Inside The Standings – June 30

Power Rankings as of June 30.
 
Biggest movers: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim  9,  New York Mets & Pittsburgh Pirates  5.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (48-28) NC : Manny’s return should help the Dodgers maintain their # 1 spot.
2. Boston Red Sox (46-29) NC : Penny’s mini turn around has helped the Sox: he posted a 3.18 ERA in June. 
3. New York Yankees (42-32) NC : Even though they’re still stuck behind the Red Sox, the Yankees are feeling pretty good right now. A-Rod’s break proved worthwhile, Rivera just notched his 500th save and they swept the Subway series over the weekend.
4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (41-32)  ↑9 : Now the team to beat in the AL West.
5. Texas Rangers (40-33) NC : Definitely need an arm now that Matt Harrison is headed to the DL.
6. Philadelphia Phillies (39-34)  ↓2 : I’m seeing a recurring theme here. Another team in the playoff hunt looking for a starter approaching the deadline.
7. Detroit Tigers (42-33)  ↑3 : What if Magglio Ordonez was hitting well?
8. St Louis Cardinals (41-36)  ↓1 : Made a great move this week acquiring Mark Derosa.
9. Milwaukee Brewers (40-35)  ↓3 : After starting the season strong, the Brewers rotation now looks like it needs some serious help for Gallardo.
10. Tampa Bay Rays (42-35)  ↑2 : Their resurgence could be attributed to their 3.24 team ERA in June, second in the MLB during that time.
11. San Francisco Giants (40-34)  ↓2 : Is the NL wild card really in the grasp of the worst offensive team in the league?
12.  Toronto Blue Jays (41-36)  ↓1 : Can Aaron Hill get some love? He leads all MLB second basemen in HR, RBI and is second in AVG, but is still considered the 4th best second baseman in the AL by All-Star voters. P.S. The Doctor is back.
13.  New York Mets (37-36)  ↓5 : The injury bug has bitten the Mets, hard. I don’t think it’s Citi Field’s fault the Mets can’t seem to hit the ball out of the park.
14. Seattle Mariners (39-36)  ↑7 : What team’s ERA was first to the Rays in June? Yes, the Mariners. Knowing their lineup, there will be a lot of hockey-type scores if the pitching can keep it up.
15. Minnesota Twins (39-38)  ↑1 : The Twins need to win the AL Central to make the playoffs.
16. Colorado Rockies (40-35)  ↑8 : The 20 wins out of 23 games run seems oddly familiar to ’07, just a little bit earlier. I don’t think it’s very bold to predict the Rockies will fall off well before the World Series this time.
17.  Cincinnati Reds (37-37)  ↓3 : Reds fans are hoping Joey Votto’s return can offset Phillips’ cyclical slump.
18.  Florida Marlins (38-39)  ↓1 : Don’t count the Marlins out yet. Out of 26 games in June, 23 were against teams with plus .500 records. They went 15-11.
19. Chicago Cubs (35-37)  ↓4 : Boy, does Milton Bradley look like a bad pickup. (.232, 5 HR, for $20 million over the next two years). Not to mention the clubhouse problems.
20. Chicago White Sox (37-38) NC : The White Sox need to stop making errors if they want a shot at the AL Central. Seriously, they lead the AL in unearned runs allowed.
21. Houston Astros (35-38)  ↑1 : It might be beneficial for the Astros to start losing some games so they don’t get the illusions they are contenders.
22. Atlanta Braves (35-40)  ↓3 : When I wrote earlier the Braves would be in trouble if Nate McLouth didn’t start producing, this is what I was talking about.
23. Pittsburgh Pirates (35-40)  ↓5 : Ian Snell was sent down and K’d 13 in a row in  a 7-inning, 17 strikeout effort. Wow.
24. Baltimore Orioles (34-41)  ↑2 : Likely going to be selling hitters at the deadline. If the Giants keep playing well, they should be interested.
25. San Diego Padres (32-41) NC : With Jake Peavy out, Adrian Gonzalez and the Padres are giving the Royals a run for their money in the biggest one-man team in the Majors.
26. Kansas City Royals (32-42)  ↓3 : Greinke got his 10th win of the season on June 28th after finishing May with 8.
27. Oakland Athletics (31-43) NC : A .238 team average is good for dead last in the MLB.
28. Arizona Diamondbacks (30-46) NC : Arguably the most underachieving team in the Majors.
29. Cleveland Indians (31-46) NC : The fact that the Mark Derosa trade was good for the Cardinals doesn’t mean it was bad for the Indians. Jeff Stevens could be the closer of the future.
30. Washington Nationals (22-51) NC : Depending on what the Nationals do at the deadline, they could be a decent team in 2010.