MLB Power Rankings – Tampa Bay Rays Cooling Off
Posted on 7/15/2008 12:36:58 AM
By T.J. Kendrick
Profiling the top teams on July 15 for the World Series
1. Chicago Cubs – Best team in the National League by a long shot and just added pitchers Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin. They lead the NL in team batting average and RBIs and Alfonso Soriano has only played 51 games.
2. Boston Red Sox – Some bullpen and shortstop questions, but the Red Sox are still at the head of the tight American League East. Plus, they've played nearly half of the season without David Ortiz.
3. Los Angeles Angels – Two All-Stars pitchers, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana, combine with John Lackey to make up the best rotation in the Majors. Solid bullpen and just enough hitting makes them an unattractive post season opponent.
4. Tampa Bay Rays – Losers of seven straight heading into the All-Star break, the former MLB-leading Rays have cooled off. The Rays are a young team and haven't played through the pressures of August and September. Can the Rays make a move at the deadline to bolster their run?
5. Chicago White Sox – Surprise team that looks legit. Youngsters John Danks and Gavin Floyd have rounded out a solid rotation to combine with one of the best offenses in baseball (129 home runs leads AL).
T.J. Kendrick is the biggest baseball nut
and a brilliant MLB handicapper. His love of the game borders on obsession, and
he takes every chance he gets to make excellent predictions, frequently
contributing to industry handicapping sites as well as BetOnline.com
