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POWER RANKINGS
1..ORIOLES +1
Despite being swept by the Astros, I think taking two of three from the Yankees and Phillies more than makes up for that.
2. YANKEES -1
Yankees have looked a little more human this week, from shaky starts from Gil and Rodon, and a 3-7 record in their last 10, they drop 1 spot.
3. PHILLIES --
A relatively tame week, as they hold on to the title of best team in the NL, highlighted by a walkoff from Castellanos.
4. DODGERS --
After the huge injury bug bite, Shohei put the team on his back completely this week, saving them from dropping in the power rankings.
5. GUARDS +1
Currently as of writing this, they are riding a 5 game win streak, the Guardians are playing phenomenal, thanks in part from Steven Kwan playing out of his mind.
6. MARINERS -1
Didn't have a bad nor good week, just simply jumped by the Guardians playing better ball at the moment. Logan Gilbert looks like a legit Cy Young candidate.
7. BREWERS --
The Brewers have been maybe the most sneaky good team, but getting contribution from many different guys. I think they are better, but... could be kind of looking at a 2021 Giants type team.
8. BRAVES +2
Braves are playing really good baseball as of recent, and the bats are starting to wake up this year.
9. TWINS --
Royce Lewis might be one of the most interesting players in the sport. He goes 0 for 10 last weekend then hits several home runs.
10. ROYALS -2
Might want to start waving some red flags for the Royals as of recent. Losing more games, and the lineup in it's entirety is not seeming as competitive as it should be.
11. CARDS --
Cardinals are the hottest team in the NL in the past month or so, and they are seeming to keep going. Wonder if this team will become a buyer by the deadline.
12. PADRES --
If this team adds Crochet at the deadline, they are a World Series contender.
13. RED SOX +2
The Starting pitching and bullpen has been the talk around the Red Sox success, but it may be time to acknowledge Jarren Duran as a legit superstar.
14. D-BACKS --
The Diamondbacks are in a limbo state right now. They don't really feel like they can compete, but we know they can, they were just in the World Series. However, selling may be the best choice, but it might be hard explaining that to the fans.
15. RANGERS +9
This team is starting to look like they might have been in the playoffs last year. Langford is playing better and better, and Scherzer is back and had a great start. This team could heat right back up and make another run at the dance.
16. ASTROS +6
Baseball can come at you fast, and the Astros had a very nice week. Look like themselves, and just swept in my opinion the best team in baseball.
17. RAYS +4
The bats that were supposed to be good this year are finally starting to wake up, like Diaz and Arozarena.
18. CUBS +7
Perhaps I was a little harsh on the Cubbies, but you can't get a good read on this team. What is the X-factor bat in the lineup?
19. GIANTS -2
The Giants I feel the same about as the Cubs, pretty decent rotation, but the lineup doesn't look pretty at all.
20. PIRATES -1
I want to believe in the Pirates so bad, as they have maybe the best rotation in the MLB, but the lineup and bullpen is losing them a lot of games.
21. REDS -3
They keep finding themselves in these weird situations as a team every year. They have a little bit of everything going wrong, nothing major, but everything minor.
22. NATS -9
Yes, they are a half game out of the wild card, but I don't think the type of baseball they are playing is going to last beyond the all-star break, nonetheless, the trade deadline.
23. METS --
After a huge win streak, they come back to Earth a little bit against the Cubs, but this team absolutely should sell at the deadline.
24. TIGERS -4
It was looking so good for the Tigers, until it wasn't. Flaherty could be dealt at the deadline yet again.
25. B JAYS -9
The Blue Jays very well could be dead this year. they don't play like they are alive.
26. ANGELS --
Angels are playing Angels baseball. Pretty dissapointing.
27. A'S +1
Don't be fooled by them moving up, as they are only moving up...
28. ROCKIES -1
Because the Rockies are going down 1.
29. MARLINS --
After weirdly having the Cardinals number this week, I still can't move them from the worst team in the NL.
30. WHITE SOX --
They have to trade this talent ASAP.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Shohei Ohtani
STATS:
.458 / .567 / 1.083
1.650 OPS
339 wRC+
4 HR
8 R
11 RBI
1.2 WAR
Ohtani has put the Dodgers on his back after the injuruies to Max Muncy and Mookie Betts, and has moved to the leadoff spot. Ohtani has stepped up and then some. He was worth 1.2 WAR this week ALONE. That is insane, especially as a DH. Ohtani capped off his big week with two homers against his former team. Although it seems like a cop out pick, and there was a part of me that wanted to show some love to Alec Burleson with this pick, but it simply had to be Shohei.
Paul Skenes
STATS:
13 IP
15 K
1.08 WHIP
2 ER
2 BB
2.30 FIP
Skenes gets the rookie of the week pick, simply beause he looked a veteran. He turned in two long, great quality starts, and struck out a lot of dudes. Skenes is pumping gas and not giving up runs. However, the most impressive, and scary thing if you are facing him, is that he only walked two batters in his 13 innings pitched this week. His one flaw was that he might be wild in the Majors, and nope, he seems he has it under control.
Sonny Gray
STATS:
14.2 IP
12 K
0.55 WHIP
3 ER
2 BB
2.80 FIP
This one could use some explaining, but he simply threw the most innings, and had 2 quality starts. Pablo Lopez had the best individual start, but it didn't feel right giving him the award since he had a bit of a blow up start earlier in the week. Gray also had a perfect game going into the 7th against the Giants, and went into the 8th inning against the Marlins. The numbers simply speak for themselves this week for Gray, who simply did his job excellently this week.
Who SHOULD Participate in the 2024 Home Run Derby?
Maybe the most exciting part of All-Star Week, the Home Run Derby is usually the best display of power the league has to offer. Players decline to participate, and sometimes there are players where you feel that they should particpate. Well, these are the guys that I want to see crushing homers, that maybe you wouldn't expect to particiapate, and are more unlikely to than others, which is why you won't see names like Ohtani and Henderson, as they will almost certainly get invited.
Bobby Witt Jr.
Now I know that I said unlikely players to participate in the Derby, and it certainly feels like Witt Jr will participate in the Derby, but he would be a fantastic addition. With an average exit velocity of 92.4 MPH and an average bat speed of 74 MPH, he would be crushing baseballs all over Texas. Put simply, he hits the ball very hard, and already with a homer total of 12, he should be an eligible candidate, one of a speed power combo that we don't see in the derby very often.
Yordan Alvarez
Personality-wise, I see it being hard for Alvarez to compete and put himself in the spotlight like this. However, I feel like he needs no introduction to how far he can hit the baseball (it is very far). With a max exit velocity this year of 116.8 MPH, and 16 moonshots, he would be an absolute treat to watch hit homers. He has an expected slugging clip of .563, so letting him hit off of a bp pitcher, would be legendary. Also, let's be real, if Alvarez competed, he would most certainly do something cool like hit a baseball 120+ MPH or 500+ ft, and then shrug it off like it was nothing. Like I said, Alvarez is a player who has opted not to play in the All-Star Game, so it would be hard to imagine him stepping up for the Derby, but crazier things have happened.
Oneil Cruz
I mean, come on. With his skill set, it is only a matter of time that he is at least invited to participate in the Derby. Maybe the most raw power in the league, Cruz would be absolutley mashing baseballs. If you go on baseball savant and look at the power numbers for Cruz, you will see a lot of bright red circles. in the 100th percentile of bat speed, 99th in max exit velocity, 98th in barrel percentage. Notorious for hitting the baseball very hard, I think he could be a bit of a wild card in the Derby. Not that I doubt his power, but I could genuinely see him hitting so many line drives whether they leave the park or not. Regardless, the Pitates star has 10 on the year so far, so hopefully he keeps that number up and his phone ready for an invitation.
Nolan Gorman
Another left-handed bat from the NL Central with a sweet swing, Nolan Gorman could be a really fun watch launching baseballs. Now, Gorman goes through a lot of cold stretches, and as of writing this, he is definitely in one. But if there is one number Gorman keeps up, its homers. With his sweet buttery swing, he could turn into a star overnight if the Derby goes a certain way for the kid. Now, naturally, he will have to start hitting better to get an invite. His overall numbers aren't there right now, but potentially a hot stretch could be enough for him to get a shot, and who knows, for a guy like him, the Derby could fix his swing. Now, Gorman is still very, very young, so much like Cruz, he almost certainly will at some point have an oppurtunity to compete, and although this year could be a long shot, I won't rule out this much raw power.
Fernando Tatis Jr.
It is so surprising to know that Tatis hasn't ever participated in the Derby. A natural star and an idol in the league, Tatis would so easily make the Derby must-watch TV. And don't worry, unlike Gorman, Tatis does have the numbers to get an invite this year. He hits the ball hard, and very often, with an avg exit velocity in the 97th percentile and a hard hit rate of 53.8%. It really does make you scratch your head how he has never done the derby, but with Judge already stating he won't participate, it wouldn't hurt to add even more star power to the Derby.
Giancarlo Stanton
You know what they say, "You never know what you have, until it's gone." and that could absolutely be applied to Stanton. After dominating a Home Run Derby back in Miami, Stanton hasn't maintained a healthy and successful campaign in what feels like ages, until this year. Yes he is on IL as of writing this, but assuming he is healthy and continues the season that he was having, I think it would be an absolute treat to bring him back. Stanton has great power numbers on the year, and I think the MLB should take advantage of it, because we don't know how many healthy and successful Stanton season's we have left. Oh, and he would have no issue competing or just outright winning, as he has the fastest bat speed in the MLB, and the best barrel percentage in the league at 19.4. He is essentially the reason I am writing this whole article, I want to see stanton back on the derby stage.
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