Major League Baseball Rankings: Week 9 - Part 1
Since the season began, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cleveland Indians have been constant fixtures at the top spots. After spending one week on the Number two spot, the Phillies decided to step up their game and claim the Number one position once again.
Their 19 inning win against the Cincinnati Reds in the longest game of the Major League Season may have something to do with it.
With a 33-20 record, the Phillies improved from last week’s second position to the first one. The team that could barely manage three runs per game is now averaging at six runs per game. Credit should be given to Chase Utley, who even though is belting out
normal hits seems to have given the Phillies’ offence the confidence to perform and compliment their historical pitching rotation. He has become the main focal point of the Phillies’ offence. If the Phillies continue to improve their offence and world class
pitching, then they’d have a one way ticket to the Division Series at the very least. Philadelphia is a solid team with the some of the top players from the league.
The Cleveland Indians knocked the Phillies off the Number one spot after they spent more than four weeks on top. Sadly they couldn’t keep themselves on the top but they have a 31-19 record. They recently suffered four collective losses at the hands of the
Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox in the American League East. The Indians are capable of regaining the top spot, as they have a talented well balanced squad of players.
The Boston Red Sox remain where they were last week, at the third position, with a 30-23 record. After their humiliating start this season, the Red Sox have improved by leaps and bounds. This is evident by the fact that Carl Crawford has an OPS above 1.700
last week. The team with the worst start is belting out runs like there’s no tomorrow and it seems that the trouble they were having in April has been rectified as Boston’s performance in the month of May was tremendous.
The St. Louis Cardinals increased their standing by one position as they settle down on the fourth spot from last week’s fifth. Even though their best player after Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday wasn’t present for the entire week, they maintained their 32-22
record and led the league in walk rate. Their offence has definitely stepped up and started performing better than ever. The Cardinals were mostly successful in their nine game road trip. St. Louis has a very good team capable of going even higher in the rankings
before the regular season is over.
The Florida Marlins climbed up three spots to reach the fifth position this week with a 30-21 record. It’ll be hard for the Marlins to maintain their position with Hanley Ramirez underperforming and the rest of the team sulking as well. They suffered a humiliating
8-0 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers and if that wasn’t bad enough, they underwent a 15-4 defeat at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Just when it seems like things can’t possibly get any worse for Florida, they slip even lower. The Marlins
are a quality team with some great players, the lack of coordination between their offence and defence is causing trouble for them.
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