MLB Power Rankings: Who's the No. 1 Team One-Third of the Way Though 2011?
The MLB season is one-third of the way through, and it has been a very interesting season thus far.
On one hand, there are surprise upstarts like the Cleveland Indians and the Arizona Diamondbacks leading their respective divisions.
On the other hand, there are the usual suspects atop of their division, like the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers.
How do all the teams stack up against each other though?
Here are the MLB Power Rankings one-third of the way through the season.
30. Minnesota Twins
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Oh how the mighty have fallen.
The Twins went from Central Division champs in 2010 to owning the worst record in baseball in 2011.
Stars like Joe Mauer and Francisco Liriano have landed on the DL, while Justin Morneau hasn’t come back strong from his 2010 concussion.
For the first time in years, the Twins will be sellers come the trade deadline.
29. Houston Astros
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Unlike the Twins, the Houston Astros were supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league.
The Astros are in the middle of rebuilding their team, as they traded their ace Roy Oswalt this year and have outfielders Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn potentially on the market this year.
Houston won’t make any noise this year and will be looking to reload their farm system.
28. San Diego Padres
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After just barely missing the postseason in 2010, the Padres have fallen off in 2011.
The Padres are currently last in the NL West after trading away first baseman Adrian Gonzalez during the offseason.
San Diego has good young pitching in Mat Latos, Casey Kelly and Simon Castro, and they will be looking to trade closer Heath Bell before the deadline to add some young hitting to their organization.
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27. Washington Nationals
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With star young pitcher Stephen Strasburg out for the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the Nationals aren’t a factor in the NL East.
Washington has some good young pieces on offense with Danny Espinosa, Ian Desmond and Wilson Ramos putting up good numbers, as well as top prospect Bryce Harper in the minors.
In five years, the Nationals will be a force, but until then they will continue to take their lumps.
26. Chicago Cubs
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The Chicago Cubs are a virtual lock to extend their infamous World Series drought.
A lack of production across the board has done in the Cubbies, and the injury bug has bitten them as well.
The Cubs have some solid pieces to work with, but the postseason is a long ways away for Chicago.
25. New York Mets
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The New York Mets are a mess right now.
They are going through a messy ownership change, and their on-field performance is the worst it’s been in years.
Star shortstop Jose Reyes looks ready to bolt at the end of the season, so the Mets could trade him before the deadline to at least help their chances in the future.
24. Kansas City Royals
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After years of building up their farm system, the future is now for the Royals.
Youngsters Eric Hosmer and Danny Duffy have already made it to the big leagues, and minor league teammates Mike Moustakas and Mike Montgomery are soon to follow.
The Royals will continue to take their lumps this season, but once their young nucleus settles in, the Royals will no longer be the laughing-stock of the AL Central.
23. Pittsburgh Pirates
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Since their last winning season in 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t given their fans much to cheer about.
One-third of the way through the season, the Pirates’ record is hovering around the .500 thanks to great play from Andrew McCutchen, Jose Tabata and Neil Walker.
Pittsburgh has an outside shot of finishing with a winning record, but they are team that is showing signs of improvement.
22. Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Dodgers’ ownership situation is even worse than the Mets, with MLB taking over operations from Frank McCourt.
On the field, the Dodgers have a lot of talent but a lot of holes as well.
Outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier are playing at an All-Star level, and pitcher Clayton Kershaw is one of the best young guns in the game.
Once their ownership situation is resolved and they can spend big money on free agents, the Dodgers will be able to turn it around. Until then, their only hope is to coach up their young talent.
21. Baltimore Orioles
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Despite playing in the tough AL East, the Orioles have had a respectable year in 2011.
Their young pitching staff has performed well, and their offense is producing runs at a good clip after signing several free agents in the offseason.
The Orioles aren’t good enough to get out of the cellar of the AL East, but they’re playing well enough to impact the division race.
20. Chicago White Sox
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The White Sox are having another up and down season. After getting off to a rough start, Chicago has found their stroke and nearing the .500 mark.
White Sox fixtures Paul Konerko and Mark Buehrle are both having solid seasons, and the pitching staff as a whole has performed well.
If Ozzie Guillen can rally his troops and keep up their recent hot streak, the White Sox have a chance at catching the Indians in the AL Central.
19. Seattle Mariners
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Considered by many to be one of the weaker teams in the American League, the Mariners find themselves chasing the AL West division title.
A large part of their success is due to their pitching. Reigning Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez is having another great season, and rookie Michael Pineda is the front-runner for Rookie of the Year and possibly even the Cy Young.
If Hernandez and Pineda can keep up this level of production the whole year, the Mariners won’t need too much hitting to contend in the AL West.
18. Oakland Athletics
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A trendy pick to win the AL West, the A’s are in last place in the division. However, the AL West is the closest division from top to bottom, so Oakland is still only a couple games out of first place.
Their young pitching has been stellar, but their offense needs to pick it up.
Depending on how the next month of the season goes, Oakland could either be buyers or sellers at the deadline.
17. Colorado Rockies
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The Rockies were suppose to contend for the NL pennant in 2011, but so far haven’t shown that form as they currently sit a couple games under .500.
Ace Ubaldo Jimenez hasn’t pitched the same as he did last year, but the team maintains that his problems are mechanical and not due to injury.
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is one of the best players in the game, but teammate Carlos Gonzalez hasn’t found the same success this year as in 2010.
Colorado is known for late-season pushes, so if they can steadily improve throughout the summer, they are sure to go on a long winning streak in September.
16. Los Angeles Angels
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The Angels have started strong in 2011 behind the pitching duo of Jered Weaver and Dan Haren.
After having an early lead in the AL West, the Angels no sit around the .500 mark and are just behind the Texas Rangers.
Los Angeles could look to add another piece to their team to put them over the hump, but won’t sacrifice their young talent, especially phenom Mike Trout, to do so.
15. Cincinnati Reds
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The defending NL Central champion Reds are having another solid season.
Joey Votto is having another MVP-caliber season, and Jay Bruce is leading the NL in home runs.
Despite the solid play, the Reds are currently in third place in the NL Central behind the Brewers and Cardinals.
Cincinnati needs to take it to the next level in order to surpass those two teams.
14. Milwaukee Brewers
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After assembling one of the best rotations in the National League with Zach Greinke, Shaun Marcum and Yovani Gallardo, the Brewers stumbled out of the gate.
Only until recently, the Brewers had a losing record in 2011. However, they now seem to have put the pieces together and are playing like people though they would before the season.
With a healthy pitching staff and continued hitting from Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, the Brewers will try to overtake the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals to make the postseason for the first time since 2008.
13. Detroit Tigers
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The Tigers got off to a sluggish start, with their only bright spot being the play of pitcher Justin Verlander.
Recently, though, Detroit has been on a roll and has closed the gap between them and the AL Central leading Indians.
The Tigers still need another bat to complement first baseman Miguel Cabrera, but Detroit is heading in the right direction and could overtake Cleveland before long.
12. Toronto Blue Jays
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The Blue Jays are holding their own in the AL East with their record lingering around .500.
Jose Bautista is showing that 2010 was no fluke, and rotation has shown it is one of the more underrated units in the game despite losing Shaun Marcum in the offseason.
It will be tough for the Blue Jays to contend in the AL East, but with a little luck and another starter before the deadline, Toronto could make a push for the wild card.
11. San Francisco Giants
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The defending World Champions took a major blow after hearing that catcher Buster Posey will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury.
Without Posey, the Giants have an even great need to hitting than before.
Their pitching is still one of the best in the game, led by ace Tim Lincecum and closer Brian Wilson.
However, if San Francisco doesn’t find more hitting, they will miss the playoffs.
10. Arizona Diamondbacks
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After starting the season slow, the Arizona Diamondbacks have caught fire, taking the lead in the NL West.
