MLB Power Rankings: 1 Movie Title to Describe All 30 MLB Teams' Seasons

The 2011 MLB season is reaching the homestretch, and there have been an abundance of surprises along the way.

I doubt anyone could have guessed Ubaldo Jimenez would be moved, while even less believed it possible for the Philadelphia Phillies to land Hunter Pence.

Every team has expectations—some better than others—and when they look back on the season, there will be a defining moment.

I have defined that moment for each team, with the help of a movie title.

Here is one movie title to describe all 30 MLB teams' seasons.

Jeffrey Beckmann is a MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow Jeffrey on his new Twitter account for all of his latest work. You can also hear him each Friday at 1 pm EST on B/R Baseball Roundtable.

Arizona Diamondbacks: "Young Guns"

No one expected the Arizona Diamondbacks to compete with the Giants, Rockies or even the Dodgers in the NL West this season, yet with 45 games left, they are neck and neck with San Fran for first place.

With a solid core of Young Guns, led by Justin Upton and Ian Kennedy, the D-Backs have put themselves in position to take out the defending champs, or they could possibly make a run at the NL Wild Card.

The boy's already lost one member of their crew in Stephen Drew, but they'll keep fighting till the very end.

Atlanta Braves: "Eastern Promises"

After trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by six games to end the 2010 season, the NL Wild Card-winning Atlanta Braves had one goal heading into 2011—capture the NL East title.

While their season hasn't gone according to plan in that regard, seeing as they currently sit 8.5 games behind the Phillies in the division, the Braves have put themselves in great position to once again enter the playoffs as the NL Wild Card.

Whether it's in the regular season or playoffs doesn't matter, they just want to take the Phillies down.

Baltimore Orioles: "Hopeless"

The Baltimore Orioles went on a run late in the 2010 season that had many people, including myself, listing them as a breakout candidate in 2011.

I am man enough to admit when I'm wrong. The Orioles are simply Hopeless.

It was no surprise when the Orioles opened the season on a tear, at least not to me. They've been grooming young talent for years, and Buck Showalter seemed to be the glue to tie it all together.

I now fear the O's will have to take two steps back before they can take one step forward.

Boston Red Sox: "Limitless"

After a horrendous start to the season that had every baseball critic outside of Boston throwing the Red Sox under the bus, the Sox have fired back atop the AL leaderboard.

At this point, their potential appears Limitless, especially because their top three starters are a notch above the Yankees'.

Led by AL MVP candidate Adrian Gonzalez, the Red Sox have gone 70-37 since their 0-6 start to the season.

Chicago Cubs: "Dazed and Confused"

We all knew it was going to be a wasted season in Wrigleyville, but after the trade deadline, many people were left Dazed and Confused.

Out of the 10 trade candidates on the roster, the only player the Cubbies move is Kosuke Fukodome? Then they eat most of his remaining salary and get the equivalent of a bat and two gloves in return?

Even more confusing, why did GM Jim Hendry decide he wanted to hold onto Carlos Pena? 

Chicago White Sox: "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"

The Good: Despite all of the bad and ugly, the White Sox still have a chance in the AL Central, and Paul Konerko seems to be worth his contract.

The Bad: White Sox fans should be grateful that Alex Rios gave them one good season, although his .215 BA and 26 RBI on the season ruin any prior accolades. Their pitching staff was bumped up from ugly to bad seeing as they appear to be turning a corner as of late. 

The Ugly: Adam Dunn is batting .163 with only 11 home runs. Not quite what the White Sox expected when giving him a big contract. 

Cincinnati Reds: "The Hangover"

After going 91-71 to capture the NL Central title in 2010, the Cincinnati Reds have succumbed to The Hangover throughout the 2011 season.

The Reds just moved up to third place in the division behind the Brewers and Cardinals, yet they sit 9.5 games back with a 55-59 record. 

While there are numerous reasons the Reds have faltered, the finger points at Bronson Arroyo and the pitching staff.

With a solid young nucleus in place, you can bet the Reds will be back in the hunt in 2012.

Cleveland Indians: "Deliverance"

The Cleveland Indians and their fans have finally received some Deliverance, and it came in the form of pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez.

After watching the team ship off stud's like Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia in recent years, the Indians finally went out and made a big splash of their own before the MLB trade deadline last week.

With the ace-caliber pitcher under team control for a couple more seasons, the Indians have an opportunity to deliver for years to come.

