| 1 | ▲ 1 | Vladimir Guerreros | 8-0 and undefeated on the season. That is not a fluke, that is a juggernaut. Clarke Markle (.542, 4 HR, 15 RBI) and Jeremy Reisler (.533, 4 HR, 11 RBI) have been absolute cannons alongside Brandon Catena (.720, 21 RBI), giving this lineup a murderers' row top to bottom. They were ranked 9th in the preseason and are now dominating the entire league - Roebuck, the floor is yours, brother. |
| 2 | ▼ 1 | John Kruks | 7-1 and holding strong at #2 after opening the year at #1 - the only thing that knocked them off the top spot is an undefeated Guerreros. Kris Muccilli (.704, 8 HR, 19 RBI) and Kyle DeGrace (.679, 6 HR, 23 RBI) continue to punish opposing rosters, and Spencer Fox (.667, 4 HR, 15 RBI) quietly having a great year. The +94 run differential is the best in the league. |
| 3 | ▲ 5 | Ken Griffey Jrs | Up from #8 last month and the jump is fully earned. 6-2 with wins over real teams on a real schedule, and Max Sisam (.600, 3 HR, 12 RBI) and Graham Maclellan (.583, 2 HR, 8 RBI) are doing legitimate damage in the middle of the order. Dave Thompson is starting to be fears amongst AL hitters. The Griffeys have been one of the best stories in the AL and it's time to start treating them that way. |
| 4 | ▲ 1 | Paul Molitors | Up from #5 last month and still climbing, with the best team average in the league at .647 and a 6-2 record that nobody predicted. Thomas Litvinskas (.800) is a name that deserves a headline, and Everett Findlay (.625, 2 HR, 10 RBI) has quietly been one of the most productive bats on the roster. Remember when we had these guys at 12th in the preseason? Yeah, opps, they are back! |
| 5 | ▼ 2 | Pete Roses | Down from #3 last month, but 6-2 with a +68 run differential means this is more of a crowded top than a fall from grace. Ian Pendrill (.625, 2 HR) and Aaron Wortsman (.429, 3 HR, 11 RBI) are new names stepping up in the lineup, and Cole Evans (.524, 3 HR, 10 RBI) keeps delivering behind Ryan Evans. The defending champs are very much alive - the top of the NL is just in a loaded, and they decided to mutually forfeit against one of their rivals - we wont think about that. |
| 6 | — | Cecil Fielders | Holding steady right around where they were last month at #6, which for a team this consistent is exactly on brand. Eric Wolfe (.625, 3 HR, 14 RBI) has been a force at the plate all season, and Tim Jensen (.565, 3 HR, 11 RBI) has been doing the dirty work in the middle of the order game after game. Dane Wolfe (.667) making his power rankings debut and getting on base at a nice clip. The Fielders rarely wow you, they're just beat you. |
| 7 | ▼ 3 | Torii Hunters | Down from #4 last month after a couple of stumbles, but this is still a very dangerous team. Cole Tishler (11 HR, 23 RBI, .636) remains the one of most dangerous individual bats in the entire league, and Matthew Rabinovitch (.667, 4 HR, 14 RBI) also deserves some shine - the man has been producing all season. Spencer Snow (.645, 5 HR, 17 RBI) is another guy flying completely under the radar. Don't read too much into the slide - the Hunters will be just fine. |
| 8 | ▲ 1 | Dennis Eckersleys | Up from #9 last month and still trending in the right direction at 5-4. Steve Tanouye (.696, 7 HR, 23 RBI) remains one of the scariest bats in Midtown and Alex Wong (.600, 3 HR, 10 RBI) has been steady all season in the middle of the order. Kevin Luzak (.471, 2 HR, 8 RBI) has also delivering in a supporting role. The Ecks have enough firepower to make a real second-half run. |
| 9 | ▼ 2 | Jorge Bells | Down from #7 feels wrong to write given they're now 4-4, but the schedule has been brutal. Grant Cussion (.471, 6 HR, 10 RBI) is an absolute fence-clearer who hasn't gotten nearly enough pub - six home runs and barely a mention. Jason Kuzmich (.692, 2 HR, 8 RBI) has been reliable but missing his home run power. Rory Tufford cannot do this alone, fellas. |
| 11 | ▼ 5 | Ozzie Smiths | 2-3, -34 run differential, with this line up?? Mark Dugan (6 HR) and Tony Lemire (.591, 4 HR) have been hot — but the Smiths have been getting worked over by the top teams and squeaking past the bottom feeders. Middle of the pack until proven otherwise. |
| 12 | ▼ 2 | Kirk Gibsons | What the hell is going on with the Gibsons? Down from #10 last month and sliding the wrong way at 2-7. Fraser Gillan (.600, 4 HR, 10 RBI) and Karlos Castellanos (.650, 6 HR, 15 RBI) are producing but the wins just aren't coming. Mark Giddens (.538) is still hitting, still somehow now looking 20. Something needs to change, and fast |
| 12 | ▲ 1 | Barry Bondses | The Bondses came in with momentum from a playoff run and have not shown up this month, sitting 1-4 with a -26 run differential. Their only W came against the Johnsons. Justin Laing is giving you something to cheer about at .714 with 5 HRs and 16 RBI, but the rest of the lineup needs to wake up and match his energy. |
| 13 | — | Derek Jeters | Staying at #13, 2-7 and the -73 AL run differential is the real story. Mitchell Shearer (.500, 13 RBI) is having a nice start and Brendan Byrne (.467) is getting on base at a decent clip. The Jeters year is on life support but we refuse to pull the plug. We believe. We think. |
| 14 | ▲ 1 | Randy Johnsons | Up from #15 last month - yes, up - because they finally got that win and the -56 run differential is genuinely better than the two teams below them. Casey Norris remains leading them at the dish and William Erichsen (.471, 2 HR, 5 RBI) is a new name providing some genuine pop. |
| 15 | ▼ 1 | Buster Poseys | Down from #14 last month and the 1-8 record with a -101 run differential tells you everything. Francesco Gracile (.412, 3 HR, 9 RBI) and Dionysius Chialtas (.722) are the two names keeping this lineup from total embarrassment. The Poseys need wins and they need them yesterday. |
| 16 | — | Robin Younts | Unmoved at #16 because there is nowhere lower to go. 0-8, -144 run differential. Zach Smikle (.737) and Jonah Feldman (.556) keep showing up. They need to get it together. |
