2012 MLB Power Rankings: Mid-May

Well another week in the 2012 MLB season is in the books, and so far each one brings more excitement and drama than the last.

And this week history was made, both good and bad.

First, the New York Yankees are learning what life is like without the greatest closer in the history of baseball. Losing Mariano Rivera to a torn ACL and a newly discovered blood clot did not just take a toll on Yankees fans, it has saddened baseball fans all around the world.

There is not anyone like Mo on the mound, or off it. He is the definition of rarefied air.

The Texas Rangers are dominating baseball this season and so is slugger Josh Hamilton. Hamilton achieved something that has only been done 15 other times in the majors, hitting four home runs in one game. It was an incredible feat, and one that will be remembered for decades to come.

Now to my mid-May or Week 5 Power Rankings…don’t you want to see what I think of your team this week?

Also, whether you agree or disagree please let me know in the comments below.

Enjoy!

RANK	MLB TEAM	COMMENTS, REASONS WHY	LAST
1	Texas Rangers	For now, the best team in baseball.	1
2	St. Louis Cardinals	12 of next 20 are in St. Louis…champs can capitalize here.	2
3	Los Angeles Dodgers	Kemp is cooling down; see if they will be here next week.	3
4	Atlanta Braves	Giving a new meaning to Hot-lanta…	4
5	New York Yankees	17-14 on May 10th…on 2009 pace. Starters getting better.	5
6	Tampa Bay Rays	Lost two of three in Bronx & schedule remains tough for rest of May.	6
7	Washington Nationals	Lost Werth for 12 weeks; Strasburg has 116 innings left.	7
8	Cincinnati Reds	Won seven of last 10 and slowly getting better; beware of Reds.	8
9	Detroit Tigers	AL Central is so weak, Tigers are lucky.	9
10	Baltimore Orioles	Could-a/should-a walked Hamilton but bowed down and winners don’t bow down.	10
11	Toronto Blue Jays	4-8 vs. AL East teams. Division standing in the way again.	11
12	Cleveland Indians	Turning some heads but have to win at home to stay here.	12
13	Miami Marlins	Here comes Miami, winning eight of last 10 and watch out!!!	13
14	New York Mets	Collapse will come...sorry Mets fans, but sweeping wounded Phillies proves nada.	14
15	Los Angeles Angels	Reputation cannot hold my faith much longer here. Time is a-wasting.	15
16	Philadelphia Phillies	Last week I give Phillies benefit of doubt; Ryan Howard not back till June & hole might be too big.	16
17	Oakland A's	A’s are okay; like the Inge pickup.	17
18	Chicago White Sox	A real roller-coaster ride, but love that Dunn is Dunn again.	18
19	San Francisco Giants	Almost time to be reasonably concerned, but playing in NL West helps.	19
20	Boston Red Sox	Bad playing; bad attitude = 12 wins on season. Pathetic.	20
21	Arizona Diamondbacks	Was 2011 a fluke? Prove it wasn’t.	21
22	Seattle Mariners	Kevin Millwood is still in rotation. 4-6 in last 10 and three games below .500…starting to look like M’s again.	22
23	Pittsburgh Pirates	Not pretty but hanging a game over .500.	23
24	Houston Astros	Winning five in row will never happen again, but good for them.	24
25	Milwaukee Brewers	Pitching ranks 26th and hitting ranks 17th…good luck with that.	25
26	Colorado Rockies	Wasting Carlos Gonzalez's talent. Is he tradeable?	26
27	Chicago Cubs	Epstein the miracle worker needs a lot of favors.	27
28	San Diego Padres	The Royals' twin brothers; 3.33 ERA gives them the edge but PETCO helps.	28
29	Kansas City Royals	11 wins are shockingly not the worst in baseball…YIKES!!	29
30	Minnesota Twins	Is this a joke? Only won eight games on the season…what is this? Puke.	30