Sounds good... at least you're trying to be creative, as opposed to all of MLB which just feels that moving a team with established NL roots will be A-ok because it may be good for business. Just a couple of nitpicks... if you have all division winners taking a week off so that they can sit around and watch 2 wild card series, that's not going to be good for business. Hell, you end up turing the wild card series into a pseudo LCS for the networks. Also, it rewards division winners who may have happened to win a crappy division, versus a wild card that may be victimized by playing in a great division (like the Rays). My plan: 3 division winners, 2 wild cards. The worst two teams, record wise (regardless of winning a division) square off in a one game "play-in" series. You will have teams wondering if they should burn their ace in that one game, or try to win and save them for the "real" series... should make for interesting strategy. Home field advantage determined by record, alone. This would be the BEST setup of the three leagues in terms of overall fairness in terms of the playoffs. In the NFL, the division winners still get home field advantage even if they have a worse record than the wild card... despite that they may have benefitted from playing in a weaker division, and the fact that home field is a HUGE deal in the NFL (see Seattle vs. New Orleans). The NBA has a similiar setup, but they have a balanced schedule... thus division winners don't really mean a whole lot since everybody plays the same teams the same amounts of time.
Well, I like it just like it is. But if you really wanted to realign regionally (which I'm not in favor of), you may do well to eliminate the whole AL/NL thing, and the DH with it. Also, the West and Central US are sparse, but the Northeast is very crowded, meaning some divisions will be very spread out while the NE will have some town nearby in other divisions. 6 five-team divisions. Each team would play: * (60 games): the other four teams in its division 15 times * (45 games): teams from a second division 9 times * (45 games): teams from a third division 9 times * (12 games): two 2-game sets and 2 3-games sets against a fourth division * (0 games): skip the last two divisions ...for a total of 162 games The zero, 12, and 45 game opponent divisions would alternate similar to the current interleague schedule. Divisions: <table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><strong>Northwest </strong></td><td><strong>West</strong></td><td><strong>Southeast </strong></td><td><strong>Central </strong></td><td><strong>East</strong></td><td><strong>New England </strong></td></tr><tr><td>Mariners</td><td>Angels</td><td>Royals</td><td>Twins</td><td>Indians</td><td>Blue Jays</td></tr><tr><td>Giants</td><td>Dodgers</td><td>Cardinals </td><td>Brewers</td><td>Reds</td><td>Red Sox</td></tr><tr><td>A's</td><td>Padres</td><td>Braves</td><td>Cubs</td><td>Pirates</td><td>Yankees</td></tr><tr><td>Rockies</td><td>Rangers </td><td>Rays</td><td>White Sox </td><td>Orioles</td><td>Mets</td></tr><tr><td>Dbacks</td><td>Astros</td><td>Marlins</td><td>Tigers</td><td>Nationals </td><td>Phillies</td></tr></table> <br /> <br />
Hmm... you break up Cubs-Cardinals AND Dodgers-Giants historical rivalries for regional ones that don't mean squat. Also, the New England division makes the "East" division look like a triple A league. The NL and AL are never going away... and they will never radically realign divisions to the point that would break up all the "best" rivalries in baseball... which superseed regional rivalries.