Colorado Rockies: "Road to Perdition"

For those of you unfamiliar with the word "perdition," it is a state of eternal punishment and damnation. 

That is precisely where the Colorado Rockies have found themselves after shipping away their best pitcher in franchise history. 

The Rockies' Road to Perdition will be long, cold and miserable, and we can't help but feel sorry for their loyal fanbase.

Detroit Tigers: "Detroit Rock City"

Justin Verlander has turned Tigertown into Detroit Rock City this season by throwing his second career no-hitter and coming close to a third.

The Tigers also have a four-game lead in the weak AL Central and appear primed for a trip to the postseason. 

Only their first World Series title since 1984 (or a Lions playoff appearance) could make Detroit rock more.

Florida Marlins: "The Other Guys"

Year in and year out, the Florida Marlins field a squad full of The Other Guys.

Owner Jeffrey Loria ships away all of their best talent (and most expensive) for prospects, which in turn provides the team with a fresh youthful group at the beginning of each season.

While their roster is never consistent, the Marlins generally play around .500 baseball every year, and if history proves correct, they are due for a World Series trip soon.

Houston Astros: "Back to the Future"

This is about as self-explanatory as it gets.

The Houston Astros held a fire-sale before the trade deadline and will probably shed a couple more names before the waiver-trade period is through.

With a new owner coming to town, the Astros sent cornerstone's Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn packing a year after shipping off Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt. 

The Astros have gone Back to the Future, and it will be a very long time until they become a respectable team again.

Kansas City Royals: "No Way Out"

The Kansas City Royals have been a miserable franchise over the last 20 years, and more often than not, they find themselves in the AL Central basement.

It almost appears as if there is No Way Out.

For years the Royals have been so-called "rebuilding," but when will all the building blocks begin to form a respectable structure?

After a hot start to the 2011 season, the Royals find themselves at 49-66 with the third worst record in all of baseball. 

Los Angeles Angels: "Almost Heroes"

The Los Angeles Angels are Almost Heroes, inching closer and closer to the Texas Rangers in the AL West.

The Angels have spent most of the 2011 season looking up at the Rangers—who were the clear-cut favorites to win the division—but they've got a great mix of seasoned veterans and youthful talent who are ready to make a run.

If the Angels do somehow pass the Rangers to win the division, it would be nothing but heroic.

Los Angeles Dodgers: "Horrible Bosses"

We've all had Horrible Bosses at one point or another, yet none come close to the abhorrent, disgraceful owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Every decision Frank McCourt has made this season will prolong the Dodgers' troubles well into the future.

MLB wants McCourt out, but he won't go without giving Bud Selig the bird on his way out the door.

What McCourt has done to the Dodgers franchise is a true shame.

Milwaukee Brewers: "The Hunt for Red October"

The Milwaukee Brewers are playing some of the best baseball in the league over the last few weeks while putting themselves in great position to play October baseball for only the second time in almost 30 years.

With a powerful lineup, a solid rotation and a revamped bullpen, the Brewers have a chance to pull away in the NL Central.

The only team who could stand to get in the way of The Hunt for Red October is the St. Louis Cardinals, who currently sit three games back in the division.

Minnesota Twins: "The Hangover Part II"

There's always a sequel.

Just as the Cincinnati Reds have tanked this season, so have the Minnesota Twins after going 94-68 while taking the AL Central crown in 2010.

The 2011 season has been anything but pleasant, and the Twins may soon find themselves back in last place. They currently sit at 51-64 and only two games ahead of the lowly Kansas City Royals. 

New York Mets: "Wall Street"

Every happening within the New York Mets organization this season was either directly or indirectly related to Fred Wilpon and Bernie Madoff, aka Gordon Gekko.

The team has been marred by financial uncertainty (although not as bad as first speculated) and two of their best players are now wearing different uniforms.

As Gordon Gekko said, "Greed is good." Unfortunately, that may not be the case for Wilpon.

New York Yankees: "Man With a Golden Arm"

The Yankees drive for another World Series title lies solely on the Man With a Golden Arm.

That man is C.C. Sabathia, who has anchored the Yanks rotation this season with a 16-6 record and 2.81 ERA through almost 183 innings of work.

While Bartolo Colon and Ivan Nova have held their own on the mound, neither are pitchers you want filling out a three-man rotation in the playoffs. And don't even get me started on A.J. Burnett.

Oakland Athletics: "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"

The Oakland Athletics continue to prove that Moneyball is a thing of the past, and at this point, the franchise appears to be 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Heck, the Coliseum looks like it's spent 100 years in the deepest parts of the ocean. 

