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Rockin' Rockies

Colorado vaults into top 10 as Angels hit skids 

Posted: Monday May 1, 2006 3:02PM; Updated: Monday May 1, 2006 3:06PM
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MLB Power Rankings
Rank LW Team
1 1
Chicago White Sox
The world champs -- sorry, WBC fans, the World Series champs -- continue to play the part after a weekend sweep of the Angels in Anaheim. It was an emotional series, considering the Sox and bad boy catcher A.J. Pierzynski knocked the Angels out of the playoffs last year. L.A. fans, like everyone else, booed Pierzynski throatily, pretty much standard fare by now. "Even in his backyard, his wife and kids boo him," manager Ozzie Guillen said.
2 5
St. Louis Cardinals
How do you pitch to Albert Pujols? Do you pitch to Albert Pujols? The slugging first baseman set an April record for home runs (14) as the Cardinals rolled to a 6-1 week. Pujols leads the majors in homers and RBIs (32). That alone is scary enough for opponents. But this? "I know I have a chance to get better," Pujols says. How? Cure cancer? End world hunger? Get George Steinbrenner to shut up?
3 3
New York Mets
They tied a franchise record for wins in April and just won two out of three against the Braves in Atlanta, their first series win at Turner Field since 2003. Just think how good these Mets might be, though, if good-guy third baseman David Wright ever starts to catch the ball (five errors) as consistently as he hits it (.303 average, .961 OPS). Good gosh, he can be a hack over there at times.
4 2
Houston Astros
Roy Oswalt was beaten by the surprising Reds for the first time ever on Friday -- he's now 15-1 against Cincinnati -- but the Astros are a solid, well-balanced team that seems to have found its stroke even without You Know Who. "We're not waiting for him. We're not holding back," manager Phil Garner said. Still, now that it's May and they can negotiate with the seven-time Cy Young winner, yeah, the Astros will be ringing up YKW to see how he's doing.
5 8
Cincinnati Reds
Did I say these guys were surprising? You try to ignore them, figuring they'll go away soon enough, and then they knock out another fine week (5-1, including two out of three against the Astros) to set a franchise record for wins in April and force their way up the PRs. Know what else is surprising about the Reds? Since April 12, when Ken Griffey Jr. hurt his knee shagging balls in the outfield, the Reds are 12-5. I knew shagging was good for you, baby.
6 6
Detroit Tigers
First-week MVP Chris Shelton has cooled off, going 4 for 29 (.138) without an extra-base hit on a recent nine-game road trip and just 2 for 12 (.167) last weekend when the Tigers returned home against the Twins. But Shelton was about the only one not hitting the hapless Twins. Detroit absolutely embarrassed Minnesota in the sweep (three-game score, 33-1!), especially in an 18-1 win Saturday, the Tigers' biggest blowout in 13 years. I'm not sure they're ready for the White Sox and the Indians yet, but the Tigers, believe it, can at least give those guys a scare.
7 4
Boston Red Sox
The Sox brace for their first series of the year against the Yankees -- that's usually a barrel of fun, eh? -- but they're not exactly at full strength. Everybody knew Boston, after a choppy offseason, would have some holes to fill. But shortstop Alex Gonzalez is killing them. A .186 average. One run in 21 games. Sure, he can play some D, but where's the O? If you're longing for what could have been, Sox fans, Edgar Renteria is hitting .365 in Atlanta and Hanley Ramirez is batting .304 for Florida.
8 7
Chicago Cubs
Greg Maddux continues to do his thing (5-0, 1.35 ERA), and Carlos Zambrano (0-2, 5.35) continues to do his. Zambrano snapped a bat over his knee Monday after striking out, adding to the impression that he's ... well, that he's not all there. "I've been talking to a lot of hitters in this league, and they say it's hard to face me because I look scary out there," Zambrano said. Judging by his record, though, he doesn't look all that intimidating.
9 13
New York Yankees
Former Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon returns to Boston for the first time Monday: "Prodigal Idiot," the Daily News headline says. "I'm not bitter at them at all. They made a decision. It was a business decision," Damon said. "I would just like to thank the fans. They don't deserve to have players keep leaving, but it's been a trend that's happened in Boston." Good thing you're not bitter or anything, Johnny.
10 16
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies? This high in the PRs? Well, what can I do? They keep winning. OK, so only two of their wins are against a team with a plus-.500 record (the Giants). But, hey, at least they're winning. Look, by June everything will start to even out and the Rocks probably will be down with the rest of the National League West ilk. So relax and quit all that hating.

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