Who are the best teams in all of baseball? Here’s a look at our 2009 MLB power rankings featuring the top five teams in Major League Baseball:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Even without Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers has held the top spot in the power rankings for practically the entire season.

2. Philadelphia Phillies
After a slow start, the Phillies are starting to turn it on. The defending World Series champions are 8-2 over their last ten games.

3. Boston Red Sox
If the Red Sox can get some starting pitching, the rest of their team looks very strong. But right now, the starting pitching is horrid.

4. New York Yankees
The Yankees are another team that started slowly but they’ve turned it around. Since Alex Rodriguez returned, the entire squad has played much better.

5. Texas Rangers
Although the Rangers have a good record, it’s just difficult to take the Ragers seriously. Are they going to tank again once the summer heats up? Time will tell.

Are the Texas Rangers for Real? (Image: Zuma Press)

Remember when Gary Sheffield and Barry Bonds were not quite best pals? First the two lived together during the 2001 training season (which was when they got close and also fought) and then Sheffield was ticked because he “got pulled into the BALCO investigation through” Bonds. Let’s put it this way, there was no bromance between them for awhile.

But apparently they have kissed and made up. Sheffield said, “Things happen and we react to them, and sometimes you act correctly and sometimes you don’t, and you move on from it. At the end of the day, none of it matters.”

Hey if Gary Sheffield and Barry Bonds can be best pals again, it gives me hope for any of my goofy friendships that have fallen by the wayside.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

It’s a wonderful time of the year…for the teams still in the race. For other teams, it’s just another time to watch their young superstar or aging superstar of their favorite team get shipped out to a contender. This has the makings of being one of the biggest trading deadlines that I can remember with so many big names being talked about.

The Boston Red Sox are deciding whether or not to trade Manny Ramirez. The Cincinnati Reds are awaiting approval from Ken Griffey, Jr., before they send him to the Chicago White Sox. The New York Yankees are always looking to deal (picked up Ivan Rodriguez yesterday). And teams that you never thought would have a chance are becoming big players in today’s trading deadline (Tampa Bay Rays and Florida Marlins).

Today is one of those days when you just want to be able to tap into Peter Gammons or Jayson Stark or Buster Olney’s cell phone and just hear their “sources” talk about deals that are going or could go down.

Maybe it’s the fact that Major League Baseball doesn’t have a salary cap that makes their trading deadline so interesting. It seems that just about any player can be traded to any other team, no matter what their contract looks like. In the case of Griffey, he has the chance to turn down the offer and stay in Cincinnati. But would you want to do that? This team just traded you, and they need you to agree to go. I would go. Chicago is in first place of the American League Central, while Cincinnati will never make it to World Series while Griffey is still an active MLB player.

Just tune into ESPN and watch it all unfold. Let’s hope your team is one of the teams that benefits from the deadline and not one that sells off their superstars.

It was another great week of caption submissions on the Bud Selig picture. This week’s winner is Rob!

Rob’s caption read, “MAHONEY!?!” Obviously - it was referring to the “podium gag” from one of the Police Academy movies. So, Rob - you are this week’s winner. Make sure to check your email.

Make sure you check back next Friday for another caption contest and don’t miss the ‘Thursday 10′ on this year’s worst players in the majors.

Also - just a reminder that June 24 is the deadline to enter the State Farm Call Your Shot contest for a chance to actually “call the shot” at the All-Star Home Run Derby.

Major League Baseball is coming down on Little League teams that are using one of the 30 professional team nicknames. In a story released today by the Associated Press, MLB has told several teams that they are not allowed to be called the Red Sox, Cubs, Yankees or any of the other MLB team names unless they buy their uniforms directly from Majestic Athletic.

This is ridiculous. Majestic is the official supplier for MLB uniforms, but it shouldn’t be for Little League teams. It is really expensive. I can’t believe that MLB is coming down on these teams, especially since these little baseball players look up to these teams and enjoy putting on a Yankees jersey before playing their game. It’s time MLB rethinks this move.

As you will see from the video below, these teams have to start using other nicknames that are not associated with MLB. You can only wonder how long until Minor League Baseball stops the use of their names/logos in Little Leagues around the country.

Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland is not a happy guy these days in Motown, where his club is only three wins ahead of the worst record in the American League.

The Detroit Free Press posted a story in today’s paper about the Detroit Tigers’ key stats being down from the two previous seasons. Are you serious? I can’t believe it! The Tigers are 21-30 overall and tied for last in the American League Central with the free falling Kansas City Royals, so it should be no surprise to anyone that the Tigers’ stats are down from the last two seasons, especially since Detroit had a record well above the .500 mark in both of those seasons.

According to the story, the Tigers have been shutout seven times this season - the most in the majors. The article also talks about the inconsistent pitching efforts of the Tigers’ staff as a whole. Well, it’s a good thing the “freep” has figured out the problem with the Tigers. Now, we can just wait for the problem to be fixed. Or will it be fixed? Does it matter? The Red Wings are spanking the Pittsburgh Penguins right now in the NHL playoffs. That’s all owner Mike Ilitch is concerned with at the moment.

Photo: Newscom

Today’s New York Times is running a story about Joba Chamberlain, where Joe Girardi is talking about being his friend, not his manager, and Joba’s dad says that his son is ready to be a starter.

This is turning into a soap opera. I know Chamberlain is a very good young pitcher. I know that he has a special bond with his father and calls him his inspiration. But haven’t we heard enough already?

