MLB Top Ten Teams: May 2

The NFL Draft is over, so in a depressing manner, they will go back to lockout discussions and stuff that really just makes me want to vomit.

So, I turn my focus back to my true love, Major League Baseball.  The last week has been interrupted by the draft and baseball has been looked over.  Once again, the landscape has changed from last week, producing a whole new top ten for a whole new month.

Before I begin, let us all please thank our soldiers and military personnel overseas for working so hard!  We got him!  Much love and respect for our U.S. Soldiers!

10: Kansas City Royals (15-13)

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DETROIT, MI - APRIL 10: Wilson Betemit #24 of the Kansas City Royals hits a seventh inning RBI double while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 10, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Once again, the Royals have shocked me by staying on my top ten.  They're the best team in the American League in hitting, but the pitching has got to get it together—the starters combined for a 5.14 ERA in April, which isn't awful, but definitely isn't going to keep them in the playoff hunt all year.  Alex Gordon and Wilson Betemit are hitting above .330 and Billy Butler is at .320; scary if all three can keep up at that pace.

9: Tampa Bay Rays (15-13)

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ST PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 29: Pitcher David Price #14 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the game at Tropicana Field on April 29, 2011 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay debuts on my top ten this week, going 15-7 since their awful 0-6 start.  They were once six games out of first in the AL East, and now sit only two and a half games behind the Yankees.  Pitching has been the main factor in the impressive run. If the hitting can get itself moving, this team can take over the American League.

8: Los Angeles Angels (16-12)

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SURPRISE, AZ - MARCH 02: Starting pitcher Dan Haren #24 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Texas Rangers during the spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 2, 2011 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty

My seventh and eighth listings on this week's top ten were so close, I just took their last 10 games and ordered them that way.  It has been a good start for the Angels, but they're 4-6 over their last 10.  This worries me because I've said all year that Jered Weaver and Dan Haren can only carry them for so long.

7: St. Louis Cardinals (16-12)

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HOUSTON - APRIL 26: Lance Berkman #12 of the St. Louis Cardinals during pre-game warmup before playing his former team the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on April 26, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

They come in at number seven on this week's list, hitting .295, which is the top number in all of baseball.  Their surge of hitting comes from a .418 average by Matt Holliday and .398 by the surprising Lance Berkman. 

Do I think they can keep it up all year?  Holliday, yes.  Berkman is past his prime and I think his age will catch up to him.  Still, the Cards are in first due to an impressive 7-3 run over their last 10 and poor play by the Reds and Brewers.

6: Texas Rangers (16-12)

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DETROIT, MI - APRIL 11: Alexi Ogando #41 of the Texas Rangers throws a pitch while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 11, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Look at how far the defending AL champs have fallen.  It seems like it was forever ago they were 7-0; they've dropped 12 of 21 games since that time.  Hitting has dropped to .269 from the near .300 mark they possessed for the first three weeks of the season.  The pitching has also hit a slump, as Alexi Ogando has remained the only bright spot in the rotation. 

5: Colorado Rockies (17-9)

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DENVER, CO - MAY 01: Pitching coach Bob Apodaca (L) of the Colorado Rockies visits the mound to talk with pitcher Esmil Rogers #48 of the Colorado Rockies as he works against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field on May 1, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The P

The Rockies have a pretty comfortable four and a half game lead atop the NL West, but with the Giants off-and-on way of playing, who knows how long that will last?  They suddenly rank 12th in the NL in hitting and 10th in pitching.  Troy Tulowitzki has gone from hitting .333 last week to now .303. Will that drop continue?

4: New York Yankees (16-9)

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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Robinson Cano #24 of the New York Yankees bats against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on April 26, 2011 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The White Sox defeated the Yankees 3-2. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images

The Yankees had sort of a quiet week, going 4-3 this past week.  Their 45 team home runs is the best in the American League, but they're in the middle of the pack in every other major statistical category.  C.C. Sabathia can't continue to be the only shining pitcher and someone has to match Robinson Cano's hot hitting if they Bombers want to maintain their AL East lead.

3: Florida Marlins (17-9)

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CINCINNATI, OH - MAY 1: Hanley Ramirez #2 of the Florida Marlins bats against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on May 1, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Marlins defeated the Reds 9-5. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

The fish have moved up every week on my top ten.  Did I think that the Marlins would be "bad" this year?  I did not.  Did I think their move of Dan Uggla would hurt?  Absolutely, and so far, they've been just fine without him. 

Only half a game separates them and the powerful Phillies, which is shocking to say the least.  What's scary is that Hanley Ramirez is still batting below .200. If he gets going and Josh Johnson continues at his pace, they could stay with the Phillies all year. 

2: Cleveland Indians (19-8)

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KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 20: Starting pitcher Justin Masterson #63 of the Cleveland Indians warms-up just prior to the start of the game against the Kansas City Royals on April 20, 2011 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire

Week after week, I stun myself by continuing to have the Royals and Marlins in the top ten, but they don't shock me near as much as the Tribe.  They own the best record in baseball—think about that.

Most analysts did not think they would win 70 games this year, and they've already gotten a quarter of they way to that mark.  They've won six in a row behind great hitting and "Masterson" pitching.  AL Central teams should begin panicking at this point.

1: Philadelphia Phillies (18-9)

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PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 27: Relief pitcher Ryan Madson #46 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the Major League Baseball game at Chase Field on April 27, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Phillies defeated the Diamondback

The Phillies come in for the second week in a row as the top team in baseball.  They had a relatively quiet 3-3 week, but continue to impress even with lackluster hitting.  When the offense gets going, they'll pull away from the rest of the baseball world.

Welcoming and Leaving

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SANDY, UT - APRIL 13: Soldiers stand at attention as the national Anthem is played before a game against Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids during the first half of an MLS soccer game April 13, 2010 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Geor

New to the list this week are the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays, debuting at number nine.

Leaving the list are the Cincinnati Reds, who have failed to win a series in three weeks.

Once again congratulations to the U.S Military!  Damn Proud to be an American!