MLB Realignment

[GannonFan]

I think they'd have to shorten the season though in order to make it work because they'd be easily playing into November. For a sport that starts in late March, early April.

thats where scheduled doubleheaders would come in.

They could conceivably do scheduled doubleheaders (although I'm sure the players would push against that) but they won't ever be 1 gate doubleheaders - no one is going to give up the $$$ from an additional gate. If they did have DH's scheduled, they would be day/night ones.

[UNHWildCats]

thats where scheduled doubleheaders would come in.

They could conceivably do scheduled doubleheaders (although I'm sure the players would push against that) but they won't ever be 1 gate doubleheaders - no one is going to give up the $$$ from an additional gate. If they did have DH's scheduled, they would be day/night ones.

agreed it wont be single gate doubleheaders... though lower attendance teams may offer it if they feel they might make out better that way. As for players pushing against it, I agree they might be a bit against it, but the idea of finishing the season earlier could push them also allowing teams a extra roster spot or two to offset doubleheaders every week might push the players association to okay it as it would add 30 to 60 more jobs each season.

[ODUalum11]

While its a good idea I think pitchers would strongly be against it, especially starters because that would then take a day of rest away from them. But then again you did propose for teams to have a couple extra roster spots...

[GannonFan]

While its a good idea I think pitchers would strongly be against it, especially starters because that would then take a day of rest away from them. But then again you did propose for teams to have a couple extra roster spots...

No one pitches on short rest during the regular season even now - when there are rainout-induced DH's, it almost always involves a minor league callup or a long-reliever already on the roster, unless there were fortuitous days near the day of the DH, both before and after.

[CitadelGrad]

Why?

Uneven amount of teams in each league

No.

[DJH]

Uneven amount of teams in each league

No.

I think he meant an "odd" amount of teams in each league.

[CatMom]

I've got no problem with a realignment to bring the Astros to the A.L., it would create a natural rivalry with the Rangers. I don't favor playoff expansion.

As for shortening the season as someone alluded to, I don't mind the 162 games in the regular season, but I would like to see the return of 5-10 doubleheaders each year. That way you're not playing the World Series in November and the fans get more bang for their increasingly expensive baseball buck.

I have long held the opinion that MLB should have scheduled doubleheaders.... one every weekend split between Saturday and Sundays. Allow team to carry an extra player or 2 on the roster to offset the heavier workload... by doing this every week the season can end in early september and the playoffs done by mid october at the latest... enough of world series games going into november.

Um, they used to do this but it got fucked up when they added wild-card teams and 3 divisions and prolonged those playoff rounds. Remember Reggie Jackson? Mr. October? It isn't just a name, it's because the WS was in October!

[DJH]

Here's Deadspin's solution.

[AZGrizFan]

Here's Deadspin's solution.

While comical, I don't understand his logic. It's about 200 miles LESS from Seattle to SD than it is from KC to Miami....

edit: in fact, the Marlins just need to be relocated...the support (or lack thereof) given to that squad by its fans is downright embarrassing. Move THEM to Oklahoma City, and add San Diego to that division and leave Seattle with the SF/Oakland and LA/Aneheim pairings.

[UNHWildCats]

I have long held the opinion that MLB should have scheduled doubleheaders.... one every weekend split between Saturday and Sundays. Allow team to carry an extra player or 2 on the roster to offset the heavier workload... by doing this every week the season can end in early september and the playoffs done by mid october at the latest... enough of world series games going into november.

Um, they used to do this but it got fucked up when they added wild-card teams and 3 divisions and prolonged those playoff rounds. Remember Reggie Jackson? Mr. October? It isn't just a name, it's because the WS was in October!

duh!

[ODUalum11]

I couldn't imagine the Yankees and Mets having to play 18-19 times a year. Except it would be huge in regards to saving travel costs.

[CatMom]

Um, they used to do this but it got fucked up when they added wild-card teams and 3 divisions and prolonged those playoff rounds. Remember Reggie Jackson? Mr. October? It isn't just a name, it's because the WS was in October!

duh!

At least I'm old enough to remember this. (Course I also remember when it was 8 teams per league and it was winners take all, no playoffs). Yes, I'm that old.

[BlueHen86]

I definately favor equal leagues and divisions so moving Houston to the AL West makes sense, because currently its an advantage to play in the AL West and a disadvantage to play in the NL Central, moving them balances each division equally and also gives Texas and Houston a division rivalry.

I however oppose a no division alignment. To do this each team must play a balanced schedule since they are competing with every team for the playoff spots as opposed to only competing with every other team just for the wild card currently, yes right now some teams are at a disadvantage for the Wild card based on schedule, but atleast they are morte evenly scheduled when concerning the division champion playoff spot.

Under a one division format using interleague play, each team would likely play each other just 9 times and each team in the other league 3 times, doing this would require adding 9 games to each teams schedule, doing 8 games per league opponent instead of 9 would mean a 157 game schedule.

maintaining divisions would allow MLB to continue unbalanced schedules outside of each division.

Oh christ, they play 162 games. Every team doesn't have to play the exact same schedule to make it "fair". Playing that many games, things tend to even out, no matter who you are playing.

Don't make this more difficult than it has to be.

I disagree. It's not uncommon to see races come down to the last day of the season. The fact that one team played the Yankees and Red Sox during interleague play while the other played the Mariners and Royals can make a difference.

While the schedules don't have to be exactly the same, MLB can do a better job. At least I think they can once Selig is gone.

[BlueHen86]

Here's Deadspin's solution.

