I just looked at the final standings and no team had a winning percentage of less than .407 or higher than .593 (i.e., the worst team didn't have fewer than 66 wins and the best team didn't have more than 96 wins). Can any of the regular contributors here remember such a year where the teams winning records' had such relative parity? Or at least a year where no team either won or lost 100 games or more? In other words, is this the most "equal" distribution of teams there has ever been in a season? Thanks!
2007-10-01 12:44:38 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
Also, I should ask if this is the most (or one of the most) equal distribution of teams there has ever been, to what factors (i.e., watered down pitching? salary caps? "moneyball?") do you feel this would be attributable?
2007-10-01 12:50:24 · update #1
You'd have to go back a long time. I'm no regular, but the Devil Rays prior to this year have always lost 100 or more, and the Yankees in the Joe Torre era have always won 100 games or close to it.
2007-10-01 12:47:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The AL at least is getting a little more competitively even, though it's still far from balanced. Think of all the teams during the second half at some point that had a ligament shot to make the playoffs. You had the Red Sox, Yankees, Indians, Tigers, Mariners, Twins, heck even the Blue Jays could have given themselves a chance had they gone on a hot streak.
The division between division front runners and non-contenders is becoming less and less clear cut in the AL with more teams like the Tigers and Mariners retooling their line-ups and working themselves into the playoffs mix. In other words, the AL central is no longer Cleveland, and then everyone else like it was in the late 90s. The AL west has recently seen a mix of competitiveness with the A's, M's and Angels over the last few seasons.
The east is still Yankees and Red Sox, but look at the schedules each year, and the "easy games" against other AL teams seem to dwindle down more and more.
It seems to me that the AL is starting to look more and more like the NL in terms of competitive balance, every year it seems like in the NL there are a bunch of teams battling it out for the wild card in the NL west. We are starting to see a more interesting wild card race from the AL as the seasons wear on.
2007-10-01 20:56:49 · answer #2 · answered by Baltimore Birds Fan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it was. I think that it's GR8. So does Bud Selig.
An all time attendance record was set this year as well.
I became a season ticket package holder for the first time too.
I'm not sure that i'll do it again, but i plan to attend select individual games next year.
All and all, it truly was a GR8 year for baseball.
Who would have said that the Rockies had a chance before the season started?
All the best to you and the team that you support.
2007-10-01 20:05:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good one, and no I looked around and have not found a year like this. Something to consider though is next year might even be closer... A- rod is looking around. Some team might grab him in the NL and the way the NL goes, everything could change quickly like with the phillies and mets, and rockies and others. Definately keep an eye out during the offseason for trades and free agents moving around. Next year will be interesting
2007-10-01 19:55:28 · answer #4 · answered by bosox555 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In 2000, every team was below .600 and above .400. The Giants finished at .599 and the Phillies and Cubs finished at .401.
So, yes, this is the most equal distribution.
2007-10-01 20:08:15 · answer #5 · answered by ousooners4life 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! I just noticed that as well. That is strange, and no I cant remember a season like this is quite soome time. I'd have to do to baseball-almanac to see exactly this happend last.
2007-10-01 19:49:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it was
2007-10-01 20:00:39 · answer #7 · answered by Michael M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