They're
tied with the Reds for the fourth most runs scored in baseball (behind
the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays) and have allowed the second fewest
(behind the Giants) with 264 and 175 in those respective categories.
Sounds like an effective formula to me (and it's worked well
enough for an MLB-best 34 wins).
New York Yankees (Prev: 3)
The Yankees and their near $200 million payroll are once
again rolling through the American League.
But the supposed
heroes (Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, Alex
Rodriguez) haven't been the real standouts in the Bronx.
Yeah, they've been good, but those honors go to Phil Hughes
(6-1, 2.70 ERA, team-high 57 Ks) and Robinson Cano
(.362/.405/.607).
Just add red-hot "expecteds" and this team
has the makeup to, at the very least, make a run at the No. 1 Rays.
Minnesota Twins (Prev: 6)
Justin Morneau is beating the world (best AVG and OBP
with second-best SLG), the staff holds the eighth-best ERA in baseball
and Joe Mauer has been a little off (only two home runs
through 42 games).
All of those factors make the AL
Central-leading Twins a very scary group.
San Diego Padres (Prev: 5)
Who
would've expected that, at the start of the month of June, the San
Diego Padres would have the best staff ERA in baseball (2.98)?
And who would've expected that the Friars would be in first in the NL
West?
Not me.
While the pitching has been phenomenal,
the team average of .242 (fifth-worst in baseball) and seventh-worst
run total in baseball (204) make one wonder if this sort of performance
is really sustainable.
But it's worked so
far...and as long as the pitching even kind of resembles its current
state the rest of the season, the Padres have to be considered legit
contenders in a rather weak NL West...
