Category: MLB (Page 406 of 448)

Remember, in the Scores Report MLB Power Rankings, the past means nothing. Only the 2007 season matters so with that said, below is a look at the top and bottom five in baseball after week two.

Top 5:
1. Atlanta Braves (8-3)
Previous Rank: #3
After getting off to a hot start in week one, both the Angels and Twins have fallen off a bit lately. The Braves, however, keep on trucking winning seven of their last 10 through Sunday. Atlanta is also the only team still undefeated on the road this year (3-0).

2. Cleveland Indians (6-3)
Previous Rank: Unranked
Don’t let the above “unranked” fool you, the Indians had only played two games due to snow storms when the first Power Rankings were compiled. Cleveland is for real and except for arguably Boston, no team is playing better ball in the AL right now than the Tribe.

3. Arizona Diamondbacks (9-4)
Previous Rank: #4
A case could be made that Arizona deserves to be ahead of Cleveland, but the D-Backs still have yet to play tough competition. So far, Arizona has feasted on Colorado (two series), Washington and Cincinnati. There are no guarantees, however, and Arizona is still winning and playing great ball. That’s all that matters.

4. Boston Red Sox (7-4)
Previous Rank: Unranked
The BoSox are arguably the hottest team right now, winners of three straight. The pitching staff is ranked first in the AL currently, with a 2.79 ERA and other than being schooled by Seattle’s Felix Hernandez, Daisuke Matsuzaka looks like the real deal.

5. New York Mets (7-4)
Previous Rank: #5
The Mets lead the league in pitching ERA with a mark of 2.69. Tom Glavine is showing no signs of slowing down and Billy Wagner has been outstanding, allowing just three hits and no runs in three save opportunities. John Maine has also been solid, leading the team with a 1.54 ERA.

Bottom 5:
26. Chicago Cubs (4-7)
Previous Rank: Unranked
Despite high expectations and an offseason spending-spree, the Cubs are right back in the cellar of the NL Central. Unlike the rest of the bottom feeders in the league, Chicago can’t pin just one thing on its slow start. The pitching (16th) and batting (19th) are both below average, but neither is necessarily killing them. Quite frankly, they just don’t know how to win games right now, especially at home (1-4).

27. Philadelphia Phillies (3-8)
Previous Rank: #27
I’ve got a feeling I’ll be saying this all year, but how in the hell can a talented team like the Phillies start off 3-8? Here’s a clue: Philly ranks second to last in the league in ERA with a 5.07 mark. Only Tampa Bay is worse with a 5.14 ERA.

28. Kansas City Royals (3-9)
Previous Rank: #26
The Royals have lost four straight and have looked bad in the process (not that many teams look good going 0-4). During its four game losing streak, KC has put up just 10 runs, including back-to-back one run losses against Baltimore.

29. San Francisco Giants (3-7)
Previous Rank: #29
For all of you Simpsons fans out there, think of the “Comic Book Guy” while reading this sentence describing the Giants: “Worst…offense…ever.” On the bright side, Russ Ortiz got his first win in seemingly three decades last Friday with a 8-5 victory over the Pirates.

32. Washington Nationals (3-9)
Previous Rank: #30
The Nationals have played tougher than their 3-9 record would indicate, but they’re still 1-6 at home, second worst in the majors (the Pirates are 0-4 at PNC Park).

“a life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” – Jackie Robinson

It simply doesn’t matter if you’re a baseball fan or not. Everyone needs to be educated on what Jackie Robinson did for the African-American community not only in baseball, but in society in general.

Think about what current players complain about: contracts, endorsements, the press, etc. Yet the ultimate crap that Robinson had to go through just to wear a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform far exceeds any “disrespect” current players experience. You want respect? Try earning it from people who hated you just because the color of your skin. Try dealing with coaches and players on your own team who didn’t even want to speak to you, yet alone play along side of you.

Let’s keep it positive on his day, however, and reach out to learn more about Jackie Robinson. Parents, please teach your children about what Robinson meant and currently means to baseball. And young people listen and do the research on what #42 meant to society. Without him, some of the posters of current players on your walls might not even exist.

Without Jackie Robinson, there is no Hank Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr. or Ryan Howard. Check out a timeline of how Robinson effected others after being the first African-American Major League Baseball player in 1947 at ESPN.com.

It’s only April, but Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher Mark Prior is already right on cue with arm injuries. He only threw two innings in a minor-league start Thursday before having to leave the game with shoulder soreness. Up until this point, it seemed that he was making progress during the second half of the spring, but now it appears he might have to be shut down for 2007 altogether.

I feel for Prior, I really do. Anyone who has played baseball long enough – especially pitchers – know the stress the game puts on your arm. This guy is only 26 years old and after a brilliant start to his career, looks like he might be done for good. It’s also amazing how the Cubs continue to get these arms (Prior, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, Rich Hill), but freak injuries strip them of goldmines in the rotation. If I were Zambrano or Hill, I’d be a little concerned with the hex on Cubs’ starting pitchers.

No one can deny power rankings. We certainly at the Scores Report can’t, so every Monday throughout the season – even as needless as it is this early – we will rank the top and bottom five in the MLB.

Just a quick note, however. The past means nothing; so don’t assume the Cards or Yanks get the nod in the top five because, “at some point, they’ll turn it around.” How much fun would it be to assume?

Top 5:
1. LA Angels (5-2)
After a sweep of the Rangers, the Angels split a four game series with the A’s to go 5-2 in their opening home stand. Ace John Lackey has started the season 2-0 while the rest of the staff is only allowing an average of 2.29 runs a game.

2. Minnesota Twins (5-1)
There was some question whether the young bats that helped Minnesota make a playoff run last year were a fluke. But after Joe Mauer (.368), Justin Morneau (.353) and Michael Cuddyer (.412) all opened the season hitting well over .300…well…fluke off.

3. Atlanta Braves (5-1)
Just when you think the Braves are cooked, they start the season 5-1 with all five victories coming over tough competition in the Phillies and Mets. The offense has started a little slow, but the pitching so far has been solid.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks (5-2)
Bay24 warned us about the D-Backs. Arizona can flat out score runs, crossing the plate 36 times in just seven games already. Orlando Hudson is off to a good start hitting .379 with nine runs scored, while Eric Byrnes has already swipped four bases and has an OPS of 1.057.

5. New York Mets (4-2)
The Mets’ pitching staff is off to a solid start, yielding only 11 runs in six games (best in the MLB). Going 4-2 is nice. Going 4-2 only road is even better.

Bottom 5:
26. Kansas City Royals (2-4)
The Royals aren’t terrible; they’re just in a tough division. KC should show marked improvment this year, but I’ve got a feeling it will make plenty of apperances in the bottom five this season.

27. Philadelphia Phillies (1-5)
How the hell does a team this talented get off to such a horrid 1-5 start, including dropping three games at home? I wouldn’t expect the Phils to be here very long, but you just never know.

28. Houston Astros (1-5)
Different year, same story for the ‘Stros: no run support for the pitching staff. Or if they get the runs, Brad Lidge is giving them back. Although, it looks like manager Phil Garner is making a move to Dan Wheeler as far as the closing duties are concerned.

29. San Francisco Giants (1-5)
This is by far the worst offense in the league. The G-Men have scored a league low 14 runs in six games and unlike the rest of the clubs in the NL West, San Fran has nothing to go to in its farm system. The starting pitching isn’t bad, but if the first week was any indication, shutouts better be common.

30. Washington Nationals (1-5)
Not much was expected of the Nationals this year, so 1-5 isn’t a real surprise. There is good news for Washington, however. Nick Johnson is running again since breaking his leg in September and should join the team sometime in June. Of course, by June, will it really matter?