Lake County Sentinel
Justin Lada's Major League Baseball Power Rankings
Week Five
1. Chicago Cubs (23-6) (LW 1, 0) - Is it too early to start talking about the Cubs magic number? They refused to let Bryce Harper beat them this series and swept the Nationals, the only team that appeared to be in their stratosphere.
2. New York Mets (19-11) (LW 2, 0) - They’re third in the MLB in run differential (43) but aren’t anywhere near the Cubs (101). And why is Terry Collins platooning his best player?
3. Chicago White Sox (22-10) (LW 4, +1) - They’re somehow below the last place Astros in runs scored on the season, they’re lower tier in K/9 as a staff and middling in DRS. Still have no idea if any of this is sustainable.
4. Washington Nationals (19-12) (LW 3, -1) - Three of their five losses this week were to the team looking like a meteor sized baseball team.
5. Baltimore Orioles (18-12) (LW 5,0) - Vance Worely’s move to the bullpen has really helped. Kevin Gausman’s return has helped them and they still have Manny Machado. Yovanni Gallardo hitting the DL actually helped them, too.
6. Seattle Mariners (18-13) (LW 9, +3) - Shut out the world champs twice, winners of five of seven. Taijuan Walker and Felix Hernandez have been a good one-two punch and Nate Karns has been a really huge boost.
7. St. Louis Cardinals (16-16) (LW 8, +1) - Adam Wainwright put together back to back quality starts for the first time all season. Mike Leake has on all year after having 19 a year ago. The rest of the staff has been good and their offense has kept them afloat.
8. Texas Rangers (18-14) (LW 10, +2) - Lost three of four to the Blue Jays before coming back to sweep Detroit. They’re going to have a good problem when Shin-Soo Choo comes back. But now AJ Griffin goes on the DL for a team that already had pitching depth issues.
9. CLEVELAND INDIANS (15-13) (LW 17, +8) - They swept the Tigers again. Corey Kluber looks dominant again. The bullpen appears to have calmed from its early season hiccup and they even won a one run game Sunday in taking two of three from the Royals.
10. Boston Red Sox (18-13) (LW 11, +1) - They took two of three from the previously seemingly unbeatable other Sox and then avoided the sweep of the Yankees, which prevents another move up the rankings. They’re too good to lose two of three to the Yankees.
11. Pittsburgh Pirates (17-14) (LW 6, -5) - They’ve been outscored 20-5 by the Cubs and have outscored everyone else by 23. Unfortunately for them, they still have 16 games with the Cubs.
12. Toronto Blue Jays (16-17) (LW 15, +3) - The bullpen has been pretty good with the exception of Drew Storen. Troy Tulowitzki looking like he’s hitting a decline should be alarming for this team.
13. Los Angeles Dodgers (16-15) (LW 12, -1) - Chase Utley’s resurgence has been a surprise. The fact that their pitching staff is Kershaw, Maeda and pray for rain, is not.
14. San Francisco Giants (17-16) (LW 13, -1) - They’re reportedly at least interested in Tim Lincecum again. They could be the boyfriend or girlfriend that can’t just let go of a few good memories but they also could be worried Jake Peavy and Matt Cain both allowing six homers in six starts.
15. Tampa Bay Rays (15-14) (LW 21, +6) - As expected, the best pitching staff in the division and they found a nice role for Erasmo Ramirez. As expected, one of the worst offenses in baseball, aided by the Yankees age/injuries and the team proclaiming to be a major league squad, the Braves.
16. Philadelphia Phillies (18-14) (LW 14, -6) - Jeanmar Gomez is tied for baseball’s lead in saves at 11. We all saw that coming. Somehow making it work with a -27 run differential.
17. Miami Marlins (16-14) (LW 19, +2) - Winning in spite of Dee Gordon’s absence and Christian Yelich is in full breakout star mode on a team that already has a folk hero hitter.
18. Kansas City Royals (15-15) (LW 16, -2) - They’ve scored two runs or less seven times in the last 12 games.
19. Detroit Tigers (14-16) (LW 7, -12) - Lost six straight and now they go on a road trip to play the three with the Nationals and four with the Orioles. Anything under a 3-4 road trip could really put them in concerned mode,
20. Colorado Rockies (15-16) (LW 18, -2) - Third worst pitching staff in baseball. Third best offense. Wash, rinse, repeat.
21. Arizona Diamondbacks (15-18) (LW 23, +2) - Shelby Miller finally won a game. They’re second in baseball in DRS but somehow can’t prevent losses.
22. Los Angeles Angels (13-18) (LW 22, 0) - Not sure how the loss or Garrett Richards for the next 9-12 months sparked trade Trout talks. This was still probably one of the 10-12 worst teams in baseball this year even with him.
23. Oakland Athletics (14-18) (LW 20, -3) - A team that pays Billy Butler $10 million to be a platoon DH deserves to be in last place.
24. Houston Astros (12-20) (LW 26, +2) - Sending Evan Gattis back to the minors to work on catching doesn’t reek of any sort of desperation.
25. New York Yankees (11-17) (LW 25, 0) - They took two of three from the Red Sox but now Jacoby Ellsbury is hurt
26. San Diego Padres (13-19) (LW 28, +2) - Best DRS in baseball. Collin Rea looks really good and Andrew Cashner does not.
27. MIlwaukee Brewers (13-19) (LW 29, +2) - Expected: worst pitching staff in baseball. Unexpected..12 walks by Chris Carter in mid-May.
28. Cincinnati Reds (13-19) (LW 24, -4) - Devin Mesoraco is out for the year again. Things just keeping getting better for the Queen City.
29. Minnesota Twins (8-23) (LW 27, -2) - Two of their eight wins are walkoff wins vs. the Indians. Since then? Losers of eight of nine. They’re in danger of being passed in wins by the….
30 .Atlanta Braves (7-23) (LW 30, 0) - Really beginning to wonder if there will be week where the Cubs aren’t in the top spot and the Braves not in the bottom.
jlada@lakecountysentinel.com or follow Justin on Twitter @JL_Baseball you can also check out our IndiansNation fan page
POSTED 05/09/2016 14:20