According to the New York Times, Girardi told Chamberlain, “I’m not your manager, I’m your friend. Is this what you want to do?” I’m sorry. I didn’t know that players were able to choose if they wanted to be a starter or reliever. I thought that was up to the manager and the front office staff; putting a pitcher in a role that will help the team. Sure, Chamberlain has great numbers at the minor league level as a starter, but are they good enough for the big leagues? As a reliever, no question about it. But, as a starter? Sounds like we will see soon enough.

Chamberlain’s dad was quoted as saying, “Joba likes challenges, and if he didn’t feel he could do it, he would tell you.

“It’s just another step toward his dream — to be a starting pitcher on the biggest stage in major league baseball, and that’s for the New York Yankees. He’s ready to take the next step.”

That’s the seal of approval… his dad said he’s ready, so Girardi, you better put him in to start… now! I’m glad that Girardi and Chamberlain’s dad are on the same page, however, some of the players on the New York Yankees roster are not.

After hearing about the news from a reporter, Derek Jeter said the following: “You could have the best starting pitching in the world, but if the bullpen doesn’t do the job, you waste the start. But if you have the best bullpen in the world and the starters don’t do the job, how does that help?”

Johnny Damon and Jason Giambi also had thoughts on the matter, with Damon telling reporters, “We’ll just have to see how it pans out.”

Well, surprise! Not everyone is happy in the Bronx. Well, except for Chamberlain and his dad. I’ll be watching Chamberlain as Girardi takes his time easing the young right-hander into a starting role. Maybe this will be the right button to push to make the Yankees go in the other direction and climb out of the American League East cellar. Then again, it could always backfire and Chamberlain could become the next young flamethrower to turn into a one-year wonder or a no-name pitcher (see Rick Ankiel, Mark Prior and Scott Erickson).

Photo: Newscom

It’s time to restore the universe to order! At least, Hank Steinbrenner thinks the New York Yankees will go on a hot streak shortly with the return of third baseman Alex Rodriguez to the lineup. Steinbrenner’s Yankees are in last place in the American League East with a 20-24 overall record. Everyone watched Sunday night as the New York Mets drubbed the hapless Yanks 11-2 on ESPN in Yankee Stadium.

“You don’t have the best lineup in baseball and then just in the offseason lose it all,” Steinbrenner told reporters in Tampa, while catching some of the Single-A Tampa Yankees game. “Somebody is going to start hitting at some point, it’s going to be more than one, and they’ll start putting it together.”

I thought the Detroit Tigers had the best offensive lineup in baseball? Either way, both teams are struggling and should the Yankees not get going in the right direction, you can bet heads will roll. I think we can go ahead and put the countdown on for Brian Cashman and the days he has left with the Yankees.

Just last week, Steinbrenner told the New York Post, “We’ve got to forget about all the injuries and start playing our butts off.”

That was just before the Mets spanked the Yankees’ butts over the weekend. And while the Yankees struggle finding their way, the Boston Red Sox continue their winning ways and increasing their AL East lead, which as of this morning is at six and one-half games over the last-place Yanks.

For now, we can count on Steinbrenner opening his mouth and talking about how great his team should be, but not long from now I’m predicting a George Steinbrenner-like outburst that costs Cashman his job. As for the Yankees, they will eventually move out of the cellar, but I don’t think fans in the Bronx should expect to see the postseason this year. And the only hot streak we will see from anyone on the Yankees is the impressive lineup of ex-and-current girlfriends of shortstop Derek Jeter.

Photo: Newscom

It doesn’t matter who the opponent is or what level. A no-hitter is a no-hitter. And a no-hitter by a cancer survivor… well, that’s just great! I have to tip my cap to Jon Lester, who seems to be compiling an impressive resume at the young age of 24. If you missed the game or any highlights, I have attached a video below of the final out of the game. Again, congratulations Jon Lester. That’s one heck of an accomplishment.

Is there any sport that doesn’t require instant replay? It seems to me that just about every sport has gone forward with instant replay and it has helped in many situations. Major League Baseball will probably be the next sport to travel down that path after hearing about this next story.

During the fourth inning of the New York Mets and New York Yankees game on Sunday, Carlos Delgado hit a home run off the left field foul pole that was later overturned by home plate umpire Bob Davidson. Delgado swung at the first pitch from Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang that looked to have hit the left field foul pole. Delgado circled the bases and as he was heading for home, all four umpires were jogging out to left field for a conference. It took less than one minute for Davidson to overturn the call.

After another pitch from Wang, Davidson yanked off his mask and began to engage in a heated verbal argument with the Mets’ dugout, which resulted in a coach being tossed.

After further review from ESPN’s camera replays, the ball looked to have hit off the very bottom of the foul pole before bouncing into the stands and hitting off the chest of Chris Rom, a Mets fan that was sitting next to the foul pole.

“No question, that was a home run,” Rom told the New York Daily News. “That was a bad call.”

After the game, Davidson reviewed the tape and admitted he was wrong. Davidson’s comments are comical because after watching the clip from the game, I can just imagine how animated he was responding to the New York press after blowing a call that would have blown the game wide open, even though it ended up lopsided anyway.

“I —-ed it up. I’m the one who thought it was a —- foul ball. I saw it on the replay. I’m the one who —-ed it up so you can put that in your paper,” Davidson told reporters. “Bolts and nuts, I —-ed up. You’ve just got to move on. No one feels worse about it than I do.”

Wow… Davidson and Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen should get together and reporters would have a field day.

Rom, a New York City sales manager, said, “That’s why they need to have instant replay, because these kind of things happen.”

Things like this do happen. It’s tough for umpires to make calls on plays that happen almost 200 feet away from them, much less 318 feet away. Time for instant replay to make its way into baseball. After all, why not have a game that is already 2-3 hours in length extended to the four-hour mark?

Photo: Newscom