MLB Power Rankings: 6/29/12

1. Rangers
2. Yankees
3. Giants
4. Nationals
5. Dodgers
6. Angels
7. Reds
8. Orioles
9. Rays
10. Mets
11. White Sox
12. Braves
13. Pirates
14. Red Sox
15. Cardinals
16. Marlins
17. Tigers
18. Diamondbacks
19. Blue Jays
20. Indinas
21. Phillies
22. Brewers
23. Athletics
24. Royals
25. Mariners
26. Astros
27. Cubs
28. Rockies
29. Padres
30. TwinsMLB,

MY MLB All-Stars For 2012

Don’t forget to cast your 25 votes on ML.com and since voting ends tomorrow, I will put out my picks for who should be in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City

AL

STARTERS: C Joe Mauer 1B Prince Fielder 2B Robinson Cano 3B Miguel Cabrera SS Derek Jeter LF Josh Hamilton CF Adam Jones RF Jose Bautsita DH Adam Dunn

RESERVES: C AJ Pierzynski 1B Paul Konerko 1B Edwin Encarnacion 2B Jason Kipnis SS Elvis Andrus 3B Adrain Beltre OF Mike Trout OF Curtis Granderson OF Mark Trumbo OF Austin Jackson DH David Ortiz

PITCHERS(BOLD=Starter): SP Justin Verlander SP Chris Sale SP Jered Weaver SP Felix Hernandez SP Jake Peavy SP CJ Wilson SP Brandon Morrow SP Brandon McCarthy SP David Price RP Chris Perez RP Fernando Rodney RP Jim Johnson RP Jon Broxton

STARTING LINEUP: SS Derek Jeter C Joe Mauer LF Josh Hamilton 1B Prince Fielder 3B Miguel Cabrera RF Jose Bautista 2B Robinson Cano DH Adam Dunn CF Adam Jones

NL

STARTERS: C Carlos Ruiz 1B Joey Votto 2B Brandon Phillips 3B David Wright SS Starlin Castro LF Ryan Braun CF Melky Cabrera RF Carlos Beltran DH Matt Kemp

RESERVES: C Yadier Molina 1B Adam LaRoche 2B Jose Altuve SS Rafael Furcal 3B David Freese OF Giancarlo Stanton OF Andrew McCutchen OF Carlos Gonzalez OF Michael Bourn OF Andre Ethier OF Jason Kubel

PITCHERS: SP Matt Cain SP James McDonald SP Gio Gonzalez SP RA Dickey SP Stephen Strasburg SP Cole Hamels SP Clayton Kershaw SP Johnny Cueto SP Ryan Vogelsong RP Craig Kimbrel RP Joel Hanrahan RP Huston Street RP Aroldis Chapman

LINEUP: CF Melky Cabrera SS Starlin Castro DH Matt Kemp LF Ryan Braun 1B Joey Votto RF Carlos Beltran 2B Brandon Phillips 3B Dvaid Wright C Carlos Ruiz

White Sox Get Youkilis From Red Sox

The White Sox have acquired Kevin Youkilis from the Red Sox For Zach Stewart and Brent Lillibridge.  From the Boston aspect of the deal, Will Middlebrooks was doing to good to send down and Youk’s time had run out in Boston as Middlebrooks was doing better and a better fit moving forward, Boston got some great years and moments out of Youkilis and he was one of the better Red Sox in their 2000’s history.  They got Zach Stewart, a top pitching prospect with a good arm, who may not be as good as he was once touted to be but he could fill in as a four or five guy or a power bullpen arm one day, he was a nice, decent piece for the Red Sox in the deal.  The Red Sox also got Brent Lillibridge, who can play outfield and infield and should continue to do what he’s done with the White Sox, although in Boston his power could get a bit better.  The teams that didn’t get Youk are the Pirates,w ho I think should have tried hard for him, the Dodgers who he would have helped but didn’t lose out on as much or the Indians, where he could have been a nice piece.  Though the Tigers should still overtake the White Sox, their line-up is good enough to stay in the race with Detroit now and the Tigers need to beat them.  Youkilis needed a change of scenery and the White Sox are a good fit, he;s still in a hitter friendly park and though his numbers have a downward trend, he should make it go upward and even if he doesn;t, he will still be productive and be a huge upgrade over Morel and Hudson at third.  Youkilis should continue being an all-star in Chicago and it was a key and real good acquisition for the White Sox,  Dunn, Konerko, and Youk will be pretty good for them, but I still don;t think it’ll be enough.  I’d hit Youkilis fifth, like he did some of his time in Boston, but second isn;t a bad slot for him either.

MLB Power Rankings: 6/21/12

1 Rangers
2 Yankees
3 Dodgers
4 Nationals
5 Rays
6 Orioles
7 Angels
8 Reds
9 Giants
10 Braves
11 Mets
12 Tigers
13 Indians
14 Red Sox
15 Cardinals
16 Pirates
17 Marlins
18 Diamondbacks
19 Blue Jays
20 White Sox
21 Phillies
22 Brewers
23 Royals
24 Athletics
25 Rockies
26 Mariners
27 Astros
28 Cubs
29 Padres
30 Twins

If Valverde Is Out, Who Closes?

