Maine's MLB Power Ten, 5/1

[MaineDolFan]

I really want to go home.  Toronto, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay...I want to sleep in my own bed!  I want to see my wife.  I want, I want.  Okay...PT time. 

#1.  Chicago White Sox 17-7
The ChiSox are on fire.  8-2 in their last ten games, they are finishing an impressive road series with the Angels.  They get the suddenly struggling Indians tonight as the road trip continues.  8-4 on the road isn't a bad mark at this stage in the season what so ever.

#2.  New York Mets 16-8
Carlos Beltran finally connected with a big boy fly yesterday, but it wasn't enough to sweep the Braves.  Either way, taking two out of three against the Braves was huge for this team.  Billy Wagner is nails, he is looking like a very strong signing for this team.  The Mets start a series today against the hopeless Nationals, that should keep them cruising for now.

#3.  St. Louis Cardinals 17-8
What a difference a week makes!  I was worried about the Cards bullpen and they shut me up right quick.  8-2 in their last ten, Mulder is nails and Isringhausen is pitching well again after a very rocky start.  Chris Carpenter is quietly 3-1 with a sparkling 1.80 ERA and St. Louis's bats are ripping the ball apart. 

#4.  Cincinnati Red 17-8
Led by Bronson Arroyo's 4-0 record with a 2.34 ERA, the Big Red Machine comes rolling into St. Louis today for a show down with the Cards.  Also 8-2 in their last ten games, the Reds could be for real this season.  Might as well be rookie Edwin Encarnacion is handling his first full season in the majors well.

#5.  Houston Astros 16-8
All NL Central, all the time!  Houston is winning in very strange ways.  Their big guns, Oswalt / Lidge, etc are struggling...but then there is this Wandy Rodriguez kid sitting with a 4-0 record and a 2.53 ERA.  He takes that record into tonight's game with the vastly improved Brewers.  Houston has won the majority of their games at home, an impressive 12 wins.

#6.  Detroit Tigers 16-9
Kenny Rogers was outstanding yesterday, going 8 innings and giving up only two hits against the Twins.  They'll need Kenny to keep this up over the season to remain in the chase.  The Tigers are amoung the hottest teams in baseball, winning 8 of their last 10 games and being road warriors while doing it.  They are .500 at home (5-5) yet sport MLB's best road record at 11-4.

#7.  Boston Red Sox 14-11
I'm not overly concerned with Boston's not-so-great start on the road, they are playing with a patch work outfield and without their lead off hitter.  What does trouble me is RISP and the inability to do anything about it.  They have seemingly left 1,987 RISP without converting.  The good news is that Coco should be back soon, which allows all the batters to move down, that should help Boston's bats. 

#8.  New York Yankees 13-10
Until Saturday, Johnny Damon had been struggling.  He was hitting .274 with 1 home run and 5 RBIs.  Saturday was a big day for Damon, hitting two dings, scoring some runs and showing why the Yankees put the amount of money into him that they did.  They took two out of three against Toronto, which is always a tough thing.  Today, welcome to Boston.

#9.  Colorado Rockies 15-10
Winners of seven of their last ten, I'm really starting to think that the Rockies could make some noise this year in the very weak NL West.  I don't expect San Diego to struggle as much as they are now, but they can't afford to continue this downward spiral.  Even the Dodgers are showing signs of life.

#10.  San Francisco 13-11
So much for Barry Bonds being "done."  After a slow start Bonds has put up impressive numbers.  He's hitting .381 in his last ten games, with three home runs, 9 RBI and was walked 13 times.  Those walks turned into 6 runs.  San Fran welcomes the struggling Jake Peavy in town today for a show down with the Padres.

Okay kids - that is what I have for now.  Off to the ball park for yet another exciting day in Red Sox land...

[Denver_Bronco]

You must have the Marlins very close to being in because i have them at #5 this week.

[Sunstroke]

I feel that Cleveland, at 15-13, is a better overall team than at least a couple of these teams (Rockies, Giants and even the Tiggers). With their offense, they could score 25+ runs in a series where they face Warren Spahn, Christy Matthewson and Walter Johnson.

I still think Rogers, Maroth, Robertson and the rest of the Tiggers pitching will come back to earth eventually, and I see their record taking a hit when that happens.

I don't see the Dodgers being a force in the West at all...they're made of smoke and mirrors. Any time your most explosive player is Jason Repko, you're skating on thin offensive ice.

[EDGECRUSHER]

I thought the Yankees were bad with RISP because of walks and no hits, but Boston has been ridiculous so far. It won't last if only because a hole in time would open up, but it's frustrating for them now.

The Mets are ripe for a fall sooner or later. They keep playing shitty opponents(not their fault, the NL East is horrible), but they aren't better than the Cards or Astros.

[Sunstroke]

After a seriously slow start, the Padres have now won 7 in a row, and have only allowed 1 run in the last 31 innings pitched. How much longer must they wait before they can take their deserved place on the prestigious Maine PT? 

[EDGECRUSHER]

After a seriously slow start, the Padres have now won 7 in a row, and have only allowed 1 run in the last 31 innings pitched. How much longer must they wait before they can take their deserved place on the prestigious Maine PT? 

When they start beating teams not named the Pirates 

[Sunstroke]

When they start beating teams not named the Pirates

That will work...we haven't actually played the Pirates yet this season. 

Our current 7-game winning streak is against the Dodgers (3), Giants (2), and Cubs (2).