POWER RANKINGS: Playoff Push Edition

What Teams are Real and What Teams are Not

1. New York Yankees – 66-38
The Yankees would have been the favorites to win the World Series even if they were quiet at the deadline. Instead, they picked up Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns and Kerry Wood to add depth to their already strong core.

2. Tampa Bay Rays – 65-39
With their victory over the Yankees, the Rays sit just one game back. The Rays were relatively quiet at the deadline (only acquiring Chad Qualls) but have two of baseball’s best prospects ready to make an impact if they get the call from AAA.

3. Texas Rangers – 61-44
The Rangers have baseball’s largest division lead (eight games over the Angels) and made plenty of moves to bolster the team this past week. If Rich Harden continues to pitch well (seven good innings in Sunday’s win) nobody will come close to knocking Texas off.

4. San Diego Padres – 61-42
San Diego did a good job at the trade deadline, adding both Miguel Tejada and Ryan Ludwick to bolster a less than stellar offense. If the pitching staff continues its fine work this team could be dangerous come October.

5. San Francisco Giants – 60-45
The Giants have been on a roll lately (eight wins in their last 10) but they didn’t address their mediocre offense at all during the trade deadline.

6. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are one of the best teams in baseball, yet sit 5.5 games out of the wildcard spot. With a relatively quiet deadline (trading Ramon Ramirez and acquiring Jarrod Saltalamacchia in separate deals) the Red Sox will need players like Dustin Pedroia to get healthy and play well in order to make the playoffs.

7. Chicago White Sox
Like the Giants, the White Sox failed to add a bat at the deadline. They did, however, add Edwin Jackson, who might need a return to the AL Central to live up to the promise he showed last year in Detroit.

8. Minnesota Twins – 59-46
The Twins bolstered their team (for the short term at least) with the addition of Matt Capps at the trade deadline. While winning nine of their past 10, the Twins will likely battle the White Sox down to the wire.

9. St. Louis Cardinals – 59-46
The Cardinals bolstered their pitching staff with the addition of Jake Westbrook, but lost a power hitter in Ryan Ludwick. With the Reds staying quiet, this turns out to be a win for the Cardinals.

10. Atlanta Braves – 49-45
Although the Braves have struggled since the All-Star break, they still have a 2.5 game lead on the surging Philadelphia Phillies. Rick Ankiel could be a huge addition if he can rediscover his power stroke.

11. Philadelphia Phillies – 57-48
The addition of Roy Oswalt didn’t pay immediate dividends, but the Phillies have to feel confident about their new-look pitching staff. Winners of eight of their past 10, the Phillies have gained a lot of ground on the Braves since the break.

12. Cincinnati Reds – 59-47
Just a half game behind the Cardinals, the Reds didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline, opting to go forward with the guys they already have. If Edinson Volquez can return to form, he will be like adding an ace to their staff.

13. Colorado Rockies – 55-50
The Rockies are one of few teams which didn’t make any moves at the deadline. Five games behind San Francisco, the Rockies will look to put together another impressive streak as the season draws to a close.

14. Toronto Blue Jays – 54-51
Toronto surprised people at the trade deadline by holding on to Jose Bautista and a handful of relief pitchers. The Blue Jays are 12.5 games off the pace, so they probably should have sold off some more of their talent.

15. Los Angeles Dodgers – 54-50
The Dodgers made a flurry of deals at the deadline, bolstering their roster by adding Scott Podsednik, Ted Lilly, Ryan Theriot and Octavio Dotel. Although they are 7.5 games back of the Padres, the Dodgers are primed for a strong run over the season’s final two months.

16. Los Angeles Angels – 54-53
Losers of seven of their past 10, the Angels don’t look like a playoff team even with the newly acquired Dan Haren. Unless the Angels can string together some impressive series wins, they will end up on the outside come October.

17. Florida Marlins – 53-52
Florida had an interesting deadline, selling Jorge Cantu but acquiring Will Ohman. Just 6.5 games back, they aren’t completely out of contention, but the Braves and Phillies improved more.

18. New York Mets – 53-52
The Mets are the same 6.5 games back as Florida, but their season seems to be heading in the opposite direction. The Mets didn’t make any moves at the deadline, instead choosing to keep their aging talent while not making a push to win this year.

19. Oakland Athletics – 52-52
The A’s are 8.5 games behind the Rangers, but didn’t sell off anyone at the trade deadline. With their season seemingly over, I’m not sure why Billy Bean and company didn’t try to bolster their roster for the future.

20. Detroit Tigers – 52-52
With the injuries piling up and the losses beginning to come more rapidly (eight in their past 10 games) the Tigers big deadline move was to acquire Jhonny Peralta. With that, I’m saying they are clearly a second rate team and won’t compete with the Twins or White Sox this year.

21. Milwaukee Brewers – 48-58
Although they are far out of contention, the Brewers held onto some very good trade pieces (Corey Hart and Prince Fielder) at the deadline.

22. Washington Nationals – 46-59
With Stephen Strasburg on the DL, the Nationals are back to being a boring last place team. On the bright side, they absolutely robbed the Twins by acquiring Wilson Ramos (and another prospect) for middling closer Matt Capps.

23. Houston Astros – 45-59
The Astros made a couple deals at the deadline. Long time Astros Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman are gone. To me, their best move might have been acquiring Brett Wallace, who could help Houston’s offense immediately.

24. Kansas City Royals – 45-60
The Royals didn’t get any huge prospects in their deadline deals, but Tim Collins (acquired from the Braves, who had just acquired him from the Blue Jays) has the potential to be a dominant lefty closer who can strike out a ton of batters.

25. Chicago Cubs – 46-59
The Cubs traded away some high-priced veterans in Ted Lilly and Ryan Theriot. If not for Derek Lee’s no trade clause, he too would have a new home this august.

26. Cleveland Indians – 44-61
The Indians were among the most active teams this deadline, although they still havn’t figured out who they will be getting in return for half of their trades (both Austin Kearns and Kerry Wood were traded to the Yankees for Players to be Named Later).

27. Arizona Diamondbacks – 39-66
The Diamondbacks were also big sellers, although I think they could have gotten a lot better return for Dan Haren. In the end, they cut a ton of salary and got some players (like Daniel Hudson) who could be stars in the future.

28. Seattle Mariners – 39-67
Surprisingly, the Mariners were quiet after trading away Cliff Lee. Currently sitting 22.5 games out of first place, they probably should have tried to pawn off a few more players to improve in the future.

29. Pittsburgh Pirates – 36-68
Another big seller (although I’m really not sure what they were doing in the trade with Arizona), the Pirates finish another trade deadline as sellers and are continuing their years of futility.

30. Baltimore Orioles – 32-73
The Orioles still have the worst record in baseball, and I’m not really sure why they held onto Luke Scott and Ty Wigginton. The Orioles could be officially eliminated by the middle of August, yet they have plenty of veterans (including Kevin Millwood) still on their roster.

Brett Kettyle
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What Teams are Real and What Teams are Not August 5, 2010 – Brett Kettyle 1. New York Yankees – 66-38 The Yankees would have been the favorites to win the World Series even if they were quiet at the deadline. Instead, they picked up Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns and Kerry Wood to add depth [...]