Why are there more 80-win teams in the AL than the NL?

[Mattingly]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/standings/index.jsp

I've been looking at the standings for a few months (all year, actually), and still see that the Mets, as expected, are one of the winningest teams in baseball. However, when compared to every other NL team, they're not only the only >90-win team in the NL, they're the only ones so far which have more than 80 wins.

Is it tougher competition why the NL teams haven't had any outstanding differences between the division winner and the basement teams? In the AL, we've got a trio of 2nd place teams (Boston, Anaheim and Minnesota), as well as a pair of 3rd place teams (Chicago and Toronto) that equal or have more wins than the 1st and 2nd place teams in the NL, which (other than the Mets) would be St Louis, Cincinnati and San Diego.

Anyone have any theories for the disparity in the number of wins between the top-rated teams in both leagues? It's something I've been curious about for a few months, wanted to hear people's thoughts on this.

Thanks. :)

[mwiggins]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/standings/index.jsp

I've been looking at the standings for a few months (all year, actually), and still see that the Mets, as expected, are one of the winningest teams in baseball. However, when compared to every other NL team, they're not only the only >90-win team in the NL, they're the only ones so far which have more than 80 wins.

Is it tougher competition why the NL teams haven't had any outstanding differences between the division winner and the basement teams? In the AL, we've got a trio of 2nd place teams (Boston, Anaheim and Minnesota), as well as a pair of 3rd place teams (Chicago and Toronto) that equal or have more wins than the 1st and 2nd place teams in the NL, which (other than the Mets) would be St Louis, Cincinnati and San Diego.

Anyone have any theories for the disparity in the number of wins between the top-rated teams in both leagues? It's something I've been curious about for a few months, wanted to hear people's thoughts on this.

Thanks. :)

Interleague play - the AL killed the NL this year, creating more wins to go around in the AL. And I think the top teams in the AL, like the Twins and Det and Boston, beat up on the NL this year, creating more 90+ win teams in the AL than would normally be the case.

[Mattingly]

Interleague play - the AL killed the NL this year, creating more wins to go around in the AL. And I think the top teams in the AL, like the Twins and Det and Boston, beat up on the NL this year, creating more 90+ win teams in the AL than would normally be the case.
Oh, is that it? I figured that someone would just say that the AL was overall a better-hitting league than the NL.

Were these AL team wins mostly in AL parks where the DH rule is allowed, or about even whether playing in NL or AL parks?

[RuthMayBond]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/standings/index.jsp

I've been looking at the standings for a few months (all year, actually), and still see that the Mets, as expected, are one of the winningest teams in baseball. However, when compared to every other NL team, they're not only the only >90-win team in the NL, they're the only ones so far which have more than 80 wins.

Is it tougher competition why the NL teams haven't had any outstanding differences between the division winner and the basement teams? In the AL, we've got a trio of 2nd place teams (Boston, Anaheim and Minnesota), as well as a pair of 3rd place teams (Chicago and Toronto) that equal or have more wins than the 1st and 2nd place teams in the NL, which (other than the Mets) would be St Louis, Cincinnati and San Diego.

Anyone have any theories for the disparity in the number of wins between the top-rated teams in both leagues? It's something I've been curious about for a few months, wanted to hear people's thoughts on this.

Thanks. :)You don't like ElHalo's theory that the National League is actually a MINOR league? :laugh

[Jose Reyes]

I don't think it has much to do with interleague. It's because there are a lot more dominant teams in the AL and then in the NL there are just a bunch of mediocre teams, but not many teams that are so much better or so much worse than everyone else.

[hudsonharden]

With the exception of the Mets, there's more parity in the NL. There are more teams still in the wildcard hunt. Technically, the ROCKIES haven't been eliminated yet.

[Mattingly]

You don't like ElHalo's theory that the National League is actually a MINOR league? :laugh
Would that be for NL teams east of the Hudson River or west of this? :D

With the exception of the Mets, there's more parity in the NL. There are more teams still in the wildcard hunt. Technically, the ROCKIES haven't been eliminated yet.
The Rockies' magic number is 1, so they don't have much of a chance, unless they intend to go on a wild winning streak and hope that the Dodgers never win another game this season.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/standings/index.jsp

In the NL, there aren't any 81-game winners before tonight's games start, other than the Mets. In the AL, there are five (5) 2nd- and 3rd-place teams at or above 80 wins.

