Phil Rogers MLB power rankings

Red-hot Reds vault to No. 1

July 30, 2012|Phil Rogers | On Baseball

1. Reds (3): With a 17-2 stretch through Sunday, baseball's most athletic team is now also the best team. Todd Frazier has been doing a nice job filling in for Joey Votto, and Homer Bailey joins Johnny Cueto and Mat Latos to give Dusty Baker three of the hottest starters anywhere.

2. Yankees (1): Alex Rodriguez has had a disappointing season, but losing him to a fractured left hand hurts.

3. Rangers (2): Has this aging lineup begun the descent that hit the Phillies in about 2010? While the Josh Hamilton slump has been the primary focus of late, Michael Young seems to have lost it.

4. Nationals (5): Michael Morse is starting to hit like he did a year ago, and Jayson Werth could come off the DL on Tuesday.

5. Braves (6): Ben Sheets has won his first three starts.

6. Angels (7): Poised for a perfect ending to Zack Greinke's debut on Sunday night, Albert Pujols grounded into a game-ending double play. Mike Scioscia's team is still looking better on paper than on the field, with no winning streaks of three or more games since winning seven of eight June 19-28.

7. White Sox (10): Ken Williams dealt a perfect set of cards in acquiring Kevin Youkilis, Brett Myers and Francisco Liriano.

8. Pirates (6): Since being bypassed for the All-Star team, James McDonald has been giving up a run an inning. Wandy Rodriguez is more of a depth guy than the No. 2 starter they need.

9. Tigers (4): The trade for Anibal Sanchez captured attention, but the best sign for the pitching staff is that Doug Fister is back to the way he finished 2011.

10. Giants (9): Homerless in nine of their first 15 games since the All-Star break (and 34 of 53 since May 27), they're so starved for power they've talked to the Cubs about Alfonso Soriano.

11. Rays (11): They want Evan Longoria back so badly that they're going to take a risk by using him at DH when they don't think he's ready to play the field. Soriano would be the perfect fit, if the Cubs would take back Luke Scott and pay about $22 million of the $36 million Soriano will be due in 2013 and '14.

12. Athletics (13): Imagine an A's-Pirates World Series, with Yoenis Cespedes as leading man.

13. Cardinals (12): Expecting a big finish but only 8-8 out of the gate in the second half.

14. Dodgers (15): Can Hanley Ramirez be salvaged or is he just an overpaid guy on a downward slide?

15. Red Sox (14): Hoping to get David Ortiz back ahead of schedule. The lineup should become really good with him in it.

16. Indians (17): They're very tough in close games but have allowed 10-plus runs four times since the All-Star break, including back-to-back losses at Minnesota over the weekend.

17. Diamondbacks (19): Jason Kubel has been a beast in July.

18. Orioles (16): Do something, Dan Duquette! Anything, before it's too late.

19. Blue Jays (18): Not doing much now, but look for these guys to be as aggressive as any team in the offseason.

20. Phillies (22): Fans and ownership in denial about chances to win in 2013 and beyond behind pitching trio of Cole Hamels, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.

21. Mariners (23): Jesus Montero seems to be settling in. He hasn't come close to fulfilling his potential since the trade from the Yankees.

22. Mets (20): Matt Harvey prompted Tom Seaver comparisons in his big-league debut. He looks like a guy you can build a staff around.

23. Marlins (24): Can owner Jeffrey Loria create enough tension to make the last two months of the "Showtime'' reality series worth watching?

24. Cubs (27): They keep surprising teams that expect them to be pushovers.

25. Brewers (21): Terrible performance by bullpen just cost coach Stan Kyles his job.

26. Padres (26): Great moves by new ownership in getting Carlos Quentin and Huston Street signed to contract extensions.

27. Twins (28): It seems awfully strange seeing "interim'' in front of "GM'' in regard to Terry Ryan.

28. Royals (26): Alex Gordon has turned into a doubles machine at the cost of his home run totals. He's hitting the ball hard but not elevating it.

29. Rockies (29): Biggest disappointment in the majors.

30. Astros (30): You know you're going nowhere fast when you trade Chris Johnson for financial reasons.