All things considered, I will say the American League Central is the toughest division in all of baseball, the only weak link is Kansas City, any body have any differing viewpoints?
I suppose that it depends now how one would define toughest. The Central is certainly the deepest, on paper. But, I would still say that the AL East is the toughest to win. You have the Red Sox, Yankees, and Blue Jays, all three of whom might be the favorites if they were in any other division in baseball. Even Baltimore and Tampa at least have lineups that can put runs on the board, though their pitching staffs may be putrid.
This is a good question. On the one hand, yes the central is the deepest, with 4 teams for more or less even, and two of them in the world series the past two years. However, I think that the Yankees and Red Sox would win any division in baseball, but the rest of the division would finish behind everyone but the Royals in the Central. With the length of the baseball season and how many times you play the teams in your division, isn't it like 19 or something, I would say that depth prevails and give the edge to the AL Central. But come playoff time, I don't care what happened the past two years, I'm not betting against the Yankees or the Red Sox.
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"In big games, the action slows down for him where it speeds up for others. I've told him, 'I'll trade my past for your future.'" -Reggie Jackson on Derek Jeter
The total record of the central division vs east division last season was a 86-86 split, but the central had 3 teams with 90 or more wins, whereas the east only had the yankees with over 90 wins. The central division also had 20 more wins than the east...tough to go against the central as the toughest division in baseball
You could argue for any division in the AL it seems like. The Central has 4 teams that could win it, the East looks to have 3 but with the Yankees and Red Sox that is always going to be tough. I guess the AL Central will get my vote.
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"It's the fans that need spring training. You gotta get 'em interested." - Harry Caray
I think the AL East still has the toughest division. The Yankees and Red Sox and even the Blue Jays have lineups with very few "holes" in them. Even the 7,8, and 9 hitters in those lineups, especially the Yankees lineup, have dangerous hitters and there is not a lot of room for error. The Orioles have a decent team as well with Roberts, Tejada and a rotation with lots of potential. Key word is potential. Even the D-Rays might be surprising with one of the best outfields in the league with Badelli, Young, and Crawford. But they do have a shaky rotation. I agree though the AL Central is very tough, but I am a Twins fan and I would rather face teams in our division than in the East
Even if the Central is deeper only two teams can make the playoffs from one division. Going into this year, could you say that any team in the Central would finish above the Yankees or Red Sox if they were in the East? I wouldn't bet on it. So yea maybe the Central is deeper, but come play-off time I'm guessing the East is more represented.
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"In big games, the action slows down for him where it speeds up for others. I've told him, 'I'll trade my past for your future.'" -Reggie Jackson on Derek Jeter
