Check out who is at No. 26 this week...

1. Detroit (1) – Losing 2B Placido Polanco won’t keep them out of the playoffs but could hurt them in the playoffs.
2. Chicago White Sox (4) – 4-game series vs. Tigers beginning Monday is chance for the defending champs to make a statement.
3. New York Mets (3) – Paul LoDuca says Mets are 2-1 favorites to win the NL pennant.
4. New York Yankees (2) – Contemplated getting Aaron Boone and Bucky Dent for weekend series against Red Sox.
5. Oakland (6) – It’s no coincidence that A is the first letter of August.
6. Boston (7) – Since getting rocked in first start off DL, David Wells is 2-1 with a 2.75 ERA.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers (10) – Can open up some ground with the next seven games vs. NL West.
8. Minnesota (5) – Twins, with Francisco Liriano and now Matt Garza, must have figured a way to clone hard-throwing pitchers.
9. Toronto (8) – Two things they are first in: Victories by a team whose nickname begins with B, wins by a Canadian team.
10. Los Angeles Angels (12) – Rally Monkey fined and suspended for role in Texas brawl.
11. St. Louis (9) – Ronnie Belliard, Jeff Weaver and now Preston Wilson … are they running a baseball team or a half-way house for journeymen players?
12. Cincinnati (11) – As tough a year as Junior has had it would be nice to see him in the playoffs.
13. Texas (14) – We’re ending the moratorium on Kip Wells jokes… How could Rangers know “Ironman” Wells would end up on the DL?
14. Arizona (13) – Eric Byrnes rises again in Phoenix (.226 with 10 homers in 2005, .279 19 homers in 2006).
15. Philadelphia (17) – This team is exhibit 1-A for why traditionalists hate the wild card concept.
16. San Diego (15) – Padres don’t have a prayer unless they start playing better at Petco Park.
17. Colorado (19) – We are not making this up: Entered weekend with second-best ERA (4.09) in baseball.
18. San Francisco (22) – They are still alive as long as Ben-Gay and Motrin aren’t considered banned substances.
19. Milwaukee (20) – Ex-Rangers closer Francisco Cordero begins Brewers career with 10 consecutive scoreless innings.
20. Houston (16) – Time to get it together with 8-of-next-11 against teams with losing records.
21. Florida (21) – The owner is made at manager Joe Giradi? Is he serious? Giradi has been a key to team’s success.
22. Cleveland (26) – Travis Hafner would be a serious MVP candidate if Indians were anywhere close to being in contention.
23. Chicago Cubs (25) – The weekly rumor mill for managerial candidates lands on Bruce Bochy of the Padres.
24. Atlanta (23) – Hot-and-cold: Matt Diaz goes 10-for-10 but Edgar Renteria has and 0-for-24 streak.
25. Washington (24) – Alfonso Soriano has a chance for a 30-30-30 (homers, steals, trade rumors) season.
26. Seattle (18) – Given their season, we ask this: Is the glass half empty or half full?
27. Baltimore (27) – Jeff Conine says he’s thinking of retiring, a look at his numbers suggests he already has.
28. Pittsburgh (30) – Did you know Pirates were 16-14 in last 30 games before losing on Tuesday and Wednesday? Furthermore, did you care?
29. Tampa Bay (28) – Make them take the bus: D-Rays are 1-15 on road since All-Star break.
30. Kansas City (29) – Royals would be dropped to Triple-A if baseball operated like English soccer.