Could MLB actually realign logically?

[clenz]

If I'm setting up a new "AL Central" I go Twins, White Sox, Royals, and Brewers. Cleveland and Detroit could replace KC I guess, but I'd prefer it be Detroit.

Yes that would make it pretty much the same thing as the NFC North with a Minneapolis team, Chicago team, Wisconsin team, and either a Detroit team or an added Kansas team.

The Cards won't split from the Cubs but I wouldn't mind seeing the Cards replace the Royals

[89Hen]

BTW, I'd put Toronto on the contraction list. Their attendance is just as bad as Oakland and Tampa, their stadium is probably worse than Oakland's (they had the lowest % of capacity last year), they are in the bottom 5 in road attendance (and that takes into account quite a few games at NYY and Boston), and they're in Canada.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

BTW, I'd put Toronto on the contraction list. Their attendance is just as bad as Oakland and Tampa, their stadium is probably worse than Oakland's (they had the lowest % of capacity last year), they are in the bottom 5 in road attendance (and that takes into account quite a few games at NYY and Boston), and they're in Canada.

1. when that franchise puts a winner on the field - they can draw better than anyone (they drew 4 million fans for chrissakes)

2. their stadium is NOWHERE near as bad as the Coliseum or the Trop

3. Toronto is a huge market, and the Jays are a national franchise in Canada (whereas the Expos were 'Quebec's team') - that's a market of 23 million people

4. their tv ratings are still good

5. if they played in the AL Central they'd have won 2-3 division titles in the last decade.

6. they don't draw well on the road because they are playing in tampa and baltimore 10 times a year... where they don't draw flies for anyone - and 10 games in sold out fenway is still only 35k/game (5-10k below capacity at many other stadiums)

Toronto is a good baseball city, but it's hard to be a fan of a team when no matter how good you are, it's only enough for third place - every. single. year.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

I'll cop to this: as a Twins fan I am especially sensitive to blithe talk of "contraction" 10 years ago they threatened the Twins with it in a very real way... and the anger and resentment over Selig trying to kill my team has never really gone away... the success of the franchise in the last 10 years should stand as a testament to the fact that any franchise can, with proper management - be a success.

our stadium problem was intractable for almost a decade... but we kept at it - and now we have, arguably, the best ballpark in the game - sellouts every game - a perennial contender - and one of the most rabid fan bases in all of the game... (and to think 12 years ago i bought full season tickets for $100 at the Metrodome to sit with 6,800 others to watch a perennial 90 loss team)

[89Hen]

1. when that franchise puts a winner on the field - they can draw better than anyone (they drew 4 million fans for chrissakes)

It's been 16 years since those days. I'm thinking you might be from Canada.

[GannonFan]

as for the DH - after nearly 40 years... it's time to get over it, it's part of the game.

The thing is, NL fans will never want to see it universally adopted and AL fans mostly will never want to see it go. Being an NL fan, I never want it in my league. Don't see that changing no matter how long the AL has it.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

as for the DH - after nearly 40 years... it's time to get over it, it's part of the game.

The thing is, NL fans will never want to see it universally adopted and AL fans mostly will never want to see it go. Being an NL fan, I never want it in my league. Don't see that changing no matter how long the AL has it.

I agree. I think having a very real difference in the rules between the leagues is a decidedly good thing. I think it leads to different styles of play... (i actually prefer the NL style myself)

on the other hand i think interleague (which i wish would just die... but it won't) if it's inevitable - should flip the rules... give AL fans a taste of NL rules and vice versa...

[clenz]

I'm not exactly sure how to realign, and keep it geographical - maybe that isn't a "big deal"

I think the divisions are "fine" the way they are. My only issue is that the NL has 16 teams and the AL has 14.

I'd like to see Milawaukee move back to the AL Central. The only problem there is that the Central would have 6, East would have 5 and the west with 4.

I guess my "ideal", non contraction, set up would be (I have the same feelings at TTBF - minus the season ticket thing)

AL East
Baltimore Oriels
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Tampa Rays
Toronto Blue Jays

AL Central
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
Minnesota Twins
Milwaukee Brewers

AL West
Kansas City Royals
Los Angeles Angels
Oakland A's
Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers

The NL would remain the same minus the Brewers in the Central.

[89Hen]

My only issue is that the NL has 16 teams and the AL has 14.

That's because of the few inter-league games. You have to have an even number of teams in each to make the schedules work.

[clenz]

My only issue is that the NL has 16 teams and the AL has 14.

That's because of the few inter-league games. You have to have an even number of teams in each to make the schedules work.

Fuck inter-league.

[89Hen]

I think having a very real difference in the rules between the leagues is a decidedly good thing.

I don't. It would be like the AFC playing on 110 yard fields, or the NBA West playing on 11' rims, or the NHL East playing with two line passes. There should be ONE set of rules for the league.

[89Hen]

That's because of the few inter-league games. You have to have an even number of teams in each to make the schedules work.

Fuck inter-league.

If you take out inter-league all together, you most definitely cannot have odd numbers in the leagues. The only way to have odd numbers is INCREASE the number of inter-league games.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

I think having a very real difference in the rules between the leagues is a decidedly good thing.

I don't. It would be like the AFC playing on 110 yard fields, or the NBA West playing on 11' rims, or the NHL East playing with two line passes. There should be ONE set of rules for the league.

nah - apples to oranges...

the other leagues are a different animal

all the other leagues have long played interleague... in mlb until 1997 - they didn't until the world series

it matters in that mlb is unique in many ways - this is one of those ways in which it is unique.

[89Hen]

all the other leagues have long played interleague... in mlb until 1997 - they didn't until the world series

it matters in that mlb is unique in many ways - this is one of those ways in which it is unique.

You mean WAS unique.

[Skjellyfetti]

I'm in favor of realignment... but, I just want the Orioles in an easier division... that one looks brutal.

[SuperHornet]

**** inter-league.

If you take out inter-league all together, you most definitely cannot have odd numbers in the leagues. The only way to have odd numbers is INCREASE the number of inter-league games.

Why? What's wrong with an occasional bye? Just systematize when everyone plays inter-division and intra-division. Three teams have a bye at any given time (one per division), and that rotates. What's the big deal about that?

[SDHornet]

Why realign? Why not just reduce the amount of inter-division match-ups and increase match-ups with teams around the league. Also for the playoffs, keep it at 4 teams per league but take the 4 teams with the best record, regardless of division. The last thing baseball needs its more playoff teams/games.

[89Hen]

If you take out inter-league all together, you most definitely cannot have odd numbers in the leagues. The only way to have odd numbers is INCREASE the number of inter-league games.

Why? What's wrong with an occasional bye? Just systematize when everyone plays inter-division and intra-division. Three teams have a bye at any given time (one per division), and that rotates. What's the big deal about that?

I don't think the math works. 5 or 6 out of every 7 nights all 30 teams are in action. Somebody who can do stats can tell us whether you can have 162 games for each team in the same timeframe given that they play 3 or 4 game series with teams.

[UNHWildCats]

MLB can do two 15 team leagues... instead of interleague being clumped together in June, there would be an interleague series going on each day all season.

[SuperHornet]

MLB can do two 15 team leagues... instead of interleague being clumped together in June, there would be an interleague series going on each day all season.

That's possible, and it would be closer to the NFL model. But as a purist, I'd prefer to see an unbalanced ONE-league schedule, even if extra byes are part of the mix. It could lead to a return of the regularly-scheduled Sunday double-header, something I've wanted to see for years, anyway.

[GannonFan]

MLB can do two 15 team leagues... instead of interleague being clumped together in June, there would be an interleague series going on each day all season.

That's possible, and it would be closer to the NFL model. But as a purist, I'd prefer to see an unbalanced ONE-league schedule, even if extra byes are part of the mix. It could lead to a return of the regularly-scheduled Sunday double-header, something I've wanted to see for years, anyway.

No one's going back to regularly scheduled double headers - no one is going to give up an extra gate and the revenue that comes with it. You won't ever see that again so don't waste your time thinking of it.

[Silenoz]

Contracting Oakland would be a fitting end for my beloved franchise. 100 years of history, 9 worlds series, tons of the biggest names in the game's history. And yet they never draw for shit, they're already on their 3rd city and have been working on getting to a 4th for years now. But Oakland falls over themselves to support the terrible Raiders

I would never watch another baseball game again if it happened

[SuperHornet]

That's possible, and it would be closer to the NFL model. But as a purist, I'd prefer to see an unbalanced ONE-league schedule, even if extra byes are part of the mix. It could lead to a return of the regularly-scheduled Sunday double-header, something I've wanted to see for years, anyway.

No one's going back to regularly scheduled double headers - no one is going to give up an extra gate and the revenue that comes with it. You won't ever see that again so don't waste your time thinking of it.

So you charge double (or maybe 2/3 of double) to get in in the first place. What's the big? They make bank on parking, program, and concessions anyway, especially since they don't allow anyone to bring outside stuff in.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

No one's going back to regularly scheduled double headers - no one is going to give up an extra gate and the revenue that comes with it. You won't ever see that again so don't waste your time thinking of it.

So you charge double (or maybe 2/3 of double) to get in in the first place. What's the big? They make bank on parking, program, and concessions anyway, especially since they don't allow anyone to bring outside stuff in.

the players will never go for it.

the managers will never go for it.

think about what a double header would do to a bullpen... back when they regularly sent pitchers out there to throw 200 pitches and go 9 it was more feasible... back when the players were glorified indentured servants, you could get away such things - but not now.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Contracting Oakland would be a fitting end for my beloved franchise. 100 years of history, 9 worlds series, tons of the biggest names in the game's history. And yet they never draw for shit, they're already on their 3rd city and have been working on getting to a 4th for years now. But Oakland falls over themselves to support the terrible Raiders

I would never watch another baseball game again if it happened

MLB needs to find a way to pay off the Giants and move them to San Jose...

the affluence that serves hockey so well in the winter will do the A's well... the corporate money will too.