Quadruple-A, Part 2

Interleague play is finally over, thank God; though it mercifully ended on a high note for the Mets. The NL looks like the inferior league again this year, losing out to the AL 115-137. Of course, this is a lot closer than last year's drubbing (98-154 in favor of the AL, if you recall), but the AL still played .540 ball, to the NL's .460. If the leagues are still at the same relative strength they were last year, that's about what you'd expect.

But once again, the reason why? It's the salaries, stupid. This year, AL teams outspent NL teams by over $120 million, despite the fact that there are two fewer AL teams. That's a difference in team payroll of almost $20 million, on average; roughly the between the Phillies and the Reds. Of course the AL is better than the NL.

Obviously a big chunk of that is accounted for by the Yankees and the Red Sox, but still, seven of the top ten teams, salary-wise, are in the AL. In case you were wondering, the AL accounts for 52% of MLB's total salary. I think the AL should be expected to win at least 52% of the games.