2011 MLB Power Rankings: August

With the season almost over, now seems like a good time to take a trip down memory lane.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were the biggest riser, going up 7 spots from 24th to 17th. The Pittsburgh Pirates were the hardest faller, falling 10 spots from 14th to 24th.

Records are as of the games played on August 31st, 2011.

SLR = team's record Since Last Rankings | Prev = Previous Rankings from April, May, June and July.

1) Philadelphia Phillies (86-46 | 18-7 SLR | Prev: 1/1/1/1)
Remember when Cliff Lee signed with the Phillies in the off-season, and people thought this team would be really good? Well, so far, they're right.

2) Boston Red Sox (83-53 | 17-13 SLR | Prev: 23/6/4/2)
Remember when the Red Sox started the season 0-6, and people (re: major sports media) were freaking out over it? Alas, they'll probably do it again to start the upcoming NFL season, lesson never learned.

3) New York Yankees (81-53 | 17-11 SLR | Prev: 5/8/2/3)
Remember when the Tigers traded away Curtis Granderson for parts that, while some of those parts have done well for Detroit, haven't been near Granderson's level this year?

4) Milwaukee Brewers (81-56 | 21-7 SLR | Prev: 12/7/8/7)
Remember when the NL Central was up for grabs between four teams before Milwaukee decided to just settle it right there and then?

5) Atlanta Braves (80-55 | 17-9 SLR | Prev: 18/11/3/4)
Remember when Jason Heyward was still an up and coming star and wasn't platooning the outfield with Jose Costanza?

6) Arizona Diamondbacks (78-59 | 19-10 SLR | Prev: 24/5/9/8)
Remember when the D-Backs were supposed to be a rebuilding team with a new manager that was meant to stay in the shadows in a division meant to be ruled by the defending World Series Champs? Neither do I.

7) Texas Rangers (77-60 | 16-12 SLR | Prev: 6/14/10/5)
Remember when the Rangers were about to put the AL West on ice by sweeping the Angels? Except they didn't and now the Angels are fighting back again?

8) Detroit Tigers (75-61 | 18-10 SLR | Prev: 26/13/7/11)
Remember when the Tigers had a 7-game lead in the AL Central back in early September of 2009? If you do, you probably know that the AL Central is a long way from being decided.

9) Tampa Bay Rays (74-61 | 18-10 SLR | Prev: 9/10/6/12)
Remember when the Rays signed both Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez? Well, at least one of those two games proved to be a decent signing for them, right?

10) Los Angeles Angels (73-63 | 14-13 SLR | Prev: 8/16/15/9)
Remember when Jered Weaver was a Cy Young candidate? Losing directly to another candidate in Justin Verlander while getting tossed doing so, followed by two more stinkers on the road (though his starts at home are still stellar) probably has put that notion to rest.

11) St. Louis Cardinals (72-64 | 15-13 SLR | Prev: 7/3/11/10)
Remember when Albert Pujols didn't sign that contract with the Cardinals before the season? Pujols has had a good year overall, but is it enough for him to get the money he was seeking either in St. Louis or elsewhere? Honestly, it probably doesn't matter; at this point his name exceeds his numbers for outside teams trying to sign him this upcoming off-season.

12) San Francisco Giants (72-65 | 11-18 SLR | Prev: 14/9/5/6)
Remember when San Francisco was six games out of first in the NL West last season? How did that turn out for them eventually?

13) Cleveland Indians (68-65 | 15-13 SLR | Prev: 2/2/12/16)
Remember when Cleveland started the year 30-15 and found themselves 7 games ahead of Detroit in the AL Central? Then lost that lead just a few weeks later and have struggled to regain their early magic since?

14) Chicago White Sox (68-66 | 16-12 SLR | Prev: 29/22/18/19)
Remember when people were waiting for the White Sox to finally get white hot? That might be happening right now. Not-so coincidentally, Adam Dunn has not played often recently.

15) Toronto Blue Jays (68-68 | 13-15 SLR | Prev: 15/15/19/13)
Remember when people thought Jose Bautista was a one year fluke? They probably think he's a two year fluke now.

16) Cincinnati Reds (67-69 | 14-14 SLR | Prev: 10/17/14/18)
Remember when the Reds weren't so disappointing? Well, last year before they got no-hit then swept out of the playoffs, but since then they've never gotten it together.

17) Los Angeles Dodgers (65-70 | 17-11 SLR | Prev: 13/20/24/24)
Remember when the Dodgers' name wasn't dragged through the mud amidst financial troubles and fan incidents?

18) New York Mets (65-69 | 10-16 SLR | Prev: 25/21/16/15)
Remember when the Mets were fully healthy? Anyone?

19) Colorado Rockies (64-73 | 13-16 SLR | Prev: 3/23/20/21)
Remember when the Rockies started off slow then finished well, as opposed to this year where they started off quick then quickly faded, perhaps beyond salvation this year?

20) Washington Nationals (63-71 | 12-15 SLR | Prev: 21/28/17/22)
Remember when the Nationals were building for 2012 and not 2011? Too bad, here comes the return of Stephen Strasburg for the final month of the year, pray he doesn't hurt himself again.

21) Chicago Cubs (59-78 | 16-13 SLR | Prev: 20/27/28/27)
Remember when Lou Pinella retired suddenly last season? Remember when Lou Pinella actually got the Cubs to win a couple of division titles in his tenure there? Almost seems like it never happened.

22) San Diego Padres (60-77 | 13-15 SLR | Prev: 28/25/22/26)
Remember when the Padres almost won the division last year through strong pitching and the hitting efforts of just one guy? After losing said guy to Boston, the pitching wasn't able to perform as well as it did either, leading to a season many expected out of the Padres last season.

23) Oakland Athletics (60-76 | 11-17 SLR | Prev: 17/18/25/23)
Remember when Moneyball and Billy Beane were considered some kind of smart general management by some of those who follow baseball? Since 2006, it sure doesn't seem that way.

24) Pittsburgh Pirates (62-74 | 8-22 SLR | Prev: 22/19/13/14)
Remember when the Pirates led the NL Central for that short time? Before they lost that cruel extra-inning game against Atlanta after that blown umpire call? Before they went on massive losing streaks following said game?

25) Florida Marlins (60-75 | 7-20 SLR | Prev: 4/4/26/17)
Remember when the Marlins completely tanked in June? Then brought back Jack McKeon from out of nowhere? They felt like tanking again this month even with McKeon. What now, Florida?

26) Seattle Mariners (58-77 | 13-15 SLR | Prev: 19/12/21/29)
Remember when Seattle was competing for the division earlier this year? Before they lost all those games in a row?

27) Kansas City Royals (56-81 | 10-19 SLR | Prev: 11/26/29/25)
Remember when this team had Zach Greinke? Judging by their record alone, its hard to notice such things.

28) Minnesota Twins (57-79 | 7-21 SLR | Prev: 30/30/27/20)
Remember when people (such as myself) thought the Twins would mount a comeback and win the division after such a terrible start? They had a couple of tries at it but, after trading away disappointing power options in Delmon Young and Jim Thome, they're pretty much done. Never thought I'd say that about the Twins in the regular season so soon.

29) Baltimore Orioles (54-80 | 12-17 SLR | Prev: 16/24/23/28)
Remember when Buck Showalter was supposed to breathe new life into this franchise?

30) Houston Astros (47-90 | 12-17 SLR | Prev: 27/29/30/30)
Remember when Houston was competitive? It wasn't even that long ago.