Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

[SPTO]

I'm probably too close to see the forest for the trees but I'm sick and tired of this whole "The AL East is mediocre" mantra by the sports media. The division is as usual all bunched up except for Tampa (though they're making a nice little run at the moment) and there's definitely a two team horse race going on between the Jays and O's. The Blue Jays are 8 games above .500 and have a similar record to the Braves in the NL East and the Giants in the NL West. I don't hear people screaming about either of those divisions being mediocre but everyone keeps saying that about the AL East.

It's like everyone thinks the Blue Jays are going to suddenly drop off the radar when we've seen teams come out of nowhere to capture a division or a playoff spot. All those other teams seemed to get SOME support but most things I hear and read about the Blue Jays are of the backhanded compliment variety. Granted, there are some guys who are genuinely supportive of the Jays but their voices are few and far between.

So two questions:

1. Do you all consider the AL East mediocre

and

2. Is the NL East mediocre too?

[DrJones]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

I miss the days when you could like a team without worrying about whether the media liked it too. Do people feel better about themselves when the media writes glowing things about their favourite team? Who cares?

[SPTO]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

I miss the days when you could like a team without worrying about whether the media liked it too. Do people feel better about themselves when the media writes glowing things about their favourite team? Who cares?

Well i'm not TOO irritated by it but it bugs me a little that there's so very little respect shown the Jays. It's also interesting fodder for discussion because EVERYONE in the media says the AL East is mediocre but the Braves have a similar record and you could make the case that the NL East as it's currently constituted is more mediocre.

[DrJones]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

Well i'm not TOO irritated by it but it bugs me a little that there's so very little respect shown the Jays.

The Jays have a losing record over the last month and have the worst pitching of any team currently in a playoff spot. IIRC you subscribe to the "defence wins championships" credo, so shouldn't you be arguing the Jays aren't worthy of "respect"?

It's also interesting fodder for discussion because EVERYONE in the media says the AL East is mediocre but the Braves have a similar record and you could make the case that the NL East as it's currently constituted is more mediocre.

Media tend to write about the AL East more than other divisions because of the Yankees and Red Sox. Do you have links to specific articles that claim the AL East is mediocre AND the NL East is good?

[SPTO]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

First, I love that you always put my feet to the fire Doc.

The Jays have a losing record over the last month and have the worst pitching of any team currently in a playoff spot. IIRC you subscribe to the "defence wins championships" credo, so shouldn't you be arguing the Jays aren't worthy of "respect"?

The Jays generally have a pretty good fielding % and the starting pitching has had some long stretches of very consistent play so it's not all bad.

Media tend to write about the AL East more than other divisions because of the Yankees and Red Sox. Do you have links to specific articles that claim the AL East is mediocre AND the NL East is good?

No, no specific stories but the talking heads sure love saying how the AL East is mediocre while there's no such talk about the NL East being mediocre at all.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

I hear often that the NL East is generally unspectacular.

[DrJones]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

First, I love that you always put my feet to the fire Doc.

I'm glad you take it that way. I know you're a level-headed dude who doesn't take offence.

The Jays generally have a pretty good fielding % and the starting pitching has had some long stretches of very consistent play so it's not all bad.

My personal thoughts? I don't particularly like the Jays' pitching and some of their key offensive cogs are injury-prone. Things could easily turn south and I think the Jays' playoff chances are a little less than 50-50. Still, they're in contention, so enjoy the ride and hope for the best.

No, no specific stories but the talking heads sure love saying how the AL East is mediocre while there's no such talk about the NL East being mediocre at all.

My best advice: ignore the talking heads if at all possible. I quit listening to sports talk radio in the late 90s, and I don't regret it at all. Find a few online writers and analysts that appeal to your sensibilities, and stick with them. The sports media is filled to the gills with blowhards and trolls. I lack the patience to put up with them, so I don't.

[Mabster]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

No, no specific stories but the talking heads sure love saying how the AL East is mediocre while there's no such talk about the NL East being mediocre at all.

From my West coast view, I think this is a symptom of the Yankee/Red Sox effect. If neither of those teams is in first place then the division must be mediocre.

[Majingir]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

From my West coast view, I think this is a symptom of the Yankee/Red Sox effect. If neither of those teams is in first place then the division must be mediocre.

lol ya. Media always has to spin things like that. If it's not the Yankees or Red Sox, then the division must not be good. Just cause the media has gotten use to Yankees,Red Sox dominating the division for almost 20 years now, the second change happens, they don't like it.

If the records were the same except 1st place was Yankees and 2nd place was Red Sox, you can bet the medias thoughts on the division would be so much different. You also have to remember that the AL East hasn't played as many divisional games yet either. Once the divisional games start, we'll start seeing 1st and 2nd place in that division getting so much better(regardless which 2 teams that might be,because if June type play happens again,Jays might not even be top 2 by end of July)

[slickdtc]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

And it's Toronto. They've been pretty irrelevant in that division, and they're the lone Canadian team in the league.

It takes time for the media to respect a team that's coming back from a long drought of futility. See Tampa Bay, and personally I see the Reds have struggled with this. Especially with bigger fish in the division like Chicago and St. Louis, for better or worse.

As for the AL East, although some teams are separating themselves finally, the league is all jammed up. The only division I can say is probably the best would be the NL Central, because all the rest have 2-3 good teams and 2 or so teams that are hanging around but aren't going anywhere.

[areobee401]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

1. Yes the AL East is mediocre.

2. Why do Toronto fans care so much about how others perceive their teams? Saw the same thing with the Raptors. Are we supposed to celebrate Toronto teams being somewhat relevant again? Is acknowledging they are having success not enough?

[Majingir]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

^Nobody is trying to turn it into that. This isn't a "Nobody cares about Toronto" thread, this is a "Media only cares about Red Sox/Yankees" thread.

[NYJets]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

If the records were the same except 1st place was Yankees and 2nd place was Red Sox, you can bet the medias thoughts on the division would be so much different.

No they wouldn't.

Division gets respect other years because the winner of the division wins 95+ games almost every year. The Blue Jays are on pace to win under 90. When Tampa has had legitimately strong teams, they get respect.

[areobee401]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

^Nobody is trying to turn it into that. This isn't a "Nobody cares about Toronto" thread, this is a "Media only cares about Red Sox/Yankees" thread.

STPO's OP certainly comes of as why are the Blue Jays not reviving the credit they deserve. I don't think my comment was at all off-topic.

[SPTO]

Re: Is the AL East really "mediocre"?

STPO's OP certainly comes of as why are the Blue Jays not reviving the credit they deserve. I don't think my comment was at all off-topic.

To be clear it's a little of both

Thanks for the great responses and once again much respect to Doc, one of my favorite posters here.