6. NL West
When the division leader (Arizona) is a game under .500 and a team that is 15 games under .500 (San Francisco) is only seven games back, you know that the division is not good. The Padres, Rockies, Giants, Dodgers, and Diamonbacks are just not good teams.
5. NL East
This was a close one, but this division has the worst team in baseball (Washington). Philadelphia, New York, and Florida are so inconsistent going on hot cold streaks. Earlier this year, it almost looked like the division was turning into the NL West, but the Mets have been streaking and the Phillies remain strong. The division's winning percentage is just below .500.
4. AL Central
The bottom teams, Cleveland and Kansas City, go on huge winning streaks, and it doesn't even matter because they're so bad. Detroit climbed out of its early hole to get over .500 and Chicago and Minnesota are surprise stories. The division's winning percentage is just above .500.
3. AL West
This was another close one, but the worst team in the American League (Seattle) drags this division down. The other three teams in this division (Los Angeles, Oakland, Texas) with 50+ wins and all are in contention for the playoffs. The division's winning percentage is .511.
2. NL Central
Three teams (Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee) have 52+ wins at the break, which is excellent. The problems is the other three teams (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Houston) are just terrible and 12 games back. The division's winning percentage is .517.
1. AL East
This is clearly the best division. The worst team (Baltimore) is only 4 games below .500 and 3 teams (Boston, Tampa Bay, New York) have 50+ wins. Toronto is only one game below .500. This division is the strongest and performing the best.
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2 months ago
Nice job. For the most part, good rankings too.
2 months ago
Good rankings daniel hard to disagree with. But I would probably say the NL Central might be a little better than the AL East. Simply because the top three teams in the central have more wins than the East. Houston and Cincy are only 6 and 4 games below .500 and I believe pittsburgh has a winning record if you take out the games they have played against the Cubs. Plus there is six teams in that division so that adds a little more difficultity.
from 2 months ago
Thanks for the comment, but I still have to disagree.
The AL East has a MUCH harder strength of schedule.
Here's the strength of schedule rankings (espn is my source).
1. Tampa Bay Rays (AL EAST)
2. Boston Red Sox (AL EAST)
3. Toronto Blue Jays (AL EAST)
4. Baltimore Orioles (AL EAST)
10. New York Yankees (AL EAST)
13. Pittsburgh Pirates (NL CENTRAL)
16. Cincinnati Reds (NL CENTRAL)
17. Houston Astros (NL CENTRAL)
18. Milwaukee Brewers (NL CENTRAL)
21. Chicago Cubs (NL CENTRAL)
26. St. Louis Cardinals (NL CENTRAL)
Also, the AL East has more teams higher in the RPI rankings.
1. Tampa Bay Rays (AL EAST)
2. Boston Red Sox (AL EAST)
6. Chicago Cubs (NL CENTRAL)
8. New York Yankees (AL EAST)
10. Tornoto Blue Jays (AL EAST)
11. Milwaukee Brewers (NL CENTRAL)
13. St. Louis Cardinals (NL CENTRAL)
14. Baltimore Orioles (AL EAST)
17. Pittsburgh Pirates (NL CENTRAL)
19. Cincinnati Reds (NL CENTRAL)
22. Houston Astros (NL CENTRAL)
I also don't think that 6 teams makes a division tougher, when the bottom three teams are just terrible. The AL East's winning percentage is .535. The NL Central's winning percentage is .519. Even if you take away the last place team in the NL Central (Pittsburgh), the NL Central's winning percentage is STILL worse (.531).
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