Red Sox Are Back In Style

Interesting week in baseball. Following being no-hit by Justin Verlander last week, the Brewers go on a complete tear. Interleague play is still about as one-sided as a pickup game between me and Tim Duncan, in ANY sport. My Mets have resurrected my sanity with a respectable 4-2 week, including the semi-impressive sweep of Oakland. Sunday almost saw ANOTHER no-hitter, this time in Toronto. For a rare feat, we are seeing quite a few players almost go the distance on no-hitters this season, with two actually doing it. I guess that's why it's so rare though. So very few actually complete that game with no hits, even if they take one into the 8th or 9th. In the Fanatic Power Poll, the positions have changed slightly. Boston, who was barely trailing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last week, takes over the top spot due to strength of schedule. Sorry, that's just the college sports enthusiast showing itself a little early.

Also included under the poll is my updated All-Star picks. Enjoy.


The "Fanatic" Power Poll (records as of 6/24)

1. Boston Red Sox (48-26, LW 2)

2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (49-27, LW 1)

3. Detroit Tigers (45-29, LW 5)

4. Milwaukee Brewers (43-32, LW 9)

5. Arizona Diamondbacks (44-32, LW 6)

6. Cleveland Indians (43-31, LW 4)

7. New York Mets (41-32, LW 10)

8. San Diego Padres (42-32, LW 3)

9. Los Angeles Dodgers (42-33, LW 7)

10. Minnesota Twins (38-35, LW 15)

11. Seattle Mariners (39-33, LW 16)

12. Oakland Athletics (39.35, LW 8)

13. Colorado Rockies (38-37, LW 12)

14. Philadelphia Phillies (39-36, LW 13)

15. Toronto Blue Jays (37-37, LW 17)

16. New York Yankees (36-37, LW 11)

17. Chicago Cubs (35-39, LW 20)

18. Atlanta Braves (38-38, LW 14)

19. Florida Marlins (36-40, LW 18)

20. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (33-40, LW 19)

21. St. Louis Cardinals (33-39, LW 21)

22. San Francisco Giants (32-42, LW 26)

23. Houston Astros (32-43, LW 23)

24. Washington Nationals (32-43, LW 22)

25. Texas Rangers (30-45, LW 30)

26. Kansas City Royals (30-46, LW 25)

27. Baltimore Orioles (32-43, LW 29)

28. Pittsburgh Pirates (31-44, LW 24)

29. Cincinnati Reds (29-47, LW 27)

30. Chicago White Sox (29-42, LW 28)

ALL-STAR PICKS

AL-C-Posada (NYY), 1B-Morneau (MIN), 2B-Polanco (DET), 3B-Rodriguez (NYY), SS-Jeter (NYY), OF-Ordonez (DET), OF- Guerrero (LAA), OF-Hunter (MIN)

NL-C-Martin (LAD), 1B-Fielder (MIL), 2B-Utley (PHI), 3B-Cabrera (FLA), SS-Reyes (NYM), OF-Holliday (COL), OF-Griffey (CIN), OF-Lee (HOU)

LEADING VOTE-GETTER, BOTH LEAGUES:ALEX RODRIGUEZ, NYY