One Up,One Down - Here is a look at a riser and faller in the NL.
Philadelphia
The Phillies are winners of 4 in a row, and are 8-2 in their last 10, the best 10 game mark in baseball. They sit only two games back of ATL, and 1.5 back in the Wild Card (SF). Obviously, the addition of Roy Oswalt makes their rotation very deep and probably puts them ahead of St Louis for the best rotation in the NL. However, they are a bit banged up offensively to say the least. The oft-injured Chase Utley is due off the DL later this month, and slugger Ryan Howard recently injured his ankle in an awkward slide into 2nd base. They also have serious questions in the back end of their bullpen. My own opinion is that they might want to let Contreras try closing a few games. He's got about 5 pitches to use, and could be pretty good in short inning work. The bullpen, though, could be their eventual undoing.
San Diego
The Padres haven't played terrible in their last 10, but they aren't exactly the picture of confidence for a division winner. San Francisco is only 2 games back and I don't think I would be insane to say that before the season most people would have put the Giants ahead of the Padres. I mean, look at San Diego's roster! Their pitching has been very good, but they are playing way over their heads this year, and adding Miguel Tejada doesn't make me think this team is over the hump. They have no regulars hitting .300 or better. Outside of Adrian Gonzalez, they have no offensive threats. Yet, they still find ways to win.
NATIONAL LEAGUE POWER RANKINGS #1-10 Rank, Team, (previous rank)
#1 Atlanta Braves, (1)
The Braves have won their last two and are sitting steady at .500 in their last 10. The Phils are breathing down their necks, but injuries to Howard and Utley may keep them from overtaking the Tomahawks. The Chop is going strong again down in Atlanta.
#2 Cincinnati Reds, (2)
It's not quite the Big Red Machine, but this rag-a-muffin squad has got enough to win the NL Central if they can hold off St Louis. They play in a great hitters park and have gotten tremendous pitching lead by Johnny Cueto. Unheralded Travis Wood has also been a pleasant surprise. Through 7 starts he has a 2.4 ERA and a WHIP under .9! Who?! Exactly. Perhaps the most unheralded rookie starter in years. His efforts are hardly getting any attention in the shadows of Jason Heyward and Stephen Strasburg.
#3 Philadelphia Phillies, (7)
(See above)
#4 San Diego Padres, (4)
I don't know if I believe in it yet, but they are a division leader in August right now. Gotta give props for that.
#5 San Francisco Giants, (9)
My pick, still, to win the NL West this year. I like their rotation, and while the offense isn't anything to write home about I think they have more than San Diego.
#6 St. Louis Cardinals (5)
Yadier Molina has started to pick it up, finally. But it might be too little too late for St Louis, who has a stellar rotation, and like San Diego, one real big bopper. Although, Holliday is far better than San Diego's 2nd option. 7th in the NL in runs scored, which is not terrible, but they are chasing the NL leader in runs in Cincy.
#7 Colorado Rockies, (3)
Ubaldo Jimenez has been mostly awesome this year, with a few horrendous starts sprinkled in. The rest of the Rocks' rotation leaves a little more to be desired. Carlos Gonzalez is emerging as a young superstar in this league, and MLB would be smart to promote him a little more. Tulo is back from his injury, so hopefully the Rockies can get some momentum going. Remember, this is the team that a couple years back won an insane amount of games in August and September to make a late push for the playoffs, and eventually the World Series (pwned).
#8 Los Angeles Dodgers, (8)
Things are not excellent in Chavez Ravine these days. Billingsley and Kershaw should be a nice 1-2 punch for the next few years, but this team has not been able to get it going this year. Matt Kemp seems more interested in Rihanna (can you blame him?) than baseball. He actually told a reporter that baseball is not the most important thing in his life. And while, that is a nice honest answer, I'm sure Frank McCourt and Joe Torre don't want to hear that. The media is all over him for being out late about town in Hollywood nights before games and such. Basically, it is awesome TMZ type stuff in Dodgertown.
#9 New York Mets, (6)
Having recently relocated to the fine state of New York, I get to watch this debacle on a nightly basis. They are in the top 10 only because the rest of the NL is atrocious. Jason Bay sucks, and might have been Theo's best move yet in letting him go. Jose Reyes is back but isn't quite right yet, same for Carlos Beltran. Ike Davis is a nice looking young player, though, and something to look forward to. Perhaps the most troubling sign of all is the struggles of Mike Pelfrey since the early part of the season when he looked like an ace in the making. He has been awful and it is a pleasure to watch him get all stressed out on the mound. (Well, for me at least.)
#10 Florida Marlins, (10)
Yea, about these last couple spots. I should have just made a top 8. Anyway, outside of Josh Johnson and Hanley Ramirez there is not so much to write about here. So I won't.
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