@Nick: I agree; one of the major reasons I think this whole idea is just dumb. What I did is simply draw squares on a map thinking of nothing but geography. Here's another one: <table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><strong>Northwest </strong></td><td><strong>West</strong></td><td><strong>South</strong></td><td><strong>Central </strong></td><td><strong>East</strong></td><td><strong>New England </strong></td></tr><tr><td>Mariners</td><td>Giants</td><td>Royals</td><td>Cubs</td><td>Pirates</td><td>Blue Jays</td></tr><tr><td>Rockies</td><td>A’s</td><td>Cardinals</td><td>White Sox</td><td>Orioles</td><td>Red Sox</td></tr><tr><td>Dbacks</td><td>Angles</td><td>Rangers</td><td>Tigers</td><td>Nationals</td><td>Yankees</td></tr><tr><td>Twins</td><td>Dodgers</td><td>Astros</td><td>Indians</td><td>Rays</td><td>Mets</td></tr><tr><td>Brewers</td><td>Padres</td><td>Braves</td><td>Reds</td><td>Marlins</td><td>Phillies</td></tr></table> <br /> <br />
One more: <table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><strong>West</strong></td><td><strong>North</strong></td><td><strong>Central</strong></td><td><strong>Southeast </strong></td><td><strong>East</strong></td><td><strong>East Coast</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Giants</td><td>Mariners</td><td>Brewers</td><td>Rangers</td><td>Tigers</td><td>Red Sox</td></tr><tr><td>A’s</td><td>Rockies</td><td>Cubs</td><td>Astros</td><td>Indians</td><td>Yankees</td></tr><tr><td>Angels</td><td>Dbacks</td><td>White Sox</td><td>Braves</td><td>Reds</td><td>Mets</td></tr><tr><td>Dodgers</td><td>Twins</td><td>Royals</td><td>Rays</td><td>Pirates</td><td>Orioles</td></tr><tr><td>Padres</td><td>Blue Jays</td><td>Cardinals</td><td>Marlins</td><td>Phillies</td><td>Nationals</td></tr></table> <br /> <br />
This one's not bad, but it seems like no matter what format you come up with there's always one team that just doesn't belong. In this case the Braves.
Yeah the Braves fit. I think the easiest fix for the 1 team that doesn't fit is relocating Tampa Bay to a city in a region that needs the extra team. I mean aren't they by far the franchise most likely to change scenes due to horrible ticket sales?
sorry I left part out... Geographically it makes sense, but just seems weird to have them in a division without the Phillies and Mets. Wasn't there a pretty big realignment plan back in the day if the Astros had moved to Virginia?
that never happened...stop talking about it...loud noises....lalalalalalalalaalalalalalalalalalalalalalalaalalalalaalalalalalallalalalalalalalalala
[rQUOTEr]...Baseball’s next collective bargaining agreement — which should be completed (without a work stoppage) during the next several months — could include multiple changes that pique the curiosity of casual fans. A move of the Houston Astros from the National League to the American League, while far from certain, remains very much in play. ... Meanwhile, the sides have continued dialogue on another revolutionary concept — the prospect of moving the Astros to the American League. Weiner said realignment to 15 teams in each league is “unlikely” to occur in time to amend next year’s schedule. But he sounded optimistic about the chances of it happening in 2013, and Selig has not voiced any opposition to the idea. ... Of course, at some point, Selig must ask the Houston Astros what they think about all of this. And that’s when the hardball — the political kind — could begin. You see, Jim Crane agreed to purchase the Astros from Drayton McLane for $680 million on May 16. At the time, team officials expected the commissioner’s office to approve the transaction within 60 days. Well, Friday is the 60th day. And Selig has yet to (a) formally approve the deal or (b) say precisely when that will occur. In the meantime, the Astros have busied themselves by playing — by far — the worst baseball in the major leagues this year. They had one representative at this week’s All-Star Game, outfielder Hunter Pence. Six years after the Astros appeared in the World Series, the franchise’s national profile is virtually nonexistent. McLane told the Houston Chronicle this week that discussions about moving the Astros to the AL weren’t “part of the deal” he struck with Crane. That is accurate, based on what my sources have said. Besides, the new collective bargaining agreement — the document that would stipulate such a change — remains in the formative stages. So, why would anything about realignment have been written into the purchase agreement? There are a lot of smart people involved in these CBA discussions, both on the MLB and union sides. They know that the Astros are vulnerable — not only because losing has eroded their brand, but because Selig holds the gavel when it comes to approval. So, what if Selig, Weiner and their respective lieutenants hammer out an agreement that secures continued labor peace while adding excitement to the postseason and ensuring a more equitable regular season? And what if the final piece in this massive document is a “yes” from Crane, who is eagerly waiting for his set of keys to the worst team in baseball? Do you really think Jim Crane wants to begin his stewardship of the Astros by being the guy who said “no” to the commissioner’s office, the union, and the 29 other owners who would like to sign an agreement and get on with their multibillion-dollar industry? I don’t. I think change is coming to Major League Baseball.[/rQUOTEr]
As noted earlier if they really want to balance out the leagues the Brewers are the team to move since they were an AL team for a long time. Here's my recommendation, move the Brewers to the AL central which would work very well with Wisconsin's natural rivals in MN, IL, MI and OH. Move KC to the AL West which reinforces existing rivalries with SoCal and Oakland.
