Which Baseball Franchises Should Be Disbanded?

[JoltinJoe]

Putting aside our rivalries and looking at this objectively, baseball has too many franchises and some should be disbanded. Here is an objective assessment of which teams should go:

(1) Chicago Cubs -- If you go 100 years without winning a World Series, you get disbanded automatically under what I call the "Futility Rule." So when Alfonso Soriano swung and missed to end Game 3 of the 2008 NLDS against the Dodgers, that should have brought the curtains down on the Cubbies.

(2) Baltimore Orioles -- There is no room in baseball for a franchise that still whines about a 12-year-old kid who did something last century.

(3) Washington Nationals -- Let's just make it official.

(4) Arizona Diamondbacks -- Why is there a major league team playing in a minor league city, consisting mostly of senior citizens, in some territory which should still be part of Mexico?

(5) Philadelphia Phillies -- This team should move to New York City rather than play in a suburb of New York City.

(6) Boston Red Sox -- Well, perhaps not yet, but if they make it to 2018 without winning a title, they go, like the Cubs under the "Futility Rule." (Clean titles only count).

Thoughts?

[dbackjon]

New York Yankees - stupid fanbase that thinks they know baseball, when in reality don't know anything

[JMU DJ]

Putting aside our rivalries and looking at this objectively, baseball has too many franchises and some should be disbanded. Here is an objective assessment of which teams should go:

(1) Chicago Cubs -- Not gonna happen

(2) Baltimore Orioles -- Not gonna happen

(3) Washington Nationals -- Possible, but they just build a new stadium and doesn't the MLB own them?

(4) Arizona Diamondbacks -- Recent history of winning, but I think I'm picking up a trend

(5) Philadelphia Phillies -- I see what you're doing here

(6) Boston Red Sox -- and here as well. Yankees clean titles

Thoughts?

But if we're being honest here.... Marlins, Rays, Nats, Mariners, Royals, Pirates.... teams that don't seem to care about getting better, only their bottom line.

[UNHWildCats]

Putting aside our rivalries and looking at this objectively, baseball has too many franchises and some should be disbanded. Here is an objective assessment of which teams should go:

(1) Chicago Cubs -- Not gonna happen

(2) Baltimore Orioles -- Not gonna happen

(3) Washington Nationals -- Possible, but they just build a new stadium and doesn't the MLB own them?

(4) Arizona Diamondbacks -- Recent history of winning, but I think I'm picking up a trend

(5) Philadelphia Phillies -- I see what you're doing here

(6) Boston Red Sox -- and here as well. Yankees clean titles

Thoughts?

But if we're being honest here.... Marlins, Rays, Nats, Mariners, Royals, Pirates.... teams that don't seem to care about getting better, only their bottom line.

I think the Mai=riners care about winning, and the Rays have turned a corner, though fans still dont care. I'm willing to give the Marlins a chance when their new stadium opens, but if the fans still dont come then can them.

[JoltinJoe]

New York Yankees - stupid fanbase that thinks they know baseball, when in reality don't know anything

Shame on you. I asked peopleto treat this objectively and seriously.

[dbackjon]

New York Yankees - stupid fanbase that thinks they know baseball, when in reality don't know anything

Shame on you. I asked peopleto treat this objectively and seriously.

[Gil Dobie]

Why the flock would you want to deprive American's of the National Pastime?

[dbackjon]

Why the flock would you want to deprive American's of the National Pastime?

Because that is what New York lawyers do for fun.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Yankees - bar none. get rid of them an the Natinals... and we're golden...

a serious turn for a moment... fvck this "contraction" bullshit...

there have, from the beginning of the league, been perennial second division teams... the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Washington Senators and Brooklyn Dodgers...

the current crop of second division squads - Pittsburgh, Washington, KC, Baltimore are, by historical standards nothing new...

but as a fan of a team that ten years ago was pegged for contraction, despite 2 world series championships and a team that had, that season moved out of the second division... it's complete bullshit to drop a team for a run of bad seasons (even pittsburgh)...

I would remind you that if you initiated this conversation in 1992, we'd be considering contracting the Yankees for their ineptitude and Cleveland too...

