MLB Power Rankings: Astros, Dodgers clinch as Padres, Phillies flinch
By Tim Boyle
20) MLB Power Rankings: Texas Rangers
It’s the Nathaniel Lowe Show in the Lone Star State. The Texas Rangers first baseman has had an awesome year for them in a season where the Rangers have actually put together some fine offensive numbers as a team.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t do them much in the MLB Power Rankings or the standings. This is an empty ball club without the pitching to support their increasingly good offense. Have some faith for next year. This one has been over for months.
19) MLB Power Rankings: Boston Red Sox
It’s never a good thing for the Boston Red Sox when it’s September and the goal is to simply finish with more wins than losses. Can they do it? It’s going to take a better effort as they remain a handful of games under the .500 mark.
Several Red Sox players have had good years with Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers each falling into that category. It will be interesting to see what the front office does in the offseason. The Red Sox look capable of rebounding and competing next year or going through a major overhaul.
18) MLB Power Rankings: Arizona Diamondbacks
For a while, the Arizona Diamondbacks looked like they were going to be a problem for any team on the remainder of their schedule. They’ve fallen back to reality and the weaknesses they do have are showing.
Many of the Diamondbacks players are inexperienced and that has slowed them down. A roster full of guys in their early 20s will experience some growing pains. For their sake, we can only hope they get a lot of them out of the way in a lost 2022 campaign’s final days.
17) MLB Power Rankings: San Francisco Giants
Just barely ahead of the rival Diamondbacks are the San Francisco Giants. We’ve seen them play much better baseball in the past. With rumors about Aaron Judge possibly signing with them in the offseason already on the minds of fans, some positive news is already hitting this ball club that ironically hasn’t hit enough.
The Giants are usually a smart organization willing to make necessary moves to improve the roster. Their problem this year was believing their success in 2021 would carry over. It hasn’t and we have ourselves a ball club that overachieved early before realizing the truth: they are good but not playoff good.
16) MLB Power Rankings: Minnesota Twins
Not enough has been made about how badly the Minnesota Twins collapsed. They’ve been getting beaten up a lot over the last month and a half. Despite some sweet trade deadline moves, they’ve handed over their lead in the American League Central and no longer appear like they’ll participate in the postseason.
Nearly all of the usual culprits are to blame. Injuries, players that were once playing well being reminded of who they are, and some silent days at the plate. The Twins aren’t yet dead in the postseason race but seem to be fading too quickly to have enough time to play catch up.