[rquoter]There are a lot of smart people involved in these CBA discussions, both on the MLB and union sides.[/rquoter] Doesn't sound like it.
Seriously... they're all just spouting the same quotes from the same one or two union officials who have been talking about it non-stop. Are they really talking?
http://blog.chron.com/sportsjustice...can-league-but-that-day-appears-to-be-coming/ Astros have not been asked to move to the American League, but that day appears to be coming Despite reports elsewhere, Jim Crane’s approval as the new owner of the Astros does not hinge on his agreeing to move to the American League. He’s going to be approved as owner because he’s willing to pay $680 million for the club, thereby raising every other franchise’s value. Let’s say he had been asked to move to the AL. Let’s say he says, “No. And by the way, I’m taking my $680 million and going home.” Several things would happen at that point. First, Drayton McLane would begin sobbing uncontrollably, and he’d be on the phone to Commissioner Selig begging him to please, please, please let him have his $680 million. ”I’ve got a family to feed, commissioner,” he might say. Every other owner who has even thought of selling his franchise would rush to bring Crane back. Crane buying the Astros is good for business. But that does not mean realignment is a dead issue. Commissioner Selig said there’ll be no realignment before 2013, but acknowledged the subject was being discussed. There’s a consensus inside the game for two 15-team leagues and six five-team divisions. Having one division with six teams makes no sense. To do this means some team from the NL Central would have to move west. But no one wants to move. Please don’t write with your dramatic realignment ideas. You could be making perfect sense, but it’s not happening. Let’s face it, moving the Astros makes the most sense, and I’m guessing Crane will be approached several times. I don’t think he can be forced to change leagues, but he might just be shifted to the National League West, and if that happens, I’d vote for the American League West because of an Astros-Rangers division rivalry and because it would cut down on the number of 9 p.m. road games. There’s no realignment scenario that doesn’t include moving a National League Central team to the west, and it’s going to be either the Brewers or Astros. The Brewers believe they have a gold mine in their rivalry with the Cubs, so the Astros stand alone as the team with the least to lose and potentially the most to gain. I haven’t spoken to Jim Crane about the issue, but he’s said to strongly favor staying in the National League. I favor the American League because I think playing the Rangers 18 times a year would do great things for MLB in this state. It would also help the Rangers in cutting down their number of 9 p.m. starts. Drayton McLane said that in his walks around Minute Maid Park he has been surprised by the passion fans spoke out against moving to the AL. Other than having a dozen or so 9 p.m. road games, I don’t see what the big deal is. The Astros have never really had a real rival, but the Rangers could be a great one.
One benefit of being at the All-Star Game is the chance to feel the pulse of Major League Baseball Commissioner Bug Selig on the state of the game. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/mlb/125679253.html Selig revealed his thoughts last week during a town hall-style chat with fans, then during an annual meeting with the Baseball Writers Association of America. Here are Selig's thoughts on a few issues, followed by my reaction. • • • On possible realignment: "Would I go to 15 and 15 [teams in each league]? I don't know. It would depend on how everything else broke out and what we were trying to do." My take: A recent report has Arizona willing to consider moving to the AL if asked. I think the Diamondbacks play a little like an AL team, so they would be a good fit. But anything that would force interleague play in September -- where AL teams would lose the DH if they are on the road -- is terrible in a pennant race situation. I hope that's why Selig isn't behind the movement.
I'm not sure where he gets the idea there's consensus for 15/15. They'd have to address the DH situation, then...and I don't think anyone really wants to do that.
