GW’s MLB West Power Ratings (Week 20)
1. Rangers (1): It is downright shocking to see “.267” listed as Michael Young’s batting average this late in the season. This could be his worst season, batting average wise, since 2002, his first full season in the big leagues. We’re talking about a .301 career hitter and future Hall of Fame inductee.
2. Giants (2): Familiar surroundings should give Xavier Nady and the Giants a boost heading into the final month of the regular season. He is a Bay Area native, being raised in Salinas, Calif., and starred at the University of California-Berkeley.
3. Athletics (3): The September schedule is daunting. Starting on Monday, 20 of their next 23 games are against teams with winning records, including playoff contenders Yankees (3), Orioles (3), Tigers (3) and Rangers (4).
4. Dodgers (4): That blockbuster trade that was supposed to pump new life into the team has yet to make much noise at all and time is running out.
5. Angels (5): There are such things as “looking ahead” but veteran skipper Mike Scioscia took it to a new level this week when he said ace right-hander Jered Weaver was “in rotation” to start either the regular-season finale against the Mariners on Oct. 3 or the Wild Card elimination game.
6. Diamondbacks (6): In the no-brainer department, general manager Kevin Towers is right on the money suggesting that picking up the option year of J.J. Putz’s contract worth $6.5 million would be a wise thing to do.
7. Mariners (8): Compared to the way he pitched en route to the Cy Young Award two years ago, Felix (Perfect Game) Hernandez could be a shoo-in to add a second Cy to his collection – unless the Angels keep beating him in September.
8. Padres (7): Eighteen wins in August? If that’s a sign of things to come, perhaps part-owner Phil Mickelson could pull off a FedExCup victory (and pocket the $10 million first prize) in September.
9. Rockies (9): Not that it will make much difference in the overall bleak picture, but getting SS Troy Tulowitzi back would make September much more palatable for the Rox and their fans.
(Last Week’s rating in parenthesis)