Why is the National League so bad?

Question

Here is a question that has enter my mind, the National League might have good teams, but in genral, when they play in the All-star game, on in the World Series, they are so bad that they lose. And no replies like because they stink, or any replies that you bad mouth the National League, now National League teams might own some of the American League teams in interleague, but really that is it, but once they play in the all-star game, they play like they want to be the visitors in the World Series, and not win the game, and snatch homefield advantage from the American League. I am now thinking, that they have only won 2 World Series during this whole decade, and with the American League winning the rest.

Answer 1

Simple man. economics. American League has more offense because of the DH. People want to see home runs, not pitcher duels, unfortunately, because I prefer a good pitcher's duel any day of the week. So more people watch American League games and go to AL ballparks. This gives AL teams more money, which they use to get better players.

Also, in WS games, in NL parks the AL team loses a hitter, but usually find a way to keep their best hitters in the lineup. In AL parks NL teams gain a DH, but why would you keep a David Ortiz around if you play in the NL? So this gives AL teams an advantage.

Answer 2

I like a lot of the answers that have been given, but I think because of the DH that the AL teams pitching staffs HAVE to be deeper. Because of the DH and the money that the AL clubs have and use, they have to have that extra lefty specialist for a David Ortiz or Travis Hafner. Look at the type of hitter the NL clubs offer up when they can use the DH in interleague play and the World Series. It's usually a 4th outfielder or back-up infielder who's good for a stop gap but to Josh Beckett an easy strikeout or pop-up. Whoever winds up representing the AL in the World Series after going through a tough regular season and even tougher playoffs, the NL club is a breeze. Looking at the lineups as they are right now, only the Mets and Phillies have anything CLOSE to an AL looking club, and unless the Phillies ponies up for Aaron Rowand, they will take a step back.

Answer 3

I got a few reasons as to why the NL might not be as good as the AL.

The NL has some of the larger stadiums in the MLB, so the players in the NL always have 'balooned' stats. So when fans see the stats of the players in the NL, they think they're good... but then you see them trying to hit in some of the AL stadiums, they aren't as good as many think.

The NL also does not have the DH. That pretty much means that they have one less power hitter than the usual AL team. Without the DH, they pretty much lose out to players like David Ortiz, Travis Hafner, Frank Thomas, etc. The big-boppers that are liabilities on defense.

Finally, the NL teams dont spend as much money as some of the AL teams. The New York Mets have been trying to change that in the last few years... as well as the Chicago Cubs... but for the most part, there is a lot more money spent by AL teams than the NL teams. The LA Dodgers have money to spend, but they dont actually spend a whole lot. Whereas in the AL, there are the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, LA Angels, Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers... and even the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays spend more money than most NL teams.

Answer 4

It's because they don't have the DH. The AL steals all the good hitters because if they want to be lazy, they can hit, and not field. You would think that in the AL, the hitting is better and in the NL the pitching is better. Well, it's not. Lots of good pitchers get go to AL teams because the GM's of those teams feel that they are one or two free agents away from the world series, so they make a push for those guys. Mean While the NL teams are in a rebuilding stage, and look to dumb payrolls.

Also 4 of the top 5 payrolls are in the AL.

Answer 5

Because the AL has a significantly higher payroll then the NL. With more money comes better players and with better players comes more wins.

Top 10 Highest Team Payrolls
1. NY Yankees $195,229,045 (AL Team)
2. Boston $143,123,714 (AL Team)
3. NY Mets $116,115,819 (NL Team)
4. Chicago Sox $109,290,167 (AL Team)
5. LA Angels $109,251,333 (AL Team)
6. LA Dodgers $108,704,524 (NL Team)
7. Seattle $106,516,833 (AL Team)
8. Chicago Cubs $99,936,999 (NL Team)
9. Detroit $95,180,369 (AL Team)
10. Baltimore $95,107,808 (AL Team)

My point, 7 of the Top 10 highest payroll teams are from the AL.

Edit : Another reason is the DH rule. But I think the payroll is a bigger factor just because in the AL, their are only a couple of teams who actually have a DH who can post up 30 HR's. (Ortiz Giambi Hafner...).

Yet again, the DH rule is a huge advantage to the AL team witch it another factor you put in why the AL is a better league then the NL.

Answer 6

Everything runs in cycles and the NL is in a down cycle at this time. If you go back and look at all the all-star games during the past 50 years you will see that there were periods where the AL could not beat the NL. In time it will turn around to favor the NL and everyone will be asking why the AL can't beat the NL.

Answer 7

the NL isnt bad, they just play a different style of baseball. National league teams are built for pitching and older style of play and AL teams are built for power hitting and relying on the bullpen much more. During the All star game the AL team can usualy just hit them self to a win and the same thing happens during the world series.

Answer 8

Actually, they've won THREE out of the seven (Arizona-2001, Florida-2003, St. Louis-2006). So to say they are bad, is misinformed thinking! The tie had to be broken this October and it just happened to go to the AL.

Answer 9

Try the DH in the NL for 3 years and see how much more runs will be scored.

Answer 10

They aren't they have more all star game wins by a large amount than the american league