Professional baseball rankings -- Week 23

*Number 1 -- SEATTLE MARINERS--(102-40) -- The Mariners beat Baltimore on Friday, 10-1, behind the pitching of Paul Abbott, who improved his record to 15-3. Second baseman Bret Boone hit his 34th homerun of the year. He set a new AL record for homeruns by a second baseman. Mike Cameron also hit a homerun in that game. His 23rd of the year.

*Number 2 -- NEW YORK YANKEES--(85-57) -- Pitcher Mike Mussina beat Boston twice this past week. He almost had a perfect game last Sunday in a 1-0 win. He had two outs and two strikes on Carl Everett in the ninth, but Everett broke his no-hitter up with a single to left. Mussina had 13 strikeouts in that game. This past Saturday, he beat Boston 9-2. He has improved his record to 15-11. Roger Clemens improved his record to 19-1 Wednesday, with 4-3 win over Toronto. He is only the second pitcher in major league history to win 19 of 20 decisions. Closer Mariano Rivera has 45 saves for the year.

*Number 3 -- OAKLAND ATHLETICS--(85-57) -- The A's have won six in a row. They beat Tampa Bay on Saturday 10-4. Pitcher Mark Mulder ran his record to 18-7. His ERA is 3.50. Miguel Tejada hit another homerun, his 26th of the year. Ron Gant his second as an Athletic. Frank Menechino hit his 12th and Jermaine Dye hit his 24th.

*Number 4 -- HOUSTON ASTROS--(83-59) -- The Astros lead the Cubs and the Cardinals by five-and-a-half games in the NL Central. Pitcher Wade Miller improved his record to 16-7, with 5-3 win over Milwaukee Friday. Outfielder Lance Berkman went 2-2 with two RBI's. He has 111 RBI's on the year.

*Number 5 -- CLEVELAND INDIANS--(81-61) -- The Indians showed Chicago who's the boss in the AL Central with 8-7 win Saturday. Outfielder Juan Gonzalez hit two homeruns to give him 34 and first baseman Jim Thome hit his 46th. Gonzalez now has 136 RBI's and he's batting .344.

*Number 6 -- ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS--(80-62) -- Pitcher Curt Schilling won his 20th game of the year Wednesday, in 7-2 win over Giants. He struck out 12. Arizona leads Giants by one and half games in NL West.

*Number 7 -- FRANCISCO GIANTS--(79-64) -- Slugger Barry Bonds hit his major league leading 60th homerun Thursday in 9-5 win over Arizona. He is the fastest person to reach 60 homerun in the majors ever. He did it in 141 games.

Number 8 -- LOS ANGELES DODGERS--(78-64) -- The Dodgers beat the Cardinals on Friday 7-1. Pitcher Kevin Brown was the winner. He is now 10-4. His ERA is 2.75. Outfielder Shawn Green hit two homeruns to give him 45 on the year and in Saturday's loss he hit his 46th. He broke the Dodger's franchise homerun record, once held by teammate Gary Sheffield and Duke Snider of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The old record was 43.

*Number 9 -- ST. LOUIS CARDINALS--(77-64) -- Pitcher Andy Benes was the winner in Saturday's win over Los Angeles 6-5. Outfielder Jim Edmonds hit his 25th homerun. J.D. Drew went 3-3 with a double and one RBI. Rookie Albert Pujols went 1-4 with two RBI's. He now has 111 on the year and he's batting .333.

*Number 10 -- ATLANTA BRAVES--(77-64) -- The Braves beat the Cubs two in a row in Chicago. The Braves have the best road record in the NL. They are 43-26. Pitcher Tom Glavine won his 14th game of the year in 5-3 win over Chicago Saturday. Chipper Jones hit his 35th homerun of the year. John Smoltz picked up his seventh save of the year.

*Number 11 -- CHICAGO CUBS--(77-64) -- The Cubs are five-and-a-half out in the NL Central. They have lost four in a row. They beat Florida last Monday 10-2. Pitcher Jason Bere improved his record to 10-8 with win. Outfielder Michael Tucker hit his 11th homerun and outfielder Rondell White, who finally came off the DL, went 3-4 with two RBI's and a double.

*Number 12 -- PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES--(74-68) -- The Phillies trail Atlanta by three-and-a-half games in the NL East. Pitcher Robert Person improved his record to 14-6, with 3-0 win over Montreal Thursday and outfielder Bobby Abreu hit his 27th homerun of the year.

*Number 13 -- MINNESOTA TWINS--(74-68) -- The Twins trail the Indians by seven games in the AL Central. The Twins are 19-36 since the All-Star break. Third baseman Corey Koskie has 25 homeruns and 96 RBI's so far this year. He's having a great season.

*Number 14 -- CHICAGO WHITE SOX--(73-69) -- The White Sox beat the Indians in a wild one Friday night, 10-7. Second baseman Ray Durham went 4-5 with four RBI's and one run scored. He also hit his seventh triple of the year. Rey Ordonez went 3-4 with one RBI and a run scored. He hit his 35th double of the year.

*Number 15 -- ANAHEIM ANGELS--(73-69) -- The Angels beat the Twins on Friday night, 7-3, behind the pitching of Ramon Ortiz, who improved his record to 12-8. He struck out eight. Tim Salmon hit his 16th homerun and Benjie Molina hit his fifth. Scott Spiezio hit his 13th.

*Number 16 -- BOSTON RED SOX--(72-68) -- The Red Sox trail the Yankees by 12 games in the AL East. They are dead ducks. Pedro Martinez and shortstop Nomar Garciaparra are complaining about the team a lot to the press. What's new? General manager Duquette has a mess on his hands.

*Number 17 -- NEW YORK METS--(71-72) -- The Mets have been hot. They have won six in a row. They trail Atlanta by only seven games. They could win it. It ain't over till it's over!

*Number 18 -- SAN DIEGO PADRES--(70-72) -- The Padres beat Arizona on Friday night, 4-3. Mike Colangelo, just up from Triple A in Portland, hit a solo homerun in the eighth inning to win it.

*Number 19 -- TORONTO BLUEJAYS--(69-73) -- The BlueJays beat the Yankees on Tuesday 14-0. Pitcher Chris Carpenter was the winner. He improved his record to 9-11. He struck out 12. Jose Cruz Jr. hit his 27th homerun of the year in that beating. Rookie third baseman Felipe Lopez hit two homeruns to give him three for the season. He went 3-5 with five RBI's and three runs scored. He hit a triple also.

*Number 20 -- FLORIDA MARLINS--(65-77) -- Rookie pitcher Josh Beckett beat the Cubs 8-1 last Tuesday in his major league debut. He is 21. He worked six innings and struck out five batters. He was the second overall pick in the 1999 amateur draft.

*Number 21 -- TEXAS RANGERS--(65-77) -- The Rangers beat Kansas City on Friday night, 8-2, behind the pitching of Don Davis. He improved his record to 9-8. Rafael Palmeiro hit his 39th homerun and shortstop Alex Rodriquez hit his 43rd. Rodriquez hit his 44th Saturday in their loss to the Royals. He broke an AL record for homeruns by a shortstop.

*Number 22 -- MILWAUKEE BREWERS--(63-79) -- The Brewers beat Houston on Saturday, 7-2. Pitcher Ruben Quevedo record is now 4-2. His ERA is 3.61. Richie Sexson hit his 36th blast of the season. He hit two doubles to give him 23 on the year.

*Number 23 -- COLORADO ROCKIES--(62-79) -- The Rockies are dead last in the NL West, trailing by 17.5 games. Outfielder Larry Walker has 33 homeruns and 111 RBI's on the year. Great offensive team, but no solid pitching.

*Number 24 -- MONTREAL EXPOS--(61-81) -- The Expos beat the Phillies on Friday behind the pitching of Javier Vazquez. He is now 16-11. He struck out nine batters. His ERA is 3.50.

*Number 25 -- CINCINNATI REDS--(57-85) -- The Reds beat Pittsburgh Thursday, 8-6. Second baseman Todd Walker, who's been a great addition to this club went 3-5 with two RBI's, one run scored, and his 30th double of the season.

*Number 26 -- DETROIT TIGERS--(57-84) -- Nowadays, I just try to remember the old days when Al Kaline, Norm Cash,Jim Northup and Willie Horton roamed the field at old Tiger Stadium and made the fans cry for joy.

*Number 27 -- KANSAS CITY ROYALS--(57-85) -- Twenty-four games out of first in the AL Central. First baseman Mike Sweeney hit his 27th homerun in 8-3 win over Texas Saturday. He now has 90 RBI's on the year.

*Number 28 -- BALTIMORE ORIOLES--(55-86) -- The O's have lost seven in a row. It's a shame slugger Rafael Palmeiro is no longer with this franchise or pitcher Mike Mussina. I've never really seen the Orioles down so low. Great baseball town and fans.

*Number 29 -- PITTSBURGH PIRATES--(55-87) -- The Pirates beat the Reds on Saturday 5-2. Pitcher Jimmy Anderson was the winner. He is 7-16 now. Not much improvement.

*Number 30 -- TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS--(50-92) -- The Devil Rays actually defeated Seattle last Tuesday 8-3 in 10 innings. Pitcher Victor Zambrano earned the win in relief of Tanyon Sturtze. First baseman Steve Cox went 2-5 with his ninth homerun, two RBI's and one run scored. He's a big fella at 6-4-222.

See you at the game.