There are still teams spending three times as much on payroll as their opponents, and there are more free agent spending sprees than discount shopping days, but parity in the standings is at a record level this season in Major League Baseball.
By Christian Petersen, Getty Images
Justin Upton and the Diamondbacks are one of several teams exceeding expectations, leading to more parity in baseball.
By Christian Petersen, Getty Images
Justin Upton and the Diamondbacks are one of several teams exceeding expectations, leading to more parity in baseball.
There were 24 teams within five games of first place or the wild-card lead through Monday, tying 1999 for the most on May 23 in a non-strike season, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The Cleveland Indians were the only team with a lead of more than 3� games.
"This is the competitive balance I've talked about for a long time," Commissioner Bud Selig says. "You look at the standings, it's absolutely amazing."
The Minnesota Twins (15-31), who have won six of the last nine American League Central titles, were the only AL team more than 4� games out of a playoff berth. Every AL East club was within 3� games of first place, and every team in the AL West was within three games.
Only the Indians, who lost 190 games over the last two years, have a division cushion, leading the AL Central by seven games. The Philadelphia Phillies (29-18) had the National League's best record, yet three teams were within two games of them ? St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, Florida Marlins.
Why the balance? Theories abound, from increased revenue sharing to aging and expensive players hurting the traditional powers.
"Everybody is just about even," Atlanta Braves special assistant Jim Fregosi says. "Teams are keeping their draft choices, not spending big money on free agents, and staying young. Players don't play old anymore, and it's starting to show."
Many teams expected to struggle are instead near the break-even mark, thanks largely to improved pitching. The Seattle Mariners (23-24), Arizona Diamondbacks (23-23) and Pittsburgh Pirates (22-24) have outperformed expectations.
Says Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers: "There are a lot of decent teams out there, but none that you would say, 'Oh my God, we've got no chance if we play them.' "
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