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MLB Power Rankings: Cubs fall from top spot

Tim Brown
MLB columnist

Baseball players work every day, just about. They live by the routine. Along comes the All-Star break and four days – for most of them – of … nothing. They have idle time, we have activities.

The rankings (records through Wednesday):

Texas Rangers
(Getty Images)

1. Texas Rangers (53-33; Previous: 2) – Management has arranged for a hunting trip in the country, loaded for starting pitching.

2. San Francisco Giants (54-33; Previous: 3) – Hey, everybody, Peavy’s gotta duck boat!

3. Chicago Cubs (52-32; Previous: 1) – Maddon takes team fishing in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” attire.

4. Cleveland Indians (51-33; Previous: 5) – Carlos Santana has ‘em all convinced he’s in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, so might go check that out.

5. Washington Nationals (51-35; Previous: 4) – Well, the Capitol dome still needs that last coat of paint.

6. Baltimore Orioles (49-35; Previous: 6) – It’s been months since Buck Showalter updated his Snapchat.

7. Los Angeles Dodgers (48-39; Previous: 8) – Mostly hover around Kershaw asking if he needs some water or another pillow or if he’s warm enough.

8. Toronto Blue Jays (48-39; Previous: 9) – Still sort of waiting on that big Fourth of July celebration.

9. New York Mets (46-38; Previous: 11) – Party in the Hamptons. Everybody comes dressed as his favorite bone spur.

10. Boston Red Sox (46-38; Previous: 7) – Guess that trip to the Dominican Republic is off.

11. Houston Astros (46-39; Previous: 14) – Laundry’s been piling up for weeks.

12. St. Louis Cardinals (43-41; Previous: 12) – Iced tea and PFP at Matheny’s house.

13. Miami Marlins (44-41; Previous: 13) – They’re going to split up into groups and try to find the Stanton voodoo doll.

14. Detroit Tigers (45-40; Previous: 15) – Ausmus plans on a long, restful few days with a good book in his hot La-Z-Boy.

15. Pittsburgh Pirates (44-41; Previous: 19) – A couple days on a beach in Arquimedes Caminero, which is supposed to be lovely in July.

16. Kansas City Royals (43-41; Previous: 10) – Draw straws to see who has to go sit in that damn deer stand with Ned.

17. Chicago White Sox (44-41; Previous: 18) – Gotta move all of Ventura’s stuff back into his apartment.

18. Seattle Mariners (43-42; Previous: 16) – Had set aside time to read The Ancient Mariner, but now Peralta’s gone.

19. New York Yankees (41-43; Previous: 17) – Going to the Catskills: nobody puts Didi in a corner.

20. Philadelphia Phillies (40-46; Previous: 26) – Atlantic City, baby.

21. Colorado Rockies (38-46; Previous: 20) – Going to go back and count up all those clever Trevor Story puns.

22. Milwaukee Brewers (37-47; Previous: 23) – Lucroy and Braun have rented a tandem bike for trip to Chicago, hope a lot of it is downhill.

23. Arizona Diamondbacks (38-49; Previous: 21) – Netflix and Schill.

24. San Diego Padres (37-48; Previous: 25) – Half the roster has registered lockers with Airbnb.

25. Oakland Athletics (36-49; Previous: 27) – Two nights at Napa. The auto parts store.

26. Los Angeles Angels (35-50; Previous: 24) – Binge-watch House of Cards.

27. Tampa Bay Rays (34-50; Previous: 22) – Just gonna hang at home, call it a Ray-cation.

28. Cincinnati Reds (32-54; Previous: 28) – Couples therapy for Mr. Red and Rosie Red. His head’s getting kinda big.

29. Minnesota Twins (29-55; Previous: 30) – Have to get ready for the season to start. Wait, what?

30. Atlanta Braves (28-57; Previous: 29) – Cornhole tourney at Snitker’s.