League Imbalance Issues

[Guest Edgy DC]

As the season progresses, it seems all the top un-Metly teams are in the American League again. I fear (and what a fine fear to have) the Mets may go toward the post-season without being tested in fire. This may or may not lead to complacency, and I don't so much mean on the part of the performers, but maybe on the part of the roster assemblers.

I dunno.

[Guest sharpie]

Yeah, hard to name another top NL team.

[Gwreck]

We do get to face the Tigers on the road.

[nymr83]

The Dodgers are up there with anyone in the AL besides Boston.

[G-Fafif]

Edgy DC wrote: I fear (and what a fine fear to have) the Mets may go toward the post-season without being tested in fire.

La-la-la! (Hands over ears.) I can't hear you talking about the post-season in May!

But seriously, I think there's plenty of fire to go around on this club, especially with the memory of the last NLCS likely smoldering in many of them. But I have to admit this is way down my list of concerns right now. As class of the National League as we appear to be and probably are, our respective leads for the division title and a failsafe Wild Card are formidable (five and four games, respectfully) but not impenetrable.

[Guest Kid Carsey]

Dozen or so more with Philly and nine or so more with Atlanta (if my me-
mory banks are functioning properly) is enough fire for me, thank you.

I just don't see the Mets running away with things like last year.

[Guest iramets]

I'm not concerned. Willie's a winner, he tells us so all the time. Can a winner lose? Don't be silly. It's in the bag. If the Mets start to get tight, or show signs of strain, or begin to press, or anything, Willie will know what to do. It's all a matter of innate character--some people have it, others don't. The Mets --are--IN--the fucking playoffs, and you can bet the house on that. They could be be playing the Greek team from Mount Olympus, and Willie would find a way to win.

[Guest Kid Carsey]

Should I just stop posting? I seem to always make you fall off the wagon.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, I'm just thinking of this as I see Milwaukee free-fall. The AL Central has four of five really good teams, the NL Central has one of five that isn't making people giggle.

It also seems a lot of the best GMs are working over there, while some interesting GMs are just getting started in the NL on renovations in places like Colorado, Arizona, and Pittsburgh, but are still maybe where Cleveland was three seasons ago.

The Dodgers?

[Willets Point]

The Mets are 3-6 against the team that's just a few games behind them in the standings with 9 more games to go against them (and 112 games overall!). I wouldn't go printing those NL East Champion banners just yet.

[Guest sharpie]

Of course the Mets have many games to go, with quite a few of them against good teams. Yes, the Dodgers, Phillies and Braves are pretty good but I'd rather have them to go up against than the Bosox, Tigers and Angels.

[Frayed Knot]

The bulk of Inter-League still remains to be played so we'll have to see how that turns out. The AL had the edge in the early rounds already played and I expect they'll get the better of the whole thing when all is said and done although I'd be surprised if it were as lop-sided as last year when the AL won 61+% of the games. No other year had been as high as 55/45 split for either side.

The bulk of the imbalance is coming from the one sorry division. The Brewers, after fattening up on almost exclusively NLC teams had lost 6 in a row and 13 of their last 17 (starting with their Shea visit) until their win last night. And the kicker is that they haven't been caught by anyone in that time and still have a larger division lead than anyone except Boston.

Collective records to date:

NL-E = +10 (10 games over .500 as a division)
NL-C = -36
NL-W = +20
=======
-6

AL-E = Even
AL-C = +8
AL-W = -2
=======
+6

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think things are looking good right now. I think they'll be in the playoffs, but it's certainly not in the bag. Atlanta is still close enough that they can retake the NL East, but I expect that the Mets will at least grab the Wild Card.

If I remember correctly, by this time last year I had already started the Magic Number countdown. It's too early to do that yet this year. (I think it's currently at 107 though. But no, by mentioning that I'm not starting a countdown.)

[Guest iramets]

In the bag, I tell you. I don't know why they bother playing the games.

[seawolf17]

Come on, Ira. You know they HAVE to play the games so we can see how far out the Yankees end up. Besides, then the press would have nothing better to do than follow A-Rod around.

[Willets Point]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: If I remember correctly, by this time last year I had already started the Magic Number countdown. It's too early to do that yet this year. (I think it's currently at 107 though. But no, by mentioning that I'm not starting a countdown.)

I'm sure Rogers could take care of that for you.

[Benjamin Grimm]

He'd have us down to zero before the end of the day today.

[nymr83]

Edgy DC wrote: The Dodgers?

Russell Martin is likely the 2nd or 3rd best offensive catcher in the NL, Kent and Betemit are playing well at 2nd and 3rd and they have Andy Laroche just waiting for a chance, their outfield looks pretty weak but luig gonzalez is, for now, hitting.

their real strength is incredible pitching- Lowe, Penny, Wolf, and Hendrickson are all pitching well (Tomko....not so much) With Saito, Broxton, and Billingsley (who will eventually start) they have a great bullpen, Rudy Saenez and Yancy Brazoban are good relievers too.
Jason Schmidt has been hurt but will provide a nice boost when he gets back.
their biggest need is a power hitter in RF (or addition by subtraction getting rid of juan pierre who has lost his onbase ability an is now just a powerless steal guy who cant reach even 35% of the time)

[TransMonk]

I don't think the AL/NL imbalance is as strong as last year. Personally, I think the AL Central is overrated. Cleveland and Detroit are good teams, but the White Sox and Minnesota have not impressed me at all this year. I wouldn't be surprised to see that division boil down to the Indians and the Tigers as the others fade away.

On the flipside, the disgrace that is the NL Central has definitely flipped some competition to the NL divisions on either coast. Atlanta is obviously better in the East and the NL West race looks like it could be a great race between 3 decent teams.

The AL has Boston, which is far and away the best team in the league thus far, and they arguably have 4 of the best 5 teams in baseball. But the NL has 5 or 6 of the best 10 teams, IMO...which I would not have said about the NL at almost any point last year.

As for the Mets, I'd like to see them play better against the better teams in the league (they are 8-8 against Arizona, Milwaukee and Atlanta), but the playoffs are a long way away and I don't believe this team has reached the level of play that they're capable of.

[stevejrogers]

="Yancy Street Gang"]He'd have us down to zero before the end of the day today.

Easy there Belated Birthday Boy!

Just be glad I'm not posting any reverse karma threads this year =;P

Speaking of which, I'm surprised we haven't heard from last season's bridge jumper, cleonjones11...uh on second thought, maybe that is a good thing.