MLB Power Rankings 2012: Teams Sliding Down the Table

The St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels and the New York Yankees are all falling down the power rankings.  Here’s a look as to why they are falling, along with the complete power rankings for Week 8.

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are struggling, going 2-8 in their last 10 games.  They were swept by the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers in that span, and they also dropped games to the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants. 

They’ve lost four in a row and have been bitten by the injury bug.  Starters Lance Berkman, John Jay, Allen Craig and Kyle McClellan have all been placed on the disabled list.  With their next six games at home, the Cardinals desperately need to get things turned around. 

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are the worst team in baseball right now.  They are in the middle of a six-game losing streak and have lost eight of their last 10.  The Cubs are coming off a sweep by the White Sox and a two-game sweep by the Phillies.  They lost two of three to the Brewers, and they split with the Cardinals. 

The Cubs play their next six on the road against the Astros and Pirates, but they're 6-11 on the road.  Both the Astros and the Pirates have winning records at home, so the Cubs' losing streak could continue.

Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies are doing their best to equal the Chicago Cubs for worst team in baseball.  The Rockies have lost four in a row and are also 2-8 in their last 10 games.  The Rockies were swept by the Mariners with a 20-7 run differential and by the Dodgers 20-8.  The Rockies are also 6-11 on the road and must travel to Miami to face the Marlins and Cincinnati to face the Reds.  The Reds and Marlins both have winning records at home, and thehy're playing good baseball at the moment.

Don’t expect the Rockies' fortunes to change.

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels entered the season as a potential World Series contender.  Now they are last in their division.  The Angels have lost their last two games and have lost six of their last 10.  They lost two of three against the Dodgers and the Padres, and they split with the White Sox and the A’s. 

The Angels will now face the A’s and the Mariners—two of the worst offensive teams in baseball—in their next seven games, so there is potential for them to right the ship.

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are struggling, having only won twice in their last eight games.  The Yankees were swept in a two-game spot with the Blue Jays, and they lost two of three to the Reds. 

At 21-20, the Yankees are fourth in their division, 5.5 games back from the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles.  The Yankees' pitching has struggled all year, ranking 22nd in MLB.  Until the Yankees can get their pitching figured out, they will continue to be a .500 ballclub.

Updated Power Rankings

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

2. Texas Rangers

3. Atlanta Braves

4. Baltimore Orioles

5. Tampa Bay Rays

6. Washington Nationals

7. Toronto Blue Jays

8. Cleveland Indians

9. Miami Marlins

10. Cincinnati Reds

11. Chicago White Sox

12. St. Louis Cardinals

13. Philadelphia Phillies

14. Boston Red Sox

15. New York Yankees

16. Detroit Tigers

17. New York Mets

18. San Francisco Giants

19. Oakland Athletics

20. Seattle Mariners

21. Pittsburgh Pirates

22. Arizona Diamondbacks

23. Houston Astros

24. Milwaukee Brewers

25. Los Angeles Angels

26. San Diego Padres

27. Kansas City Royals

28. Minnesota Twins

29. Colorado Rockies

30. Chicago Cubs