| Rk |
Team |
Overall W-L
|
Week W-L
|
Trend
|
Comment |
| 1 |
Dodgers |
9-2
|
5-0
|
|
Majors’ most potent offense, thanks especially to Jeff Kent (.415/.529/.829/4 HR), who’s scored in 10 straight games. Weekend shutouts from Derek Lowe and Jeff Weaver mean everything’s coming up blue on the other side of the ball as well. |
| 2 |
Marlins |
6-6
|
3-3
|
|
Team ERA (1.61) is still tops in majors, more than a run better than #2. Back-to back-shutouts from Dontrelle Willis averaged a tidy 105.5 pitches. |
| 3 |
Twins |
8-4
|
5-1
|
|
Fill-ins Terry Tiffee and Dave Gassner came up big replacing injured cogs Justin Morneau and Carlos Silva; the former hit a homer in first game up from minors, while the latter pitched six strong innings and got the win in his debut. |
| 4 |
Blue Jays |
8-5
|
4-3
|
|
Meet Gustavo Chacin: 24-year-old lefty with wins in his first three starts, 1.42 ERA in 19 IP. Spent five years in Double-A Eastern League before escaping via cut fastball (a/k/a the Sturtze Gambit). |
| 5 |
Astros |
5-6
|
1-5
|
|
Stat line doubletake of the week: Jason Lane (.326/.319/.739). |
| 6 |
Orioles |
8-4
|
5-1
|
|
Brian Roberts leads majors in EqA (.443) and RARP (14.4), heading up a potent offense that punished Yanks by a collective score of 23-11 this weekend. |
| 7 |
Nationals |
8-4
|
5-1
|
|
Winners of five straight. Vinny Castilla (.429/.487/.857) and Jose Guillen (.327/.346/.714) making Jim Bowden look pretty smart…for now. But Frank Robinson knows that “numbers don’t win you ballgames.” |
| 8 |
White Sox |
8-4
|
4-2
|
|
Rotation continues to be impressive, with a 3.16 ERA in nearly seven innings per start. Paul Konerko leads majors with six home runs. |
| 9 |
Giants |
6-5
|
2-3
|
|
Barely missing Barry (and Moises): outfield hitting a combined .299/.347/.540 with nine homers, including three grand slams. |
| 10 |
Red Sox |
7-5
|
5-1
|
|
Sweet week (ring ceremony, series win over Yanks) slightly overshadowed by Fenway fan flap with Gary Sheffield. |
| 11 |
Mets |
6-6
|
5-1
|
|
Clawed their way back to .500 in a hurry. Pedro Martinez (2.45 ERA, 12.3 K/9) is looking like the model in the catalog. Note to Willie: get Jose Reyes (.278 OBP, 0 BB) out of the leadoff spot. |
| 12 |
Mariners |
6-6
|
4-2
|
|
Ichiro is second in AL EqA (.390) and on a 284-hit pace. Richie Sexson‘s bat is healthy (.265/.342/.647), but he’s missed three straight with flu. |
| 13 |
Tigers |
5-7
|
2-4
|
|
Jeremy Bonderman: two good starts against Royals, who won’t compete, but roughed up by Indians, who will. Meanwhile Magglio Ordonez‘s ill fortune continues with hernia. |
| 14 |
Brewers |
5-6
|
2-4
|
|
Biggest win of the week: locking up Ben Sheets for four years, $38.5 million. Thank heavens for insurance. |
| 15 |
Indians |
5-7
|
2-4
|
|
Anemic offense (.219/.294/.362) has team below .500 despite 3.82 ERA. |
| 16 |
Rangers |
6-7
|
3-4
|
|
Though he’s yet to win a game, Pedro Astacio (2.57 ERA, 7.1 K/9 in 14 innings) has looked very promising. |
| 17 |
Phillies |
6-6
|
3-3
|
|
Brett Myers breaking out? One ER in 20.2 innings, 20:2 K/BB ratio. |
| 18 |
Cubs |
6-6
|
3-3
|
|
We’re through the looking glass: Nomar Garciaparra (.145 EqA) off to a frigid start, but Neifi Perez (.332 EqA) is en fuego. |
| 19 |
Diamondbacks |
6-6
|
3-3
|
|
Javier Vazquez: 11.77 ERA in 13 innings pitched. Other starters (Russ Ortiz, Shawn Estes, Brad Halsey, Brandon Webb): 3.25 ERA in 55.1 innings pitched. |
| 20 |
Braves |
6-6
|
2-4
|
|
Chipper Jones: .348/.434/.630. Rest of team: .234/.288/.360. This is what happens when Brian Jordan and Raul Mondesi both get to play. |
| 21 |
A’s |
6-6
|
3-3
|
|
Moribund offense is last in EqA, with Eric Chavez (.223), Jason Kendall (.205) and Erubiel Durazo (.112) the worst offenders. |
| 22 |
Angels |
6-6
|
3-3
|
|
Clues That Your Sample Size Is Too Small, 238: when Ben Molina (.336) leads your team in EqA. |
| 23 |
Padres |
5-7
|
2-4
|
|
It’s not easy being Khalil Greene: Padre SS heads to DL with another broken finger. |
| 24 |
Cardinals |
6-4
|
4-1
|
|
Offense still stuck in first gear (.220/.283/.396). Mark Mulder: 8.18 ERA with 2.18 WHIP. |
| 25 |
Reds |
6-5
|
3-2
|
|
Joe Randa (.385/.478/.769/4 HR) already halfway to last season’s homer output. |
| 26 |
Devil Rays |
4-8
|
1-5
|
|
Thank you for retiring, Roberto Alomar: 2B Jorge Cantu hitting .313/.320/.563. Survived “loss” of Alex Sanchez to steroids suspension. |
| 27 |
Yankees |
4-8
|
1-5
|
|
Swept by O’s while still smarting from Sox smackdown. It took Mount Steinbrenner this long to erupt? Team DER of .647 is 2nd-worst in all of MLB. |
| 28 |
Royals |
4-8
|
1-5
|
|
Zack Greinke‘s six scoreless innings aside, latest turn through the rotation not so successful (18 ER in 23 IP). Royally screwed if their pitching bubble bursts. |
| 29 |
Pirates |
4-8
|
2-4
|
|
Buried, perhaps, but no treasure. Oliver Perez has a 9.60 ERA in 15 innings, and team brass is upset he didn’t follow offseason throwing program. Craig Wilson and Jack Wilson are hitting a combined .232/.320/.244. |
| 30 |
Rockies |
2-9
|
1-5
|
|
No, that’s not a new Boeing model; 7.84 ERA is, you guessed it, worst in majors. On the positive side, SS Clint Barmes (.395/.447/.744/4 HR) has started hot. |
