MLB Power Rankings 2012: Defending Division Champs Who Are Slipping This Season

Ben ChodosMay 23, 2012

The 2012 MLB season has featured the decline of several teams that impressed last year.

Teams that fought hard to win division titles in 2011 are now struggling to stay out of last place.

Baseball's balance of power has shifted dramatically over the offseason, and here are the three teams that have fallen the furthest.

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Milwaukee Brewers, 17-26

The Brewers had an excellent season in 2011 that ended after the St. Louis Cardinals beat them in the National League Championship Series. This loss was nothing to be ashamed of, as the Cardinals were playing perfect baseball all throughout the postseason.

But the Brewers should be embarrassed about their play so far in 2012 as they are in second to last place in the NL Central.

The biggest hit in the offseason was losing first baseman Prince Fielder. While the absence of Fielder's bat should be affecting the Brewers' hitting, it's the pitching that has been in free fall this year.

Milwaukee ranked ninth in team ERA in 2011, but currently sits at 26th.

That being said, the Brewers haven't been very good in any facet of the game so far in 2012. It's still early in the year, but Milwaukee looks doomed to miss out on the postseason.

Arizona Diamondbacks, 19-25

After a surprising NL West division title in 2011, the Diamondbacks have failed to play at the same level in 2012. They are quickly losing ground to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants.

The Diamondbacks were lucky that both L.A. and San Francisco had off years last season. There is much more competition within the division this year and the Diamondbacks are not dealing with it well.

Arizona ranks 16th in runs scored and 22nd in team WHIP. They simply haven't been very good offensively or defensively this year, and it's showing in the standings.

The Diamondbacks need to turn things around fast if they have any hope of catching their division rivals. The team is falling farther and farther behind in the NL West race, and Arizona will not be making consecutive playoffs trips.

Detroit Tigers, 20-22

With stars like Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder on the squad, the Tigers need to be doing better than they are.

Those three have been producing, but the team has been frustratingly inconsistent. The Tigers have not won consecutive games since April 18th.

Detroit's situation is not as dire as Arizona's or Milwaukee's, but serious adjustments will need to be made.

If this team cannot figure out a way to perform on a day-to-day basis, all the money they spent on Fielder and all the talent they have on the rest of the roster will go to waste.

Full Power Rankings:

1. Texas Rangers

2. Baltimore Orioles

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

4. Tampa Bay Rays

5. Atlanta Braves

6. Washington Nationals

7. St. Louis Cardinals

8. Toronto Blue Jays

9. Cleveland Indians

10. Miami Marlins

11. New York Yankees