The difference between a synced block and a synced method is simply one of notational convenience.
I think this is not quite true. Although it can be used like this in the way you describe, a synchronized block is infinitely more useable than a synchronized method. A synchronized method can only synchronize on the object (or class) which holds the method, whereas a synchronized block can synchronize on any Object.
Consider translating this into a synchronized method:
It can't be done. This is the true difference between synchronized blocks and synchronized methods. So, while true that the synchronized method can be a shorthand form of a synchronized block, this is only true in a limited number of cases.