Power Rankings

1 ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Mark McGwire’s knee is a concern, but no other team has their combination of pitching and position depth.

2 CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Those 76 errors may translate to a problem amid playoff pressure, but for now the South Side is sizzling.

3 ATLANTA BRAVES

They tend to find a way, even when coping with unaccustomed pitching problems by gambling with some of their future (Bruce Chen) for more experience (Andy Ashby).

4 NEW YORK YANKEES

They made the move they needed to make in acquiring Denny Neagle, trading some of the bargaining chips they retained by not dealing for Juan Gonzalez and Sammy Sosa.

5 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Big Unit has been big plus in maintaining NL West lead, but need better second half from Matt Williams and Omar Daal.

6 SEATTLE MARINERS

Lose Randy Johnson one year and Ken Griffey Jr. the next, but a better overall team now with pitching depth to trade for a needed left-handed hitter.

7 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

First team to have four hitters with 20 or more home runs at the break, but which young pitcher is going to step up and support David Wells?

8 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Undeterred by losing streaks of eight and seven games and now smoking at Pac Bell; a team to watch.

9 NEW YORK METS

Parity runs deep, but not the Met rotation after Al Leiter and Mike Hampton.

10 ANAHEIM ANGELS

Increasingly impressive, but Ken Hill and Kent Bottenfield have to provide veteran leadership and consistency--a reach, perhaps.

11 OAKLAND ATHLETICS

Talent and swagger epitomized by 25-17 road record, but a young team still plagued by occasional loss of focus.

12 BOSTON RED SOX

They don’t quit, but no one besides Pedro Martinez has more than six wins.

13 LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Another $90-million pratfall with no starting pitching after Kevin Brown and Chan Ho Park.

14 COLORADO ROCKIES

Just when you think winter overhaul is about to pay dividends, they still can’t win on the road.

15 TEXAS RANGERS

Showed pre-break indications of revival, but will have to decide quickly if they’re a buyer or seller at trade deadline.

16 CINCINNATI REDS

Team desperate for starting pitching traded its best starter (Neagle)--virtually forfeiting the season less than a year after winning 96 games.

17 FLORIDA MARLINS

A year or two ahead of schedule and may be only one veteran run producer away from legitimate contention.

18 CLEVELAND INDIANS

David Justice trade first of several expected payroll adjustments for team still seeking pitching volunteers.

19 MONTREAL EXPOS

Chaotic ownership situation again stifling Felipe Alou’s parenting of another young team that can beat anybody at any time.

20 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Finally starting to fulfill promise before break, and didn’t hurt themselves by dealing Ashby for the promising Chen. Is Curt Schilling next?

21 BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Dysfunctional ownership has produced old, slow, dysfunctional team that trading Mike Mussina and Scott Erickson won’t easily resolve.

22 KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Potent young offense betrayed by highest of the big leagues’ high ERAs.

23 PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Owner predicted 90 wins, which likely means owner will fire the manager.

24 SAN DIEGO PADRES

Crippled by pitching injuries and bad defense, now going younger and less expensive.

25 HOUSTON ASTROS

Many cite the trading of Hampton and Carl Everett for the shocking collapse, but the foundation may have been cracked the year before when Randy Johnson deal dented their farm system.

26 TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

After raising payroll more than any team, only modest returns from Greg Vaughn, Vinny Castilla, Steve Trachsel and Juan Guzman.

27 DETROIT TIGERS

Juan Gonzalez acquisition a bust, creating dilemma of what to do now with player who has already rejected $140 million to stay.

28 CHICAGO CUBS

Who would have believed the one guy they most want to trade is Sammy Sosa and the one guy they can’t trade is Sosa because there is no market.

29 MINNESOTA TWINS

Stepped up to retain Brad Radke with $36-million contract, but it makes no sense unless willing to do more.

30 MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Building Miller Park will probably turn out to be easier than rebuilding team that will call it home.