







On the Loria Factor, the Blue Jays’ excuse against guys not throwing spitballs, saving potato bugs, free hot dogs in McCovey Cove and the evil black magic of tape recorders:





The rankings (records through Wednesday):

Baltimore More

1. Baltimore Orioles (21-13; Previous: 5) – Brian Roberts sees specialist for hamstring injury. Makes you wonder if he’s seen so many specialists they don’t really seem that special anymore.





St. Louis More

2. St. Louis Cardinals (21-12; Previous: 6) – Unable to establish bullpen that retires hitters, Cards turn to retired pitcher, ask for the gold watch back.







Texas More

3. Texas Rangers (21-13; Previous: 2) – Darvish said he’d heard uncomplimentary things about new catcher Pierzynski, who figured Darvish must have been talking to, you know, everyone.







Detroit More

4. Detroit Tigers (19-12; Previous: 12) – Tigers take up cause of saving endangered tigers, privately relieved franchise didn’t name itself the potato bugs. Because they’re gross and nobody wants them around.







Atlanta More

5. Atlanta Braves (20-13; Previous: 1) – B.J. a little jealous about little brother Justin’s start. Sighs. Pitchers always did like him better.







Boston More

6. Boston Red Sox (21-13; Previous: 4) – Buchholz the 42nd overall pick in 2005. Amazing how many teams allowed him to slip through their fingers.







San Francisco More

7. San Francisco Giants (20-14; Previous: 3) – ESPN goes to McCovey Cove, gives away dozens of hot dogs. Couldn’t give them all away, of course, as someone had to host SportsCenter that night.











[Also: Sunscreen trick is pitchers' latest method to gain an edge]

Colorado More

8. Colorado Rockies (19-14; Previous: 9) – Upton brothers, Hairston brothers, Molina brothers, Nix brothers, Rex Brothers…





New York More

9. New York Yankees (19-13; Previous: 13) – A-Rod tells reporters he has “a lot of unfinished business,” clarifies however that he’s actually settled up the Biogenesis account.







Kansas City More

10. Kansas City Royals (17-13; Previous: 14) – Royals like Alex Gordon a lot more now that everyone else has decided he’s not a bust and that the Royals were right to continue believing in him, no matter what everyone else said.







Pittsburgh More

11. Pittsburgh Pirates (18-15; Previous: 15) – Everybody laughed when Pirates introduced military style training, but look at them now. Granted, everybody’s still laughing about that. But still.







Cincinnati More

12. Cincinnati Reds (19-16; Previous: 7) – Baker reaches 1,600 career wins, passes Lasorda on all-time list, insists at 63 he still has a few arms to burn out before he’s done.







Arizona More

13. Arizona Diamondbacks (19-15; Previous: 10) – D'backs grant the bullpen hasn’t been great, stop short of saying it’s ka-Putz.







Washington More

14. Washington Nationals (18-15; Previous: 11) – By end of World Series, Harper will be legally permitted to sip post-game Champagne. (Clown observation, bro.)



Story continues