Is the AL actually better?
25 June 2008Real research is supposed to be done without bias, without an expected outcome. This is not real research. This is just one NL fan who is sick to death of hearing that the AL is plain “better” than the NL based solely upon Interleague records. I know there’s not a TON of data (Interleague play has been around only since 1997), but you’d think SOMEONE would take a closer look. Even some baseball minds I deeply respect (Rob Neyer) seem to be concerned only with each league’s overall record in Interleague play.
So, let’s dig just a tiny bit deeper, shall we? Not much deeper… just Interleague records at home and away. Why? Well, I believe the AL’s Interleague dominance has MORE to do with the DH than anything else.
The last time that the NL won more Interleague games than the AL was in 2003, so lets begin in 2004. Overall, the AL is 663-530 (.556) in Interleague games since 2004. Oh, the humanity!!!
At home, the AL is an even more dominant 373-222 (.627), but on the road, they’re just 290-308 (.485). Oh, the humani… waaaa?? The AL is below .500 in road Interleague games since 2004?
Alright, it’s not MUCH below .500, but it is more losses than wins. What could that possibly mean? Could it be that the AL has a greater advantage than the NL when playing with home rules? The NL’s pitchers aren’t any better at hitting than the AL’s, pitchers, are they? But the AL’s designated hitters are certainly better than the NL’s. Since ‘04, AL designated hitters (overall) have a combined .262 BA and .794 OPS while the NL’s DHs have hit just .251 and own a .731 OPS. That difference is not exactly insignificant.
So the DH may very well be a huge advantage for the American League when playing at home. Not a bad explanation for why the AL wins more Interleague games if you ask me… the teams are basically evenly matched when pitchers bat in NL parks, but when the DH is in use in AL parks, the junior circuit dominates.
Is this definitive, undisputable evidence? No, obviously not. It is, however, enough to hopefully make broadcasters, analysts, and fans pause before saying “The AL is just better.”