Fansided

MLB Power Rankings: Cubs streaking into playoffs

By Joshua Sadlock

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs (R) and Kris Bryant #17 celebrate their win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on September 17, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Cubs won 4-3. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Anthony Rizzo #44 of the Chicago Cubs (R) and Kris Bryant #17 celebrate their win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on September 17, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Cubs won 4-3. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 20: Manager Terry Collins #10 of the New York Mets watches from the dugout in an MLB baseball game against the Miami Marlins on August 20, 2017 at CitiField in the Queens borough of New York City. Marlins won 6-4. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 20: Manager Terry Collins #10 of the New York Mets watches from the dugout in an MLB baseball game against the Miami Marlins on August 20, 2017 at CitiField in the Queens borough of New York City. Marlins won 6-4. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) /
26

New York Mets 65-87

Last week: 2-8
Last rank: 25

It is all but assured that this will be the final week for Terry Collins as the manager of the New York Mets. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports confirmed as much in a report at the end of August. His seven years managing the Mets saw Collins experience his best success as a manager.

"No one’s saying it, but people around the team all seem to be assuming there’s almost no way he’ll be back — whether it be due to his choice or the team’s. No one expected the Mets to be 55-70, and it may not be a positive sign that no one will say a word about Collins’ situation, either on or off the record. It’s also something Collins is thinking about too. When he agreed to the two-year deal after the 2015 World Series, he said at that time he wasn’t sure he wanted to manage beyond 2017."

Collins is only under contract through the end of this season, so the decision to part ways could be mutual. He will be 69 next May, and only agreed to a two-year deal after leading the Mets to the 2015 World Series. There wasn’t much Collins could do to get the Mets back to the playoffs with almost every key player spending significant time on the DL. Even so, he has made some decisions that point to a checked out manager.

25

Cincinnati Reds 66-87

Last week: 5-5
Last rank: 26

Oprah has been running the show for the Reds this year. You get a 25-homer season! You get a 25-homer season! You get a 25-homer season! All told, the Reds could end this year with six players hitting more than 25 home runs if Zack Cozart can hit two more. The surge in home runs this year that may or may not definitely be tied to juiced baseballs makes the Reds home run exploits slightly less impressive, but they have been a fun team to watch.

The Reds are going to score a runs in bunches again next year, but it won’t matter much if their pitching cannot keep up. The pieces are starting to fall into place to the point where the Reds could be viewed as a potential sleeper team like the Milwaukee Brewers or Minnesota Twins. Looking at you, Homer Bailey.

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