2015 MLB Power Rankings: What to make of the Twins
May 8, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Minnesota Twins right fielder
Torii Hunter(48) is congratulated by Minnesota Twins first baseman
Joe Mauer(7) after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Twins are the story in this week’s power rankings.
Coming into today, the Twins are winners of nine of their last 11 games and are just 2.5 games out of first place in the American League Central.
Manager, Paul Molitor has pushed all the right buttons with his lineup and the results have propelled the Twins into the top five in the AL in runs, RBIs and batting average.
The Twins now join the Astros and Mets as among baseball’s surprise teams this season and may find themselves as buyers when the trade deadline arrives.
How good would Cole Hamels look at the front of their rotation? The Twins farm system is one of the best in baseball so they have the prospects to get the deal done.
Of course the Twins are one of 20 teams on Hamels no-trade clause that he can refuse to be traded to but it’s only right that general manager Terry Ryan does his due diligence in seeing if Hamels would waive it to get out of a losing situation in Philadelphia.
Other teams who are on the rise this week include the Washington Nationals, Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers.
Teams on the decline include Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics.
Here are the rankings.
Next: Nothing new at the top.
May 7, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter
Alex Rodriguez(13) celebrates his 661 home run surpassing the record of
Willie Maysduring the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
St. Louis Cardinals. 1. team. 33. The St.Louis Cardinals had a scare this weekend with the news that <strong><a href=. (22-9). Previous: 1st
team. 71. The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the National League in homers and OPS by a wide margin. And this is with two starters in <strong><a href=. (20-10). Previous: 3rd. Los Angeles Dodgers. 2
Previous: 4th. Kansas City Royals. 3. team. 7. After the returns from injury from both <strong><a href=. (20-11)
63. The Detroit Tigers are just one game behind the Royals in the AL Central but their starting rotation may be an area of concern. <strong><a href=. (19-13). Previous: 2nd. Detroit Tigers. 4. team
team. 43. So <strong><a href=. (20-12). Previous: 7th. New York Yankees. 5
New York Mets. 6. team. 3. The New York Mets will be unveiling their top pitching prospect <strong><a href=. (20-11). Previous: 6th
(20-12). Previous: 5th. Houston Astros. 7. team. 135. The Houston Astros dropped the ball last week getting swept by the Texas Rangers. They still however lead their division by five games and are tied with the Yankees for the AL’s second best record.
Minnesota Twins. 8. team. 2. When <strong><a href=. (18-14). Previous: 17th
(17-15). Previous: 12th. Washington Nationals. 9. team. 90. The Nationals’ offense looks to be finally coming alive. <strong><a href=
(17-16). Previous: 9th. San Diego Padres. 10. team. 127. The concern continues for the San Diego Padres and their starting rotation. While <strong><a href=
Next: Rough week for the Cubs.
May 6, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman
Kris Bryant(17) hits a one run single off of St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
Lance Lynn(not pictured) during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
team. 21. The Tampa Bay Rays received a huge blow to their team when it was announced that <strong><a href=. (17-15). Previous: 10th. Tampa Bay Rays. 11
Previous: 16th. San Francisco Giants. 12. team. 40. The two biggest surprises this season for the Giants have to be <strong><a href=. (16-16)
9. As nice as it was to see <strong><a href=. (15-15). Previous: 8th. Chicago Cubs. 13. team
Toronto Blue Jays. 14. team. 39. Despite their pitching struggles, the Toronto Blue Jays are sitting in third place in the AL East with a .500 record. Their offense has been the best in baseball all season and both <strong><a href=. (16-16). Previous: 20th
4. You can’t help but wonder how much longer the Pittsburgh Pirates can afford to keep putting <strong><a href=. (15-16). Previous: 14th. Pittsburgh Pirates. 15. team
Previous: 15th. Cincinnati Reds. 16. team. 61. The Cincinnati Reds are also dealing with slumps from regulars <strong><a href=. (15-16)
82. The Miami Marlins have cooled from their recent hot streak. Well, every Marlin not named <strong><a href=. (15-17). Previous: 18th. Miami Marlins. 17. team
Previous: 11th. Baltimore Orioles. 18. team. 11. The Orioles are at the point where they don’t know what to expect every time out from their starting rotation. Only <strong><a href=. (13-16)
19. team. 17. After criticizing the Atlanta Braves for their lack of innings from their starters, <strong><a href=. (14-17). Previous: 19th. Atlanta Braves
20. team. 102. <strong><a href=. (15-17). Previous: 22nd. Los Angeles Angels
Next: Brewers no longer baseball's worst team.
May 8, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Ryan Braun (8) is greeted by shortstop
Jean Segura(9) and pinch hitter
Jason Rogers(15) after hitting a 3-run home run in the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Miller Park. The Cubs beat the Brewers 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Red Sox. 21. team. 14. The <strong><a href=. (14-17). Previous: 13th
Seattle Mariners. 22. team. 62. The Seattle Mariners need more out of <strong><a href=. (14-17). Previous: 24th
The Arizona Diamondbacks are among the top five in the NL in runs, average, stolen bases and OPS. With so much offense and their two best pitchers on the DL, this may be a group to call for team’s in need of an extra bat.. (14-16). Previous: 25th. Arizona Diamondbacks. 23. team. 8
Chicago White Sox. 24. team. 128. The Chicago White Sox ended a nine-game homerless drought last week and has since seen their offense come alive. After splitting against the Tigers and taking two of three from the Reds, the focus no longer is on the job status of manager <strong><a href=. (12-16). Previous: 27th
126. The Texas Rangers went toe to toe last week with the Astros and delivered a sweep. That’s not to say their season is turning around but at the moment, they are no longer the worst team in the AL West.. (13-18). Previous: 28th. Texas Rangers. 25. team
(12-21). Previous: 23rd. Oakland Athletics. 26. team. 96. That distinction belongs to the Oakland Athletics who managed to win just one game last week. The A’s currently sport the AL’s worst ERA in the month of May.
27. team. 108. The slide continues for the Colorado Rockies. Their pitching staff has a 8.31 ERA in May and has yet to win a game this month.. (11-17). Previous: 21st. Colorado Rockies
76. The Milwaukee Brewers have played decent baseball as of late. <strong><a href=. (11-21). Previous: 30th. Milwaukee Brewers. 28. team
(11-21). Previous: 29th. Philadelphia Phillies. 30. team. 6. Despite winning four games last week, the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the least amount of wins this season and find themselves at the bottom of the rankings this week. At this point, all eyes are on every Hamels start as the only real victory for general manager <strong><a href=
Next: John Danks had a strong outing yesterday for the White Sox?