Angels atop the MLB Power Rankings

[CalEpic]

Bummer, Boston.

MLB Power RankingsRankLWTeam12
Los Angeles Angels
Our preseason No. 1 is back on top for the first time in the second half of the season, boasting the best home record in the majors (40-17), coming off a weekend sweep of the Twins and knocking off former No. 1 Boston in an early week series. The Angels still have their problems -- where is that big bat? -- but they have just enough of everything needed to do some real damage come October. 21

Boston Red Sox
Where are all those "experts" crowing about that brilliant Eric Gagne trade now? The goggled one has been miserable since coming to Boston, giving up 10 hits in four innings, a killer homer on Sunday and a 15.75 ERA. Series losses last week to the Angels and the -- ugh! -- Orioles made the pitching-rich Sox look inept. Almost as inept as Kevin Youkilis since the break (.234). 33

New York Yankees
They've narrowed the gap in the AL East to four games and all but tied Seattle for the wild-card lead. Though it's easy to say they're due for a slump (.953 OPS since the break), a lot of hitters would have to stumble for that to happen. Face it: This will be one tough team to handle from here on out. Scarier still: The guys are even starting to like A-Rod. They're becoming (cue organ music) ... a team!48

Arizona Diamondbacks
I'm still not convinced. Their NL West lead is more a function of the rest of the division sinking than anything else. Still, they have Webb, the best record in the NL, they've won all but one series in the second half, Justin Upton (1.015 OPS in first 10 games) looks for real, their pitching is solid (3.96 ERA, third in the league) ... there are reasons to like the D'backs.59

Seattle Mariners
We're finished being surprised by the Mariners. They've been on the Angels' heels for months, and the Angels have been good forever. That makes Seattle legitimate. The latest heroes: Raul Ibanez hit .481 last week, with 11 RBIs in six games, and Jeff Weaver threw a complete-game, five-hit shutout against the White Sox on Sunday. OK, so maybe we're not finished being surprised.65

Cleveland Indians
Cleveland's main malfunction lately is its hitting, if you can call it that. Since the break: Josh Barfield, 193; Casey Blake, .235; Travis Hafner, .225; Victor Martinez, .245; Grady Sizemore, .260. Yet, for all of that, five of the Tribe's next eight games are against Detroit. The Indians, 6-4 against the Tigers this season, are a good 10 days from taking a nice lead on the Tigers. Or maybe not. 76

Detroit Tigers
Since the All-Star break, when this team looked like one of the best in baseball, Detroit starters are 7-14 with a 6.54 ERA. From July 19 to Aug. 10 the Tigers had one win -- ONE! -- from a starter. They are 8-16 in their last 24 games. They managed only a split of their series with Tampa Bay last week. Remember last year's second half (36-3? That's looking really good about now.84

New York Mets
Can anyone out there get worked up about the Mets? This team -- with the possible exception of Jose Reyes and the feel-good Tom Glavine story last week -- has been stuck in the mud for months. Since June 2 they're 30-33. Since July 1 they're 19-19. They can't shake the Phillies or Braves. I don't want to say they're boring. But if this were Broadway, this show would be canceled.97

San Diego Padres
Jake Peavy is 4-0 in his past four starts with a 1.01 ERA, striking out 28 in 26 2/3 innings. That's nice and all, but it's not nearly enough. Brian Giles got hot in Cincinnati, with five homers in three games (good ballpark for that). Heck of a weekend. Not enough, either. Look, for as good as the pitching is on this unbalanced team, without consistent hitting, that three-game hole looks like about six.1013

Philadelphia Phillies
It hasn't been easy in Philly -- is anything, ever? -- especially for Adam Eaton (9-8, 6.36 ERA), the fans' current designated whipping boy. But a nice homestand, with series wins against the Marlins and the Braves, has the Phils back in second place in the NL East. Giving Philly fans a reason to cheer: Pat Gillick looks like a genius on that Tadahito Iguchi move (.339, .403 OBP).

[bananaseat]

Angels deserve props. Consistently bring a strong team to each season. This year they appear to have everyone's number. Glad to see they got over the "rat" problem. Not cleaning the stadium after each game, yikes!

My beloved Dodgers are hurting bad. Still a lot of baseball and hope left.

[dhmike]

it's the halos year again to win the ws ! and that crap with critics saying the halos need another bat is b.s. if it ain't broke don't fix it ! the team is playing great just the way they are.

[Pho'dUp]

I'm hoping Juan Riveria can make it back from rehab by September sometime to provide some pop in the line up.

Having great starting pitching has made this team real good the past few years. They're definitely better w/out Colon right now. Here's hoping Santana can find it in AAA. Mosely as a #5 starter is scary.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by CalEpic

Bummer, Boston.

MLB Power RankingsRankLWTeam12
Los Angeles Angels
Our preseason No. 1 is back on top for the first time in the second half of the season, boasting the best home record in the majors (40-17), coming off a weekend sweep of the Twins and knocking off former No. 1 Boston in an early week series. The Angels still have their problems -- where is that big bat? -- but they have just enough of everything needed to do some real damage come October. 21

Boston Red Sox
Where are all those "experts" crowing about that brilliant Eric Gagne trade now? The goggled one has been miserable since coming to Boston, giving up 10 hits in four innings, a killer homer on Sunday and a 15.75 ERA. Series losses last week to the Angels and the -- ugh! -- Orioles made the pitching-rich Sox look inept. Almost as inept as Kevin Youkilis since the break (.234). 33

New York Yankees
They've narrowed the gap in the AL East to four games and all but tied Seattle for the wild-card lead. Though it's easy to say they're due for a slump (.953 OPS since the break), a lot of hitters would have to stumble for that to happen. Face it: This will be one tough team to handle from here on out. Scarier still: The guys are even starting to like A-Rod. They're becoming (cue organ music) ... a team!48

Arizona Diamondbacks
I'm still not convinced. Their NL West lead is more a function of the rest of the division sinking than anything else. Still, they have Webb, the best record in the NL, they've won all but one series in the second half, Justin Upton (1.015 OPS in first 10 games) looks for real, their pitching is solid (3.96 ERA, third in the league) ... there are reasons to like the D'backs.59

Seattle Mariners
We're finished being surprised by the Mariners. They've been on the Angels' heels for months, and the Angels have been good forever. That makes Seattle legitimate. The latest heroes: Raul Ibanez hit .481 last week, with 11 RBIs in six games, and Jeff Weaver threw a complete-game, five-hit shutout against the White Sox on Sunday. OK, so maybe we're not finished being surprised.65

Cleveland Indians
Cleveland's main malfunction lately is its hitting, if you can call it that. Since the break: Josh Barfield, 193; Casey Blake, .235; Travis Hafner, .225; Victor Martinez, .245; Grady Sizemore, .260. Yet, for all of that, five of the Tribe's next eight games are against Detroit. The Indians, 6-4 against the Tigers this season, are a good 10 days from taking a nice lead on the Tigers. Or maybe not. 76

Detroit Tigers
Since the All-Star break, when this team looked like one of the best in baseball, Detroit starters are 7-14 with a 6.54 ERA. From July 19 to Aug. 10 the Tigers had one win -- ONE! -- from a starter. They are 8-16 in their last 24 games. They managed only a split of their series with Tampa Bay last week. Remember last year's second half (36-3? That's looking really good about now.84

New York Mets
Can anyone out there get worked up about the Mets? This team -- with the possible exception of Jose Reyes and the feel-good Tom Glavine story last week -- has been stuck in the mud for months. Since June 2 they're 30-33. Since July 1 they're 19-19. They can't shake the Phillies or Braves. I don't want to say they're boring. But if this were Broadway, this show would be canceled.97

San Diego Padres
Jake Peavy is 4-0 in his past four starts with a 1.01 ERA, striking out 28 in 26 2/3 innings. That's nice and all, but it's not nearly enough. Brian Giles got hot in Cincinnati, with five homers in three games (good ballpark for that). Heck of a weekend. Not enough, either. Look, for as good as the pitching is on this unbalanced team, without consistent hitting, that three-game hole looks like about six.1013

Philadelphia Phillies
It hasn't been easy in Philly -- is anything, ever? -- especially for Adam Eaton (9-8, 6.36 ERA), the fans' current designated whipping boy. But a nice homestand, with series wins against the Marlins and the Braves, has the Phils back in second place in the NL East. Giving Philly fans a reason to cheer: Pat Gillick looks like a genius on that Tadahito Iguchi move (.339, .403 OBP).

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! My chowda is turn'en souwa

The Yanks are getting ready to steam roll over them. Maybe the R-sox can hold on long enough to get the wild card

[Fired Yo Momma]

29 wheels,

If I were you I would worry more about the Mariners (3 games behind). The Angels are in Toronto and the Mariners have been playing great ball. Don't worry about Boston we are up 4 games over NY amd we will steam roll over Tampa Bay. Oh and another thing it takes a former Dodger (Sosscia) to get that team competitive.

FYI I want to kill that stupid rally monkey. Did you know that the Rally Monkey was first introduced first to the Dodgers but the Dodger upper mangement knew that dumb monkey belongs in a zoo so they sold the monkeys to that rat infested zoo known as Anaheim stadium.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by Fired Yo Momma

29 wheels,

If I were you I would worry more about the Mariners (3 games behind). The Angels are in Toronto and the Mariners have been playing great ball. Don't worry about Boston we are up 4 games over NY amd we will steam roll over Tampa Bay. Oh and another thing it takes a former Dodger (Sosscia) to get that team competitive.

FYI I want to kill that stupid rally monkey. Did you know that the Rally Monkey was first introduced first to the Dodgers but the Dodger upper mangement knew that dumb monkey belongs in a zoo so they sold the monkeys to that rat infested zoo known as Anaheim stadium.

is so 2002.........

Haven't you heard......The new mascot is the Rally Rat. Ever since the rat story broke the Halos have been rippin it up!

psssst. The Yanks are playing the Gloryholes right now and they stink

[guero]

why do you hate the angels so much FIRED YO MOMMA? you seem so hostile when you talk about them, take a deep breath.

[CalEpic]

Don't look over your shoulder FYM. The ghost of Babe Ruth is about to unload a money shot on Big Papi's tramp stamp. Happy endings for New York in the AL East.

[Fired Yo Momma]

I don't hate the Angels like I hate the Yankees. In fact I respect Angels. In all reality I don't like the majority (I said majority not all) of Angel fans. I go to the Angel games because the stadium is close but when I am their it just seems the majority of the fans don't even watch the games. I think ever since Disney took over the Angels they made that team so "OC". I know that Artie M bought the team and he has done a pretty good job of changing things up. The team has no tradition (at least in my own opinion) and the majority of Angel fans are fair weather fans. Don't get me wrong I respect the Angels right now as a team, they play good sandlot baseball. BTW The Dodgers are my second favorite team.

What happened to the Angels last night? Good thing the Mariners lost last night as well. LOL I hope I am not making anybody upset its just good fun ribbing.

[mtnbikej]

Originally Posted by guero

why do you hate the angels so much FIRED YO MOMMA? you seem so hostile when you talk about them, take a deep breath.

He should hate them.......theya re the only team that consistantly beats the Yankees over the last 8 years or so.