YES Network.com

The 2012 MLB season has reached the halfway point, and since the last extended edition of the MLB Power Rankings, some teams have surged while some have sunk and others have stayed the course.

As the calendar turns to July and we hit the All-Star break, baseball is presented with one of its biggest in-season questions: Who will be buyers, and who will be sellers?

The addition of a second wild card berth in each league has made races even tighter, and as of July 2, there were eight AL teams and seven NL squads either in or within five games of one of those berths. Beyond that, of the 10 teams that would’ve had playoff berths if the postseason began on that date, only two of them – Texas and the Yankees – were in the final eight in 2011.

The next month will be a mad scramble as teams try to figure out where they stand and what they need, but as we look to the past to predict the future, it’s the Rangers and Bombers who lead the way in the Power Rankings.

RANK

TEAM

NOTE

MOVE

1

Texas is the first and so far only team to 50 wins, but can they weather the storm of pitching injuries?

UP

2

The Yankees are the second-best team in baseball record-wise, but they have their own pitching maelstrom to navigate through as the All-Star break approaches.

UP

3

Think about this: The Giants are in first place even with Brian Wilson out for the year and Tim Lincecum struggling badly. They could run away with the NL West if the Dodgers don’t get it together.

UP

4

That 8-15 April seems so long ago now, doesn’t it? Mark Trumbo, who started 2012 without a position, has a legitimate shot at MVP consideration.

UP

5

The Nationals just keep winning, which makes one wonder: What are they going to do when Strasburg gets close to that innings limit?

UP

6

After a split in the Bronx, Robin Ventura’s Sox still lead the AL Central pack. Adam Dunn is on pace for 50 homers, but he’s also on pace to strike out 260 times.

DOWN

7

The Pirates are a nice mid-season surprise for the second year in a row, and James McDonald should be an All-Star.

UP

8

They’ve got plenty of offense, but a NL team with four starters having ERAs of 4.00 or above is a big red flag, even in the homer haven that is Great American Ballpark.

DOWN

9

If they gave out a Manager of the Year Award at mid-season, you’d have to give Bobby V some consideration; given all this team has been through, they were a playoff team as of July 1.

UP

10

See the above, change Bobby V to Buck Showalter, and repeat. Unfortunately, though, they don’t have three All-Stars coming back as reinforcements.

UP

11

Without Kemp and now Ethier, the Dodgers offense has gone into the tank. How much longer can they afford to employ a .240 hitter with no power at first base?

DOWN

12

Lance Lynn has come back down to earth a bit, but their rotation is still solid and they’ll hopefully get Berkman back in a few weeks, so they’re right where they want to be.

UP

13

The Mets are amazin’ once again, but they need to find a corner outfield bat to pair with Nieuwenhuis and Duda. And no, Jason Bay coming back doesn’t count.

DOWN

14

Losing Brandon Beachy will hurt, because he was arguably their best starter in the first half. Can Jair Jurrjens find himself and make it hurt less?

UP

15

Tampa Bay is in fourth place as this is written. By the time you read this, they could be in second. Oh that wacky AL East!

DOWN

16

If you look at the numbers, it looks like Cleveland has overachieved a lot this year…can they keep it up?

DOWN

17

On the flip side, Detroit’s record says they’ve underachieved greatly, but their sluggers are slugging and the rotation is at least healthy, so they could be ready for a second-half surge.

UP

18

Bad news: The Jays are in last place. Good news: It’s last place in the AL East, where all five teams are at or above .500 and in the Wild Card hunt. If they can find some healthy arms, they can make a run at it.

DOWN

19

Injuries and ineffectiveness have left their top two starters in flux, but somehow this team is still hanging around .500 and within striking distance. Two words: Kirk Gibson.

UP

20

Ron Washington and the players know best, but how was Josh Reddick (.260-18-39, .857 OPS through Sunday) left off the All-Star team in favor of a third DH?

UP

21

The Marlins were 8-14 in April, 21-8 in May, and then 9-18 in June. The good news there? Trends say they’ll be good in July and then again in September.

DOWN

22

The Brewers might be the team to watch in July. They have a lot of talent and could choose to be buyers to make a run, but could also try to dangle Marcum or Grienke and re-load if they fall further.

DOWN

23

Billy Butler is their lone All-Star (unless Broxton wins the Final Vote), but Alcides Escobar has the highest batting average among regular AL shortstops and might’ve been there in a year where that position isn’t so deep.

EVEN

24

Jim Thome was somewhat of a spare part (especially if Ryan Howard gets back anytime soon), but is his departure a sign that Hamels, Blanton, or Pence could be had for the right price?

DOWN

25

From the John Sterling “You Can’t Predict Baseball” file: Trevor Plouffe, a utility guy at best with 10 home runs in 327 at-bats in 2009-10, had 18 dingers in 200 AB through week’s end.

UP

26

A little something for those still hating on the Michael Pineda trade: Jesus Montero was .249-8-28 through July 1, and Hector Noesi was 2-10 with a 5.69 ERA.

DOWN

27

Answering last month’s line, it was Jose Altuve who made the All-Star Team. You go, Jose Altuve.

EVEN

28

Even though he missed all of May, Huston Street got a well-deserved All-Star nod. He’s been lights out, but given that San Diego doesn’t win much, he’s been as under-the-radar as anyone.

UP

29

The Cubs have two All-Stars in LaHair and Castro, could have a third in Soriano, and might’ve had four if Ryan Dempster wasn’t hurt. So how were they the worst team in baseball as of July 1?

UP

30

If Matt Kemp can’t play in the All-Star Game, Carlos Gonzalez absolutely deserves to be the replacement starter in the NL outfield. Yeah, his numbers are Coors-inflated, but think of how bad the Rockies would be without him.

DOWN