QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 21, 2011 -> 09:07 AM)
There are actually 3 significant drop-offs, with Kansas City to Chicago being by far the smallest. The drop-off from Texas to New York is 59 points, the aforementioned "small" 27 point drop-off from KC to Chicago, and then a monstrosity of an 81 point drop-off from LAA to Seattle.
I don't think these drop-offs are exactly coincidental in nature either. In the case of the first 4 teams, they all had mostly full-time DHs - Ortiz, Scott, Thome, and Guerrero. The next set - New York, Cleveland, and Kansas City - each had better players DHing, but lost some time for whatever reason, and also used it to give other players games off. The next 6 teams shuffled the DH position to give players days off and try to work matchups, and it would appear as though that concept simply does not work. And then the final group in Seattle just shows total offensive ineptitude.
In summation, I think the Sox are very, very smart in going with a full-time DH. It will add to the overall effectiveness of the lineup and gives them an advantage over quite a few teams (and hopefully the Twins too...Thome has to fall off at some point, doesn't he?)
Great post wite