, but I think they're the only team in the division capable of giving the Tigers a run for their money.

The numbers offer an interesting outlook on the Tribe as well, via Dayn Perry of CBS:

"

Look beyond the wins and losses, and you'll find that the Tribe's modest run differential of +2 should lead to a record of 15-14 instead of the team's actual mark of 17-12. If you look at the WAR hitting and pitching totals available at FanGraphs (here's a quick-and-dirty explanation of WAR) and add them to a replacement-level baseline, then their record should be about 14-15. So, to the extent that those underlying indicators are meaningful this early in the season, the Indians have been a bit lucky thus far.

So back to earth they come? Not quite. It must be noted that the Indians have achieved this early success despite poor early performances from Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez and Shin-Soo Choo, who were all expected to fare much better this season.

"

The Indians are probably a year away from competing for this division. But don't be surprised if they are in this for the long haul.

9. New York Yankees (16-13)

Few teams should be so lucky as to replace a closer the caliber of Mariano Rivera with a stud like David Robertson.

10. Detroit Tigers (15-14)

The Tigers will probably need to bolster the rotation at the trade deadline. We know they'll hit, but will it be enough?

11. Toronto Blue Jays (16-14)

Jose Bautista, my fantasy baseball team yearns for you to return to form.

12. Cincinnati Reds (16-14)

The Reds were a sexy pick to win the NL Central at the beginning of the season. They may still do that, but they better stay close or the Cardinals will leave them in the dust.

13. San Francisco Giants (15-15)

Buster Posey, my fantasy baseball team is pleased to see how quickly you've returned to form after last season's injury.

14. New York Mets (17-13)

I simply refuse to believe the Mets will continue to win ballgames. There simply isn't enough talent on this team.

15. Miami Marlins (15-15)

Holy Carlos Zambrano! The mercurial pitcher is having a bounce-back season, with a 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 32 strikeouts in six starts.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks (14-17)

The Diamondbacks will right this ship, just give them time.

17. Philadelphia Phillies (14-17)

As long as this team has Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, they can't be counted out. Until a team takes it away from them, the NL East is still the Phillies' division.

18. Oakland Athletics (16-14)

It sure is fun to watch Yoenis Cespedes swing a bat, isn't it?

19. Los Angeles Angels (13-18)

Josh Hamilton had more home runs on Tuesday night than Albert Pujols has this season. That's not exactly what Angels fans thought they were getting this offseason.

20. Colorado Rockies (12-17)

Carlos Gonzalez (.308, seven home runs, 26 RBI) has been the lone bright spot for this Colorado team.

21. Milwaukee Brewers (13-18)

Ryan Braun has responded gamely (.313, 10 home runs, 21 RBI) to a tumultuous offseason.

22. Boston Red Sox (12-17)

Is there any hope for this team? Will they ever return to the form last season before the collapse when they looked like the best team in baseball?

23. Chicago White Sox (14-17)

At least Adam Dunn and Alex Rios have contributed positively this year, unlike last year's brutal campaign for each player.

25. Pittsburgh Pirates (13-16)

Andrew McCutchen was worthy of the extension he received this offseason. However, until the power numbers come this year, it won't seem that way.

26. Seattle Mariners (14-18)

It's truly a shame that one of the finest ballplayers of his generation, Ichiro Suzuki, has languished during the end of his career for a rebuilding Mariners franchise.

24. Houston Astros (14-16)

The losses will come. It may not be until this team is stripped of its finest parts like an carjacked vehicle, but they will come.

27. Chicago Cubs (13-18)

Starlin Castro and Brian LaHair are proof that the future is bright for the Cubs.

28. Kansas City Royals (10-19)

This may be the Royals' year if their young talent breaks out, but they're sliding pretty far behind the pack. The time to kick things into gear is now.

29. San Diego Padres (11-20)

Unless you're a baseball junkie, can you even name one player on the Padres? Go ahead, I'll wait...

30. Minnesota Twins (8-21)

The Twins are pretty bad. I don't think much else needs to be said.

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