MLB Trend Rankings: May 24, 2010

It's Monday, meaning another week of baseball has come to an end. Let's analyze what happened around Major League Baseball over the last week.

In this "Trend Ranking," we'll see which teams are moving up, which are moving down, and which are staying level.

Below are all 30 teams broken down, in alphabetical order based on team city.

Arizona Diamondbacks (20-25, fifth in NL West)

The Diamondbacks had a pretty good week. They went 5-2, including series wins against the Giants and Blue Jays, two decent teams. In their four straight wins, they scored at least eight runs. They're about to begin a tough nine-game road trip at Colorado, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. (Staying the same)

Atlanta Braves (23-21, second in NL East)

The Braves had a fantastic week, going 5-2, including winning five consecutive games, three of them in walk-off fashion. Their pitchers performed well and ended up winning a game that they trailed by six runs in the ninth. The Braves have regained their momentum. (Moving up)

Baltimore Orioles (14-31, fifth in AL East)

It wasn't a great week for Baltimore; in fact, it hasn't been a great season. After winning the first game of their series with the improved Nationals, they lost the series and continue to fall deeper and deeper into oblivion. It's a matter of time before the O's fire manager Dave Trembley. (Moving down)

Boston Red Sox (24-21, fourth in AL East)

The Red Sox needed to bounce back this week to move three games above the .500 mark...and they did. They entered the week having to play three first-place teams (Yankees, Twins, and Phillies). They came out of it 5-2 and put themselves in position to make a run in the AL wild card race. We'll see how they begin this week against Tampa Bay. (Moving up)

Chicago Cubs (21-24, third in NL Central)

Similar to the Red Sox, the Cubs needed a big week and got one. They went 5-2 and settled things down in a city that was growing impatient. The Cubs, if they can get decent hitting from guys like Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee, can make some noise in a very weak NL Central and NL. The Cubs may be sellers at the trade deadline if they don't improve. (Staying the same)

Chicago White Sox (18-25, third in AL Central)

It has been an absolute disaster for the White Sox. What they could've used was a home sweep of the Marlins. They couldn't get the job done and, to add insult to injury, lost on Sunday 13-0. The White Sox, for all the good pitching they have, have been a fraud. How's Ozzie Guillen doing? (Moving down)

Cincinnati Reds (25-19, second in NL Central)

The Reds, who trail the first-place Cardinals by half a game in the NL Central, were surprisingly cruising along until their six-run, ninth-inning collapse on Thursday to the Braves. They surged their way to the top of the standings two weeks ago and are trying with their young pitchers and powerful offense to hang around. They have the Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman waiting in the wings. (Staying the same)

Cleveland Indians (16-26, fifth in AL central)

Could the Cleveland Indians be having a worse season? They lost the first six games of their week and salvaged at least one game by beating the Reds on Sunday. They're in last place in the AL Central, and they're in a tough position. They don't have any pieces to sell, at least that any contender would want, and they aren't in a position to get boosted by buying players. The Indians are hopeless right now. (Moving down)

Colorado Rockies (22-22, fourth in NL West)

The Rockies are a .500 team disappointingly, and that's the kind of week they had at 3-4. Led by Ubaldo Jimenez, who's off to one of the greatest starts in Major League history (8-1, 0.99 ERA), the Rockies haven't gotten as much offense as they thought. They are one of a number of NL teams hanging around, and they are used to second-half surges, but they should've been better than this. (Staying the same)

Detroit Tigers (25-19, second in AL Central)

The Tigers are coming off an okay week. They split at 3-3, and they are staying close to the front-running Twins. They have one of the best bullpens in baseball and can be in the market to improve possibly. The Tigers are just one of those teams that will hang around all season long. (Staying the same)

Florida Marlins (23-22, tied for third in NL East)

The Marlins were hanging in there until losing two games to the lowly White Sox, although they're always pesky and have enough offense plus Josh Johnson to carry them. It'll be interesting to see how they fare against teams in their division. The entire NL East is a decent division, and the Marlins are just one of the bunch trying to stay afloat. (Staying the same)

Houston Astros (15-29, sixth in NL Central)

Everything has gone wrong for the Houston Astros, so much that they are reportedly shopping their longtime ace Roy Oswalt. There have been debates on whether or not that will happen, but the bottom line is the Astros just have no talent and are not athletic enough with aging veterans. The Astros are just bad. (Moving down)

Kansas City Royals (18-27, fourth in AL Central)

The Royals never seem to improve. Not that I had them improving this season, but every season you look up, the Royals have a similar record to the one they have now. They recently fired their manager Trey Hillman, and it's only getting worse from here on out. (Moving down)

Los Angeles Angels (21-25, third in AL West)

The Angels are fighting so hard to get back into the race and show that they are the Angel team we all know. They had an on-and-off week attempting to do that, as they got swept in a mini series by Texas, swept a mini series from the White Sox, and lost a series to the Cardinals, including giving up a grand slam to the pitcher. Maybe the Angels just don't have enough starting pitching this year. (Staying the same)

Los Angeles Dodgers (25-19, second in NL West)

The Dodgers had a great week and continue to make a strong push after an awful start to their season. They went 5-2 last week and for a day tied the surprising Padres for first place in the NL West. The Dodgers have a pretty good lineup but could use another starter. Maybe they'll be in the Roy Oswalt sweepstakes. (Moving up)

Milwaukee Brewers (17-27, fifth in NL Central)

Even with Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, the Brewers have had a down season. It seemed as if they were turning things around in 2008, when they made the playoffs for the first time since 1983, but it's heading in the wrong direction again. Last week didn't help their cause, as they went 2-5. (Moving down)

Minnesota Twins (26-18, first in AL Central)

It was sort of a down week for the Minnesota Twins, as they went 3-4 and lost to three teams that they're better than (Toronto, Boston, and Milwaukee). They do lead the Tigers by one game in the AL Central, and they have survived without Jon Rauch, but they better stay on top in the division, as the AL has a lot of good teams vying for the wild card. (Staying the same)

New York Mets (22-23, fifth in NL East)

It started off as a mediocre week but ended in fine fashion as the Mets won the Subway Series from the Yankees. The Mets own the best record of all last place teams, which is a good indication of how good the NL East is. They do have pitching concerns but will open up a crucial series against the front-running Phillies on Tuesday, trying to get on a run. (Staying the same)

New York Yankees (26-18, second in AL East)

The Yankees have hit a skid for the first time this season. They went 2-5 last week and ended it by losing the Subway Series after winning the first game. Looking back, they've lost 10 of their last 15 and are having issues in their lineup concerning injured players. (Moving down)

Oakland Athletics (23-22, second in AL West)

The Athletics have been hanging in there all season. The AL West is not that powerful, and the A's made a statement when they finished the week by sweeping the Giants. I still don't believe the A's have enough hitting, and they will clearly have to win the division to make the playoffs. (Moving up)

Philadelphia Phillies (26-17, first in NL East)

The Phillies have been doing a good job of winning games, even with some key injuries. They just lost their weekend interleague series to the Red Sox and had a so-so week, and they will try to prove themselves against the Mets starting Tuesday. They had to place shortstop Jimmy Rollins on the disabled list again, days after taking him off, so they'll use replacements to try to succeed. (Staying the same)

Pittsburgh Pirates (19-25, fourth in NL Central)

It's been a mostly down season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even with some bright spots in the starting rotation and lineup, they haven't gotten any hot streaks going and are just trying to perhaps coax out a winning season for the first time in 18 years. They went 3-4 last week. (Staying the same)

San Diego Padres (26-18, first in NL West)

Believe it or not, the Padres are still in first place entering the final week in May. They are still getting outstanding starting pitching and stayed afloat this week at 4-3. The Padres are probably the team that will take someone's wild card spot away, being they weren't predicted to do anything this season. (Staying the same)

San Francisco Giants (22-21, third in NL West)

What a disaster for the Giants. After a very promising start to the season, the Giants have slipped and are on a five-game losing streak, finishing off a 1-6 week. Even with the likes of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Barry Zito, the Giants just don't have enough hitting outside of Pablo Sandoval, and catcher Bengie Molina hasn't driven in a run in his last 18 games. (Moving down)

Seattle Mariners (16-28, 4th in AL West)

How can the Mariners be 12 games under .500? The team that many, yours truly included, picked to win the AL West has gotten absolutely zero offense and nothing out of Ken Griffey Jr. and Chone Figgins. Not even the one-two punch of Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez can help this punchless team out. (Moving down)

St. Louis Cardinals (26-19, first in NL Central)

It wasn't a bad week for the Cardinals, who went 5-2. They regained first place from the Reds after temporarily losing it and still have the fearsome foursome (Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright) to get the job done. They just have more talent than the Reds and should win this division rather easily if they get the expected production. (Moving up)

Tampa Bay Rays (32-12, first in AL East)

The record speaks for itself. The Rays are just flat-out the best team in baseball. They just completed a 6-1 week and are cruising as they've opened up a six-game lead in the AL East over the Yankees. (Moving up)

Texas Rangers (25-20, first in AL West)

Their week ended on a sour note after winning five in a row, as they lost two to the Cubs, but it looks like the Rangers might have the best all-around team in a weak AL West. Last season, the Rangers were in first place into the summer before fading, but they do have a better team this season. (Moving up)

Toronto Blue Jays (26-20, third in AL East)

The bottom line is, the Blue Jays are in the wrong division to be only 26-20. That's not a bad record, but with the Rays, Yankees, and hard-charging Red Sox around them, it'll be tough to win games against those teams. The Jays always seem to stick around until Memorial Day, where they start fading off. They do lead all of MLB in home runs, doubles, and team slugging percentage. (Staying the same)

Washington Nationals (23-22, tied for third in NL East)

The Nationals recently had a five-game losing streak to bring them back down to earth. I don't personally think they will stick around, as already their closer Matt Capps blew his first save, and Livan Hernandez will not continue to pitch like Cy Young.

They do have some positives in the starting rotation, as Stephen Strasburg is soon to be called up, and the Nationals have reportedly made an offer to the Astros for Roy Oswalt. They should stick around for a while. (Staying the same)