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The 2011 Major League Baseball season is well underway. The calendar will soon ring in a new month. April showers delivered a little relief for teams battling early season injury bugs. What's in store for May?
Plenty of baseball news from slow starting clubs expected to excel (Boston, Tampa Bay) to a few surprise teams attempting to resurrect flailing franchises (Kansas City, Washington). Injury bug biting hard. AL MVP Hamilton leads the list consisting of Aaron Hill, Scott Rolen, Chase Utley, Ryan Zimmerman, Angel Pagan, Joe Mauer, Evan Longoria, Neftali Feliz, Phil Hughes and Andrew Bailey. So how have teams fared dealing with distractions?
Baseball Power Rankings
1 - Phillies (15-6). MLB's top rotation will keep Phil's #1 all year long unless injuries take over. Utley's been missed but team is responding.
2 - Rangers (14-7). Rangers lost Hamilton. Now closer Feliz is gone. Rangers rotation got off to a flying start. How will they hold up during scorching 100+ degree Texas summer? Time will tell. For now, all systems go on offense.
3 - Rockies (14-7). Colorado's trying something new, 1st place in April. Maybe they've figured out winning in April is every bit as important as winning in September. Rockies getting the job done without much from staff ace Jiminez.
4 - Yankees (12-6). Yankees taking advantage of slow starts by Boston & Tampa. Surviving a less than stellar starting rotation which has impressed during season's opening few weeks. Lineup is one of most feared in the game.
5 - Marlins (13-7). Not many expected Florida to be this high up on the list. Hanley Ramirez hasn't been his usual self. Marlins doing what Marlins to best... playing "team" baseball. Keep an eye on these guys.
6 - Indians (13-8). Here's a team completely surprising us. Team defense has much to do with their success. Outfielders thwarting opposing base-runners. Pitchers getting it done. Timely hitting too. Can it last? Doubt it but fans in Cleveland having fun for now.
7 - Tigers (12-10). Detroit riding a mild 4 game win streak. Does this mean they've shaken off early season blues? Injuries to key players have forced different lineups nearly every night. Pitchers finally beginning to perform.
8 - Cardinals (12-10). It's been the Lance Berkman show. Pujols might miss a few days with a sore hammy. Bullpen is biggest question mark at the moment.
9 - Royals (12-10). Kansas City has a nucleus of fine young players. It's all about pitching for these guys. If starters can finally deliver then good days await. If not, then these guys will sink. There's not middle ground here.
10- Angels (12-10). Weaver will most likely finish April as Pitcher of the Month. Streaky LA came out of the gates on fire. Now riding a 4 game slide. Vern Wells has been an early season bust. Angels counting on big things when Morales finally returns from his grand slam celebratory broken ankle.
Keep an eye on... Brewers, Dodgers, A's & Rays.
(www.allworldallsports.com)
-Digger's Daily-
The 2011 Major League Baseball season is well underway. The calendar will soon ring in a new month. April showers delivered a little relief for teams battling early season injury bugs. What's in store for May?
Plenty of baseball news from slow starting clubs expected to excel (Boston, Tampa Bay) to a few surprise teams attempting to resurrect flailing franchises (Kansas City, Washington). Injury bug biting hard. AL MVP Hamilton leads the list consisting of Aaron Hill, Scott Rolen, Chase Utley, Ryan Zimmerman, Angel Pagan, Joe Mauer, Evan Longoria, Neftali Feliz, Phil Hughes and Andrew Bailey. So how have teams fared dealing with distractions?
Baseball Power Rankings
1 - Phillies (15-6). MLB's top rotation will keep Phil's #1 all year long unless injuries take over. Utley's been missed but team is responding.
2 - Rangers (14-7). Rangers lost Hamilton. Now closer Feliz is gone. Rangers rotation got off to a flying start. How will they hold up during scorching 100+ degree Texas summer? Time will tell. For now, all systems go on offense.
3 - Rockies (14-7). Colorado's trying something new, 1st place in April. Maybe they've figured out winning in April is every bit as important as winning in September. Rockies getting the job done without much from staff ace Jiminez.
4 - Yankees (12-6). Yankees taking advantage of slow starts by Boston & Tampa. Surviving a less than stellar starting rotation which has impressed during season's opening few weeks. Lineup is one of most feared in the game.
5 - Marlins (13-7). Not many expected Florida to be this high up on the list. Hanley Ramirez hasn't been his usual self. Marlins doing what Marlins to best... playing "team" baseball. Keep an eye on these guys.
6 - Indians (13-8). Here's a team completely surprising us. Team defense has much to do with their success. Outfielders thwarting opposing base-runners. Pitchers getting it done. Timely hitting too. Can it last? Doubt it but fans in Cleveland having fun for now.
7 - Tigers (12-10). Detroit riding a mild 4 game win streak. Does this mean they've shaken off early season blues? Injuries to key players have forced different lineups nearly every night. Pitchers finally beginning to perform.
8 - Cardinals (12-10). It's been the Lance Berkman show. Pujols might miss a few days with a sore hammy. Bullpen is biggest question mark at the moment.
9 - Royals (12-10). Kansas City has a nucleus of fine young players. It's all about pitching for these guys. If starters can finally deliver then good days await. If not, then these guys will sink. There's not middle ground here.
10- Angels (12-10). Weaver will most likely finish April as Pitcher of the Month. Streaky LA came out of the gates on fire. Now riding a 4 game slide. Vern Wells has been an early season bust. Angels counting on big things when Morales finally returns from his grand slam celebratory broken ankle.
Keep an eye on... Brewers, Dodgers, A's & Rays.
(www.allworldallsports.com)
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