July 15, 200917 yr Author Why the long NL winless streak? McCarver says the DH has loaded the AL up with more offense. I say that having a representative from every team, having 2 more teams in the NL waters their roster down just a little bit.
July 15, 200917 yr Why the long NL winless streak? McCarver says the DH has loaded the AL up with more offense. I say that having a representative from every team, having 2 more teams in the NL waters their roster down just a little bit. It also gives them about 28 more position players to choose their team from than the AL which should offset the 14 DHs in the AL. The biggest difference for me is the quality of closers in the AL over the last 10 years. When these games are close late the AL has the better arms in the pen. When you can trot out guys like Papelbon, Nathan and Rivera the game is over after 6 innings offensively for the NL. Meanwhile the NL had to run Heath Bell out there--it just isn't the same.
July 15, 200917 yr Heath Bell has just as good of numbers if not better than any of those 3 guys. He's got a career ERA of 3.35 out of the bullpen which is fairly pedestrian. He's got 25 career saves. He's in his first year as a closer for a team that is 20 games out of first place. He pitches in the worst offensive park in the majors. Sure, his numbers this year are solid but if you think that resume has him as prepared for the type of pressure and caliber of players that he faced tonight as Papelbon, Nathan and Rivera--well then you need to watch a little more baseball.
July 15, 200917 yr Author I say that it's because the AL is just more talented.... Interleague play results would support that. When the NL was dominant in the all-star game, they had outfields of Aaron, Mays and Clemente. The argument can be made that more of the marquee players have been in the junior curcuit for a while now.
July 15, 200917 yr Interleague play results would support that. When the NL was dominant in the all-star game, they had outfields of Aaron, Mays and Clemente. The argument can be made that more of the marquee players have been in the junior curcuit for a while now. I think AJG's point about pitching is pretty spot on as well. Especially in the bullpens, but overall the pitching is just much better in the AL, and has been for quite some time. When streaks reach the level that it is, it usually points to an obvious answer. If the streak was 3 or 4, that's one thing, but when it gets to 13, you have to go with the obvious, which in this case is talent.
July 15, 200917 yr He's got a career ERA of 3.35 out of the bullpen which is fairly pedestrian. He's got 25 career saves. He's in his first year as a closer for a team that is 20 games out of first place. He pitches in the worst offensive park in the majors. Sure, his numbers this year are solid but if you think that resume has him as prepared for the type of pressure and caliber of players that he faced tonight as Papelbon, Nathan and Rivera--well then you need to watch a little more baseball. Thanks I had no idea those guys have had better careers than Heath Bell.
July 15, 200917 yr Thanks I had no idea those guys have had better careers than Heath Bell. You're the one that tried to point out that Heath Bell had as good of numbers as the 3 that closed out the game for the AL. Otherwise why would you have posted that? I was merely pointing out that having a good half season does not make him as good as the other guys. The guys that have been getting in done in big spots for awhile came through tonight while the guy that wasn't used to the spotlight folded. Those gaudy numbers were accumulated in games that pretty much didn't matter.
July 15, 200917 yr I'm not trying to pin point that one example because obivously those 3 have better track recrods. The AL is probably slightly better than the NL top to bottom but looking the rosters this year I don't see that big of a gap that you guys see. As for the W/L record you can't really make an argument that it is a fluke. There is no way they would win that many in a row if it was. Even if they have been slightly better historically it is amazing they can't at least get 1.
July 15, 200917 yr AL has better talent but the gap is getting smaller. I think the last 3 or 4 games have been decided by 1 run. The NL has won 3 of the last 7 WS so overall talent maybe in the AL but always the best team.
July 15, 200917 yr Future sites 2010 - Anaheim 2011 - Arizona 2012 - Kansas City Current stadiums that have never hosted an All-Star Game Florida (opened in 1987) Tampa (opened in 1990) Arizona (1998) GABP (2003) Philadelphia (2004) San Diego (2004) Washington (2008) Mets (2009) Yankees (2009) The Mets last hosted the All-Star Game in 1964. Kansas City in 1973. Dodger Stadium in 1980. Washington DC last hosted the All-Star game in 1969. Tampa Bay, Arizona, and Florida have never hosted an All-Star Game.
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