While comical, I don't understand his logic. It's about 200 miles LESS from Seattle to SD than it is from KC to Miami....

edit: in fact, the Marlins just need to be relocated...the support (or lack thereof) given to that squad by its fans is downright embarrassing. Move THEM to Oklahoma City, and add San Diego to that division and leave Seattle with the SF/Oakland and LA/Aneheim pairings.

The BlueHen86 plan:

1. Drop two teams and revert to four 7 team divisions. (I'd be okay with adding 2 teams and going with four 8 team divisions, but I think 28 teams is better than 32).
2. Get rid of inter league play.
3. Have the second and third place teams play a best of three series Tues - Wed - Thurs and then have the winner play the first place team starting on Sat.

[ODUalum11]

Oh christ, they play 162 games. Every team doesn't have to play the exact same schedule to make it "fair". Playing that many games, things tend to even out, no matter who you are playing.

Don't make this more difficult than it has to be.

I disagree. It's not uncommon to see races come down to the last day of the season. The fact that one team played the Yankees and Red Sox during interleague play while the other played the Mariners and Royals can make a difference.

While the schedules don't have to be exactly the same, MLB can do a better job. At least I think they can once Selig is gone.

I agree, interleague play can have a significant difference alone on a team's record. One team like the Yankees could possibly play all playoff contenders while a team like the red sox could play all lousy teams. Also does it really make sense to have a 6-team division such as the NL central? IMO, it makes the division very VERY hard to win.

[DJH]

Oh christ, they play 162 games. Every team doesn't have to play the exact same schedule to make it "fair". Playing that many games, things tend to even out, no matter who you are playing.

Don't make this more difficult than it has to be.

I disagree. It's not uncommon to see races come down to the last day of the season. The fact that one team played the Yankees and Red Sox during interleague play while the other played the Mariners and Royals can make a difference.

While the schedules don't have to be exactly the same, MLB can do a better job. At least I think they can once Selig is gone.

Yes, races do come down to the last game sometimes. And that won't change, even if they do go through with some sort of realignment.

I really don't care if one team had to play the Yankees while another team may have had to play the Orioles or something. There is 159 other games for them to try and win if they cant beat the Yankees.

[BlueHen86]

I disagree. It's not uncommon to see races come down to the last day of the season. The fact that one team played the Yankees and Red Sox during interleague play while the other played the Mariners and Royals can make a difference.

While the schedules don't have to be exactly the same, MLB can do a better job. At least I think they can once Selig is gone.

Yes, races do come down to the last game sometimes. And that won't change, even if they do go through with some sort of realignment.

I really don't care if one team had to play the Yankees while another team may have had to play the Orioles or something. There is 159 other games for them to try and win if they cant beat the Yankees.

The Mets play the Yankees 6 times this year and they also play the Rangers 3 times. I think the Mets played the Yankees 6 times last year too. They are at an unfair disadvantage. Being a Phillies fan I think it's funny, but I think they have a valid complaint.

[SDHornet]

While they are at it drop that stupid DH rule and make all the managers actually earn their money.

[BlueHen86]

While they are at it drop that stupid DH rule and make all the managers actually earn their money.

I'd be okay with that.

[ODUalum11]

While they are at it drop that stupid DH rule and make all the managers actually earn their money.

I'd be okay with that.

I wouldn't having the pitcher hit is a rally killer.

[DJH]

I'd be okay with that.

I wouldn't having the pitcher hit is a rally killer.

Why can't pitchers be actual baseball players and learn to hit the ball?

[ODUalum11]

I wouldn't having the pitcher hit is a rally killer.

Why can't pitchers be actual baseball players and learn to hit the ball?

true, there are some who hit the ball pretty decent but a majority of them can't hit and then managers have heart attacks when they see their pitchers run the base paths. Being a Yankee fan, I'll never forget Ching Ming-Wang ran from third base to homeplate and injured himself during an interleague game in Houston and was out for the rest of the season and he was having a terrific year being the Yankees ace. He was never the same after that.

[AZGrizFan]

While comical, I don't understand his logic. It's about 200 miles LESS from Seattle to SD than it is from KC to Miami....

edit: in fact, the Marlins just need to be relocated...the support (or lack thereof) given to that squad by its fans is downright embarrassing. Move THEM to Oklahoma City, and add San Diego to that division and leave Seattle with the SF/Oakland and LA/Aneheim pairings.

The BlueHen86 plan:

1. Drop two teams and revert to four 7 team divisions. (I'd be okay with adding 2 teams and going with four 8 team divisions, but I think 28 teams is better than 32).
2. Get rid of inter league play.
3. Have the second and third place teams play a best of three series Tues - Wed - Thurs and then have the winner play the first place team starting on Sat.

I'd be fine with this (dropping KC & Miami and having a draft), and I'd add: shorten the season back to 154 games.

[ODUalum11]

The BlueHen86 plan:

1. Drop two teams and revert to four 7 team divisions. (I'd be okay with adding 2 teams and going with four 8 team divisions, but I think 28 teams is better than 32).
2. Get rid of inter league play.
3. Have the second and third place teams play a best of three series Tues - Wed - Thurs and then have the winner play the first place team starting on Sat.

I'd be fine with this (dropping KC & Miami and having a draft), and I'd add: shorten the season back to 154 games.

Personally, I like interleague play. You get a bunch of teams who would never play each other.

[SuperHornet]

As many around here know, I'm a bit (OK, MORE than a bit) old-fashioned about sports. Dump Interleague play. Dump the bloody DH. Dump this sit-and-wait-for-the-jack trash.

That said, I'm not thrilled with the idea of EITHER Houston to the AL OR Seattle losing ANOTHER team, particularly to the OKC. If baseball moves anywhere in the midwest (other than where they already are), going to Rosenblatt (or its successor) would be a better choice than OKC.