OK, sports fans. I've been chosen to take over the helm of the vaulted, highly coveted Team Rankings Page for this website. Yes, I know. It gives me pause as well. But the journalist courtship aside, I have a job to do. I've chosen 15 as the cut-off for this list. In my book, anyone with a number higher than that doesn't bring enough chips to the winning table. So if you're team doesn't make it, don't blame me. I'm not the one dropping fly balls and jogging to first base!! Anyway, you will be able to read this column every Monday, so read on, and enjoy: 1. Chicago White Sox: Never mind that their aces John Garland and Mark Buehrle just lost their last starts to the Oakland A's. The southsiders still have easily the best pitching in the majors, the best record, and have yet to learn the meaning of the word "slump". 2. St. Louis Cardinals: This team is so deep with talent, you might drown if you don't have a flotation device. Plus, Rolen's been absent, Larry Walker and Jim Edmonds are not quite hitting up to par, and they lost their shortstop Renteria during the offseason. Doesn't seem to matter. Look for the Cards when the World Series rolls around again. 3. Washington Nationals: Sure, they may have been outscored by their opponents this year. But at 19 games over .500, and with an uncanny ability to win the close games over and over...and over again (24 - 9 in 1-run games!), the pesky Nats have become a virtual pestilence in the highly competitive NL East this year. Only the Atlanta Braves have a higher win percentage at home. 4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: God, that name used a lot of ink. But the fact is, the Angels, no matter their place of origin, are doing exactly what they have done the last few years: eventually take over the division lead in the AL West, with strong starting pitching, a reliable bullpen, and one of the best managers in the game. This team's not falling down any time soon. 5. Atlanta Braves: Out of a quickly cluttering group of mediocre wild-card hopefuls emerge the streaking Braves, just making it in with the top-tier MLB teams. Andruw Jones may reach 50 homers this year -- if, and only if, he doesn't decide to run for Governor of Georgia before the end of the regular season. And the whole line-up deserves a slap on the back for finally learning how to score runs behid their ace John Smoltz, who should have at least 12 wins by now. Oh yeah, the Tomahawk Choppers will be getting Tim Hudson, Mike Hampton AND Chipper Jones back in weeks to come. 6. New York Yankees: George Steinbrenner may start to turn that scowl into an optimistic grimace if the Bombers continue to slug their way back into the AL East race, winning seven of eight heading to the break. Mystery starter Wang (NO JOKES, pleaese) and Mike Mussina lead the slowly, slowly improving pitching staff. And a hearty, big-league welcome back to Jason Giambi. I'm an Oriole fan and, believe me, that was extremely hard to write. 7. Houston Astros: Roger Clemens may not start the All-Star Game this Tuesday, but I'm sure he's happy he stayed with a team that spent most of this season trying to buy runs on the Home Shopping Network. Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettitte round out an ever-sharpening rotation that's earned the squad a 17 - 5 record over the last 22. 8. Minnesota Twins: These guys may be lacking in overall run-production, but you guessed it: they are still among the top teams in pitching ERA, are ten games above .500, and lead the wild-card race heading into the break. This team should be bankrupt, remember? 9. Oakland Athletics: The A's, another miniature baseball market team, are playing with some kind of energy right now. And the signing of Mark Kotsay to a 3-year contract extension may be symbolic of management's willingness to double-down on the team's chances come playoff time. That's okay, though -- they're not betting with Steinbrenner money, you know. They are in the middle of a seriously rough stretch (against the Angels, White Sox, Rangers, etc...). and are doing OK so far, sweeping the juggernaut White Sox over the weekend!! But... let's see if they can stay in the top-10 a couple of weeks from now. 10. Boston Red Sox: These guys should be higher in the list, I know... But after a strong surge that literally sunk the Orioles, the woeful birds came back to win 3 of 4 against the Sox going into the All-Star break. That alone deserves a couple of demerit points, sorry fellas. Still have Damon, Ortiz and Manny (OUCH!) to make up for a high school squad of relievers. 11. Cleveland Indians: The Tribe were on a dangerous tear for a while there, catapulting themselves out of Detroit Tiger territory, and into what will be a passionately competitive AL wild-card battle. But just lost five of sixagainst the Yanks, to come back to earth. Travis Hafner will continue to smolder during the second-half. By the way, has anyone noticed how many AL Central teams are in the top of all the major pitching categories? The Indians are one of them. Keep an eye on these guys at the end. 12. San Diego Padres: So, thought I was just going to forget about the National League? I do love the DH, but I can't let my serious professional duties be clouded by bias, you understand. San Diego still has a strong ballclub, despite levelling off for many weeks now. They're slaughtered by key injuries (mark Loretta, Phil Nevin, and Co.), and have lost their edge, but any division leader has got to make the list, even in the sad-sack NL West. Of course, having Trevor Hoffman close out games helps their case a little as well. 13. Baltimore Orioles: Yes, I'm an O's fan. I'm sure you are aware of this from reading my numerous scintillating Orioles columns for this website. But that's not why I slide them into the Top-15. They may have fallen disgracefully from their surprising perch atop the AL East, losing 12 of 15, (before taking 3 of 4 against division leader Boston, ahem...)after starting the season 41 - 27. And word is their starting pitching staff spends its time before games replacing the baseballs with beachballs. As soon as they stop doing that, this team's potent All-Star-heavy line-up will literally start to carry the ballclub back into the division race. 14. Florida Marlins: New bulletin: Dontrelle Willis announces he will start pitching on 2 days' rest to compensate for a starting pitching staff still underachieving late into July. Marlins are a dreadful 18 -28 after starting the season at 26 - 14. But AJ Burnett has been making a resurgence, and their bats are starting to swing again, so look for the Fish to start biting at the heels of Atlanta and the someday-will-falter Washington Nationals. Plus: I like the guys on this Florida team. Here's hoping their ranking improves with each weekly column. 15. Rounding out the Top-15 this week....... the... Texas Rangers. Yes, I know, these last few spots could have gone to any number of teams hovering around the .500 mark. But the Rangers get the nod for one thing only. And no, it's not Kenny Rogers, despite his recent charming PR campaign. It's their offense. These guys aren't tearing the cover off the ball. They're stopping to unravel the yarn. There's no reason why the Rangers can't find they're way into the wild-card spot come October, with so many poor-pitching potentials in the American League right now.