The Tigers are rebounding and part of their slow start has to boil down to injuries, which struck the Tigers again last night when Jose Valverde was taken out of the game before getting the  save and diagnosed with a sprained wrist.  He will be back, but the question is when?  If he has to take a trip to the DL for a few weeks the Tigers will need a closer.  Many fans want to see Brayan Villarreal get the chance, who finally broke out and lived up to his stuff and fastball this season.  He even has a fantastic pick-off move for a righty, which can come in handy for a closer in a sticky situation or a close game but I wouldn’t mess with his role or success and he seems to have a very bright future as a middle reliever.  Then there is Joaquin Benoit, the best reliever on the Tigers, but he’s a setup man and a relief ace will be needed in other situation outside the ninth inning, which is exactly what Benoit does best.  The two best options boil down to Phil Coke, who had a very clutch save in Game 5 of last season’s ALCS or former closer Octavio Dotel, who blew a big save against Seattle, but to his benefit it was only one bad outing.  Both could be decent fill-ins, but what I’d do is put Dotel in first, because he’s good and has experience even if he hasn’t closed in a while, and Coke can still help in LOOGY situations and other late inning needs, but if Dotel struggles I would give the job to Coke right away.  The best news would be for Valverde to be healthy and keep closing, because he can get saves and I think he will bounce back, maybe not to last years form but with his skill and some luck Valverde is still an all-star closer.  If he does go on the DL, I would call-up Chris Bootcheck, who could turn into a pretty good reliever.

Top Pitching Stafffs In MLB: Midseason

Also taken into account is talent and proection for the ret of the season

1. Nationals
2. Rays
3. Giants
4. Dodgers
5. Rangers
6. Angels
7. Reds
8. Pirates
9. Yankees
10. Phillies
11. Diamndbacks
12. Cardinals
13. Marlins
14. Orioles
15. Tigers
16. Braves
17. Blue Jays
18. Brewers
19. Mets
20. Athletics
21. White Sox
22. Mariners
23. Padres
24. Red Sox
25. Royals
26. Indians
27. Cubs
28. Astros
29. Twins
30. Rockies

Best MLB Offenses Right Now

Also included in my ranking is how I think each offense will perform the ret of the season

1. Rangers
2. Yankees
3. Red Sox
4. Cardinals
5. Tigers
6. Rays
7. Rockies
8. Orioles
9. Angels
10. Braves
11. Nationals
12. Dodgers
13. Blue Jays
14. Diamondbacks
15. White Sox
16. Mets
17. Reds
18. Marlins
19. Giants
20. Indians
21. Phillies
22. Brewers
23. Twins
24. Royals
25. Cubs
26. Mariners
27. Astros
28. Athletics
29. Padres
30. Pirates

What’s Happening With the Tigers?

• Brennan Boesch and Jhonny Peralta are hitting now and if they keep up and hit for some more power the Tigers are in luck and with Avila coming back and getting hotter and Dirks getting closer to continuing a great season, that should carry on, the offense looks a whole lot better
• Doug Fister is better than Drew Smyly, who needs to come back strong, so getting him back will be big.  Scherzer has to keep some more control and the Tigers pitching is pretty good, I wouldn’t worry about them right now.
• The bullpen is good and everything has clicked, just not all at the same time, and at some point pretty soon it will all start to click.
• Trade Candidates that make sense for Detroit this early are: Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Johnathan Broxton and Carlos Quinten
• Quintin Berry will be a very good reserve outfielder for the rest of the season and the Tigers need the speed off of the bench
• Matt Young should stick with Detroit until the end of interleague play at least, he can be helpful in these games
• This is a very talented team and I expect good things from here and beyond
• Brennan Boesch is 13-26 since June 7th not including tonight’s 0-5 and Peralta is 14-39 since June 2nd

MLB Power Rankings: 6/12/12

I’m back and ready for a big summer on this site, I was very busy for the past week but now I will be posting a lot.  Here is my latest power rankings…

1. Dodgers
2. Nationals
3. Yankees
4. Rangers
5. Orioles
6. Braves
7. Rays
8. Giants
9. Reds
10. Marlins
11. White Sox
12. Angels
13. Pirates
14. Cardinals
15. Tigers
16. Diamondbacks
17. Mets
18. Red Sox
19. Indians
20. Blue Jays
21. Phillies
22. Brewers
23. Atheltics
24. Astros
25. Mariners
26. Rockies
27. Royals
28. Cubs
29. Twins
30. Padres

My Projected Top 13 MLB Draft Picks for 2012

I wanted to do more pciks but this week is busy, I will do post draft coverage too.

1. HOU- SP Mark Appel
2. MIN- OF Byron Buxton
3. SEA- SP Kevin Gaussman
4. BAL- SP Max Fried
5. KC-C Mike Zuznino
6. CHC- SP Kyle Zimmer
7. SD- SS Carlos Correa
8. PIT- 1B Richie Schafer
9. MIA- OF Albert Almora
10. COL- Lance Mcculers
11. OAK- SP Michael Wacha
12. NYM- SS Gavin Gecchini
13. CHW- Sp Lucas Giotello

BEST POTENTIAL- OF Byron Buxton
BEST PLAYER- SP Mark Appel
BEST HIGH SCHOOL ARM- SP Max Fried

BEST PICK FROM LAST SEASON- SP Trevor Bauer for ARZ