MLB Hitter Power Rankings: 2 Surprise Teams, A's and Bucs, Are Led by One Hitter

The Oakland Athletics or the Pittsburgh Pirates?

Which one of these perennially awful (but also awful interesting) teams is going to make the playoffs?

Is it going to be the A’s?

That team that takes the players nobody else wants and turns them into winners. That team that became famous because, well, they were featured in a blockbuster hit. That team that plays in a slipshod stadium that is better suited for a demolition derby than a Home Run Derby.

Or is it going to be the Bucs?

That team that might have more Triple-A players than the Indians…the ones in Indiana, not Cleveland (although it’s a close call). The team that became famous because, well, they literally were pirates…they essentially pocketed the revenue sharing money they got every year. The team that plays in a state-of-the-art arena that is better suited for a…dare I say it...winning team.

Oakland is currently in second place in the AL West, but are only a half game behind the heralded Angels and five games back from the juggernaut Rangers.

Pittsburgh is currently in second place in the NL Central, only a half game back from the Reds and five games ahead of the defending champion Cardinals.

My money is on the Pirates. If they add a hitter they should be able to make a run at the division championship and after years of incompetence, you’d think ownership would be willing to do what it takes to fill that beautiful park.

The A’s are really only a hitter away, too, but I don’t see that signing happening.

Then again, who knows?

Maybe they both are just a flash in the pan.

Either way, it’s something worth watching.

20. Josh Hamilton, Rangers

Last week: 17

Stats: 15 doubles, 1 triple, 28 home runs, 78 RBI, .293/.362/.598

What has happened to you Mr. Hamilton?

Once apparently immortal, the big-time slugger is slumping in July.

He only has hit three home runs and is batting .164.

19. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays

Last week: 11

Stats: 14 doubles, no triples, 27 home runs, 65 RBI, .244/.360/.534

The Toronto superstar has been pretty stagnant since the break.

He had a nice 2-for-4 game against Cleveland but hasn’t driven in a run since July 13.

18. Curtis Granderson, Yankees

Last week: 8

Stats: 10 doubles, 3 triples, 26 home runs, 54 RBI, .249/.350/.508

Granderson didn’t have a great series against Oakland, but he finished strong in the sweep, going 2-for-5 with a dinger in Game 4.

17. Josh Reddick, Athletics

Last week: 19

Stats: 19 doubles, 4 triples, 21 home runs, 46 RBI, .271/.349/.529

Reddick didn’t have a great series either, even though his team came out on the winning end (sweep, sweep).

He was 3-for-5 in Game 2, but had only one hit in the other three games.

16. Adam Jones, Orioles

Last week: 16

Stats: 22 doubles, 3 triples, 22 home runs, 50 RBI, .292/.337/.538

Eight games on the road?

No problem for Mr. Jones.

He has only one hitless game away from Baltimore and knocked two out of the park against Minny.

15. Joe Mauer, Twins

Last week: 15

Stats: 21 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 45 RBI, .332/.421/.460

Mauer is getting on base and plate discipline is the reason why: He has six walks and only one K in his last five games.

Having two three-hit games since the All-Star Break doesn’t hurt either.

14. Josh Willingham, Twins

Last week: 13

Stats: 22 doubles, 1 triple, 23 home runs, 68 RBI, .275/.389/.560

An 0-for-4 night in KC ended a 10-game hit streak where Willingham hit four dingers and drove in eight runs.

13. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies

Last week: 12

Stats: 21 doubles, 5 triples, 19 home runs, 66 RBI, .330/.392/.580

Sunday’s hitless night at San Diego marked his first night without a hit since the break.

CarGo has two homers in July, but he also has 18 Ks and only nine walks.

12. Ryan Braun, Brewers

Last week: 2

Stats: 15 doubles, 2 triples, 26 home runs, 65 RBI, .309/.391/.596

Braun has cooled off a little bit this month: He’s batting .290 in July.

The Brewers star has been consistent. He has a hit in five of his last six games, but hasn’t lived up to his 4-for-4 performance against Pittsburgh after the All-Star break (not that that’s an easy thing to do).

11. Mike Trout, Angels

Last week: 7

Stats: 16 doubles, 3 triples, 27 home runs, 66 RBI, .305/.355/.619

The young phenom is cooling off a little too: He’s batting .275 this month.

He started the second half of the season with three homers in four games but has only one homer in one of his last five games (yes, yes, it’s tough to keep that streak up).

10. Mark Trumbo, Angels

Last week: 3

Stats: 16 doubles, 3 triples, 27 home runs, 66 RBI, .305/.355/.619

Are you seeing a trend here?

Trumbo is batting .275 this month and after hitting three homers in four games following the break, he has only had a one dinger and four hits in the last five games (yeah, you guessed it: I acknowledge that it’s not easy to follow up that hot streak).

9. Melky Cabrera, Giants

Last week: 14

Stats: 20 doubles, 8 triples, 10 home runs, 49 RBI, .356/.400/.534

Cabrera has a hit in every game since the All-Star break and his 23 total hits this month are threatening to challenge the 31 he put up in June (although it won’t touch his 51 in May, but that’s…well you get the picture).

8. Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays

Last week: 10

Stats: 19 doubles, no triples, 26 home runs, 67 RBI, .298/.391/.586

He’s 3-for-8 with five ribbies in the Toronto’s latest series against Boston.

Not. Too. Shabby.

7. David Wright, Mets

Last week: N/A

Stats: 30 doubles, 2 triples, 14 home runs, 66 RBI, .349/.440/.574

Three hits against L.A. and a .323 average this month?

No complaints in Queens.

Too bad he can’t keep a slumping Mets team afloat.

6. Jason Kubel, Diamondbacks

Last week: N/A

Stats: 20 doubles, 3 triples, 21 home runs, 71 RBI, .300/.372/.585

Does three home runs against Houston merit an MVP vote?

Word on the street is that it might (h/t Jack Magruder, Fox Sports).

5. Carlos Ruiz, Phillies

Last week: 9

Stats: 25 doubles, no triples, 14 home runs, 51 RBI, .346/.409/.578

As the Phillies continue to fade and his numbers continue to escalate, Ruiz has to be considered a hot commodity on the trade market.

4. Robinson Cano, Yankees

Last week: 4

Stats: 28 doubles, 1 triple, 22 home runs, 56 RBI, .318/.376/.577

The Yankees superstar has only one hitless game this month.

Cano has not been particularly disciplined at the plate, however. He has four walks this month and 12 strikeouts.

3. David Ortiz, Red Sox

Last week: 5

Stats: 25 doubles, no triples, 23 home runs, 58 RBI, .316/.414/.609

Ortiz has a hit in every game this month.

He has been disciplined at the plate as well. He has 14 walks and only eight strikeouts in July.

2. Miguel Cabrera, Tigers

Last week: 6

Stats: 27 doubles, no triples, 23 home runs, 79 RBI, .330/.389/.581

Welcome to the 300-home run club, Mr. Cabrera.

Two homers to cap off a sweep of the Tigers to take the AL Central division lead?

Not a bad week.

1. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates

Last week: 1

Stats: 17 doubles, 5 triples, 22 home runs, 66 RBI, .372/.427/.642

He’s the league leader in batting average and he’s hitting .484 in July.

McCutchen’s consistency, he has had a hit in all but two games this month, and his plate discipline, he has drawn a walk in five of his last five games, have been the keys to his success this season.

Tom Schreier writes a weekly column for TheFanManifesto.com.

Follow him on Twitter @tschreier3.