My buddy Ben sent me a radical idea with regards to MLB realignment. Though he and I both know it’s not realistic, why not share it for the hell of it? It’s sort of a combination of the NBA, NHL, NFL and College World Series formats. What’s cool about it is that Ben’s idea makes sense geographically and puts together natural rivalries by placing teams like the Cubs and White Sox in the same division.
On the other hand, baseball will never eliminate the American and National League, nor the DH (which doesn’t pertain to his idea as much as the other parts). Also, a division that features the Mets, Red Sox, Phillies and Yankees is a little bit absurd in terms of how powerful those teams can all be.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
Mets
Red Sox
Phillies
Yankees
OriolesGreat Lakes
Nationals
Pirates
Blue Jays
Tigers
Indians
Southeast
Cardinals
Royals
Oklahoma City (Marlins)
Rays
BravesWestern Conference
Midwest
Cubs
White Sox
Twins
Brewers
RedsSouthwest
Texas
Houston
Colorado
Arizona
San DiegoPacific
Mariners
Dodgers
Giants
Athletics
Angels
- NFL style playoffs (2 byes for top two seeds, homefield advantage for a three game mini-series for top seeds)
- 3 division winners and 3 wild cards
- No DH (if only)
Tags: Because why not?
June 20, 2011 at 1:45 pm |
St Louis and Kansas City are southeast? i did a lot of drugs in high school, but not that many.
June 20, 2011 at 2:10 pm |
June 20, 2011 at 2:01 pm |
Nor are Washington or Pittsburgh close to the Great Lakes, but they’re close enough, I’d say. Honestly, I just kinda whipped out a map and clustered the cities together.
June 20, 2011 at 6:49 pm |
Damn. Tom is like a chameleon. He changes his look very drastically in just a few days…..
I’m torn on the natural rivalries from a selfish standpoint. Not sure if I could handle the obnoxiousity of dealing with Yankee and Red Sox fans so often.
I think the game could use a change like this. With the exception of Yankees/Red Sox and Giants/Dodgers (who are still intact in your concept), there really aren’t any true rivalries in the current alignment.
I also agree with adding playoff teams and HELL YES the DH needs to go bye bye.
June 20, 2011 at 7:05 pm |
Obviously every team location isn’t going to be exactly in a certain region, but maybe switch the Nationals and the Cardinals…
June 20, 2011 at 7:50 pm |
Which Great Lake do the Nationals play near?
I have to say, this is very radical, and nobody has thought of it before, so nice job. I know what you’re going for (geographic even divisons), but the geographic lines don’t quite work. i wonder how the traditionalists would like it.
i would want to have 2 eastern-type divisions that separate the 4 power houses (like how the AL East and NL East do now) and preserve rivalries (like Baltimore with both Washington and Philly, Philly with the Mets, Mets-Yankees, and Yankees-Red Sox).
June 20, 2011 at 8:37 pm |
I was actually thinking about these points while I was walking my dog today.
First off, they aren’t exactly geographic “lines” per se, they are more like “oval-like shapes on the map that I drew at 1 AM in the morning.”
Secondly, the two eastern divisions intrigued me, but if it were to happen, not much would change between the divisions.
I felt bad splitting up that DMV suckfest between the O’s and Nats.
June 20, 2011 at 8:25 pm |
The thing is, if the goal of realignment is in part to even out the leagues to 15 teams a piece then it necessitates interleague play year round. I don’t want to see the Pirates play the Orioles in April, let alone ever.
That said, the AL in theory has it easy. There is a 1/14 chance of making the WS in the AL compared to 1/16 in the NL based on odds ignoring all other factors. In the AL West any of the 4 teams has a 25% chance to win the division as opposed to the NL Central where it’s 16.666666%. So it’s not fair certainly.
MLB seems to love expansion so why not just expand to 32 teams (16 AL, 16 NL) and place them in divisions of 8 or 4 (like the NFL). Or MLB can cut some dead weight and contract two teams to cut it to 28 (14 in each league, 7 team divisions). The whole purpose of the 16/14 split right now is so that all teams can play every day without having to play a team from another league.
June 20, 2011 at 8:37 pm |
Is that 16.6 repeating Rain Man?
I would much rather contract than expand. So I say contract the Fish (unless they move to Oklahoma City), based on what was said earlier today….http://wp.me/pTcb5-As.
But who is the other team to give the old heave ho?
Also, I agree my friend, no one wants to see the Pirates play the Orioles. Worse? Pirates versus the A’s.
June 20, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Maybe Toronto? Pittsburgh is Forbes’ least valuable franchise, so maybe them? Oakland if they don’t get a new ballpark. Or Cleveland (if LeBron signs off on it).
June 20, 2011 at 8:28 pm |
Have to post this link someone left on my f/b
http://www.sportspickle.com/opinion/6808/4-better-ideas-for-mlb-division-realignment