Baseball

Division Previews, including Hot Players:

By Charlie in the Trees
Outsports.com

LAS VEGAS – This is a tale of two leagues.  The National and American leagues become less alike, even as baseball continues to blur their distinctions. 

Despite that Dickens allusion, the “best of”/”worst of” cliché does not apply.  Despite its problems, in many ways, this is “the best of times” for baseball.  Due to advances in physical training, sports medicine, nutrition, and, yes, nutritional supplements, the players have never been in better physical shape.  This has two major benefits. 

Careers are lasting longer.  Even as a recently as 10 years ago, neither Barry Bonds nor the Big Unit would be so thoroughly dominating as they approach 40. 

And, with the bloated exception of publicity hound David Wells, the players never looked better.  Baseball muscle has never been better defined.  Or visible.  In a fitness magazine near you.  (Although, when you see photos of Brady, Brad Fullmer, or Jay Payton, or Gabe the Babe, there’s a whole lot of shavin’ going on.  Apparently, among baseball’s muscle elite, only Pat Burrell dares to be furry.).

The on-field trophy presentation ceremonies have sadly cut down on the amount of post-championship scanning for bare flesh that could be done in the past.  Still, at least a few seconds of air time are given to locker room champagne spraying and chugging.  Whose muscle will we see dripping with champagne after the 2003 season? 

This year, in the National League, 10 teams have an equal shot at going to the World Series.  There is no clear-cut favorite.  Competition is so balanced that 90 wins will guarantee a play-off spot.  Last year’s three division winners – Atlanta, St. Louis and Arizona – are declining.  Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Dusty Baker’s Cubs, and maybe the Mets have improved enough to catch them.  But have they surpassed them?  By next year, a couple of the young teams probably will improve enough to overturn the balance.  But for 2003, there will be a harmonic convergence as the declining teams and the emerging teams fall into perfect alignment, each heading for 85 to 88 victories.  Margins for error will be razor thin. 

Meanwhile, in the American League, only five teams realistically fight for four playoff spots.  The chasm between the “haves” and “have nots” widens.  It might take 100 victories to secure each play-off spot.  “Have” and “have not” does not refer to “money,” as the popular press so often misunderstands, but to “talent.”  The Rangers, Orioles and Red Sox each have more money than anyone but Steinbrenner, yet only the Red Sox field talent near the level of the Oakland, Minnesota, or the Angels. 

Despite inter-league play, a common pool of umpires, and centralized control from the Commissioner’s office, the two leagues have not looked this differently in 40 years.  Which method will result in a World Series win?