SoB MLB Power Rankings 7-6-10

By John in Featured, Now!, Opinion, Red Sox ⋅ July 6, 2010 at 3:52pm ⋅ Post a comment

Just when you get close, the Yankees pull away again in the way that only they can. (http://media.photobucket.com/image/yankee/KappaJota/yankee.jpg)

Welcome back for another edition of the SoB Power Rankings for Major League Baseball. This edition is jam packed with thirteen teams getting nods for the ten spots, yet only one dropping from the rankings. And eight teams have either kept their previous spot or moved just one. The Twins’ recent slide out of the division lead has left room for other teams (the [again] resurgent Reds) to take over. A mini winning streak, albeit over Houston, has allowed the Padres to shoot up the table.

While the Yankees are still in command, three teams are now tied for the next spots, and even the #7 team managed to come up with 10 points. From there, not much is happening. As usual, teams get 10 points for a first place vote, then nine points for a second, and so on. Ties are broken based on who received the most first place votes, then the most second, and so on. The second tiebreaker is position in the previous rankings.

As an added bonus, we’ve also put together some thoughts on how the upcoming All Star Game will turn out.

	John	KC	SoB Composite	Last Time	Comments
#1	New York Yankees	New York Yankees	(2) New York Yankees (20)	#1, even	KC – Hard to argue with the best team in baseball at No. 1.
#2	San Diego Padres	Boston Red Sox	Boston Red Sox (14)	#2, even	KC – Hard to believe the Sox are this close with so many injuries.
#3	Tampa Bay Rays	Texas Rangers	San Diego Padres (14)	#8, up 5	KC – How the hell is this team so good? Pitching, Gonzalez, Pitching, and Pitching.
#4	Cincinnati Reds	Atlanta Braves	Tampa Bay Rays (14)	#3, down 1	John – The Rays got off to a good start against Boston, and proved (directly) to the Red Sox that they won’t go quietly, taking the Wildcard spot back in the process.
#5	Atlanta Braves	Tampa Bay Rays	Atlanta Braves (13)	#4, down 1	KC – The Braves remain on top the NL East, despite Heyward’s injury.
#6	Boston Red Sox	San Diego Padres	Texas Rangers (12)	#5, down 1	John – Welcome to Arlington, Bengie Molina. Vlad Guerrero and yourself really ought to cinch the division.
#7	Texas Rangers	New York Mets	Cincinnati Reds (10)	NR	John – Cincinnati, make up your mind. Are you going to finish ahead of or behind the Cardinals?
#8	Detroit Tigers	Cincinnati Reds	New York Mets (4)	#7, down 1	KC – Bay is on pace for 12 HRs…and the Mets are still good.
#9	Chicago White Sox	St. Louis Cardinals	Detroit Tigers (3)	#9, even	John – Detroit is now leading their division, but with Chicago and Minnesota right there, they can’t keep giving up nine runs to the Orioles.
#10	Minnesota Twins	Los Angeles Angels	Chicago White Sox (2)	#10, even	John – Chicago’s x-factor so far is that they’ve been very balanced, being just above .500 at home (21-19) and on the road (22-19).
Others earning votes:			St. Louis Cardinals (2), Minnesota Twins (1), Los Angeles Angels (1)

Table Legend

A number in parentheses before a team name indicates the number of first place votes received.
A number in parentheses after a team name indicates total points received.

All Star Game Prediction

John – AL Wins Easily Enough

In all likelihood, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay will be starting. They’re backed up by rotations that has lately favored the American League, most noticeably in terms of aces. With several Yankees, Red Sox, and Evan Longoria leading the way, the offense has the edge too. And did I mention Mariano Rivera?

KC – AL Wins

It’s almost impossible to predict, even though this time it counts. But…how can I go against the American League? Save for the embarrassing tie in 2002, the AL has more talent, is the better league, and has dominated this game for years.

Tags: Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Minnesota Twins, MLB Power Rankings, New York Mets, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers