In what way, realistically, does American League differ from National League?

Answer 1

The American league, for one, has the DH position. This is a big advantage to American League teams when they meet in the regular season and post season (All Star Game is sorta a moot point b/c of the way the pitching works, imo). I think a lot of people over look this fact, thinking that since either both teams use the DH or both don't, it stays even. Here's why I don't believe that to be true. When the AL team plays in an NL town, the NL team is the same as it usually was in terms of offense: 8 guys you expect can get a hit and 1 you hope just doens't hurt himself. Other than a few freaks like D Train, NL pitchers can't hit, despite getting an at bat or two per game. They just haven't had the kind of training it takes, and many of them haven't competitively hit since high school. The AL team goes down a bat, but is not worse off than the NL team. They don't have to take the DL out of the lineup, as they can plug him in at another position (like many clubs do) and instead drop their worst hitter, and replace him w/ the pitcher, who just like the NL pitcher, can't hit. So while the AL offense is less potent in an NL park, it isn't any worse off than the NL team.
But when they play in an AL park, the NL is at a distinct disadvantage. Yes, both teams don't make the pitcher bat, but the AL team has a guy bat in his stead who is paid just the same as a position player. The NL team fills in with a bench warmer. Yeah, it's better than the pitcher, but they are adding the skills of a bench player to compete with the skills of an everyday player. Not only that, but the DH is paid JUST b/c of his offensive abilities, i.e. they are plugging in a bat where the NL is plugging in a scrub.
Now, another reason is payroll.

Rank-Team-07 Payroll-06 Payroll-Change
1 Yankees $195,229,045 $198,662,180 $(3,433,135)
2 Red Sox $143,526,214 $120,100,524 $23,425,690
3 Mets $117,915,819 $100,901,085 $17,014,734
4 White Sox $109,680,167 $102,875,667 $6,804,500
5 Angels $109,251,333 $103,625,333 $5,626,000
6 Dodgers $108,704,524 $99,176,950 $9,527,574
7 Mariners $106,516,833 $88,324,500 $18,192,333
8 Cubs $99,937,000 $94,841,167 $5,095,833
9 Tigers $95,180,369 $82,302,069 $12,878,300
10 Orioles $95,107,807 $72,585,713 $22,522,094
11 Giants $90,469,056 $90,862,063 $(393,007)
12 Cardinals $90,286,823 $88,441,218 $1,845,605
13 Braves $89,492,685 $92,461,852 $(2,969,167)
14 Phillies $89,368,214 $88,273,333 $1,094,881
15 Astros $87,759,500 $92,551,503 $(4,792,003)
16 A's $79,938,369 $62,322,054 $17,616,315
17 Blue Jays $79,925,600 $71,915,000 $8,010,600
18 Brewers $71,986,500 $56,790,000 $15,196,500
19 Twins $71,439,500 $63,810,048 $7,629,452
20 Reds $69,154,980 $59,489,015 $9,665,965
21 Rangers $68,818,675 $65,468,130 $3,350,545
22 Royals $67,366,500 $47,294,000 $20,072,500
23 Indians $61,673,267 $56,795,867 $4,877,400
24 Padres $58,235,567 $69,725,179 $(11,489,612)
25 Rockies $54,424,000 $41,133,000 $13,291,000
26 D'backs $52,067,546 $59,221,226 $(7,153,680)
27 Pirates $38,604,500 $40,234,833 $(1,630,333)
28 Nationals $37,347,500 $63,267,500 $(25,920,000)
29 Marlins $30,507,000 $14,998,500 $15,508,500
30 Devil Rays $24,124,200 $35,417,967 $(11,293,767)

7 of the top 10 payrolls, for of the bottom 10 payrolls. Of the 9 teams that dropped their payroll, only 2 are AL teams, 1 of which is the Yankees, who still have the highest payroll. The DRays, btw, would only move up one spot had they not cut their payroll. What does all that mean? Well, for starters, while some players, such as Beltre in Seattle, don't pan out for the money they get, by and large the higher the payroll on your team, the more competitive you are in the regular season. Sure, 7 different teams have won the last 7 titles, but only two, the Marlins and the Dbacks, are in the bottom half of payroll. Both have also had drastic payroll cuts since then, especially the fish. 3 of the top four payroll teams have won those titles, the #3 team a favorite this year. The only team not in the top 10 is the Cards, at 12, who also happened to only win 83 games and were a longshot to win.
Taking this a step further, the best players these days usually want to make good money, and usually want to win. The bigger payroll AL teams offer both, so the top players tend to gravitate there.
So that, in a rather large nutshell, is what makes the AL different.

Answer 2

The only real difference anymore is the DH. The rosters seem to reflect that as well. Not too many slow, lumbering sluggers in the National League.
A decade or so ago there was a bigger difference between the two leagues. Thankfully with the disappearing artificial surfaces that once were the rule, not the exception in the National League, the game has improved.

Answer 3

The National League has three teams in California, the American League only has two.

Uh... DH?

Answer 4

Apart from the Designated Hitter rule, not anything. Up until a few years ago, they had different league offices and there were more subtle differences in how the umpires worked and other such things. With the consolidation of the league offices into the Commissioner's Office, the only real difference is the DH.

Answer 5

Because of the Designated Hitter in the American League you see fewer late inning substitutions. For instance, in the National League where the pitcher has an at-bat, you will rarely see a relief pitcher bat, instead a pinch-hitter will come in. Often, then another substitution is made to replace the pinch-hitter for defensive reasons. Because of the lack of the designated hitter, someone who bats the entire game, you have alot more substitutions in the National League.

Answer 6

the DH and the American League Pitching is much better than the National League Pitching.

Answer 7

The American League teams have DH's; take Jason Giambi for example he used to play 1B but now he's only a DH. The National League teams dont have DH's and their pitchers get to bat. Oh and one more thing...AMERICAN LEAGUE is SOO much better than NL. GO YANKEES!!!

Answer 8

the AL has the Designated hitter and the NL doesn't. That might seem like a very small difference but it completely changes the way the game is played. You'll see the double switch in the NL. I think NL games tend to be lower scoring because the pitcher is generally an easy out. I think the better managers reside in the NL because there is more thinking that needs to be done.

Answer 9

truthfully not. There are 5 communities in the A.L. that are greater suitable. The Tigers will win the international series, accompanied via the pink Sox, Yankees, Indians, and the Angels. regrettably basically 4 pass to the playoffs. The DH element is a comedian tale rumor. The pitching in the NL is inferior. Jose Lima scored 20 wins in the NL for houston back in the day. No DH hit 60 abode runs ( an identical stat for ball gamers)

Answer 10

American League has the DH, which means that AL games are generally more high scoring.