[JoltinJoe]

Yankees - bar none. get rid of them an the Natinals... and we're golden...

a serious turn for a moment... fvck this "contraction" bullshit...

there have, from the beginning of the league, been perennial second division teams... the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Washington Senators and Brooklyn Dodgers...

the current crop of second division squads - Pittsburgh, Washington, KC, Baltimore are, by historical standards nothing new...

but as a fan of a team that ten years ago was pegged for contraction, despite 2 world series championships and a team that had, that season moved out of the second division... it's complete bullshit to drop a team for a run of bad seasons (even pittsburgh)...

I would remind you that if you initiated this conversation in 1992, we'd be considering contracting the Yankees for their ineptitude and Cleveland too...

I didn't include the Twins because I enjoy having a first-round patsy for the Yankees. Keep the Twinkies!!

And, you think in 1992, baseball would consider contracting the team which had the most wins during the 1980s?

[JoltinJoe]

Why the flock would you want to deprive American's of the National Pastime?

Because that is what New York lawyers do for fun.

Fun ... and profit.

I will sue to contract you, and make money doing it.

[AZGrizFan]

We should disband the Yankmees. Then everybody else would have a chance.

[Grizalltheway]

We should disband the Yankmees. Then everybody else would have a chance.

You mean a chance to fail to live up to expectations as often as they do?

[Gil Dobie]

We should disband the Yankmees. Then everybody else would have a chance.

When was the last time the Yankees won the World Series?

[dbackjon]

We should disband the Yankmees. Then everybody else would have a chance.

When was the last time the Yankees won the World Series?

Last century

[JoltinJoe]

When was the last time the Yankees won the World Series?

Last century

2009.

[93henfan]

Can't get rid rid of the World Champs. Phils stay.

[CatMom]

You guys can argue which teams. I'd just like to see it be enough to get back to only a LCS and then the World Series. Having the LDS, then LCS, then WS makes the season overtly long and is only lining pockets.
The "Boys of October" have almost become the Thanksgiving Turkeys. People stop watching baseball when the NFL starts up and the fan #'s dwindle as the post season drags on.

[BlueHen86]

We should disband the Yankmees. Then everybody else would have a chance.

As long a A-Roid is a Yankee, every one does have a chance.

[BlueHen86]

We should disband the Yankmees. Then everybody else would have a chance.

When was the last time the Yankees won the World Series?

Before A-Roid arrived.

[CatMom]

We should disband the Yankmees. Then everybody else would have a chance.

When was the last time the Yankees won the World Series?

2000

took Mets 4-1

[93henfan]

People stop watching baseball when the NFL starts up and the fan #'s dwindle as the post season drags on.

Maybe outside of the Northeast (save for Balt/DC and their perpetually bad teams). The fans in these parts are a bit more hearty than that.

[CatMom]

People stop watching baseball when the NFL starts up and the fan #'s dwindle as the post season drags on.

Maybe outside of the Northeast (save for Balt/DC and their perpetually bad teams). The fans in these parts are a bit more hearty than that.

I was thinking more of TV #'s rather than in the stands. Is the NFL Sunday night game getting more viewing right now or the Phillies/Rockies? I'd bet the NFL.

[BlueHen86]

Maybe outside of the Northeast (save for Balt/DC and their perpetually bad teams). The fans in these parts are a bit more hearty than that.

I was thinking more of TV #'s rather than in the stands. Is the NFL Sunday night game getting more viewing right now or the Phillies/Rockies? I'd bet the NFL.

As the playoffs progress, there are fewer teams in the playoffs, hence fewer fans watching on TV. I'd be willing to bet that fewer people will be watching the MLB playoffs in Minnesota, St. Louis and Boston this week now that their teams are out.

As for the NFL vs. the Rockies/Phillies - the MLB playoffs compete against the NFL every year, regardless of whether they are in October or November, so I'm not sure what your point is.

[CatMom]

My point is, people used to watch the LCS and the WS more than now because they added the LDS and drag the season out longer than in the past and people are more into the NFL, as they are further into the season. They lose interest and the WS is almost anti-climatic when it should be the culmination.

The WS used to be about ready to start but we haven't even hit the LDS's yet. The WS starts the end of Oct, into Nov., week 8 of the NFL when things are getting more and more interesting. It used to be early in the NFL season and more people still cared about Baseball. (This also is affected by the NFL expansions which force an earlier start to the NFL season.)

I know, growing up, I barely thought about (NFL) football until after the WS.

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Cutting out teams will make it more competitive again and get rid of a lot of dead weight but cutting Philly out isn't an option. It's one of the major sports markets and even thinking about it could cause riots. Remember, these are Philly fans you're talking about.