MLB Power Rankings

Welcome to my inaugural MLB Power Rankings. Each week I will poll myself and list the teams from best to worst in MLB. I won't be using some sort of formula, just my eyes and anything else I deem fit. You can agree or disagree with my reasoning below. In fact, I hope you do. On to the ranks as I see fit! ****Records and stats are through Sunday, May 6th***

1. Tampa Bay Rays (19-10) They have been hotter than hot recently winning 12 of 15 while playing in arguably the toughest division in all of baseball. They may not be first in the AL East but they are here for all intensive purposes.

2. Texas Rangers (18-10) Everyone wrote them off when C.J. Wilson decided to skip town and join Albert Pujols with the Angels. Everyone but this guy. They are the champs of the AL West until someone takes it from them.

3. Baltimore Orioles (19-9) I know, I know. Probably too high but I have to give them props where props is due. The O's have the best record in all of baseball and just took 5 of 6 from the Yankees and Red Sox. It must be those sweet, sweet unis.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers (18-10) The Dodgers duo of Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier have been terrorizing opposing pitching staffs. Now if only their bullpen could close out a game. It may be time for Donnie Baseball to insert Kenley Jannsen (27 K's in 16 2/3 innings) into the closer role.

5. Washington Nationals (18-10) All the talk lately is about 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper, and deservedly so, but the Nats have some serious arms in that rotation. If their offense ever gets healthy (Morse, Zimmerman and now Werth) they could be scary good sooner than anyone expected.

6.Atlanta Braves (18-11) The Braves offense has exploded against Roy Halladay, disappeared the next day against Joe Blanton and then took Colorado by storm. If the rotation (save Brandon Beachy) figures it out this team may play up to the level that was expected of them last year.

7. St Louis Cardinals (17-11) The Red Birds were expected to fail. Pujols left town and ace Chris Carpenter went down before the season started. Without Tony LaRussa at the helm they weren't supposed to do much. Mike Matheny and the rest of the Cardinals don't care what you think.

8. New York Yankees (15-13) They may have lost Mariano Rivera but the Yanks are blessed with having one of the best setup men in the game in David Robertson. They will be in the mix all year.

9. Toronto Blue Jays (16-13) If you didn't know who Henderson Alvarez was you do now after a stellar week in which he gave up 1 ER in 15 IP. When Jose Bautista gets going, look out.

10. Cincinnati Reds (14-13) Mat Latos is starting to settle in as a Red giving up only 5 ER in his last 3 outings. In the weakened NL Central the Reds are my pick to run away with the division.

11. Detroit Tigers (14-13) If you told me Prince Fielder would have almost as many stolen bases (1) as doubles (2) this far into the season I would say you were crazy. I have no doubt the power will come but the Tigers should be just fine.

12. Cleveland Indians (15-11) This is a team that I couldn't figure out last year and they are continuing to do the opposite of what I would think this campaign. If the Tigers falter in the Central this just might be the team that could take it as unthinkable as that sounds.

13. Philadelphia Phillies (14-15) Their offense has been anemic most of the year and with no timetable for Chase Utley or Ryan Howard to return there is no help in sight. They will have to continue to ride their pitching staff which gets a boost with the return of Cliff Lee this week.

14. Arizona Diamondbacks(14-15) Last season's playoff darlings haven't exactly put it together thus far. Free agent signee Jason Kubel has started to swing a hot bat and Chris Young should be back soon to help the offense.

15. New York Mets (15-13) The Mets have played better than anyone expected. Nothing flashy but they are not laying down like most people projected. They are winning close games this year thanks to a revamped bullpen.

16. San Francisco Giants (14-14) For the second May in a row the Marlins went to San Francisco and the Giants lose their best hitter. Last year it was Buster Posey and this time it is Pablo Sandoval. San Fran will be hard pressed to replace that production as Sandoval tries to come back from a broken hamate bone.

17. Los Angeles Angels (12-17) That sound you just heard was the collective sigh in LA after Pujols blasted his first home run of the year. While he has been getting the headlines for his failures Jered Weaver is 4-0 with a 1.52 ERA and threw a no-hitter his last time out.

18. Chicago White Sox (13-15) Since throwing a perfect game against Seattle Philip Humber has allowed 20 earned runs in his last 14 1/3 innings. Safe to say Humber has been humbled.#Note I goofed and included Humber's most recent start which was the early game of a double header when I was writing this. All other capsules are using stats, and records, through Sunday.

19. Colorado Rockies (12-15) Just like the old days the Rockies are tearing the cover off the ball leading the NL in home runs. Problem is their pitching staff has allowed the most homers in the NL. That isn't a recipe for success.

20. Milwaukee Brewers (12-16) The Brewers have lost two starting infielders (Mat Gamel and Alex Gonzalez) to torn ACLs in the same week. Not many teams can overcome that.

21. Houston Astros (13-15) The Lastros are not living up to that "cute" name they earned last year by losing 100+ games. With the impending shift to the AL next year the Stros' have been playing inspired ball and getting a good look at what they will need to do to rebuild going forward.

22. Miami Marlins (14-14) New stadium. New uniforms. New philosophy on free agent signings. New closer. These were all preseason headlines. A month into the season the Marlins have another new closer as Harland Williams look-a-like Heath Bell has been uglier than the monstrosity in left field at the Marlins home park.

23. Oakland Athletics (15-14) Bartolo Colon has turned back the clock with an ERA under 3.00 and a WHIP of just over 1.00. Billy Beane has to be salivating over what he can get for him come the trade deadline.

24. Boston Red Sox (11-16) The Red Sox pitching staff has been getting shelled all year. A Sox pitcher has given up at least 5 runs in a game 14 times so far this year. I am not a math major but that doesn't seem like a good ratio.

25. Pittsburgh Pirates (12-16) The sheen the Buccos had from last year is gone. A lot of people thought this would be the year they could end their losing season streak. If they don't start scoring runs soon that dubious streak will continue.

26. Seattle Mariners (13-17) The best decision the M's have made all year was taking Chone Figgins out of the starting lineup. Kyle Seager and Alex Liddi will be more than ample replacements for the bust that Figgins was/is.

27. Kansas City Royals (9-18) A sexy pick to win the division the Royals flopped out of the gate. It is still early in the year but without a front line starter this team will be lucky to hit .500.

28. Chicago Cubs (11-17) I am sure Theo Epstein had visions of jettisoning closer Carlos Marmol this year but he has more walks (13) than strikeouts (9) and has been trending downward over the last two years.

29. San Diego Padres (9-20) Boy do the Friars look lost. Mired in last place they seem to be content stockpiling prospects until they get their new TV deal.

30. Minnesota Twins (7-20) Kudos to ESPN for pointing out this fun fact. The Twins have nine hits in their last four games. If that doesn't tell you what you need to know about their season I don't know what will.