The National League Is Already Better Than The American League And The Gap Is Only Getting Wider

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In a World Series that featured giant markets and the two best players in the game, it seems destined to end in not a bang, but a whimper. The Dodgers pitching staff has turned the Yankees into the White Sox. The Dodgers are clearly better than everyone else this season...and it's only going to get worse next year.

This was the ideal time to face the Dodgers. They have a decimated starting rotation to the point that they have to throw a bullpen game tonight. Imagine how they'll be next year when they have Shohei Ohtani back pitching along with Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May. As good as the 2024 Dodgers are, the 2025 Dodgers will be better.

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It's not just the Dodgers. The entire National League keeps getting better. Look at the rookie talent just this season. I'd put Paul Skenes, Jackson Merrill, Jackson Chourio all ahead of any rookie in the American League. I'd put Shota Imanaga ahead of them too but he's already 30. I'm not saying the AL cupboard is barren. Luis Gil and Colin Cowser had fine seasons and I still think Jackson Holliday will have an elite career. But there is no question that the NL is starting to really have an advantage in good, young players.

This goes even beyond the young talent. The AL has maybe three very strong teams: Yankees, Orioles and Astros. What if Juan Soto jumps to the NL to either the Mets or Dodgers? The Orioles can't win a playoff game. The Astros appear to be decaying in front of our eyes. Plus, Alex Bregman is going to be a free agent. 

The Blue Jays seem to have missed their window. The Rangers pitching rotation went from overflowing with riches to being a group of busted up arms. I don't know what the Red Sox want to be. The ownership says they will be competitive and then they have an off-season where Lucas Giolito is the big pick-up. The AL Central sending THREE teams to the playoffs is a glitch and not a feature.

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I'm a very biased Mets fan but with $180 million coming off the books (Over $90 million of that is dead money that was paid out to this season to the likes of Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and James McCann), they will absolutely be a more talented team next year. 

It's not just the Mets. The Braves were so snake bit by injuries. I find it hard to believe they'll be that unlucky next year. The Phillies still have so much talent on that roster. The Padres and Diamondbacks are already good.

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To be fair to the AL, they've won the last two World Series. Of course, you can also see talent shifts in the off-season as well. But I think we are heading to a situation like we saw in the AL in the late 90's/early 00's when they had a huge talent difference.  It doesn't show up in World Series wins but people say the NL in the late 60's had much more ability.

For a team that has had a dreadful week, I think all of this is good news for the Yankees. With the players they already have plus their spending power, they are in a prime spot to dominate a weaker league for years to come.

Hopefully, this doesn't mean we get shitty sweeps for years to come.