I still find that a might strange.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Well, the NL wild card leader is playing .523 right now and that's LA, who is ironically 80-73.

The other teams are 79-78-77 and so on.

Hmmm, maybe because WE HAVE NO DH and YOU DO? :lookitup

[EvanAparra]

Well, the NL wild card leader is playing .523 right now and that's LA, who is ironically 80-73.

The other teams are 79-78-77 and so on.

Hmmm, maybe because WE HAVE NO DH and YOU DO? :lookitup

Yeah but its not like the AL plays the NL, and the AL gets a DH and the NL doesnt. The DH has nothing to do with it.

[W_Marone]

AL teams are just better, simple as that. Now, if only the Phillies didnt play in the East, they would have a chance at winning every other division.

[ChrisLDuncan]

Simply put because the NL sucks.

[Astro]

Well, the NL wild card leader is playing .523 right now and that's LA, who is ironically 80-73.

The other teams are 79-78-77 and so on.

Hmmm, maybe because WE HAVE NO DH and YOU DO? :lookitup
No its because all of the NL's top players are bought by AL teams when they become free agents

[west coast orange and black]

2 of the junior circuit's 14 clubs will more than likely lose 100 games this season. the more punching bag teams that there are in a league the better chance that teams'll tack on a few extra wins.

[EvanAparra]

junior circuit.

:laugh :laugh :laugh :laugh ..... Blind are we?

[nolanryan5714]

Has nobody here entertained the thought that the National League may just be more evenly balanced this year overall, compared to what we are used to seeing?

I'm not comparing AL to NL right now. I'm comparing NL to NL.


I think that's the case. Everybody's beating each other up, and it'll go on until the witching hour for just about all teams in the race.

[EvanAparra]

Has nobody here entertained the thought that the National League may just be more evenly balanced this year overall, compared to what we are used to seeing?

I'm not comparing AL to NL right now. I'm comparing NL to NL.


I think that's the case. Everybody's beating each other up, and it'll go on until the witching hour for just about all teams in the race.

Well, that could be the case.


But the notion that the NL and AL are about the same isnt true, as proven by interleague...

But your arguement is a good one.

[BigStellyPADRES4LIFE]

unfortunately having a DH in your lineup period gives the AL a distinct advantage during interleague play.

Here is why....

IN AL Parks: No NL team keeps around an extra bat just for the sake of doing that having an extra bat, so the AL is used to trying to find 9 guys who can hit the ball really well. Its not practical for an NL team to keep an extra bat around, if they can only play 8 hitters on a given day it behooves them to try to improve pitching.

In NL Parks: Most pitchers in the NL cant hit to save their lives so this is pretty much a null point in the NL parks, should be pretty much an even playing feild. Though late in the games the AL does have a pinch hitter available who has been doing that throughout the season and therefore has more practice. So in close games where points are needed late in the game the AL has a bit of an edge here yet again.

[nolanryan5714]

I didn't even want to get into the DH thing...but you are right, BigStelly.

I hope this thread doesn't go too far off the topic. :(

[Mattingly]

2 of the junior circuit's 14 clubs will more than likely lose 100 games this season. the more punching bag teams that there are in a league the better chance that teams'll tack on a few extra wins.
Junior circuit, huh? Sooooooooooooooo *THAT's* what those NL guys think of us, isn't it? :D

With TB having 95 losses and KC having 97, that's only approximated by the Cubs having 93 so far. I'd say that the teams in their own division would have tacked on the most. With Seattle having only 80 losses, there's no punching bag in the AL West (Jr Circuit West?), so what's to explain Oakland's 90 wins?

[Mattingly]

unfortunately having a DH in your lineup period gives the AL a distinct advantage during interleague play.

Here is why....

IN AL Parks: No NL team keeps around an extra bat just for the sake of doing that having an extra bat, so the AL is used to trying to find 9 guys who can hit the ball really well. Its not practical for an NL team to keep an extra bat around, if they can only play 8 hitters on a given day it behooves them to try to improve pitching.

