MLB Power Rankings: Cardinals seek and destroy, Red Sox fade to black
By Tim Boyle
20) MLB Power Rankings: Texas Rangers
The American League West sure seems to be full of disappointment. Maybe it’s because four teams entered the year thinking they had a shot. The Texas Rangers were one of them. From practically the start, it was clear they didn’t stand a chance.
The Rangers do have the beginning stages of a pretty good team. A strong offseason could definitely push them forward. Matching some of the best teams within the league could take an extra year of building. However, they’ve gotten started and that’s what counts.
19) MLB Power Rankings: San Francisco Giants
Where did it all go wrong for the San Francisco Giants? Now looking like the second-weakest team in the division, they were less of a team that collapsed and more of one that outperformed expectations early on.
Because of their pitching staff and competent lineup, the Giants can still pull off some wins. They won’t make it to the postseason yet they can ruin the hopes and dreams of some other teams. In September, sometimes that’s enough to get you through those final 30+ games.
18) MLB Power Rankings: Arizona Diamondbacks
Let’s give the Arizona Diamondbacks a round of applause. On the MLB Power Rankings, they have moved ahead of the once mighty Giants. They are giving as many opportunities as they can to their young players to perform. The next season could be a lot of fun.
Arizona is playing out these final four weeks discovering what they have in stock. This is a team that had a very good farm system that went somewhat under-the-radar. Corbin Carroll looks like he could be one of the most exciting players in the league. The best teams in the National League West need to capitalize on their opportunity this year. The Diamondbacks are coming.
17) MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox
It will be up to the Boston Red Sox to give the American League East five teams over .500. It’s amazing to think this is now a challenge for Boston. Only a few months ago, they were a top ten club in the MLB Power Rankings looking to secure the top wild card spot.
Time caught up with the Red Sox and so did a bunch of injuries. In some ways, it’s kind of impressive that things haven’t been more chaotic in Boston. Distractions had a chance to run amuck on them. Fortunately, they began their landslide early enough to the point where they will be best remembered as a bad team and not one that blew it late.
16) MLB Power Rankings: Chicago White Sox
The middle of the pack in this week’s MLB Power Rankings includes a lot of teams that blew it. The Chicago White Sox are one of those teams. They’ve been flirting with .500 all year. With the potential to breakout and capture a wild card spot, any hope of them accomplishing this evaporates almost daily.
The White Sox can come up with a lot of excuses. Injuries are easy. Performances below expectations are a little tougher to accept. We, of course, have to mention Tony La Russa and many of the questionable decisions he has made. While the Red Sox had a light collapse, the White Sox were never really there in contention. Amazingly, they are very much alive in the American League Central chase. Who wants to see them pull it off?