As we begin play on 6/27/15 the A.L East is the only division with three teams having at least 40 wins and FOUR teams playing .530 ball or better and only a couple/small few games behind all but one ML team (Cards) for best record. Four teams separated by 1 or less games and even the last place Redsox have a better record than a couple of other last place teams from other divisions. Very competitive division, not a weak division and probably as good or better from top to bottom as any other division. (today, here and now).
Wins and Losses are the ultimate bottom line "stat" for a team unless a new stat emerges which adds or deducts "points" for pretty or ugly wins. Lol
Considering the AL EAST splits, the Red Sox are responsible for a collective +11 wins. How do you determine that this isn't a weak division? There are 4 equally mediocre teams (each with different pros/cons) and 1 horrendously awful team. IS you definition of "not weak" = more likely to split a series ? Not sure why you're trying to pump up he AL East. There is no dominant team, that seems weak to me.
This is not exclusive to the AL East this year. Go look at the other divisions. In the AL West you have the Astros at 43-33 and everyone else is either .500 or below. The overall record of the Central is worse than the Al East. Then in the NL besides the Cards nobody is running wild. In the west the Dodgers with all the money they spent are only a game better than the Rays.
I think you meant that the Dodgers are only a game better than the Giants in the west. But excellent points. This is probably the most balanced season I've seen a some time, 10 teams in the AL are playing 500 ball and are within 3 games of each other for a WC spot. Yes I know its early yet but I really don't see any team running away from the pack this year.
I believe the Eastern Division race will go right down to the wire, with all teams but Boston being contenders. A huge factor in the Eastern Division could be the end result of trades made applicable to each club.
^^^ this...Boston is a horrendous 12-23 within the division which translates to an average of 3+ wins for the Yanx, O's, Rays, and Jays. ...as far as pitching, amongst the whole division, their is only one team who has what I would consider a dependable bonafied ace.
Yes, thank Rick. Also, worth noting is that the Pirates even though behind St. Louis by a healthy margin are a half game better than the Dodgers.
Not sure why you're finding so much fault with the A.L East compared to the rest of the divisions. As was stated, the A.L. East is currently THE ONLY division with FOUR teams playing over .500 and also having three teams with 40 wins at this point. Want to look closer? A.L West has ONE team (Hous) playing over .500 while the A.L East has FOUR teams within 1.5- 2.5 games behind Houston's W-L record. Want to chalk it up to different scheduling? Be my guest...I'll stick with W-L records....and by the way, Houston has a considerable losing road record. The A.L East has both a team (TB) with best league pitching, and the highest scoring team (Tor). How about the N.L West- The "big bad" Dodgers (lol) are no better than 1-2 games better than FOUR teams in the A.L East, while the SF Giants currently do NOT have a better record than FOUR teams from the A.L East (they currently are tied with Toronro) and that's it. Of course there aren't any other N.L West teams over .500..lol Boston? Last place Boston - they have a better record than FOUR other teams from other divisions and are currently within 1/2 - 3 games of EIGHT other teams from OTHER DIVISIONS. lol N.L East? They have one other team playing over .500 ball, by one game, the Mets. The Nationals are playing .554 ball while the A.L East has FOUR teams within 1/2 - 1.5 games of the Nationals.....N.L East - besides the Nationals, just one other team is managing to play ONE game over .500 at this point. Sure, of course there are plenty of teams bunched close together but as I said, and as the "snapshot" currently displays - The A.L East is as competively good, and from TOP to BOTTOM better than most divisions...possibly ALL the divisions. And don't think for a moment some of those other division teams aren't benefiting from playing dregs or struggling teams within their divisions. lol
The point is that a lot of people picked the Al East to be weak before the season started. That being said when looking at the full standings it's not the weakest division in baseball. Yes, the Red Sox are bad but compared to how highly touted they were the White Sox actually have a worse record.
Not to nit-pick blg but having 4 teams between 5 & 8 games over 500 is not exactly a big feat. It simply says that you have 4 teams that are not great but okay. On a side note 12 of the 15 teams in the AL are currently within 6 games of each other for a playoff spot. talk about being tight. But, its still early
Not to nit-pick blg but having 4 teams between 5 & 8 games over 500 is not exactly a big feat. It simply says that you have 4 teams that are not great but okay. ____________ Sounds like a "nitpick" to me when the FACT is NO OTHER division matches up with those 4 teams between "5 & 8" games over .500, which is the point. If having only 4 teams between 5 & 8 games over .500 is no big feat, than what does that say about the other divisions.....? A.L East is BETTER from top to bottom than most, maybe all..... and preseason picks from some experts has very little to do with it......many other "experts" realize you have to play the games on the field, not on paper. It is what it is...this is what it is. Don't know how it all turns out...but the current numbers are clear.
It doesn't make 2 shits whether the AL East is collectively strong or weak...the point is that there are 4 teams very evenly matched. Common sense and simple math says that the Yanx' odds of winning the division are about 25%.
If the Yankees would stop cocking around they should have the advantage. Ellsbury and Miller coming back should solidify that.
...Ellsbury's return is much needed but I don't see it really helping the RISP numbers that much, especially since he'll be the leadoff man. Gardner has been hot but I don't see his recent streak lasting all year. ...RISP is .258 and even that number is higher than it would normally be because 30 of the hits were HRs (the most HRs of any team in the league)...RISP w/2 out is just as pedestrian (.245 w/16 HRs...also the most in the league)
no team in the AL East is very good, PERIOD. no extent of cherry-picking and spinning statistics is going to change the fact that you are WRONG, in the most homerific definition of W-R-O-N-G! Enough of this fuckery!
But in fairness who in the American League is very good? Aside from the Cards who have been great what other team do you look at and say OMG they're very good?
...none of the A L East teams are very good...and I don't think any of them will go very far in the PS.
