Through the history of Sharkey's World, there have been two undeniable truths. Kansas City is the best team, and the National League is the best league. KC has won 4 world series and 5 pennants in 7 seasons. It's closest competitor in championships is Texas with 1 world series & 3 pennants.
One argument that hasn't been so cut & dry, though, is the best league. While the AL racked up 4 of the first 6 World Series, the NL dominated interleague play every year. And in most years, while the case was made that KC was the best team that season, and equally compelling case could be made for some variation of Rochester, Pawtucket, Scranton, Texas, San Francisco & Colorado Springs rounding out the Top Five.
Then two things happened in Season Seven that may forever change the perception of this world. The first was the rest of the American League remembered how to play baseball. Let us not all fool ourselves into thinking KC tooka step backwards, and thats why they only won 107 games, as opposed to their normal 115-120. In years past there were usually 2 other good teams in the AL. Two of Fargo, Iowa City & Charleston. This year, his entire division, as well as Jacksonville, joined Fargo & Iowa City in the "good teams" list.
Don't let KC's 20-10 divisino record fool you. He went on a tear at the end of the season that made it look much more impressive. For the longest time all 4 teams in the division had at or near .500 division records.
The NL still won division play, but you could no longer make the argument that it had over 50% of the leagues Top 10. And in fact, the NL has recently fallen into what hindered the AL for years. A top heavy/bottom heavy league. Going into season 7, you can clearly say right now that Rochester, St Louis, Pawtucket, Norfolk, Texas, Memphis, Richmond, Colorado Springs & San Fran can make the playoffs. And you can clearly say that Cleveland, Vancouver, Scranton, Huntington, New Orleans, Salem & Tuscon will not make the playoffs.
Meanwhile, in the AL, the # of teams that won't make the playoffs is 5: Detroit, Atlanta, Hartford, Houston & Little Rock. The other 11 teams can all make the playoffs this year.
OK, 11 & 9 aren't convincing arguments. But who are your top dogs? Texas & Pawtucket in the NL. Rochester looks like they're coming on strong. Norfolk has made 2 of the last 4 NLCS's. Colorado Springs has not proven they can do anything in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, in the AL, would it surprise you to see any of Fargo, Iowa City, Jacksonville, KC, Fresno, Cheyenne or Scottsdale in the world series?
The league parity has shifted to the AL. The World series rings are piling up over there. And I expect in season 8, for the first time in SW history, the final interleague standings to show the AL being the better league.
A crossroads, we've reached.
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