We have heard for most of this MLB season how bad the National League was. Even before the 2007 campaign began, pundits were opining on the relative gap in talent between the National League and the American League. And as it turns out, they were right.

Here is a look at the records and winning percentages of each division in their respective leagues.

National League

East: 343-350, .495
Central: 392-434, .475
West: 360-333, .519

Record thru 2,212 games: 1095-1117, .495

American League

East: 347-343, .503
Central: 343-348, .496
West: 288-265, .521

Record thru 1,934 games: 978-956, .506

As you can see, both of MLB's Central divisions are the worst, as the N.L. and A.L. Central combine for a .485 winning percentage. The N.L./A.L. East divisions are a bit better, as they combine for a .499 winning percentage, and the N.L./A.L. West divisions are easily the best, sporting a winning percentage of .520.

Of course, for all the mediocrity seen by both Central divisions recently, they have done remarkably well in postseason play of late. In the last five seasons (2002 thru 2006), teams from the N.L. and A.L. Central have made 10 appearances in the League Championship Series. The East divisions have 6 appearances, and the West divisions have 4.

On top of that, 5 teams from the Central divisions have been to the World Series in the last 3 years.

Despite this, it is clear that the National League has inferior teams. But why? One reason may be that there is more of them. There are 16 teams in the National League, and 14 in the American League.

Anybody who has complained about the state of baseball and poor pitching has cited at least one reason for this - expansion. Expansion teams mean more pitchers are in the Major Leagues who may not belong there.

So it goes to reason that if the National League has more teams, they have more of these arms. On the two extra National League teams, that's about 24 more pitchers that may not be in the Major Leagues if not for expansion. That is obviously not the sole reason for the difference between the two leagues, but it is a start.

So, what can be done about this? I offer two suggestions.

1) Move the Colorado Rockies from the N.L. West to the A.L. West and the Houston Astros from the N.L. Central to the N.L. West.

The Colorado Rockies have only been in existence since 1993, meaning they do not have much tradition or history with any of the other teams in the N.L. West. And because the A.L. West has just 4 teams, and the N.L. Central has 6 teams, moving a team into the A.L. West and out of the Central makes the most sense, and evens the number of teams in each league. And looking at this map of where all MLB teams are located, it would not be any extra inconvenience to either squad, as far as travel.

2) Contract the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, move the Washington Nationals into the A.L. East and the Pittsburgh Pirates into the N.L. East

Granted, this does not equal the two leagues out, as the N.L. would still have one more team, but it makes the most sense, logistically. There is no practical reason for Tampa Bay to have a baseball team. Their stadium is a joke, fans don't care (nor should they), and they have no realistic shot of contending in the A.L. East on a consistent basis.

Putting Washington into the East, with their shiny new stadium and sure to be significant payroll will create a natural rivalry with the Yankees and Red Sox, each vying for East Coast baseball supremacy. That would also move the Pirates out of the Central, where they do not belong in the first place, and put them in the same division as their Pennsylvania neighbors, the Philadelphia Phillies.

There is no question the National League is bad. And maybe realigning divisions or contracting teams isn't the answer. But something should be done to try and improve the game, even if it means shaking things up a little.