The debate in the AL...Who is the best? Then and Now...

Opey Higgins
DOUBLEDAY DAILY


Since the beginning of the world 3 teams have constantly been back and forth about just who is the best. How do you even figure something like that out when nobody from the AL has won a championship? We will break down the 3 teams here.


Montreal Shamrocks: Franchise Record(Through 4/1/09) 308- 204- Montreal Shamrocks up until season 3 have been known to have the most dominant pitching staff in the AL. However they could never get the job done in the Playoffs losing to Boston in the ALCS in season 1 and El Paso in the DCS in season 2. In season 3 they traded every single ML player on the team for prospects. After doing so they managed to barely miss the playoffs by 3 games. Some would say that Montreal wasn't even close to being a competitor until maybe season 6 or 7... Season 4 Montreal did a little more remodeling bringing in 2B Abraham Inge, CF Boomer Brooks, DH Danny Thomson, 1B Barry Broadhurst. Arguably one of the best offensive lineups in the world.

Montreal however has a very poor starting rotation being led by Luke Busby. Very different from the Montreal teams we've seen in the past this has proven so far to be very effective. Currently leading the AL north by 2 games with a 17-9 record and the 2nd best record in the AL to start the 4th season.




Boston Beaneaters: Franchise Record(Through 4/1/09) 297- 215- Boston has been another team that has been at the top in the AL. Also finishing with 2 division titles and a 3rd place finish in their history they are trying to get back to the playoffs again.Unlike Montreal, Boston has been to the World Series 2 times and lost.In season 3 Boston acquired major talent but most of them really didn't have a very big name until playing in Boston. The main guy that they had signed was CF Philip Parrish. Parrish, a proven slugger/base stealer came to Boston and exploded.. In 143 games with Boston he has hit 60 HR's while driving in 152 Runs. Boston much like Montreal and Albuquerque have had Slugger Phillip Maxwell on their team. The offense has never really been a problem for Boston...


Upside for Boston is that they can and will score on you. Downside is they have good pitching on paper. They can't win close games and this season they haven't been able to beat teams that others would call inferior. Boston currently 15-11 and in 2nd place in their division looks to be in an uphill fight. Some of us think it's just a phase while others think that Boston is drifting backwards. For Boston's sake a huge turn around will happen.



Albuquerque Dukes: Franchise Record (Through 4/1/09) 297-215- In 3 seasons just like Montreal and Boston, The Dukes have 2 division titles and 2 Playoff appearances. They have been to one World Series and lost in the ALCS to Boston in season 3. The Dukes have an All Star cast on their offense led by arguably the best player in the world Philip Maxwell. They also have Spike Logan which is now the single season batting average record holder. Just like Boston the first 3 seasons, the Dukes had really no pitching and relied on a powerful offense. The difference between Boston and Albuquerque at this point is that the Dukes pitching is working. The best record in the AL currently.


The Dukes are fighting to separate themselves from Boston and Montreal by being the first AL team to win a World Series. Unfortunately for them Boston and Montreal will not just fade off into the distance. As this season has shown so far, Montreal is ready to fight game by game to keep up with them and Boston is going to keep trying to take each series they can from them.




Conclusion: The past shows Montreal was the best team overall.. call it bad luck if you want. But currently Montreal is 3rd out of the the 3 teams battling for AL supremacy. As I end this I will point out 5 other teams that can definitely knock the "Big" 3 out. St. Louis, Huntington, Salt Lake City, Baltimore and Philadelphia. While those 3 teams continue to try one upping eachother they are forgetting the others right there waiting for them to fall.