Going into the 2014 season no one had a higher quarterback rating. So I am not sure why you keep bringing up the 2014 season when I am talking about career numbers at the point going into the 2014 season.
I agree, if the White Sox offense and pitching keep playing behind career norms, the White Sox are done. However if the hitters "wake up" this division is all over.
True, at the end of the season all that matters is the record. that we agree upon. We also agree that one can root for any team at any time for any reason even in the cases of homerism.
The NL is like to have 6 of the worst teams in the power rankings. They are also likely to have 5 of the top 7 in the same rankings. But I still see no reason why the NL will be better than the AL when it comes to IL games.
You can't just say the records. Pre-season there were 6 100 loss teams in the NL. There are still only 7 teams competing for 5 spots. You don't win playoff spots in April and May, you lose them. You want to speak about a team like the Phillies go right ahead. They are not a contending team.
Given the total pile of garbage the NL is this year with at best 7 teams competing for 5 spots how anyone can pick any of the three divisions as the best in baseball has no logic behind it as far as I can see.
For now it's still the AL Central. It was the only division where every team got picked by national writers to win the division. The Twins have flopped but I think that's about it. Still a four horse race.
If it was top 2, It's the White Sox and no one is even close. But that rotation falls off a cliff after those two. In a year Rodon will be the #3 and that will pretty much make them the top. Two more years Fulmer and then they'll have the top 4.