The MLB Power Rankings here at SB Nation New York are once again dominated by the New York Yankees with the New York Mets only able to barely hold onto the bottom after another tough week in Queens. The first place Bronx Bombers were propelled to the top of this week's rankings thanks to a four-game winning streak.
Leading the way for the Yankees this week was their mashing third baseman (and no, it's not Alex Rodriguez).
1. Eric Chavez, Yankees - The veteran third baseman, filling in for the injured Alex Rodriguez, continued to enjoy a resurgent season last week. Chavez hit .571 (9-of16) with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI. His 12 home runs this season is his highest total since hitting 15 in 2007. -- Ed Valentine
2. Derek Jeter, Yankees - You keep waiting for the 38-year-old to slow down, and it isn't happening. Jeter hit .371 last week (13-for-35) with a home run and four RBI. His average for the season is up to .318. -- EV
3. R.A. Dickey, Mets - Highlighting their terrible second half, the Mets went until August 9 without winning a game at Citi Field. Dickey was the one who finally picked up that win, tossing a five-hit complete game against the equally disappointing Miami Marlins. The knuckleballer represents one of the only things Mets fans have to look forward as he tries to capture Cy Young Award.
4. Ichiro Suzuki, Yankees - Ichiro drove in a team-best nine runs last week, including five in one game. He hit .273 (6-for-22). Ichiro has fit seamlessly into the Yankee lineup since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners. He is no longer a superstar, but he is a useful player. -- EV
5. Jonathon Niese, Mets - Like Dickey, the lefty turned in one of the few great performances for the Mets last week. However, unlike Dickey, Niese let manager Terry Collins pull him from the game after eight innings with a five run lead, which the bullpen nearly blew in the Mets 6-5 win Sunday night.
6. Rafael Soriano, Yankees - Three games, two saves, 3.1 scoreless innings for the Yankees closer. Want to understand his value to the Yankees after the season-ending injury to Mariano Rivera. All you had to do was see the adventurous ninth inning of the Mets game Sunday night, when Frank Francisco turned a 6-1 lead into a 6-5 nail-biter and had to be pulled. -- EV
7. Mark Teixeira, Yankees - Had two home runs and four RBI last week, along with a .286 batting average (8-for-28). Teixeira has 22 home runs and 76 RBI, closing in on a ninth straight 30 home run, 100 RBI season. -- EV
8. Jon Rauch, Mets - It looks like it's time for Collins to make Rauch his closer. After some rough patches, the righty has been amazing of late, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings last week while giving up just one hit. He came into Sunday night's game after the bullpen had already given up four runs and put the typing run on third and promptly got a strikeout to earn the save.
9. David Wright, Mets - He still hasn't hit a long ball in August (last HR was on July 27), but Wright did hit safely in five of the Mets six games (8-for-24).
10. Andres Torres, Mets - Last week Torres raised his average 46 points, propelled by performances against the Miami Marlins Thursday (3-for-3) and Atlanta Braves Saturday (2-for-4).