MLB Interleague play

[Da Coach]

For the 7th straight year, the American League bested the National League in interleague play winning 134 games, while the NL won 118 games.

[tornado]

and the AL has won 12 of the last 13 All Star games

[SFP]

Any thoughts on why the disparity? Does the DH make a difference? What is the payroll difference?

[tornado]

The DH might make some difference, since each AL team intentionally stocks extra hitters for that purpose, and NL teams aren't as likely to have those stockpiled hitters...
But I can't see how it accounts for such a wide disparity....

Here are a couple more thoughts...

More NL fields have artificial turf..bounces are truer, and that helps the pitchers,
while in the AL the pitchers have to be better to get those guys out on the ground ball - so in the end the AL has better pitchers

The biggest cities with the biggest revenue and fan base (Boston, NY, Chicago, LA/Anaheim) all have had a World Series Champion within the past 15 years...
(NY has had 5, Chicago 1, Anaheim 1, and Boston 2) - so when your strongest, richest teams are good and dedicated to staying good, then maybe they acquire and keep a better level of talent, meaning the AL has been stronger overall..

Even the NL teams that have won in that span (Marlins, D-Backs, Phillies) kinda did it with good managing and teamwork, but actually had substantially more younger players, and lesser payroll...

The final theory is that JUST maybe the better players (hitters & pitchers) actually ARE congregated in the AL simply because the AL clubs have done a better job in their minors and in free agency!

[Bradleyguy10]

1. The AL East

2. (kind of cooperative with #1) payroll

I think that's really it. Besides this year wasn't much of a disparity....1 more win for half the teams in the NL in inter-league would've essentially tied it up (because it would correspond with 1 less AL win...just in case some aren't good at math).

Tornado which stadiums have astroturf in the NL and AL...I never really thought of that. Though I still don't think AL pitchers are better...a better argument for that would be that they have to face a lineup that includes a DH rather than a pitcher, but this year I think the NL has better pitchers.

[Future Walk-On]

Here are a couple more thoughts...

More NL fields have artificial turf..bounces are truer, and that helps the pitchers,
while in the AL the pitchers have to be better to get those guys out on the ground ball - so in the end the AL has better pitchers
.

What?

What NL parks have artificial turf?

2 parks in the whole league have fake turf....tropicana and toronto.....AL

[DeltaBrave03]

When NL teams go to an AL park they have to play 8 starters and a bench player against 9 starters for the AL team. I think you could also make a very strong argument 4 of the best 5 pitchers in the league are in the NL.

[Chico]

When NL teams go to an AL park they have to play 8 starters and a bench player against 9 starters for the AL team. I think you could also make a very strong argument 4 of the best 5 pitchers in the league are in the NL.

Both leagues have to vary from their league games when they play inter league games on the road. I'm sure 99 percent of the bench players are better hitters than the pitchers they are replacing at the plate, or at least will make an effort with the bat.

[Future Walk-On]

Both leagues have to vary from their league games when they play inter league games on the road. I'm sure 99 percent of the bench players are better hitters than the pitchers they are replacing at the plate, or at least will make an effort with the bat.

but that bench player isn't the multi-million dollar player paid only to hit.....

[Chico]

but that bench player isn't the multi-million dollar player paid only to hit.....

But he swings the bat and acts like a hitter the way you are supposed to do when you take the bat to home plate.

[Future Walk-On]

But he swings the bat and acts like a hitter the way you are supposed to do when you take the bat to home plate.

but still.........

best batter (besides relief pitchers) chris carpenter....

[Chico]

but still.........

best batter (besides relief pitchers) chris carpenter....

You named one and could have named more, but I don't have the time or space on this board to name all the ones that take strike 3 on a regular basis or attempt to sacrifice bunt with 2 strikes.

[Future Walk-On]

You named one and could have named more, but I don't have the time or space on this board to name all the ones that take strike 3 on a regular basis or attempt to sacrifice bunt with 2 strikes.

it does annoy me.