Week 14 MLB Power Rankings

The top two teams this week remain the same. The Dodgers fall from grace also continues. There are a few move movers and shakers but you have to read below to find out who they are.

1. Texas Rangers (50-30) Texas leads the way as they are the first team to 50 wins this year. They also lead the way in all-star selections with seven. Yu Darvish is also on the final vote ballot which could give them an 8th. (Last Week's Rank 1)

2. New York Yankees (48-30) Last week saw the Yanks place CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte on the DL. It will be interesting to see how they handle themselves without 40% of their rotation for a while. (LWR 2)

3. Washington Nationals (45-32) They have the best record in the National League and continue to dominate their division mate Atlanta Braves. They are 8-2 in their last 10 against the Braves. (LWR 4)

4. Los Angeles Angels (44-35) There is a new top team in LA. The Angels are scorching and 20-year-old MVP and rookie of the year candidate Mike Trout was just elected to the first of what will be many all-star games in his career. (LWR 7)

5. San Francisco Giants (45-35) The Giants threw four consecutive shutouts last week including a series shutout of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have more offense this year than they did on their championship team two years ago. The Giants are back as a legitimate threat. (LWR 9)

6. Cincinnati Reds (43-35) Johnny Cueto and Brandon Phillips both have a legitimate beef for being snubbed for the all-star game. The Reds hope they channel that disrespect into a big second half and an NL Central crown. (LWR 6)

7. Boston Red Sox (42-37) Easily the highest spot they have had in my rankings this year. Maybe if I started at the beginning of the year that would be different. Put that aside and the Red Sox are red hot as they have climbed into the thick of things in baseball's toughest division. (LWR 18)

8. New York Mets (43-37) The Mets bullpen has been a mess all year. Bobby Parnell is now closing out games for the other team in NY. They will look to shore that deficiency up (Huston Street?) and make an unexpected postseason run this year. (LWR 10)

9. Los Angeles Dodgers (44-36) The Dodgers have fallen on hard times as they have lost 8 of 10 and their division lead. They are trying to beef up their offense (missing Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier) by trading for Carlos Lee but he has a no trade clause that he is, so far, unwilling to waive. (LWR 3)

10. Chicago White Sox (42-37) Speaking of all-star snubs (it is a once-a-year cop out!) Jake Peavy has been phenomenal (2.96 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 101 Ks in 112 IP) this year. He also has four complete games and, interestingly enough, is 1-3 in those games. (LWR 12)

11. Tampa Bay Rays (41-38) The Rays are floundering 3-7 in their last 10 and could really use an offensive infusion. Evan Longoria can't come back soon enough. (LWR 5)

12. Pittsburgh Pirates (42-36) The Pirates got a scare this weekend when all-star outfielder Andrew McCutchen tweaked his wrist on a diving catch. Word is he will be OK and so far the Buccos season has been more than OK. (LWR 13)

13. Baltimore Orioles (42-36) They are in 2nd in the toughest division in baseball and exceeding all expectations. That said they still don't get much love from me. Even if I love that they just added Jim Thome. (LWR 8)

14. Atlanta Braves (41-37) The Braves are 3-3 so far in their season-long 10-game homestand.The Cubs are up next and the Braves need to take care of business and make up some ground in the NL East. (LWR11)

15. St. Louis Cardinals (41-38) Lance Berkman has been taking tremendous strides in his return from knee surgery. He expects to be back in mid-July which would be a huge boost to the Cards lineup. (LWR 14)

16. Toronto Blue Jays (40-39) Joey Bats started slow but absolutely went off in June to the tune of .271/.408/.750. He is on pace to crush 50+ homers again this year. (LWR 15)

17. Arizona Diamondbacks (39-39) Speaking of a sizzling June take a look at what Paul Goldschmidt has done virtually under the radar .341/.415/.732. Not too shabby out there in the desert. (LWR 17)

18. Cleveland Indians (40-38) Take notice that the last place Blue Jays are ranked higher than the second place Indians. What does that tell you about the AL Central? (LWR 16)

19. Detroit Tigers (39-40) The Tigers are still under .500 and we have reached July. The funny part? They are still only three games out. (LWR 19)

20. Oakland A's (38-42) Ryan Cook is the A's lone representative for the all-star team and has only been in the closer role for about a month. This team of no-names is playing well but happens to share a division with two of baseballs best in the Rangers and Angels. (LWR 20)

21. Miami Marlins (38-40) They won three in a row for the first time in a month by sweeping the Phillies. Their last winning streak that long? Also against those Phils. (LWR 21)

22. Milwaukee Brewers (36-42) Ryan Braun was overtaken in the all-star voting and lost his starting spot. If he can't lock that down he won't lock down another MVP this year even though his numbers (.308/.389/.602) are MVP worthy. (LWR 22)

23. Philadelphia Phillies (36-45) At 11 games out is the fire sale about to begin? GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has said he will listen to offers for Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino. (LWR 23)

24. Kansas City Royals (35-42) Billy Butler will be the only representative for the Royals in the all-star game this year at Kauffman Stadium. Mike Moustakas should be there too. (LWR 24)

25. Seattle Mariners (34-47) If the Mariners don't watch themselves they will have the worst record in the AL really soon. (LWR 25)

26. Minnesota Twins (32-45) The Twins just gave out a multiyear deal to their catcher. Oh, that's right. They still have Joe Mauer. So why are they locking up Ryan Doumit for the next two seasons? (LWR 27)

27. Houston Astros (32-47) Houston is 23-19 at home this year which is pretty good. They are 9-28 on the road this year. That....is worse than pretty bad. (LWR 26)

28. Colorado Rockies (30-48) Can someone explain to me why the Rockies are going with a 4-man rotation on a 75-pich limit? Seems like they are asking an awful lot of their bullpen. (LWR 28)

29. Chicago Cubs (29-49) They are here for one reason and one reason only. And it isn't about what they are doing, it is about what I want to write for the last place team in the rankings. (LWR 30)

30. San Diego Padres (30-50) The Rangers top the list with a record of 50-30 and the Padres end if with a record of 30-50. It's the little things in life. (LWR 29)