red sox look good

That's me, at 12 years old...

I don't want to admit it. After all, I am a die-hard national league baseball fan. I tend to agree with Mark McGwire (from an ESPN article by Alan Schwarz)

Ask almost any major-leaguer who has played in both leagues, and he'll tell you he prefers the National League environment. Mark McGwire was one such player when I asked him back in 1998, after he had recently moved over from Oakland to St. Louis.

"Definitely the National," he said. "Now I understand this is the way the game should be played. It's the way it started. They never had a DH way back when. Pitchers have to hit. Games are quicker. It's just such a better game. Managers have to think much more.

"When you're not playing that day, the chances are really good that you're going to get in the game because there are double switches, there's always pinch runners, there's always pinch hitters. It's just a better brand of baseball. Don't get me wrong -- I loved the American League for 11-plus years. But now that I've been over here, I understand why they call it the Senior Circuit."

History gives the Al a slight edge in head to head play. Since they began interleague play in 1997, 2452 games have been played between the 2 leagues. The AL has won more games, but it's really close: 1250 to 1202. That's 51% to 49%. Pretty dead even. The AL has 36 All Star game wins, while the NL has 40. There were 2 ties, and the 1945 game was not played (WWII). 102 World Series contests--60 AL wins, 42 NL wins.

As an Atlanta Braves fan, I love to see the NL do well against the AL. But things don't look so good for the Rockies and the NL. Oh well, tip your hat to the guys who just outmatched you and get ready to play tomorrow. Or next year...