Comments on: Where are all the American League stars? http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/06/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/ In-your-face baseball commentary Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:15:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: My Pet Goat http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/06/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-55650 My Pet Goat Thu, 08 May 2008 19:53:08 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/#comment-55650 This conversation is moot until inter-league play. Right now you're analyzing statistical incest. This conversation is moot until inter-league play. Right now you’re analyzing statistical incest.

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]]> By: How do you spell retard? http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/06/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-55648 How do you spell retard? Thu, 08 May 2008 19:41:42 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/#comment-55648 The reason the NL dominates can be broken down inot a simple equation. Dominantness= # of Chase Utleys ^ # of Pat the Bats The reason the NL dominates can be broken down inot a simple equation.

Dominantness= # of Chase Utleys ^ # of Pat the Bats

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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/06/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-55649 Nick Kapur Thu, 08 May 2008 15:22:46 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/#comment-55649 So I notice that David Pinto, writing over at <i>The Sporting News</i>, has <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=408997" rel="nofollow">just tackled this question from a slightly different angle</a>, but I think his data and conclusions support my view, namely, that the NL teams are using younger players than the AL teams, and that the younger players they are using are better than the young players the AL is using. So I notice that David Pinto, writing over at The Sporting News, has just tackled this question from a slightly different angle, but I think his data and conclusions support my view, namely, that the NL teams are using younger players than the AL teams, and that the younger players they are using are better than the young players the AL is using.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/06/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-55647 Sarah Green Wed, 07 May 2008 15:09:25 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/#comment-55647 Don't forget DC and Philly! There's a reason the Amtrak Boston-to-DC corridor is the only profitable passenger rail line in America. If you look at one of those maps of the US at night, you can easily see where the population centers are. Yes, plenty of other states have huge cities, but the sprawl from Boston to Pittsburgh to DC is pretty uniformly intense. Nonetheless, any benefit we gain from greater media coverage I would readily trade for less traffic. Don’t forget DC and Philly! There’s a reason the Amtrak Boston-to-DC corridor is the only profitable passenger rail line in America. If you look at one of those maps of the US at night, you can easily see where the population centers are. Yes, plenty of other states have huge cities, but the sprawl from Boston to Pittsburgh to DC is pretty uniformly intense. Nonetheless, any benefit we gain from greater media coverage I would readily trade for less traffic.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/06/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-55646 Paul Moro Wed, 07 May 2008 15:01:29 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/#comment-55646 Nick, when you mention Soto as the best catcher, don\'t you mean \"so far in 2008\"? And Melissa, I know very well that the east coast gets more media coverage. I wouldn\'t call it \"bias\" (that\'s a totally different conversation). Players and teams get more attention for many reasons. Bigger media markets, more convenient time zone, bigger revenue stream. The AP, Reuters, ESPN, Time Warner/Sports Illustrated, are all located in the NY tri-state area for a reason. So yeah, the east coast (more notably the BOS-NYC corridor) gets far more attention than the rest of the country. But I just disagree that this is the reason why so many people think that the AL is the better league. Hell, I couldn\'t care less about the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. But the fact remains that since 2000, the National League has a 955-1059 record in interleague play. Nick, when you mention Soto as the best catcher, don\’t you mean \"so far in 2008\"?

And Melissa, I know very well that the east coast gets more media coverage. I wouldn\’t call it \"bias\" (that\’s a totally different conversation). Players and teams get more attention for many reasons. Bigger media markets, more convenient time zone, bigger revenue stream. The AP, Reuters, ESPN, Time Warner/Sports Illustrated, are all located in the NY tri-state area for a reason. So yeah, the east coast (more notably the BOS-NYC corridor) gets far more attention than the rest of the country.

But I just disagree that this is the reason why so many people think that the AL is the better league. Hell, I couldn\’t care less about the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. But the fact remains that since 2000, the National League has a 955-1059 record in interleague play.

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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/06/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-55644 Nick Kapur Wed, 07 May 2008 05:16:16 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/#comment-55644 Well, Ken, I'm not sure, but my point was not necessarily that the NL has better *teams* as much as that it has better stars. Can anyone really doubt that right now Chase Utley is the best second baseman in the game, that Geovany Soto is the best catcher, or that Pujols is the best first-baseman? Well, Ken, I’m not sure, but my point was not necessarily that the NL has better *teams* as much as that it has better stars. Can anyone really doubt that right now Chase Utley is the best second baseman in the game, that Geovany Soto is the best catcher, or that Pujols is the best first-baseman?

