2014 MLB Power Rankings Week 10

In lieu of a regular intro this week I just want to take a moment to remember Don Zimmer who passed away last week. Much has been said about Zimmer in the last few days and I'm not sure if there is enough time in a day to discuss what the man has meant to baseball. He was the last uniformed employee of a team who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He met Babe Ruth and played alongside Jackie Robinson. He was a part of the expansion New York Mets in 1962. He was Joe Torre's right hand man during the New York Yankees' dynasty in the late 1990's. It's a shame that some people will think of the infamous night when Pedro Martinez threw down Zimmer over any aspect of his storied career in the game. If you are one of those people, as I was, please do yourself a favor and read up a bit on Zimmer. You might be impressed at what you'll find.

*Note ~ As always all stats and records will be through Sunday's games.

1. San Francisco Giants (42-21) ~ The Giants have a 9 1/2 game lead in their division over the 2nd place Los Angeles Dodgers. NINE AND A HALF. The worst team in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies, are only seven games out of first place in their division. Think about that. (Last Week's Ranking 1)

2. Oakland A's (39-24) ~ The A's have scored the most runs (327) in all of baseball. The A's have given up the least runs (199) in all of baseball. The A's are good at baseball. (LWR 2)

3. Milwaukee Brewers (38-26) ~ Is there any team in baseball playing as well as the Brewers and getting almost zero publicity for it? In short, no. There's not. That is just how it is playing for a small market team. (LWR 4)

4. Toronto Blue Jays (38-26) ~ Toronto is off to its best start since 1993 and we all know what happened in 1993 don't we? If you can't quite think that far back go ask Joe Carter. Or Mitch Williams. They might remember. (LWR 5)

5. Los Angeles Angels (34-28) ~ After some back trouble caused Mike Trout to miss some time last week it appears Angels fans can exhale. The young star helped the Angels come from behind over the weekend by blasting a grand slam off Chris Sale which is impressive for a fully healthy player. (LWR 6)

6. Detroit Tigers (33-26) ~ Detroit came out of the gate hot starting the year 27-12. They have, well, to put it nicely, fizzled since then losing 12 of their last 16 games making the American League Central division a bit more interesting. (LWR 3)

7. Atlanta Braves (32-29) ~ Craig Kimbrel became the franchise leader in saves Friday by passing out John Smoltz. He then blew a save Saturday night as the Braves lost two of three to the woeful Arizona Diamondbacks. (LWR 7)

8. Washington Nationals (32-29) ~ If you have a Magic 8-ball it is time to shake that baby and ask if Ryan Zimmerman's days as a third baseman are over. If you don't have one I'll just tell you it should read "all signs point to yes". Because they are. (LWR 14)

9. Miami Marlins (33-30) ~ Well, the Marlins are essentially tied with the Braves and the Nationals for first so it only makes sense to have them all in order. Doesn't it? (LWR 12)

10. Los Angeles Dodgers (33-31) ~ Don Mattingly said last week that his team was "s****y" which I have to say is one of my favorite all-time lines from a manager. It's rare to find someone responding candidly in today's media world. (LWR 8)

11. Baltimore Orioles (31-30) ~ Will MLB suspend Manny Machado for his bat toss? I think they will. Then Machado will appeal. Then the suspension will be reduced. It's the same old song and dance. (LWR 13)

12. Seattle Mariners (33-29) ~ I'm really not sure if there is a pitcher in the AL better than Felix Hernandez. He was denied a win in his latest start but he is 8-1 on the year with a 2.39 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a ridiculous 106:17 strikeout-to-walk ratio. (LWR 18)

13. St. Louis Cardinals (33-31) ~ Matt Adams is slated to begin his rehab assignment this week and could be activated from the disabled list this weekend. While the power hasn't been there so far the first baseman was hitting .325 when he went down with the injury. (LWR 10)

14. New York Yankees (31-31) ~ Is anyone paying attention to what Dellin Betances is doing out of the bullpen for the Yankees? He has 61 strikeouts in just 36 innings. That is an average of 15.3 strikeouts per nine which puts him in Kimbrel-esque territory. (LWR 11)

15. Cincinnati Reds (29-32) ~ Mat Latos appears to be just one more start away from being activated from the disabled list and making his season debut. The Reds have been hanging around the .500 mark for some time now and could use the boost Latos should give them. (LWR 15)

16. Colorado Rockies (29-33) ~ The only thing Colorado has been winning of late is the All-Star polls. I never knew Rockies fans were so passionate. (LWR 9)

17. Texas Rangers (31-32) ~ Jurickson Profar may not play this year. Alexi Ogando is hurt. Mitch Moreland, who is playing because of Prince Fielder's injury is now probably out for the year. I'm beginning to think there isn't anything else bad that can happen to the Rangers this year. (LWR 16)

18. Chicago White Sox (31-33) ~ Jose Abreu picked up right where he left off by blasting two home runs in his first two games back from the disabled list. If Masahiro Tanaka was in the NL Chicago would have the Rookie of the Year locked up with their stud first baseman. (LWR 17)

19. Cleveland Indians (32-31) ~ A week ago I was writing the Indians off. Now they are a mere three games behind the Tigers. Funny how things can change like that. (LWR 23)

20. Kansas City Royals (31-32) ~ Why not keep the AL Central theme going? (LWR 20)

21. Minnesota Twins (29-32) ~ I was shocked to see the Twinkies sign Kendrys Morales. Shocked I tell you. In fact, I told Twitter. Why not give me a follow on there (@therichwhiteguy) if you don't already. I don't post often, but when I do, I post about sports. (LWR 21)

22. Pittsburgh Pirates (29-33) ~ Pittsburgh lost their ace Gerrit Cole to the disabled list with shoulder fatigue. This rotation does not have what it will take to compete in the NL Central. (LWR 24)

23. Boston Red Sox (28-34) ~ Mike Napoli is back from the DL and Stephen Drew is back from no man's land. While most of the faces remain the same this team does not look at all like the team that won it all just last year. (LWR 19)

24. New York Mets (28-35) ~ Thank you to PTI for pointing out today is the 15th anniversary of one of my all-time favorite Mets moments. Then manager Bobby Valentine was ejected from a game only to come back minutes later wearing fake glasses and a mustache. It was, in a word, glorious. (LWR 22)

(If I knew how to embed pictures I would, but, Google Bobby Valentine mustache disguise. You won't be disappointed.)

25. Houston Astros (28-36) ~ Houston has won 11 of their last 15 games. Let them have this one. There hasn't been much to cheer about in Houston for years. (LWR 28)

26. San Diego Padres (28-35) ~ San Diego. The one team in California that nobody is talking about this year. (LWR 26)

27. Arizona Diamondbacks (28-37) ~ Of course the team with the worst record in the NL (when the series started) would take two of three from my Braves. I mean, why wouldn't they? (LWR 29)

28. Chicago Cubs (25-35) ~ A lot of people mocked the Jason Hammel pickup but all he has done so far is pace the Cubbies with a 6-3 record, 2.53 ERA and a stellar 0.88 WHIP. (LWR 30)

29. Philadelphia Phillies (25-36) ~ This just might be the year that Ruben Amaro Jr. gets a pink slip. It just might be the best thing that could happen to them. (LWR 25)

30. Tampa Bay Rays (24-40) ~ It's like they've reverted to their Devil Rays' days. The team hasn't been this bad since the name change. (LWR 27)