MLB 2013 JULY Pre Mid-Summers Classic POWER Rankings...It's a BUCCOS World with the Best Record in the SHOW...CARMINES trying to runaway with the AL Best record...the NL WEST has all FIVE Teams in it to win it ...A's and RANGERS battle for the AL West...TIGERS have company in CENTRAL...A CUP of JOE in the SHOW "Power Poll" Report #JULYHardballRankings

The Pitttsburgh Pirates went out west a few weeks ago and played well enough to take over the NL Central and have the Show's Best Record...Room Service anyone? The NL West has one team over .500 and the D-Backs have all four teams chasing 5 1/2 games or less in back of them. The Tomahawk Shop 404 can't seem to put a nice Streak together to runaway with the NL East as the Nats and Phightin' Phils are hanging around.

Over on the Junior Circuit the Carmines of Boston are starting to pull away not only from the AL East but the American League in general and just think they are on their current Streak with no Clay Buchholz...Wow! The Detroit Tigers are waiting for someone else to challenge them in the Central as the surprise Tribe and Royals try to stay above water let alone run down the average at best Tigers. Then there is the AL West and as we go to press it's the consistent play of both the Rangers and Swingin' Athletics that have them bat and glove above everyone else in the Division. The 3rd place Halos are 9 1/2 back and that's some distance.

2013 Top Five July MLB Power Rankings through July 5, 2013....

1. #BUCCOS (4) 53-32 1st in NL Central and 1st in MLB: The Pittsburgh Pirates are doing the way your suppose to do it. Getting consistent Pitching and timely Hitting with an occasional power surge at the dish. Young Pitchers like Jeff Locke and Gerrit Cole have been as good as advertised. Throw in 2013 Winter Meetings Pick Up Francisco Liriano (8-3 2.20 ERA) they are going no where but north in the NL. At the dish its a "Cutch 22" Situation like it always is but he has friends. Former Buccos Top Pick Pedro Alvarez (21 HR 56 RBI) and Left Fielder Starling Marte (Team leading 56 runs scored) the have the "Recipe".

2. #CARMINES (6) 54-34 1st in AL East and 2nd in MLB: They have been getting excellent offense led by the Two Boppers in "Big Papi " Ortiz (17 HR 61 RBI) and 2013 Free agent Pick Up Back Stop Mike Napoli (10 HR 55 RBI). They are behind players like Pedroia (.323 avg) and Ellsbury (.302) and have been all on the same page from Opening Day 2K13. The Staff was led by RHP Clay Buchholz and now he is injured they had not skipped a beat. Lester, Lackey (coming off Tommy John) and Doubront have held down the fort and if the O's and Yanks don't get on their horse the Wild Card will come calling for one or both.

3. #REDBIRDS (1) 51-34 2nd in NL Central and 3rd in MLB: They lose Closer Jason Motte to Season-Ending Tommy John and they still keep it rolling. Led by Ace RHP Adam Wainright (11-5 2.36 ERA) and he is followed close by Lance Lynn (10-3 3.75 ERA) and the 3-4-5 Pitchers are a combined 19-11 in just 37 starts. It's not "Rocket Science" as it starts and ends on the Hill. Craig (68 RBI), Beltran (50 RBI), Molina (45 RBI, and Holliday (42 RBI) are more than enough run producers. Molina is leading the Senior Circuit in hitting with a robust .346 average. The Pirates will have a Shadow all the way to October and if they fall the Cards will pass them up.

4. #SwinginATHLETICS (7) 51-36 1st in NL West and 4th in MLB: They are led by Vet RHP Bartolo Colon (11-3 2.78 ERA) and I hope he stays out the Medicine Cabinet. The 5-Man Rotation is .500 or better and they have a Aussie Grant Balfour (22/22 Saves 1.82 ERA) closing the door  on A's Opponents. The A's Two Young Stars in LF Yoenis Cespedes (.221 15 HR 42 RBI) and RF Josh Reddick (.217 3 HR 27 RBI) are struggling with Reddick platooning in Right. Hot Corner Josh Donaldson is leading the way hitting .313 with 14 HR and 55 RBI's. First Baseman Brandon Moss is also another run producer with 15 HR and 42 Ribbies while hitting .236. The A's and Rangers are head and shoulders above the rest of AL West.

5. #RANGERS (3) 50-36 2nd in NL West and 5th in MLB: So much for the Biogenesis Investigation as Rangers RF Nelson Cruz whose name was reportedly mentioned in the Investigation is having a career year with 21 HR's 65 Ribbies while hitting 268. He is the Rangers Leader in Bombs and Ribbies with Rangers Hot Corner Adrian Beltre hitting .307 with 17 HR's and 46 Ribbies. The Rangers have been getting hitting from nearly everyone with the two aforementioned run producers cleaning up what's left. The Bump is led by Japanese Import Yu Darvish with his MLB Leading 151 K's. The Rotation is a combined 29-21 with Closer Joe Nathan shutting down the back end with a 1.43 ERA and 28/29 Saves. The Rangers have one of the best Skips in the Game in "Wash" and they will be playing in October preferably as the Division Winner.

The Other Five Teams...

6. #REDLegs (2) 49-37
7. #ORIOLES (10) 48-39
8. #TIGERS (8) 47-38
9. #BronxBombers (8) 47-39
10. #RAYS (NA) 47-40

The AL East has four teams in the Top 10 and the NL Central has three teams in the Top 10 and there is your balance of Power in the Show as we head into All-Star Break.

Teams to Watch...

#D-BACKS 45-51 * ...NL West Leader
#DODGERS 41-44... 3 1/2 back of ARI
#ROCKIES 42-45... 3 1/2 back of ARI
              
Note Numbers from MLB.com