In NL Parks: Most pitchers in the NL cant hit to save their lives so this is pretty much a null point in the NL parks, should be pretty much an even playing feild. Though late in the games the AL does have a pinch hitter available who has been doing that throughout the season and therefore has more practice. So in close games where points are needed late in the game the AL has a bit of an edge here yet again.
If the main catcher obviously hits better than the backup, but the backup is better defensively, guess who's the DH? The main catcher, that's who.

When the Giants came to Yankee Stadium in June 2002, as I've recited a gazillion times, Barry Bonds was their DH. Why? Because he'd told his manager Felipe Alou that's what he'd wanted to do, that's why.

When the Mets played at Yankee Stadium around 2003 (or was this 2004?), the Yanks ran so often on Mike Piazza on a Saturday, that on Sunday, they made him the DH, putting Vance Wilson, I think it was, as the catcher.

Not every single AL team has a full-time DH, despite thoughts to the contrary. In fact, I can think of one certain big-name AL team (one that's quite familiar to me, but you'll have to guess) :p which doesn't have a full-time DH. Not every team has their own Ortiz, Thome, Hafner, etc.

For an NL team to find a DH, all they need is to use a good-glove bench guy to play a position and a position player who can slug to DH. They do that, no biggie. They can win a ballgame or two.

I didn't even want to get into the DH thing...but you are right, BigStelly.

I hope this thread doesn't go too far off the topic. :(
Too late, pal. This thread's been officially hijacked! :D

[trosmok]

Junior circuit, huh? Sooooooooooooooo *THAT's* what those NL guys think of us, isn't it? :D
......so what's to explain Oakland's 90 wins?

The NL has eleven teams under .500, while the upstart AL has five, and one, Texas, right at 78-78. Part of this is due to greater parity, or mediocrity in the senior circuit, as well as the AL's total dominance of the abomination known as inter-league play. Hard to tell why the Athletics are sporting a .581 winning percentage unless it is a case of the Lasordaism: "No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you're going to win one-third of your games. It's the other third that makes the difference." Oakland has only lost thirteen of those other third of their games.

[maximum jack]

unfortunately having a DH in your lineup period gives the AL a distinct advantage during interleague play.

Here is why....

IN AL Parks: No NL team keeps around an extra bat just for the sake of doing that having an extra bat, so the AL is used to trying to find 9 guys who can hit the ball really well. Its not practical for an NL team to keep an extra bat around, if they can only play 8 hitters on a given day it behooves them to try to improve pitching.

In NL Parks: Most pitchers in the NL cant hit to save their lives so this is pretty much a null point in the NL parks, should be pretty much an even playing feild. Though late in the games the AL does have a pinch hitter available who has been doing that throughout the season and therefore has more practice. So in close games where points are needed late in the game the AL has a bit of an edge here yet again.

Continuing off topic. I just do not buy this. When everyone (maybe not you, but lots of people on these boards) scream about what an inferior player David Ortiz is because he doesn't play the field. When we play on the road against the NL, guess what? He plays the field-- and not very well, I might add. So isn't this a leveling of the field? Plus, if your National League pitchers can't hit to save their lives, how would you describe our American League picthers at the dish? And, if you've beefed up your pitching staff by spending more of your disposable income on pitchers as opposed to having a big bat off the bench (rightfully so, I might add), then shouldn't you have superior pitching? That should also keep things even steven.

Now, the argument I will buy is the one where the AL does seem more likely to spend big money on quality players.

[RuthMayBond]

Now, the argument I will buy is the one where the AL does seem more likely to spend big money on quality players.Let's check out the top four, and three of the bottom four

http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/totalpayroll.aspx?year=2006

[trosmok]

...... Plus, if your National League pitchers can't hit to save their lives,.......

Hmm, ever hear of a fellow name Dontrelle Wayne Willis? On 9/20/06 in a 6-3victory over the Mets at Shea, he pitched 8 1/3 innings while hitting two HRs, as well as an RBI single. Clemens, Arroyo, Zambrano etc. etc.....:waving

[maximum jack]

Hmm, ever hear of a fellow name Dontrelle Wayne Willis? On 9/20/06 in a 6-3victory over the Mets at Shea, he pitched 8 1/3 innings while hitting two HRs, as well as an RBI single. Clemens, Arroyo, Zambrano etc. etc.....:waving

I was using Bigstelly's words there. But you help make my point, all those fellows you mention are currently in the NL.