After Billy Beane's strategy provided a mold for cheap consistency for many years, the A's haven't had a winning season since 2006 and appear to be going nowhere fast. 

Philadelphia Phillies: "Unstoppable"

The Philadelphia Phillies are the best team in baseball, led by one of the best four-man rotations a team has ever mustered together.

With the trade deadline addition of Hunter Pence to their beleaguered outfield, the Phillies are now Unstoppable.

If the Phillies go on to win the World Series this season, they would definitely be in contention for best team of all time.

  

Pittsburgh Pirates: "Sucker Punch"

On July 26th, the Pittsburgh Pirates entered their contest against the Atlanta Braves at 53-47 and as one of the darlings of the 2011 season.

Then, in the 19th inning, home plate umpire Jerry Meals decided to Sucker Punch the Pirates and their season right in the gut. 

Since that horrible call gave the Braves a victory, the Pirates have gone 2-12 and now find themselves 10 games off the pace in the NL Central.

San Diego Padres: "Full Metal Jacket"

"In San Diego the Team Doesn't Blow, It Sucks."

The Padres were the surprise team of the 2010 season, but they're back to their usual terribleness in sunny San Diego.

With a team full of young bucks, the Padres may be well-suited to send the players over to Marine Corps Recruit Depot-San Diego for a day or two. A little bit of discipline may prove well.

San Francisco Giants: "Groundhog Day"

The defending champs are in the same exact position they were in at this point in 2010. Great pitching and horrible hitting while trying to fight off a surprise team in the NL West.

Considering the pitching staff remains about the same, and you can switch out Buster Posey's bat with Carlos Beltran's, there really is an eerie similarity between the two teams.

Only time will tell whether the Giants can duplicate last year's postseason success.

Seattle Mariners: "Sleepless in Seattle"

While it may be cliché, Mariners' fans really are getting Sleepless in Seattle.

After the Mariners made some big acquisitions prior to the 2010 season, expectations soared, and they were expected to win ball games.

Chone Figgins has been terrible, Erik Bedard got hurt (now traded) and all the right moves seemed to go wrong.

Heading into the future, fans will be sleepless for another reason. Rookie sensation's Michael Pineda and David Ackley have once again restored hope in Seattle. 

St. Louis Cardinals: "True Grit"

From the loss of Adam Wainrite before the season had even begun to Albert Pujols' injury and ongoing contract speculation, the St. Louis Cardinals have shown some True Grit by remaining competitive in the NL Central.

At points it's seemed as if everything was going against the Cards, yet they have persevered and find themselves only three games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the division lead.

While I believe the Cards, in general, have outplayed their true talent level this season, I still have to give them respect for where they are at this point.

Tampa Bay Rays: "The Dilemma"

The Tampa Bay Rays came into the 2011 season with hopes of competing in the AL East. While they stuck with the big boys for the first half of the season, slowly but surely, the Yankees and Red Sox have pulled away.

By the time the trade deadline came around, the Rays were in quite The Dilemma.

Should they ship away B.J. Upton or even James Shields while playing for next season and the future? Or do they stick it out hoping to make a run and worst case, have two core players still on their roster heading into 2012?

The Rays chose to stick it out and now find themselves 11 games back in the division.

Texas Rangers: "Blow"

This is in no way a cheap shot aimed at Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington for being chalked up last season. His one and one with Lady Snow isn't my business.

The Rangers have taken more than a Blow this season with guys like Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz spending time on the DL.

Add to it the misery known as Brandon Webb and it's almost amazing that the Rangers still stand atop the AL West.

With some solid moves made to shore up their bullpen before the deadline, the Rangers received the only bump they need down the stretch. 

Toronto Blue Jays: "Cool Hand Luke"

Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos wheels and deals like he's Cool Hand Luke, this time parlaying a couple of bullpen arms for a possible franchise player in Colby Rasmus.

Getting the Angels to take Vernon Wells and most of his contract was reason enough to give Anthopoulos praise, but the guy continues to impress with his savvy, unexpected moves.

With the core he's putting together in Toronto, the Jays may cause some problems in the AL East in the very near future.

Washington Nationals: "Cliffhanger"

This season didn't matter for the Washington Nationals—they're playing for the future.

Nats' fans are so fixated on Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper that I'm not so sure they would have noticed if the team was in the playoff race.

It's clear that a much brighter future lies ahead for the Nationals, but at this point, we are left with a Cliffhanger.