1. Arizona Diamondbacks (22-12)
No change here. They've been baseball's best all season and will continue to dominate. I promise. For one, the pitching is stellar. Brandon Webb and Dan Haren have been the anchors. And Micah Owings has been solid on both sides of the plate (that's a football term, I know -- but it works here). 44-year-old Randy Johnson should pitch well enough to give the offense a chance. And Max "nothing rhymes with" Scherzer should settle in and be able to control that upper-90s fastball. The D-Backs' lineup is cool, and young, and awesome, and fun, and young, and cool. Chris Young is the next big thing in baseball. Guy's going to be an all-around stud for a longg time. Too bad that team doesn't have a fanbase. Move them to St. Louis. I'd go to some games. I'd buy one of those alternate black Justin Upton jerseys and wear that shit everywhere. Black doesn't show dirt.
2. Boston Red Sox (22-14)
The Angels are a very close second, but the Red Sox are the best team in the American League right now. Josh Beckett seems to be figuring things out. He's made two solid starts in a row, including a gem against the Rays two weeks ago. Daisuke Matsuzaka is 5-0 and is third only to Ervin Santana and Cliff Lee as the early-season Cy Young award winner (not a real award). They'd like to get more out of Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, and both have actually looked solid as of late. Offensively, David Ortiz has begun to rake and Manny is putting up numbers that would have you thinking he's in a contract year... oh, he is? ...hmm. Kevin Youkilis has been annoyingly good and having Mike Lowell back is a big clubhouse (and maybe power) boost. With the struggles of the Yankees' pitching staff, and the Rays about a year away from being serious contenders, the Saawx are going to run away with the AL East.
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (22-14)
The second best team in the American League, they're the third best team in baseball. That rotation is going to carry them all year. Joe Saunders has been fantastic and the Ervin Santana Show has finally arrived. Jered Weaver will not suck all year, and Jon Garland shouldn't be this bad. With John Lackey coming of the DL next week, the Angels are legit. That offense has always been fun to watch and with the same or better pitching, they'll top the AL West all year.
4. St. Louis Cardinals (22-13)
As I write this, Kyle Lohse is getting shelled by the Rockies. The Cards are down 7-1 heading into the fifth. I give these birds one more week. At least, I'm not going to attempt to explain this team for another week. They've moved up a spot in these rankings, so I am sort of giving them props. I'll say this: If strength of schedule was as closely-followed in MLB as it is in college football and basketball, the Cardinals would be laughed at. They haven't been challenged yet. Last weekend's Cubs series doesn't count because it was played at Busch.
5. Philadelphia Phillies (20-15)
I'm sorry A's fans. A 22-14 record should get you into the top 5, but it doesn't here. Not at One Droo Hill, a place of logic and truth (I'm annoying). Before I tell you why the Phillies are pretty good, let me pose a question to the whole NL East: Does somebody want to step up? (That should have been a cooler, more forceful question -- but I'm me). The Braves and Mets are bathing in mediocrity while the Phillies, behind Pat Burrell and Chase Utley, are playing above-average baseball. That's right -- they're playing above-average baseball. At this point, it's enough to crack this Top 5. But, the Marlins still sit in first place. Kudos to Fredi Gonzalez, but come on. The NL East has to be considered the most underachieving division in baseball.
No change here. They've been baseball's best all season and will continue to dominate. I promise. For one, the pitching is stellar. Brandon Webb and Dan Haren have been the anchors. And Micah Owings has been solid on both sides of the plate (that's a football term, I know -- but it works here). 44-year-old Randy Johnson should pitch well enough to give the offense a chance. And Max "nothing rhymes with" Scherzer should settle in and be able to control that upper-90s fastball. The D-Backs' lineup is cool, and young, and awesome, and fun, and young, and cool. Chris Young is the next big thing in baseball. Guy's going to be an all-around stud for a longg time. Too bad that team doesn't have a fanbase. Move them to St. Louis. I'd go to some games. I'd buy one of those alternate black Justin Upton jerseys and wear that shit everywhere. Black doesn't show dirt.
2. Boston Red Sox (22-14)The Angels are a very close second, but the Red Sox are the best team in the American League right now. Josh Beckett seems to be figuring things out. He's made two solid starts in a row, including a gem against the Rays two weeks ago. Daisuke Matsuzaka is 5-0 and is third only to Ervin Santana and Cliff Lee as the early-season Cy Young award winner (not a real award). They'd like to get more out of Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz, and both have actually looked solid as of late. Offensively, David Ortiz has begun to rake and Manny is putting up numbers that would have you thinking he's in a contract year... oh, he is? ...hmm. Kevin Youkilis has been annoyingly good and having Mike Lowell back is a big clubhouse (and maybe power) boost. With the struggles of the Yankees' pitching staff, and the Rays about a year away from being serious contenders, the Saawx are going to run away with the AL East.
3. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (22-14)The second best team in the American League, they're the third best team in baseball. That rotation is going to carry them all year. Joe Saunders has been fantastic and the Ervin Santana Show has finally arrived. Jered Weaver will not suck all year, and Jon Garland shouldn't be this bad. With John Lackey coming of the DL next week, the Angels are legit. That offense has always been fun to watch and with the same or better pitching, they'll top the AL West all year.
4. St. Louis Cardinals (22-13)
As I write this, Kyle Lohse is getting shelled by the Rockies. The Cards are down 7-1 heading into the fifth. I give these birds one more week. At least, I'm not going to attempt to explain this team for another week. They've moved up a spot in these rankings, so I am sort of giving them props. I'll say this: If strength of schedule was as closely-followed in MLB as it is in college football and basketball, the Cardinals would be laughed at. They haven't been challenged yet. Last weekend's Cubs series doesn't count because it was played at Busch.5. Philadelphia Phillies (20-15)
I'm sorry A's fans. A 22-14 record should get you into the top 5, but it doesn't here. Not at One Droo Hill, a place of logic and truth (I'm annoying). Before I tell you why the Phillies are pretty good, let me pose a question to the whole NL East: Does somebody want to step up? (That should have been a cooler, more forceful question -- but I'm me). The Braves and Mets are bathing in mediocrity while the Phillies, behind Pat Burrell and Chase Utley, are playing above-average baseball. That's right -- they're playing above-average baseball. At this point, it's enough to crack this Top 5. But, the Marlins still sit in first place. Kudos to Fredi Gonzalez, but come on. The NL East has to be considered the most underachieving division in baseball.
