MLB Playoff Comparison of Divisions: 1999-2008

Because I apparently have time on my hands, in between the working and the crying and the nightly haunting of the neighborhood children's dreams, I have compared the MLB's divisions over the past ten years.

World Series Champions
1. AL East (4): Yankees (1999, 2000); Red Sox (2004, 2007)
2. NL East (2): Marlins (2003); Phillies (2008)
3 (tie). AL Central (1): White Sox (2005)
3 (tie). AL West (1): Angels (2002)
3 (tie). NL Central (1): Cardinals (2006)
3 (tie). NL West (1): Diamondbacks (2001)

World Series Runners Up
1. AL East (3): Yankees (2001, 2003); Rays (2008)
2 (tie). NL East (2): Braves (1999); Mets (2000)
2 (tie). NL Central (2): Astros (2005); Cardinals (2004)
2 (tie). NL West (2): Giants (2002); Rockies (2007)
5. AL Central (1): Tigers (2006)
6. AL West: 0

LCS Participants
1. AL East (11): Yankees (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004); Red Sox (1999, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008); Rays (2008)
2. NL Central (8): Astros (2004, 2005); Cardinals (2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006); Cubs (2003)
3. NL East (7): Braves (1999, 2001); Mets (1999, 2000, 2006); Marlins (2003); Phillies (2008)
4 (tie). AL West (5): Mariners (2000, 2001); A's (2006); Angels (2002, 2005)
4 (tie). NL West (5): Diamondbacks (2001, 2007); Giants (2002); Dodgers (2008); Rockies (2007)
6. AL Central (4): Indians (2007); White Sox (2005); Twins (2002); Tigers (2006)

Playoff participants
1. AL East (16): Yankees (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007); Red Sox (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008); Rays (2008)
2. NL Central (14): Astros (1999, 2001, 2004, 2005); Cardinals (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006); Cubs (2003, 2007, 2008); Brewers (2008)
3 (tie). AL West (13): Rangers (1999); Mariners (2000, 2001); A's (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006); Angels (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008)
3 (tie). NL East (13): Braves (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005); Mets (1999, 2000, 2006); Marlins (2003); Phillies (2007, 2008)
3 (tie). NL West (13): Diamondbacks (1999, 2001, 2002, 2007); Giants (2000, 2002, 2003); Dodgers (2004, 2006, 2008); Padres (2005, 2006); Rockies (2007)
6. AL Central (11): Indians (1999, 2001, 2007); White Sox (2000, 2005, 2008); Twins (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006); Tigers (2006)

Number of different World Series champions
1 (tie). AL East (2): Yankees, Red Sox
2 (tie). NL East (2): Marlins, Phillies
3 (tie). AL Central (1): White Sox
3 (tie). AL West (1): Angels
3 (tie). NL Central (1): Cardinals
3 (tie). NL West (1): Diamondbacks

Number of different World Series participants
1. NL East (4): Braves, Mets, Marlins, Phillies
2 (tie). AL East (3): Yankees, Red Sox, Rays
2 (tie). NL West (3): Giants, Rockies, Diamondbacks
4 (tie). NL Central (2): Astros, Cardinals
4 (tie). AL Central (2): Tigers, White Sox
6. AL West (1): Angels

Number of different LCS participants
1 (tie). AL Central (4): Indians, White Sox, Twins, Tigers
1 (tie). NL East (4): Braves, Mets, Marlins, Phillies
1 (tie). NL West (4): Diamondbacks, Giants, Dodgers, Rockies
4 (tie). AL East (3): Yankees, Red Sox, Rays
4 (tie). AL West (3): Mariners, A's, Angels
4 (tie). NL Central (3): Astros, Cardinals, Cubs

Number of different playoff participants
1. NL West (5): Diamondbacks, Giants, Dodgers, Padres, Rockies
2 (tie). AL Central (4): Indians, White Sox, Twins, Tigers
2 (tie). AL West (4): Rangers, Mariners, A's, Angels
2 (tie). NL East (4): Braves, Mets, Marlins, Phillies
2 (tie). NL Central (4): Astros, Cardinals, Cubs, Brewers
6. AL East (3): Yankees, Red Sox, Rays

Number of teams who never made playoffs
1 (tie). AL East (2): Blue Jays, Orioles
1 (tie). NL Central (2): Reds, Pirates
3 (tie). AL Central (1): Royals
3 (tie). NL East (1): Expos/Nationals
5 (tie). AL West (0), NL West (0)

Number of years with a World Series participant
1. AL East (7): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
2. NL East (4): 1999, 2000, 2003, 2008
3 (tie). NL Central (3): 2004, 2005, 2006
3 (tie). NL West (3): 2001, 2002, 2007
5. AL Central (2): 2005, 2006
6. AL West (1): 2002

Number of years with at least one LCS participant
1. AL East (7): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
2 (tie). NL East (6): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2008
2 (tie). NL Central (6): 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
4. AL West (5): 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006
5 (tie). AL Central (4): 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007
5 (tie). NL West (4): 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008

Number of years with two LCS participants
1. AL East (4): 1999, 2003, 2004, 2008
2. NL Central (2): 2004, 2005
3 (tie). NL East (1): 1999
3 (tie). NL West (1): 2007
5 (tie). AL Central: 0
5 (tie). AL West: 0

Number of years with two playoff participants
1. AL East (5): 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008
2. NL Central (4): 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008
3 (tie). AL West (3): 2000, 2001, 2002
3 (tie). NL East (3): 1999, 2000, 2003
3 (tie). NL West (3): 2002, 2006, 2007
6. AL Central (1): 2006

Postseason series records (i.e., series victories, not total games won)
1. AL East: 22-12 (.647)
2. NL East: 13-11 (.542)
3. NL Central: 12-13 (.480)
4. NL West: 9-11 (.450)
5. AL Central: 7-10 (.412)
6. AL West: 7-12 (.368)

Postseason series wins
1. AL East (22)
2. NL East (13)
3. NL Central (12)
4. NL West (9)
5 (tie). AL Central, AL West (7)