[Senior skittles]

Let's check out the top four, and three of the bottom four

http://asp.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/totalpayroll.aspx?year=2006
haha i know this is completely off topic but both florida teams are at the bottom of that list.

my opinon on the matter is that the nl has great parity. any team can win on any given day. The AL is the better league right now but i think something about it draws free agents to it...... I cant put my finger on why that is. hopefully zito and hunter leave the al and come to the nl. And if sorinano stays in the nl (witch he proablly will) our league will se some imrovement. (look at the marlins a few years from now and tell me how good they are gonna be!!!!)

[EvanAparra]

haha i know this is completely off topic but both florida teams are at the bottom of that list.

my opinon on the matter is that the nl has great parity. any team can win on any given day. The AL is the better league right now but i think something about it draws free agents to it...... I cant put my finger on why that is. hopefully zito and hunter leave the al and come to the nl. And if sorinano stays in the nl (witch he proablly will) our league will se some imrovement. (look at the marlins a few years from now and tell me how good they are gonna be!!!!)

Draws FA HITTERS.

[west coast orange and black]

two-three: Junior circuit, huh?
i first heard or read that term more than 40 years ago, so that's what it's always been to me.
and, it's the league, not the players or the fans.

so what's to explain Oakland's 90 wins?
you tell me and we'll both know. :p

[RuthMayBond]

so what's to explain Oakland's 90 wins?
you tell me and we'll both know. :pThe closing of the upper deck? ;) (which I understand will remain for at least part of the playoffs)

[tigers527]

With just a little investigation I have found the answer....look at these numbers
AL East v NL teams
55-35
AL Central v NL teams
63-27
AL West v NL teams
36-36

Total: 154-98 AL v NL by my math, that's 56 extra losses those NL teams have to absorb...You have to admire those NLers for not have as stinky stinkers as the AL. But consider, it is much easier to be bad against all the fine teams the AL features.

[nolanryan5714]

When we play on the road against the NL, guess what? He plays the field-- and not very well, I might add. So isn't this a leveling of the field?

If 50% of the games were Interleague, then that argument would stand up to be tested. Since that's not even close to reality, I don't know what the point you're trying to make is...

Plus, if your National League pitchers can't hit to save their lives, how would you describe our American League picthers at the dish?

I'd personally describe them as nonexistent. ;)
Not a fair assessment in either case.

[EvanAparra]

(which I understand will remain for at least part of the playoffs)

Ridiculous... :grouchy

[maximum jack]

If 50% of the games were Interleague, then that argument would stand up to be tested. Since that's not even close to reality, I don't know what the point you're trying to make is...



I'd personally describe them as nonexistent. ;)
Not a fair assessment in either case.

I'm not sure what point you are making. We were discussing league advantages during interleague play. Nothing more.

[nolanryan5714]

I'm not sure what point you are making. We were discussing league advantages during interleague play. Nothing more.
I must have gotten lost. I apologize if that is the case.

[bigtrain]

two-three: Junior circuit, huh?
i first heard or read that term more than 40 years ago, so that's what it's always been to me.
and, it's the league, not the players or the fans.

so what's to explain Oakland's 90 wins?
you tell me and we'll both know. :p

The National League was created first. The American League was created second. The National League is the senior circuit and the American League is the junior circuit. Always has been, always will be. It is as simple as that and has nothing to do with the quality of play in either league.

[trosmok]

Both the Twins and Red Sox had interleague records of 16-2 in '06. Althought the Twins have won 90+ games and the Red Sox won't, that still translates into 28 losses that might keep NL teams from reaching that nice round number that really means very little, as compared to a post-season berth. Winning lots of games is nice, but even better is shot at winning it all, instead of starting the long vacation when the regular season ends. Last I checked, each league has four teams advance regardless of the number of wins and losses.:waving :laugh :rolleyes: