The debate for what division is better is very simple and won’t take to much time for me to complete. The American League has been far and away the better division since divisions came into existence. I know what everyone will say about the AL having the DH, but I don’t know how many people know that a NL coach actually suggested it and it was backed by NL coaches before any AL coach ever made a push for it starting in 1906 and then again in the 1920’s. So that should put the notion to bed about the AL and the DH. But if it doesn’t, it still has no barring on the outcome of games between the two divisions. During inter-league play if it is in an AL park then both teams get the DH and if a game is played in a NL park, then both teams go without the DH. Same goes for the World Series, if the home team is NL then there is no DH for either team and if the home team is AL then there is a DH for both teams. Now, here are the reasons that the AL is more dominant and just a better division all around; out of the 106 World Series that have been played, the American League has won 62 of them compared to the NL’s 44. That alone should supplant the AL’s overall dominance. The American League also has the best rivalry in all of baseball between the Yankees and Red Sox (even though I hate both of these teams) and not to mention some of the most storied franchises ever. I am not here to harp on one particular team like I know the other person will do with the Atlanta Braves, but one team doesn’t make a league good, they can make it more interesting for you as a fan, but they don’t make the league better. I love the Tigers, but I honestly believe that the AL is a better league in all aspects except maybe pitching...overall our everyday players are far more talented than the AL. These are the points that I stand behind.
Much Love,
Lion
The MLB debate between the NL and AL will forever be linked to the designated hitter. It is fascinating that a billion dollar professional sports company would basically give the fans two different products. Simply put the DH has split the sport of baseball into two separate entities each vying for the same goal to be World Series Champions. The DH first hit the stage on April 6, 1973, Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees became major league's first designated hitter. He walked against Luis Tiant of the Boston Red Sox with the bases loaded. The AL has since used the DH to replace the pitcher/worst hitter in your lineup for every game played under AL baseball rules. It is not baseball at its truest form. The NL on the other hand is played traditionally with the pitchers batting because they are on the field and in the lineup. I like the idea of both but there needs to be unity in the sport with or without the DH. As for the debate the NL may not be as flashy with all the hitting but its the little stuff in where the NL succeeds. The pinch hitting, base-running and management of the game is much more intricate and important. The NL is Americas Pastime.
Enough about the DH, it has been thought for many years that the AL is better than the NL. There were stretches of AL dominance but for the past few years the shift of power has swayed. In the past few years the interleague splint has shown the NL steadily closing in on taking over and this year may be the time it happens. For years the AL had the upper hand on pitching , but with the addition of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Zach Grienke along with the already stellar pitchers and rising stars the NL has taken over. It is difficult to compare stats of batters in the opposing leagues due to the DH spot giving the AL batters more opportunities for success. So you have to look at which league has the best players which is a near wash. For debate purposes here is my list of the top players by position.
NL / AL
1st Base - NL > AL Miguel Cabrera had a statistically better year than Pujols but he is thought of as the best player in baseball and with Joey Votto, Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder the NL is superior
OF - NL < AL Overall the AL simply has a better crop of OF
2nd Base - NL> AL This is NL destruction Robinson Cano is the best 2nd baseman in baseball but he is the only one of the top 10 in baseball that resides in the AL
SS - NL > AL Once Again not even close Jeter is old Hanley and Tulo are the best and so is the NL.
3rd Base - NL < AL Chipper Jones is my favorite player all-time but the AL has more talent no question.
C - NL = AL This is kind of a cop out but if Buster Posey has another big year i don't see much separation in the leagues.
Overall all NL > AL
NL is Best
Go Braves,
R. Duke
