MLB Power Rankings: June 20th Edition

Mark JonesJun 20, 2009

Team of the Week: Colorado Rockies (pictured above)

Bust of the Week: Philadelphia Phillies

With summer's first day nearly upon us, baseball has now completely fallen into it's usual, back-and-forth routine. 23 of the 30 current MLB teams have won at least four and no more than six games in their last ten matches (4-6 to 6-4), and 22 teams have do not have a win/loss streak of more than two games.

TOP NEWS

Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Angels

Bleacher Report1w

Bleacher Report1w

However, there are some exceptions to this casual "win one, lose one" style of play. For example, the Colorado Rockies have been on fire as of late, posting a 9-1 L10 record, a 14-1 run, and at one point a double-digit winning streak. Also, the LA Angels have really been coming on strong recently as well, having won seven straight, and have now pulled within half a game of the AL West division lead.

Another team out of their normal groove is the Philadelphia Phillies, who are the defending-World Series champions and lead the tough NL East despite having dropped three straight games and having posted just three wins in their last ten.

Anyhow, the MLB is now just about hitting it's stride, and it's up to me to sort it out. So, without further chattering, let the power rankings begin!

Basic Rankings Method

5%...Last season's success

65%...Success this season

25%...Current Streak

5%...Intangibles (injuries, etc.)

PR...Previous Ranking

1. (PR-1) Los Angeles Dodgers (44-24)

They've opened up a huge lead on the rest of their division, and have now begun to settle into a steady routine as they enter the hot middle months of summer.

2. (PR-2) Boston Red Sox (40-27)

Although they are another one of the MLB's elite teams, the Red Sox cannot afford to relax like the Dodgers can. They're still in a tight battle for the division title, but, currently, Boston's 7-3 L10 record has been enough to hold onto it.

3. (PR-14) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (36-29)

Besides the Rockies, the Angels are one of the hottest teams right now, having won seven in a row, eight of their last ten, and having pulled off a terrific cross-town win against the Dodgers last night.

That, along with the small slump the Rangers have entered, has pulled the Angels within a mere half game of Texas's AL West lead.

4. (PR-5) New York Yankees (38-29)

Having gone just 4-6 in their last ten games, despite winning yesterday, is not what the Yankees need in order to catch rival Boston and take over first place in the division.

5. (PR-3) Philadelphia Phillies (36-29)

Amazing. The Phillies are leading their division despite being just 13-20 at home. Although the 23-9 away record is fantastic, they must improve their home field advantage (and get over their recent 3-7 slump) if Philadelphia wants to repeat as champs.

6. (PR-7) St. Louis Cardinals (37-31)

An above .500 L10 record has pulled the Cardinals basically even with the Brewers for the division race, and has also lifted St. Louis into the top six.

7. (PR-4) Milwaukee Brewers (37-30)

All I have to say is, they've definitely got a fight on their hands!

8. (PR-6) Texas Rangers (37-29)

Watch out Rangers, the Angels are coming. And having a 4-6 record in the past almost two weeks won't help, either.

9. (PR-11) Detroit Tigers (36-31)

They thought they would have an easy summer, but the Tigers didn't see the Twins starting to emerge. Now their supposedly-already won division title is up for grabs!

10. (PR-9) Toronto Blue Jays (37-32)

11. (PR-25) Colorado Rockies (34-33)

What a streak the Rockies have pulled off in the past two weeks to keep their faint playoff hopes alive! As mentioned in the introduction, the Rockies have only lost once in their past fifteen games and at one point earlier this week they had won 11 straight!

Although it's probably impossible for them to even near the Dodgers, the NL Wild Card has a new contestant!

12. (PR-16) Minnesota Twins (35-34)

The Twins have now recorded back-to-back wins, as well as a 7-3 L10 record, and still have a clear shot at the American League Central title.

13. (PR-15) Cincinnati Reds (34-32)

14. (PR-8) New York Mets (34-31)

15. (PR-13) San Francisco Giants (35-31)

16. (PR-12) Chicago Cubs (32-31)

Last night's late-inning comeback against lowly Cleveland was somewhat impressive, but overall, the Cubs haven't done anything very special since we last covered them.

17. (PR-10) Tampa Bay Rays (35-34)

After reaching a point where they were four games above .500 and appeared to be returning to last year's form, the Rays dropped three straight. What an odd season Tampa Bay has had so far this year.

18. (PR-18) Seattle Mariners (33-34)

19. (PR-22) Atlanta Braves (32-34)

20. (PR-17) Florida Marlins (33-36)

21. (PR-19) Chicago White Sox (31-36)

22. (PR-29) Baltimore Orioles (30-37)

After I ripped them in my last power rankings, the Orioles have proved me wrong. They've gone 6-4 in their last ten, and have also taken their last three.

23. (PR-24) Houston Astros (30-35)

The Astros are right in the middle of perhaps the most meaningless battle in all of baseball: the battle for fifth place in the NL Central with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Good luck, Astros!

24. (PR-20) Pittsburgh Pirates (31-36)

25. (PR-23) Oakland A's (29-37)

Before yesterday, the slumping Athletics where had just two wins in their last nine games. As long as they keep this up, Oakland will end up with one of their most disappointing years in quite a while.

26. (PR-27) Kansas City Royals (29-37)

After plunging 21 spots in my last power rankings, the Royals have managed to level themselves, but not in a place they want to be. Three straight losses won't help, either.

27. (PR-21) San Diego Padres (29-37)

Just another bottom-level team boasting a mediocre-at-best L10 record. Padres, your time to shine was in the first month, and it's gone now.

28. (PR-26) Arizona Diamondbacks (29-39)

The rise of several previously-bottom five teams has dumped the falling Diamondbacks franchise into the bottom three. Of course, it's no tragedy, considering it is exactly where Arizona deserves to be.

29. (PR-28) Cleveland Indians (29-40)

Extensive losing streaks an a below-.500 L10 record continues to plague the Indians and hold them down near the bottom of the rankings. The only bright spot may be that a lot of their remaining schedule is against the relatively-weak AL West division.

429,680,518. Washing...gag...ton...gag...Nation...gag..als...gag...gag... (19-46)

Enough said.

MLB 2009 Playoff Projections

American League

1. Boston Red Sox

2. Los Angeles Angels

3. Minnesota Twins

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4. New York Yankees

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5. Texas Rangers

6. Tampa Bay Rays