MLB Power Rankings: Giants down in a hole, everything zen for Dodgers
By Tim Boyle
20) MLB Power Rankings: Arizona Diamondbacks
In baseball, there are contenders and pretenders. Then there are clubs that are just there. That’s where the Arizona Diamondbacks are. They’re not very good. They’re also not very bad. They could absolutely swing a three-game sweep against the best team one weekend then silently fall the next. Playing in the tough National League West has put a huge dent on their record that they’ll be unable to recover from.
The Diamondbacks do have a nice farm system and could get back to their winning ways quicker than some believe. They’ve been sneaky in free agency with Zack Greinke and Madison Bumgarner in recent years. Although those signings didn’t pay off, we can expect them to do similar things in the future.
19) MLB Power Rankings: Miami Marlins
Baseball purgatory exists and it might be in South Florida. The Miami Marlins are doing what they typically do. They build up some good players only for many of them to become hot trade candidates around the time when they would start making good money.
The Marlins finished the weekend with a sweep against them at the hands of the New York Mets. It’s about par for what they have been doing this year. They can beat the bad teams. Occasionally, they spoil things for the good ones. They are, unfortunately, yet again closer to the bottom than maybe even the middle.
18) MLB Power Rankings: San Francisco Giants
It’s true. The San Francisco Giants were overachieving earlier this season. Somehow, with a less-than-average starting lineup, incomplete starting rotation, and average-at-best bullpen they were viewed as contenders until very recently. Right now, the Giants are down in a hole and feeling so small.
The Giants went from a 107 win team last year to a club that might end the year below .500. However, because of their strong farm system and expectations that they will be in on free agents yet again next winter, things aren’t looking so bad for them. Right now, it’s important they trade Carlos Rodon, Joc Pederson, and a few others for good MLB-ready youngsters. Make this rebuild last a half season.
17) MLB Power Rankings: Chicago White Sox
In some ways, the Chicago White Sox are the American League version of the Giants. The main difference is the White Sox look good on paper. The Giants don’t. Ultimately, for both clubs, the uniqueness of their respective managers might be one reason why they miss the postseason.
If there is one team this far down on the MLB Power Rankings that might want to actually buy, it’s the White Sox. They have some good pitching. If their offense ever came around, they’d have a much better chance at capturing the division title. Barely over .500, their greatest asset is the fact that they play in a weak division.
16) MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox haven’t quite gotten as buried as the Giants or White Sox but they are trending in that direction. The Red Sox don’t have the kind of might we’re used to seeing at Fenway Park. This is a team that could benefit from a retool then come back for vengeance in 2023 or 2024.
The Red Sox could still pull a winning streak out from under their caps. They have had multiple players step up big this season. Their greatest problem was the health of their pitchers. If life had an ‘injuries off’ setting then they would easily be in the top ten of the MLB Power Rankings. Instead, they fall below the next team on this list: the Baltimore Orioles.