POWER
RANKINGS
1. YANKEES: They
made the right moves, and now
they're the World Series favorites.
Last week (4)
2. TIGERS: Must
avoid late-summer meltdown, but
young pitching is susceptible. (1)
3. METS: So far
ahead of the rest of the NL it's
laughable. (3)
4. RED SOX:
Losing Varitek hurts, but Javy Lopez
is a nice alternative. (2)
5. WHITE SOX:
Kind of scuffling along, but the
talent is still imposing. (6)
6. CARDINALS:
Addition of Ronnie Belliard, Jorge
Sosa should seal division title. (7)
7. TWINS:
Francisco Liriano's arm injury is
alarming. (5)
8. ATHLETICS:
Series win vs. Angels was good start
to clinching AL West. (10)
9. BLUE JAYS:
Evidently, Shea Hillenbrand was
correct; the ship is sinking. (8)
10. PADRES: Road
record (30-22) has kept them at top
of NL West. (9)
11. ANGELS: No
moves at deadline means L.A. still
lacks a big bat. (11)
12. REDS:
Stumbling, starting to tumble; must
right the ship immediately. (12)
13. RANGERS:
Addition of Carlos Lee was
interesting, but not enough. (14)
14. DODGERS:
Addition of Greg Maddux makes them
NL West favorite again. (26)
15. DIAMONDBACKS:
Elbow injury for Brandon Webb means
trouble. (13)
16. BREWERS: Made
the right moves … for the 2007
season. (23)
17. MARINERS:
Amazingly, still well within
striking distance of AL West lead.
(19)
18.
PHILLIES: Chase Utley falls
short in the annual DiMaggio chase
in Philly. (21)
19. ASTROS:
The magic of 2005 is gone. Aubrey
Huff hasn't helped. (17)
20.
MARLINS: You heard it here
first: They'll win the NL East in
'07. (18)
21.
BRAVES: Another injury
(Chipper Jones) derails comeback
attempt. (16)
22.
INDIANS: This remains the
most disappointing team in the AL.
(25)
23.
ROCKIES: Only with Todd
Helton would .290 be disappointing.
(24)
24.
GIANTS: Anyone notice Omar
Vizquel's great season (.307
average)? (15)
25.
ORIOLES: They kept Miguel
Tejada, but why? (22)
26. CUBS:
The second Maddux Era ends in huge
disappointment. (27)
27.
NATIONALS: They kept
Alfonso Soriano, but why? (20)
28. DEVIL
RAYS: Seth McClung, closer?
Should've happened long before now.
(28)
29.
PIRATES: If there's a plan,
guess Craig Wilson wasn't part of
it. (29)
30.
ROYALS: No. 1 pick Luke
Hochevar could be No. 1 starter in
2007. (30)
FANTASY CORNER
MELKY CABRERA, Yankees:
The rookie outfielder stepped into
the void left by injuries to Hideki
Matsui and Gary Sheffield, and has
performed well (.283, five HR, 14
doubles). Despite the additions of
Bobby Abreu and Craig Wilson,
Cabrera's playing time is likely to
remain steady at least through the
rest of this month as Matsui and
Sheffield continue to recuperate.
MIKE MATHENY, Giants: The
Gold Glove catcher is out for the
season with post-concussion
symptoms, and his career might be in
jeopardy. His loss means continued
playing time for 27-year-old Eliezer
Alfonzo, who is batting .292 with
nine homers and 24 RBIs in 144
at-bats.
AL Extra Bases
Twins 1B Justin Morneau
has 29 home runs and is virtually
assured of becoming the first
Minnesota player with 30 home runs
since 1987. … The best non-trade of
the deadline period could have been
a potential deal that would have
sent Angels RHP Ervin Santana
and SS prospect Erick Aybar
to Baltimore in exchange for SS
Miguel Tejada (who would've had
to play 3B for the Angels). The
Angels didn't get the bat they
desperately need, but at least they
avoided making what would've been
the most lopsided deal in recent
memory, considering Santana's
potential and Tejada's
disgruntlement.
NL Extra Bases
Cardinals LHP Mark Mulder
(shoulder) reported no pain after a
simulated game Wednesday, and is
scheduled to make a rehabilitation
appearance for Single-A Quad Cities
today. … The Braves and Red Sox
spoke briefly Sunday about a trade
that would have sent Andruw Jones
to Boston for pitchers Craig
Hansen and Jon Lester and
CF Coco Crisp. The Sox
wouldn't part with Lester, and talks
broke down. … Nationals LF
Alfonso Soriano wasn't traded,
so he still has a chance for the
franchise record in outfield
assists. He leads the majors with 16
outfield assists.
