GW’s MLB West Power Rankings (Week 7)
1. Rangers (2): As the only team in the Major Leagues without a blown save, the Rangers return to the coveted top-dog spot in GW’s renowned Power Rankings.
2. Giants (1): If there was a “best No. 2 hitter” award in the big leagues, Marco Scuturo would be at, or near, the top of the list of candidates.
3. Diamondbacks (4): When it comes to gunning down potential base-stealers, catcher Miguel Montero is about as good as it gets. Between his quickness and arm, and the way D-Backs pitchers keep runners close, opposing teams are reluctant to even try to steal a base.
4. Rockies (3): The temperature swings in Denver so far this season mirror the difference between surprising success in April and struggles thus far in May.
5. Mariners (6): Lefty starter Joe Saunders is on pace to have a 16-16 record this season, going undefeated at home and winless on the road.
6. Athletics (5): You have to wonder just how long it will be before hard-of-seeing umpire Angel Hernandez and his equally sight-challenged crew will be assigned to work a series in Oakland.
7. Angels (8): If things don’t work out for embattled skipper Mike Scioscia and he receives a pink slip, perhaps he could find instant employment as a Major League umpire. At least he knows the rules, which obviously isn’t the case with some current arbiters.
8. Dodgers (7): The good news in La-La-Land is that right-handed starter Zack Greinke could rejoin the starting rotation as soon as Wednesday. The bad news is that this under-achieving team needs much more than just Zack.
9. Padres (9): It’s always a lousy day when “adopted” kinfolk Huston watches a potential save turn into an instant blown save and loss the way it happened at the Tropicana Dome on Saturday night. Ah, the life of a closer.
10 Astros (10): Perhaps it was only fitting that one-time perfect game pitcher Philip Humber received his pink slip on Mother’s Day – when that is the color of the day throughout our national pastime.
(Last week’s ranking in parenthesis)