The Diamondbacks are a young team that is playing like they belong. Outfielder Justin Upton is starting to show why he was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2005 MLB draft, and pitcher Daniel Hudson has blossomed since his arrival in the desert last season.
It will be hard to keep the lead over the Rockies and Giants, but the Diamondbacks are playing well and could very well make the postseason.
9. Tampa Bay Rays
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Largely overlooked in the AL East, the Rays are right back in contention this year.
The Rays offense is better than expected, and their young rotation is playing like a veteran staff.
Tampa Bay may need to find one more piece before the deadline, but no matter what the Rays will compete for a spot in the postseason until the end.
8. Atlanta Braves
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After winning the NL Wild Card last year, the Atlanta Braves came into 2011 with high hopes.
So far this season, though, the Braves haven’t played to their potential.
This isn’t because of their pitching. Starters Jair Jurrjens, Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe and Tommy Hanson have all played great this year, and relievers Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel could both make the All-Star team.
It’s their hitting that’s let them down. Newcomer Dan Uggla is hitting below the Mendoza Line, and they still need to find a center fielder.
The Braves have the talent to return to the postseason, and the bats should heat up this summer.
7. Florida Marlins
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Even though they traded second baseman Dan Uggla in the offseason and shortstop Hanley Ramirez has had a down year, the Florida Marlins are leading the wild card race in the National League.
Pitchers Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco and Anibal Sanchez have all been lights-out for the fish, and young hitters Mike Stanton and Logan Morrison are showing why they were two of the top prospects in the minors.
The Marlins will have to continue to this high level of play to hold off the other teams in the NL Wild Card hunt, but so far they’ve shown no signs of slowing down.
6. Texas Rangers
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The Rangers are showing that their World Series run in 2010 was no fluke.
Despite injuries to Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz, the Rangers sit atop the AL West behind great pitching and solid hitting.
Now that Hamilton and Cruz are back, they are destroying AL pitchers almost every day, giving their pitching staff more than enough run support.
Texas should win the AL West and contend for a trip back to the World Series.
5. Boston Red Sox
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After an 0-6 start to the season, the Red Sox have turned things around and are in the thick of things in the AL East.
Boston has gotten its usual production out of Jon Lester and Kevin Youkilis, and after slow starts, Carl Crawford and Clay Buchholz have finally come around.
The last two-thirds of the season will be a constant struggle between the Red Sox, Rays and Yankees in the AL East.
4. Cleveland Indians
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The Cleveland Indians have the best record one-third of the way through the season and hold the largest division lead in baseball.
With great production from their young pitching staff, as well several of their hitters like Grady Sizemore and Matt LaPorta playing up to their potential, the Indians have the postseason in their sights.
Granted, the Indians will need to add another piece or two before the deadline, but playing in October is a real possibility.
3. St. Louis Cardinals
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After ace Adam Wainwright went down for the year during spring training, who would have thought the Cardinals would be one of the best teams in baseball, especially with down years from Albert Pujols and Chris Carpenter by their standards?
The offense has been lead by Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday and Colby Rasmus, as well as Pujols, and the pitching staff has seen Jaime Garcia and Kyle Lohse pitch like front of the rotation starters.
It seems as if the Cardinals’ season is not lost after all, but rather a very successful one so far.
2. New York Yankees
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After an offseason dominated by the Red Sox, the Yankees are the team in first place one-third of the way through.
The offense has been one of the best in baseball, leading the majors in runs scored.
It’s their pitching, though, that has been the story. Bartolo Colon has found the fountain of youth in New York, and ace C.C. Sabathia is putting up another Cy Young quality season.
Though the Red Sox and Rays are within striking distance, it looks like the Yankees are the team to beat in the AL East.
1. Philadelphia Phillies
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One-third of the way through the year, the Phillies are the top team in baseball.
The Big Four of their rotation has been as good as advertised, but the offense has really come through in a big way, especially with injuries to Chase Utley and Domonic Brown.
The Phillies are finally getting healthy and are the favorites to win the World Series.
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