Rankings/List

NOTE: Team W-L records updated through Sunday Morning, May 24.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (30-14, Last Week: No. 5)

This team is back in the top spot once again because they play great offensively and their pitching staff (at the moment) is second to none.

They have the best pitching staff in the majors (only giving up 165 runs over 44 games), and are ranked No. 4 in runs scored (238). And they've won eight of their last ten games. They are no longer showing any signs of missing Manny.

Yesterday, I focused my Top 10 list on Theo Epstein's 10 worst free agent signings.

Today, I will examine why Theo Epstein is one of the top three General Managers in baseball.

Theo Epstein has gained legendary/rock star status in Boston by putting together two World Champions Boston craved for 86 years.

He has done it through the draft, trading, when to let go of an aging star and free agency.

Here is a look at Theo Epstein's finest moves

With the San Diego Padres in the midst of an eight game win streak and doing so without a few key parts, how much better could this team really get once they get these parts back.

We'll look at the injuries to Cliff Floyd, Everth Cabrera, Mike Adams and a few others and realize that this team is winning and once they get a few of these players back from injury, they could really contend in the NL West.

They get stronger with Mike Adams in the bullpen, they get faster with the return of Everth Cabrera and they get stronger with the bat of Cliff Floyd.

(Written in collaboration with my brother, David Kienzler: For his commentary on the team, which is a highly amusing read, please click here.)

This is the third installment of my series of Sports Teams Made up of Fake Characters (in this case that point is debatable depending on your belief system, but you get my point).

Theo Epstein, the architect and GM of two World Championships, has been a master at his craft.

He has built the Boston Red Sox through the farm system and some of the gutsiest trades in Sox history.

But, he has shown flaws under his reign and the most glaring has been his free agent signings.

Epstein has had gems like David Ortiz, Mike Timlin and Bill Mueller.

Yet, he's whiffed on most of his signings.

Here is a look at the Top 10 worst free agent signings under his helm.

Continuing on with my series, I ranked my top ten first basemen in Cubs franchise history.

While the rankings are somewhat subjective, as they always are, I looked closely at the players 162 game average during his tenure with the Cubs, as well as whether he was a part of any Cubs playoff teams.

I hope you enjoy this, and follow the series as it continues. As always I look forward to your input.

Entering week seven of the the season, the Dodgers and Blue Jays continue to hold the top ranks. The surprise of pitching of the Brewers and Rangers is shocking the baseball world. Sleeping giants have seem to come to life as the Yankees, Tigers, and Phillies crack the top ten this week. With interleague play starting up on Friday, here's a look at the top ten teams throughout the majors through week seven.

A Freak Year is a year in which a player does so much better during one particular season that is yells at you to look at it.

There are many instances I could have used here, I could have done at least 15-20, but I thought it best to keep it at five.

If I, for example, was a career .245 hitter and one year I batted .362, most people would say "Freaky". If I normally hit 12 HR and went yard 55 times somebody would say "Freaky". You get my point.

So, let's look at Freak Years for five different players.

The first quarter of the MLB season is coming to a close and it's as good a time as any to take a look back at what we've seen thus far. First, lets take a look at who might win the end-of-season awards if things ended today:

American League MVP - Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays