It's the first of September, but alot of things still remain the same in the latest Major League Baseball Power Rankings.
The New York Yankees remain the hunted sitting in the top spot for the second straight week.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim not only had a solid week, but added a key arm to their rotation to keep them in second place for the second straight week.
The rest of the teams in the top five remain the same with a slight tweak. The St. Louis Cardinals have taken over the number three spot in the power rankings.
The Philadelphia Phillies drop to the four spot.
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain in the fifth spot for the second straight week.
Here is how the entire top 10 shapes out:
1. New York Yankees (83-48): The Bronx Bombers continue to pace the league. They are the only team with 80 plus wins on the season. Andy Pettitte has quietly pitched well making the Yankee rotation a 1-2-3-punch just in time for the postseason.
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (78-52): The Halos added left hander Scott Kazmir for one reason - he has had great success against the Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers. The pitching rotation now has a chance to be a great pillar of strength for the Angels. Put that with a good offense and they have a chance to go deep into October.
3. St. Louis Cardinals (77-55): The Cardinals continue to get no love, but they continue to put themselves in a great position to play deep into October. They have great 1-2-punch in the rotation, in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, to go along with a great 1-2-punch in lineup, in Albert Pujols and Matt Holiday.
4. Philadeplhia Phillies (75-53): The defending champs have an ERA under 3.00 since Aug. 11, and Cole Hamels has not pitched his best baseball yet - both good signs. Expect Hamels to get things going in September and expect the Phillies to play deep into October.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (78-54): The Dodgers have really struggled in the second half of the season, but help could be on the way. The Dodgers have added aging slugger Jim Thome and innings eater Jon Garland.
6. Boston Red Sox (76-54): The slumbering Red Sox bats have began to wake up just as the weather cools down. The top two in the rotation have been great all year. If the bats stay hot, the Red Sox could be dangerous in the playoffs.
7. Texas Rangers (72-58): If they only played in the Amrican League Central. The Rangers may be the odd team out in American League playoff hunt, but this young team could be contenders for years to come. Their great farm system prospects are beginning to catch on in big leagues making them a legitimate threat in years to come.
8. San Francisco Giants (72-59): A week ago, the Giants looked dead in the water in the National League Wild Card race. This week, the Giants have drawn even with the Rockies for the Wild Card lead. Expect this race to go down to the final days of the season.
9. Colorado Rockies (72-59): The Rockies have slumped since their last series against the Dodgers. They have currently lost five games in a row and are close to losing the National League Wild Card lead. Will Rock-tober V.2 happen? We will have to wait and see.
10. Tampa Bay Rays (71-59): The Rays traded away their former ace last week. For a team that has been on the cusp of a run all season, they not only look done, they look well done.
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