AL top dog

[HOOTIE]

Is the AL better then the NL? World Series and All-Star Game wise, they are.

Last 22 World Series, AL leads 15-7.

The record in those 22 World Series shows the AL with a huge 75-44 (.630) advantage.

The AL is 14-3 in the last 17 All Star games, holding a 97-61 scoring edge.

Doesn't the NL historically play more smallball?

[George_Foreman]

well, a lot of that is the yankees combined with the fact that the AL generally spends far, far more money than the NL.

[Half Massed]

well, a lot of that is the yankees combined with the fact that the AL generally spends far, far more money than the NL.

True. The AL teams have the offensive benefit of a DH, which helps. There are more "bad" teams in the NL than in the AL also.

[blankman]

well, a lot of that is the yankees combined with the fact that the AL generally spends far, far more money than the NL.

True. The AL teams have the offensive benefit of a DH, which helps. There are more "bad" teams in the NL than in the AL also.

"Bad" teams makes no difference whatsoever at the top of each league which is all that makes the playoffs.

And the DH? In the WS, both teams play by the same rules each game. Chicago took both in NL without a DH.

Neither of those has anything to do with it.

[nuggets]

If you compare the leagues by VORP and top player at possible postition

NL

C Barrett 32.5
1B Lee 105.9
2B Utley 62.3
SS Lopez 52.4
3B Pujols 100.3
LF Bay 82.8
CF Jones 60.9
RF Cabrera 77.4
DH Delgado 71.6

(Total 646.1)

BN Helton 67.4
BN Wright 66.1
BN Giles 65.1
BN Kent 60.5

(259.1)

SP Clemens 80.6
SP Pettitte 72.5
SP Carpenter 68.5
SP Willis 68.2
SP Pedro 66.2

( 356)

RP Wagner 30.5
RP Linebrink 28.1
RP Turnbow 26.2
RP Jones 25.6

( 110.4)
2210.2
AL

C Martinez 60.2
1B Teixeira 73.0
2B Roberts 69.1
SS Young 80.1
3B Rodriguez 99.7
LF Manny 50.4
CF Sizemore 53.0
RF Vlade 72.4
DHOrtiz 85.8

(643.7)

BN Hafner 77.3
BN Tejada 70.1
BN Jeter 66.3
BN Sheffield 56.6

(270.3)

SP Santana 73.0
SP Buehrle 54.2
SP Halladay 52.7
SP Millwood 52.3
SP Colon 51.1

(283.3)

RP Street 33.3
RP Rivera 32.3
RP Duchscherer 30.0
RP Timlin 28.6

(124.2)

(feel free to comment on the postions included)


If you tweak the positions a bit I can see the NL having a decent chance based on VORP, but the AL prevails.

[BritSox]

well, a lot of that is the yankees combined with the fact that the AL generally spends far, far more money than the NL.

Does anyone have stats for average payroll over the two leagues?

[raiders_umpire]

3B Pujols 100.3


(feel free to comment on the postions included)

.

YES pujols got 3b eligibility back



The AL has been raking on the NL the last 20 years or so, but imo the talent level is close between the 2 leagues,,, just a oddity i guess,,,, cause the NL did whoop up on the AL during the 60s and 70s as well when the talent was even there as well....

[Pogotheostrich]

WS and All-Star games don't really seem like a fair representation of each league to me. If you are comparing interleague records then I think you have something.

btw - Yes, the AL is better right now but these things tend to go in cycles.

[chadlincoln]

WS and All-Star games don't really seem like a fair representation of each league to me. If you are comparing interleague records then I think you have something.

btw - Yes, the AL is better right now but these things tend to go in cycles.

I agree. I think that Interleague records determine the better leauge. You get a broad scope that way.

[thomasps3]

An average of payrolls for AL vs. NL would not be a good sample. Median would be better....better overall picture