108: The AL East is back to being a "beast"
The Blue Jays are in contention again, but don't expect the division to roll over this time. PHOTO: Julie Jacobson / AP
21 Jul. 2016
By: Tyler King
Canadian Baseball Network
Remember this time last year? When Blue Jays fans were saying, “Thank god we’re in the American League East”?
Ya ... Not so much anymore.
Even though the Jays are only one game back of the division leading Boston Red Sox, fans can begrudgingly return to asking that question regarding the AL East that’s plagued them for the better part of 40 years:
“Why God, why?”
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A year ago to the day there were only two teams in the division that were above .500 - the Jays (48-47) and the New York Yankees (51-41). And even with the Jays’ completely mediocre record they somehow sat in second place, a mere 4.5 games back.
Exactly one year later and the Yankees are the ones who now hold that identical 48-47 record, only they’ll have to face a much tougher uphill climb (no, not just because a good chunk of their roster belongs in a baseball museum ... or nursing home).
Despite having the same record as the Jays did at this point last season, the Yankees sit in fourth place in the division, facing the much more daunting task of having to overtake three teams rather than one. They’re also 6.5 games back of the division lead, a full two games worse off than the Blue Jays were last year.
Now I’m sure many of you would like to pause and revel in the improbable battle facing the New York Yankees (HA HA) but be warned! This also has serious implications for Blue Jays:
Basically, it’s a sign that the AL East is back to being the AL East ... meaning, it’s tough as hell.
Although the division did eventually straighten out and toughen up by the end of last season (finishing with a combined record of 419 - 391), there’s no doubt that this year is looking a lot more like your father’s AL East - the one that has been touted - mostly by disgruntled Jays fans - as “the toughest division in sports”.
For starters, the Baltimore Orioles, Red sox, and Blue Jays are all on pace to exceed 90 wins.
That may seem like an impressive stat, but it was actually common place only a few years ago. It happened in back-to-back years in 2011 and 2012, and would have occurred in three straight seasons had the Red Sox managed to win one more game in 2010.
Today, the AL East currently has three teams with 50 or more wins - a feat they share with the NL East. But when you start breaking down their overall records, even the NL East doesn’t stack up.
In fact, no division even comes close.
At the start of play on Thursday, AL East teams have a combined record of 245 wins to 224 losses, equalling a win-loss differential of + 21. The only other division in the MLB that even has a winning record is the AL West ... at + 2.
So the teams from the East aren’t only beating up on each other - but oh ya they’re doing that too - they’re also beating up on everybody else.
The rest of the American League has a combined record of 100 wins and 115 losses (-15) against teams from the East, which equates to a winning percentage of just .465. Perhaps that’s best framed in the following terms,
the rest of the league is essentially the Philadelphia Phillies whenever they play the Blue Jays’ division.
And even though all you read about on MLB.com is “Cubs, Cubs, Giants, Cubs” don’t think for a second that the National League is immune from this divisional onslaught. The AL East has a combined interleague record of 33-27 (led by the Jays who are 11-6).
But as startling as these numbers may seem, they do sort of make sense. The AL East has always pursued the great equalizer that is power hitting, and this year - rather predictably - is no different.
There are currently 12 players in the MLB with 23 or more home runs, four of whom come from AL East teams: Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion , Mark Trumbo, and David Ortiz.
Furthermore, Baltimore, Toronto, and Boston are all in the top eight in the MLB in runs scored. They’ve combined to plate 1446 runs to this point. By comparison, the entire NL East division has scored 1853 runs.
But there is a bright side, and that is the Blue Jays have played the most games against their division (tied with Baltimore at 42), and they’re still well in contention.
They’re also the only team with a winning record against every American League division.
Then again that doesn’t mean much if they aren’t leading theirs after Game 162.
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