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]]> By: Ken http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/06/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-55645 Ken Wed, 07 May 2008 05:01:52 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/#comment-55645 I wonder if all this NL love will continue after interleague play? I wonder if all this NL love will continue after interleague play?

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]]> By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/06/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-55643 Lyndsay Wed, 07 May 2008 03:37:00 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/#comment-55643 “or maybe this is because National League pitching sucks, and AL pitching dominates, and has more aggressive pitchers” You make me LAUGH—Lets have a look" DUDE - did you not read what I wrote after that? I said that was my INITIAL reaction, but upon looking at the pitching stats, the NL seemed to be leading in pitching categories as well. “or maybe this is because National League pitching sucks, and AL pitching dominates, and has more aggressive pitchers”

You make me LAUGH—Lets have a look”

DUDE – did you not read what I wrote after that? I said that was my INITIAL reaction, but upon looking at the pitching stats, the NL seemed to be leading in pitching categories as well.

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]]> By: melissa http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/06/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-55642 melissa Tue, 06 May 2008 22:56:11 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/#comment-55642 Paul, Please notice where I stated, "a lot of the attention these teams get is well deserved," hence I did not contend it's all hype. If you want to contend there is no East Coast media bias that's fine but I have seen it. I was simply adding bias to the list of things Nick mentioned as another reason as to why the perception of AL dominance exists. People who live on the East Coast may not be as aware of it because they are part of it and it's teams they are interested in. Put Albert Pujols on the Yankees and see if he doesn't become the most hyped player in the game. He doesn't get a great deal of mention for quite possibly being the best player in the game. Jeter gets the love because he is a Yankee, we all know he doesn't deserve the level of praise he gets. Miguel Cabrera and Albert are definitely 2 of the 5 best hitters in the game and they don't get anywhere near the pub. of guys in NY and Boston. I also agree with you it's too early to indicate that the NL is an offensive powerhouse. The DH alone should make the AL the dominant offensive league. I would also add that personally I don't think the outcome of the All-Star game means a whole lot as to which is the better league. It is an exhibition game even if MLB gives the outcome meaning. If the "better" teams and players are in the AL, there are many fans of the game of baseball that will always prefer to watch the DH-less NL. Paul, Please notice where I stated, “a lot of the attention these teams get is well deserved,” hence I did not contend it’s all hype. If you want to contend there is no East Coast media bias that’s fine but I have seen it. I was simply adding bias to the list of things Nick mentioned as another reason as to why the perception of AL dominance exists. People who live on the East Coast may not be as aware of it because they are part of it and it’s teams they are interested in. Put Albert Pujols on the Yankees and see if he doesn’t become the most hyped player in the game. He doesn’t get a great deal of mention for quite possibly being the best player in the game. Jeter gets the love because he is a Yankee, we all know he doesn’t deserve the level of praise he gets. Miguel Cabrera and Albert are definitely 2 of the 5 best hitters in the game and they don’t get anywhere near the pub. of guys in NY and Boston.

I also agree with you it’s too early to indicate that the NL is an offensive powerhouse. The DH alone should make the AL the dominant offensive league. I would also add that personally I don’t think the outcome of the All-Star game means a whole lot as to which is the better league. It is an exhibition game even if MLB gives the outcome meaning. If the “better” teams and players are in the AL, there are many fans of the game of baseball that will always prefer to watch the DH-less NL.

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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/06/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/comment-page-1/#comment-55641 Paul Moro Tue, 06 May 2008 19:21:01 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/where-are-all-the-american-league-stars/#comment-55641 Melissa, it's not just hype. Looking at all the interleague games that have been going on, I think it's pretty clear who the better league has been over the last decade. Of course, that doesn't mean that the NL isn't turning the tide. So while it's interesting to note how many NL hitters are just tearing it up so far in 2008, there are no conclusions that can be reached yet. Melissa, it’s not just hype. Looking at all the interleague games that have been going on, I think it’s pretty clear who the better league has been over the last decade. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the NL isn’t turning the tide. So while it’s interesting to note how many NL hitters are just tearing it up so far in 2008, there are no conclusions that can be reached yet.

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