08-04-2009, 01:59 PM
It's not the DH that has moved the AL ahead of the NL, because as someone pointed out, in the first 2 decades of the DH's existence, the NL was the premier league.
Historically, (which makes me think that there is some randomness involved) the power axis has shifted back and forth between the 2 leagues.
A lot of sportswriters have speculated that the current AL advantage (interleague play and the all-star game) comes because they had a few teams that were very well run, and the other teams had to catch up, spend, whatever to even compete.
At one point earlier in this decade, the Yankees and Red Sox were outspending everyone else by a MILE, The A's had Billy Beane and the Moneyball way of building winners, the Twins and Angels had a totally opposite of Moneyball (but equally effective) way of building teams...it seemed like all the innovation and crazy spending was happening in one league, and it had a snowball effect on the other teams.
That said, I don't think that the difference is that big. (Although it's <i>there</i>, for sure. Jim is lucky to be in a division where the Pirates are rebuilding for 2012, the Astros are clueless, and the Reds are managed by Dusty Baker).
Historically, (which makes me think that there is some randomness involved) the power axis has shifted back and forth between the 2 leagues.
A lot of sportswriters have speculated that the current AL advantage (interleague play and the all-star game) comes because they had a few teams that were very well run, and the other teams had to catch up, spend, whatever to even compete.
At one point earlier in this decade, the Yankees and Red Sox were outspending everyone else by a MILE, The A's had Billy Beane and the Moneyball way of building winners, the Twins and Angels had a totally opposite of Moneyball (but equally effective) way of building teams...it seemed like all the innovation and crazy spending was happening in one league, and it had a snowball effect on the other teams.
That said, I don't think that the difference is that big. (Although it's <i>there</i>, for sure. Jim is lucky to be in a division where the Pirates are rebuilding for 2012, the Astros are clueless, and the Reds are managed by Dusty Baker).
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance