As the first three months of the 2009 baseball season are behind us, Las Vegas Sports Consultants has released the latest edition of their power rankings. Sitting atop the rankings once again are the Boston Red Sox, despite some dramatic finishes in Baltimore over the last few games. The Sox captured six of nine on their recent road trip, winning all three series against the Nationals, Braves, and Orioles. Boston returns to Fenway Park for a 10-game homestand in which the Sox could really clean up, hosting the Mariners, A's, and Royals prior to the All-Star Break.
The second and third slots flip-flopped as the Yankees moved up to number two, while the Dodgers slipped to three. The Bombers have won seven straight entering Thursday's action, sitting 2 ½-games behind the Red Sox in the AL East. New York ranks second in baseball in runs scored behind Tampa Bay, racking up 427 runs. The Dodgers, who get Manny Ramirez back in the lineup Friday following his 50-game suspension, took two of three against the hot Rockies to break the 50-win plateau. Joe Torre's club hits the road for nine games before the break, taking on the Padres, Mets, and Brewers.
Last week's fourth-ranked team, the World Champion Phillies, has dropped to sixth. Philadelphia has lost 13 of its past 17, and six of its last nine on the road. The Phillies still own the best road mark in baseball at 26-14, despite the hitting struggles of Jimmy Rollins and the groin injury to Raul Ibanez.
The Brewers and Twins each made significant jumps in this week's rankings, sitting tied in the ninth spot. Milwaukee captured four of six against the Giants and Mets at home. Minnesota is fresh off three straight series victories, all on the road. The Twins took two of three from the Brewers, Cardinals, and Royals, but interestingly haven't won more than two in a row since May 24.
The Cubs fell from 8th to 11th, after losing seven of ten on their recent road trip. Chicago tallied four runs or less seven times during this stretch, as the Cubs dropped a total of six starts made by Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, and Ryan Dempster. The Cubs return to the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field for the next ten games, hosting the Brewers, Braves, and Cardinals.
The middle teams remained steady, but the Mariners clawed from 26th to 23rd, thanks to a series win over the Dodgers. Seattle cleaned up in Interleague action, winning 11 of 18 games, including nine of the last 11. The Astros also climbed the ladder several spots, from 27th to 24th after beating Detroit two of three at home, and knocking off San Diego three of four on the road.
The three teams rounding out the bottom of the rankings are the Diamondbacks (28th), Padres (29th), and Nationals (30th). Arizona slipped from 24th after losing five of six at home to the Rangers and Angels.
Now here's a closer look at the Week 13 LVSC Power Rankings:
