This is our third week of MLB Major League Baseball Power Rankings. The first MLB stands for Midblockers Love Baseball. A midblocker is a fake baseball position that, when I created, was kind of funny at first. Then I repeated it because I'm persistent and it got annoying. Then it somehow got adopted by people other than myself and forever will be associated with baseball, WVBR, and our rivals (no, not our rival radio station). Anyhow, here it is. Again, I, Sandy Ginsburg, compiled the statistics. Jase "Big Daddy" Bernhardt, Dan "DA" Arnold, and Adam "Hakuna" Agata compiled the rankings. Comments belong whom they are attributed. Check out the Juiced Sports Blog for a midwestern take on these rankings or sports2debate.com for more, possibly a comment free version soon.

1 L. A. Dodgers
Dan: Consistent all year and Manny's back in less than 3 weeks
Jase: Who needs Manny?
2 Boston Red Sox
Dan: Sweeping the Yanks earns you a 2 spot
Jase: Shouldn't be too quick to trade Brad Penny with an injuryt-prone pitching staff
3 New York Yankees
Dan: Moved Johan Santana's ERA up almost a full point in one game, yeah their offense is good
Jase: Won't have to worry about the Red Sox again for a long time
4 Philadelphia Phillies
Dan: No surprise the Phillies have another MVP candidate. Ibanez. Hey wait a second that can't be right.
Jase: A starter away from all but locking up the NL East
5 Detroit Tigers
Dan: Once they give up on Dontrelle it'll be tough to score on this team
Jase: Three very good starters but not much behind them
6 (tie) Milwaukee Brewers
Dan: 1st in the NL Central, but every team in the division is within 5 games of the top spot
Jase: Depleted rotation needs major help if the Brew Crew wants to win the division
6 (tie) Texas Rangers
Dan: Sorry Rangers, but the Angels will catch you guys in about 2 weeks
Jase: The Rangers often fade as the heat builds in Texas, will this year be any different?
8 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Dan: Winners of their last 4 and Lackey and Santana are getting healthy, everything's looking good for the Halos right now
Jase: The division will still be there for the taking once the Angels come around
9 St. Louis Cardinals
Dan: 3-7 in their last 10, the consistent Cards are going through a bit of a rough patch
Jase: The Redbirds could really use some help around Pujols
10 Tampa Bay Rays
Dan: 7-3 in their last 10, if they were only in a different division their quest to make the playoffs would be so much easier
Jase: Can they make a run at the titans in the AL East?
11 San Francisco Giants
Dan: Lincecum (6-1 2.66 ERA) Cain (9-1 2.39 ERA) as good a one two punch as there is in the game right now
Jase: If they can acquire any sort of offense the Giants should win the NL Wild Card
12 New York Mets
Dan: An E-normous collapse against the Yanks, sorry it was just too E-asy.
Jase: Injuries and a brutal schedule could ensure an easy September for Mets fans
13 Toronto Blue Jays
Dan: If Halladay's groin pull becomes serious this team will fly down this list
Jase: With Roy Halladay possibly down the Jays have no business hanging around
14 Chicago Cubs
Dan: Frustrating season for talented Cubs so far, but they are only 3 games out of first in the NL Central
Jase: Treading water around .500 and still waiting for the offense to break out
15 Minnesota Twins
Dan: Unless Liriano finds his stuff again this team will have trouble being a serious playoff contender
Jase: After missing April Joe Mauer is hitting .414, Twins should be a player in September
16 Colorado Rockies
Dan: 11 Wins in a row and counting, but still 10.5 back of the Dodgers in the NL West
Jase: 11 game winning streak in June- and still 10 and a half games out
17 Cincinnati Reds
Dan: Could you guys please help out Johnny Cueto. The guy has an NL leading 2.17 ERA this year, but is only 6-4.
Jase: Could it finally be the Reds year? Maybe if their talent plays to their potential
18 Florida Marlins
Dan: Next 12 games are against the AL East, look for the Marlins to move southward on our list.
Jase: Hanging touch around that .500 mark after a huge cold streak
19 Atlanta Braves
Dan: The Tommy Hanson Show opened to mixed reviews. 1-0 but a 6.17 ERA in 2 outings.
Jase: Nate McLouth needs to work on that .254 AVG
20 Chicago White Sox
Dan: Do you know how far gone Ozzie Guillen would be if he didn't win the World Series in 05?
Jase: Still have the horses to make a run in the weak AL Central
21 Seattle Mariners
Dan: Hot start to the season. Then they remembered they were the Mariners.
Jase: Despite more injuries Erik Bedard has really bounced back
22 Pittsburgh Pirates
Dan: 4.5 games back in the NL Central, not bad. But does anyone expect them to make a run? No me neither.
Jase: Only a few more months until football season
23 Houston Astros
Dan: May be dealing some guys soon.
Jase: Imposing lineup and solid arms should keep this team in it for a while
24 (tie) Baltimore Orioles
Dan: Looks like they've locked up last place in the AL East. Congrats.
Jase: Good young hitters, bad veteran pitchers
24 (tie) Kansas City Royals
Dan: Greinke can't pitch everyday and there's your problem.
Jase: Greinke finally coming back down to Earth as the Royals sink towards last
24 (tie) San Diego Padres
Dan: Adrian Gonzalez's .277 average leads Padres hitters. That's not good. And oh well Peavy got hurt.
Jase: Padres doomed themselves by not trading Peavy, will they make the same mistake with Gonzalez?
27 Cleveland Indians
Dan: Remember when Carmona was good?
Jase: Cliff Lee is having another great year but won't sniff 20 wins
28 Oakland Athletics
Dan: A's were a potential sleeper team before the season started. Oh well.
Jase: Where is Matt Holliday going to end up and how much can the A's get for him?
29 Arizona Diamondbacks
Dan: They're not good.
Jase: The D-Backs fall has been nearly as swift as their rise two years ago
30 Washington Nationals
Dan: Strasburg, get up here, now
Jase: Not too far off the '62 Mets pace for futility

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