With a quarter of the season now in the books, we at AOSN decided to start our Top-10 Power Rankings Special. We waited this long because it takes about 50 games for a team to create their identity and figure out where they are going during the season. Many players have been activated off the DL and many more have been transferred over to the DL by now and that helps mold a teams outlook and record. Is your team in the Top 10? Check it out and find out.
Power Rankings
10. St. Louis Cardinals (23-21)
The Cardinals haven’t seen like their dominant selves to begin the season but that is thanks to very slow starts to Matt Holiday, Matt Carpenter, Shelby Miller, and Allen Craig, but each player is starting to heat up. Matt Adams hasn’t powered many balls over the fence yet this season like many Cardinal fans were hoping, but his batting average is making up for it. He is making solid contact but when he is making contact no one is on base and you can see the proof of that by his low RBI numbers. Both Craig and Holiday are finally ripping line drives the other way, and when opposite field hits come so do the homers. Miller has an impressive ERA but he was looking very shaky during the first month, walking an insane amount of batters and not striking out many either. But after his impressive start against the Braves this weekend he seems to be turning the corner.
9. Los Angeles Dodgers (23-22)
“Los Doyers” haven’t run away with the Division like many critics thought they would. Instead, the Dodgers have been playing rather mediocre ball. The reason for this is caused by the DL stints both Clayton Kershaw and Hin-Ju Ryu had to take to start the season. Both pitchers are very critical to this pitching staff, of course everyone knew that about Kershaw. Ryu is the type of pitcher that can come in as the #3 starter and stop a hot hitting team in their tracks and ruin a winning streak. Both pitchers have rejoined the rotation and look to turn things around.
8. Washington Nationals (23-20)
Washington was once again picked by many baseball critics to make it to the World Series thanks to their impressive starting rotation and high power offense. But thanks to the injury bug, the Nationals will have to work hard to put up wins while they have Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Adam LaRoch, and Gio Gonzalez all sitting on the bench. Wilson Ramos was activated off the DL recently and has started off rather slow, but on Sunday he drove in 4 RBIs and seems to look comfortable at the dish now. While Ian Desmond started the season off as bad as anyone in the MLB he is starting to heat up and doesn’t look to slow down any time soon. He is trying to prove that he is worth more then what the Nationals offered him in the off-season.
7. Colorado Rockies (25-20)
With Wilin Rosario now back in the very potent line-up of the Rockies, any pitcher they face shall be scared. When Colorado has everyone healthy in their line-up they can score 10+ runs any night. The addition of Justin Morneau has been one of the biggest steals from the off-season. He has belted 9 homers during the season, including his walk-off 2 run jack on Sunday. Nolan Arenado is looking like clone of Manny Machado’s 2013 season, hitting for great numbers while playing Gold Glove type third base. Carlos Gonzalez is healthy and playing like the superstar he is. Troy Tulowitzki is playing like a maniac to keep it simple. Lets put it this way, if he stays healthy he will win the NL MVP by a landslide.
6. Atlanta Braves (23-19)
The Braves were hit with two big blows before the start of the season, Kris Medlen and Beachy had to have Tommy John Surgery once again. With 2 great pitchers out for the season Atlanta didn’t even worry and brought in Aaron Harrang, who started off off but has came back down to earth after his last 2 outings. The starting rotation hasn’t been the weak link of the team at all, instead it was the slow starts of BJ Upton and Jason Heyward. BJ has added glasses to his game day attire now and it seems to be working, while Heyward has stayed aggressive at attacking the pitcher and it is starting to pay off. Justin Upton, and Freddie Freeman have been carrying this offense once again and look to keep it up for the entire 2014 season.
5. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (24-19)
The Angels are not the same disappointing team of the 2013 season. Instead, they are one of the hottest teams in 2014. They brought in David Freese to help with power numbers and to fill their hole at 3rd. He was starting to get locked in at the plate but then the injury bug bit him and was placed on the DL. Albert Pujols looks like the Pujols of past, his power is back just in case you didn’t know. Garret Richards has been quit the surprise and was the missing piece for the rotation. Richards is a solid #3 starter behind Jarred Weaver and CJ Wilson. Wilson has been the best pitcher for the Angels so far this season and looks rather comfortable on the mound. Once Josh Hamilton returns this team should be able to stay hot.
4. Milwaukee Brewers (27-17)
The Brewers keep placing important players on the DL it seems. Now that Braun was activated Aramis Ramirez was the newest addition to land on the DL. Even though they miss key players in the line-up they continue to win. Their pitching staff is one of the best in all of baseball. Each pitcher continue to throw deep into games and allow their defense to collect outs for them. Carlos Gomez is playing with so much swagger that he is been carrying this offense while players keep swapping spots on the roster and DL. Once Jean Segura becomes comfortable in the batters he will reck havoc on the base paths and will find away to cross the plate.
3. San Francisco Giants (28-17)
The Giants have turned things around rather quickly since their disappointing 2013 season. The signings of Tim Hudson, and Michael Morse has to do with this turn around. Hudson is pitching like he usually does, which is keeping the ball down and pitching deep into games. While Morse is hitting for a good average, blasting homers, and driving in runs during critical times of games. The surprise on the offensive side has to be Brandon Crawford, he is usually known for his defense but he is starting to make solid contact now and isn’t considered an easy out anymore. The pitching staff is still one of the strongest with Bummgarner, and Cain. Both pitchers are throwing well, and Cain has turned things around.
2. Oakland A’s (28-16)
Oakland continues to prove that you don’t need a superstar to help you win games, instead they play team ball and rely on each other. They have their players that reach base some how and have their payers that drive in runs in Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss, and Yoenis Cespedes. They also lost 2 solid pitchers in AJ Griffen and Jarrod Parker to start the season but Jesse Chavez has been magical replacing them in the rotation. Sonny Gray is looking like a legit ace for many years to come, and Josh Donaldson is proving that his breakout 2013 season wasn’t a fluke.
1. Detroit Tigers (27-12)
With Ian Kinsler in the line-up instead of Fielder is scarier than any monster in this universe. Kinsler is a great table setter for the best offense in the MLB. Once he reaches base he is a threat to steal but once he reaches base it allows his teammates to attack the pitcher and force him into hitter counts. Victor Martinez has come alive and has more homers (10) then strikeouts (9), that is simply mind blowing! Torri Hunter is an ageless wonder, hitting the ball all over the field. While Miggy has started off rather quietly he still has 35 RBIs and is reaching base at his insane rate. Having 3 pitchers by the names of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Anibal Sanchez doesn’t hurt either, each being strikeout machines. While Rick Porcello has already logged 6 wins. Tigers aren’t slowing down anytime soon.
