If you're into inadequate sample sizes, there's the All-Star Game (the NL hasn't won since 1996) and the World Series (the AL has swept three of the last four). National League fans don't like hearing about it, but that's the case and has been for some time.

Of course, these things run in cycles. In the 1960s and '70s, for instance, the NL was the more dominant league in large part because they integrated more quickly and more fully than the AL. That is, of course, no longer a factor these days, but these things change with time. In fact, the balance of power may be shifting once again.

It's hard to say why the AL has enjoyed such a run — part of it may be superior homegrown talent, part of it may be the substantially higher payrolls in the AL (payrolls that are higher even after you correct for the fact that they have to pay a DH). Whatever the case, the NL is catching up.

Analyst David Pinto has theorized that the NL simply has better young hitters than the AL right now. After all, the NL is giving more plate appearances to young hitters than the AL and, despite letting pitchers hit, the NL is actually outscoring the AL.

However, that doesn't entirely answer the question, which is this: Is the NL poised to become the more powerful league?

To get a better handle on this, let's list the young players in each league (defined as those who were age 25 or younger as of Opening Day) who have legitimate star potential. Sure, this method is quick and dirty and a bit on the subjective side, but it will provide us with an idea of which league is more flush with young, high-upside talent going forward:

AL hitters

Daric Barton, A's; Reid Brignac, Rays; Billy Butler, Royals; Miguel Cabrera, Tigers; Robinson Cano, Yankees; Jeff Clement, Mariners; Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox; Carlos Gonzalez, A's; Alex Gordon, Royals; Desmond Jennings, Rays; Adam Jones, Orioles; Howie Kendrick, Angels; Adam Lind, Blue Jays; Evan Longoria, Rays; Nick Markakis, Orioles; Joe Mauer, Twins; Mike Moustakas, Royals; Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox; Carlos Quentin, White Sox; Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Rangers; Grady Sizemore, Indians; Travis Snider, Blue Jays; B.J. Upton, Rays; Matt Wieters, Orioles, Delmon Young, Twins.

NL hitters

Matt Antonelli, Padres; Ryan Braun, Brewers; Jay Bruce, Reds; Stephen Drew, Diamondbacks; Edwin Encarnacion, Reds; Prince Fielder, Brewers; Jeff Francoeur, Braves; J.J. Hardy, Brewers; Chase Headley, Padres; Jeremy Hermida, Marlins; Jason Heyward, Braves; Chin-Lung Hu, Dodgers; Matt Kemp, Dodgers; Matt LaPorta, Brewers; Andy LaRoche, Dodgers; James Loney, Dodgers; Chris Marrero, Nationals; Russell Martin, Dodgers; Cameron Maybin, Marlins; Brian McCann, Braves; Andrew McCutchen, Pirates; Lastings Milledge, Nationals; Hunter Pence, Astros; Felix Pie, Cubs; Hanley Ramirez, Marlins; Colby Rasmus, Cardinals; Jose Reyes, Mets; Mark Reynolds, Diamondbacks; Jordan Schafer, Braves; Geovany Soto, Cubs; Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies; Justin Upton, Diamondbacks; Angel Villalona, Giants; Josh Vitters, Cubs; Joey Votto, Reds; Rickie Weeks, Brewers; David Wright, Mets; Chris Young, Diamondbacks; Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals.