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MLB: Is the AL Central the Best Division Over the Past Decade?

By Patrick K. Flowers Sr.

Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) reacts after making the final catch to beat the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) reacts after making the final catch to beat the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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Has the American League Central been MLB’s best division over the last decade? It certainly has the team and individual accolades to make a strong case.

The Cleveland Indians punched their ticket to the World Series after making quick work of the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon, making them the third consecutive team from the American League Central to represent to American League in the fall classic. Which begs the question, is the American League Central the best division in baseball over the past decade?

Not only has the American League Central produced the last three American League Champions, they have produced five in total since 2006. The Detroit Tigers won the American League in 2006 and 2012 before the Kansas City Royals made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2014 and 2015, and finally we have the Cleveland Indians in 2016.

The AL Central’s five fall classic appearances since 2006 is more than any other division in baseball, with the National League West and American League East finishing with four appearances each.

Beyond having the most World Series appearances over the last decade, the AL Central players have brought home some serious individual hardware over that span. The AL Central has produced five American League Most Valuable Player Award winners, and seven of the last 10 Cy Young Award winners. Here’s a list of the MVP and Cy Young Award winners:

American League Most Valuable Player Award: Miguel Cabrera – Detroit Tigers (2013, 2012), Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers (2011), Joe Mauer – Minnesota Twins (2009), Justin Morneau – Minnesota Twins (2006).

American League Cy Young Award: Corey Kluber – Cleveland Indians (2014), Max Scherzer – Detroit Tigers (2013), Justin Verlander – Detroit Tigers (2011), Zack Greinke – Kansas City Royals  (2009), Cliff Lee – Cleveland Indians (2008), CC Sabathia – Cleveland Indians (2007), Johan Santana – Minnesota Twins (2006).

American League Central players have won a combined 26 American League Silver Slugger Awards, as well as a combined 27 American League Gold Glove Awards over that same span, with the likes of Eric Hosmer, Salvador Perez, Joe Mauer, Mark Buehrle and Alex Gordon all winning their respective awards in at least three different years.

Jose Abreu (2014) and Justin Verlander (2006) have each won the AL Rookie of the Year Award, while Terry Francona (2013), Ron Gardenhire (2010), Eric Wedge (2007) and Jim Leyland (2006) have all won the AL Manager of the Year Award.

While the American League Central has produced the most league champions over the past decade, and certainly produced a massive amount of individual player accolades, they have only managed to win one World Series over that span, with the 2015 Kansas City Royals being the lone World Series champions out of the American League Central.

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The argument can certainly be made that the National League West has been the best division in Major League Baseball over the past decade with the division producing four World Series appearances and three World Series champions over that span.

The Colorado Rockies represented the NL West in the Fall Classic in 2007, losing to the Boston Red Sox. The San Francisco Giants have brought three World Series championships home to the NL West over the last decade with their odd/even year trend, winning it all in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

The National League West has also seen its fair share of individual awards including two National League Most Valuable Player Awards, seven National League Cy Young Awards and four National League Manager of the Year Awards over the last decade. Here’s a list of the winners:

National League Most Valuable Player Award: Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers (2014), Buster Posey – San Francisco Giants (2012).

National League Cy Young Award: Clayton Kershaw – Los Angeles Dodgers (2014, 2013, 2011), Tim Lincecum – San Francisco Giants (2009, 2008), Jake Peavy – San Diego Padres (2007), Brandon Webb – Arizona Diamondbacks (2006).

National League Manager of the Year Award: Kirk Gibson – Arizona Diamondbacks (2011), Bud Black – San Diego Padres (2010), Jim Tracy – Colorado Rockies (2009), Bob Melvin – Arizona Diamondbacks (2006).

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Both the AL Central and the NL West are clearly the cream of the crop in their respective league over that past decade, but unless the Indians can manage to defeat their soon-to-be-determined National League opponent in this year’s World Series to give the AL Central back-to-back fall classic victories, the National League West may sit atop the baseball world as the most dominant division over the last decade.

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