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BePcr07 Offline
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Post: #121
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
MLB has had and will continue to have discussions on: 1) expanding to 32, 2) making the DH an all-or-none rule, and 3) divisional realignment.

To discuss each topic:

1 - Expansion to 32

First, I would look to relocate the Rays. Tampa Bay has had horrendous attendance and is a largely forgettable franchise. I'd move them to Charlotte and rebrand them either as the Carolina Rays or Carolina Sharks. Then expand by 2: bring back the Montreal Expos and add either in Portland OR, New Orleans LA, Memphis TN, Nashville TN, or Louisville KY.

2 - DH

Baseball didn't have the DH until 1973 when the AL added it. I don't prefer having a DH, but, either way, it should be uniform throughout baseball.

3 - Divisional Realignment

Assuming Portland from #1 above, I'd move to 4-division setup similar to the NHL. I would prefer maintain the AL/NL split keeping Carolina in the AL, Montreal to the NL, and Nashville to the AL along with shifting around some other teams. However, for this post I'll get rid of the AL/NL and go by geography.

Western Conference
Pacific: Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, LA Angels, LA Dodgers, San Diego, Arizona, Colorado
Central: Houston, Texas, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minnesota, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee

Eastern Conference
Metropolitan: Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Atlanta, Miami
Atlantic: Carolina, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, NY Yankees, NY Mets, Boston, Montreal
(This post was last modified: 05-25-2018 01:50 PM by BePcr07.)
05-25-2018 01:46 PM
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Wedge Offline
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Post: #122
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
(05-25-2018 01:46 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  3 - Divisional Realignment

Assuming Portland from #1 above, I'd move to 4-division setup similar to the NHL. I would prefer maintain the AL/NL split keeping Carolina in the AL, Montreal to the NL, and Nashville to the AL along with shifting around some other teams. However, for this post I'll get rid of the AL/NL and go by geography.

Western Conference
Pacific: Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, LA Angels, LA Dodgers, San Diego, Arizona, Colorado
Central: Houston, Texas, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minnesota, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee

Eastern Conference
Metropolitan: Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Atlanta, Miami
Atlantic: Carolina, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, NY Yankees, NY Mets, Boston, Montreal

This is a dead letter at this point. Bud Selig proposed something like this about 10 years ago. The western teams supported it but not enough others did.

Selig's idea was to organize the divisions by time zone, as here, in order to make each club's local TV revenue more valuable, because each team would be playing a lot more road games in its own time zone, i.e., more night games starting at 7 or 7:30 local time instead of 4:30 (for western teams playing on the east coast) or 10:30 (for eastern teams playing on the west coast).

The western teams also liked the concept because it would have greatly reduced their travel burdens.

But, it wrecks the traditional AL-NL structure, even if you call one of these leagues the AL and the other the NL. That's a non-starter for baseball tradition-lovers.

Also, the rules of MLB provide that any realignment that involves teams switching leagues must receive both majority approval from all owners and each team that would be moving from one league to the other must agree to the switch. (MLB blackmailed the Astros into agreeing to move to the AL. The team was in the process of being sold, and Selig told them that MLB would only approve the sale if the Astros agreed to switch leagues.) If the above "Western" league is the NL, then you'd have 8 teams moving from AL to NL, and 7 teams moving from NL to AL. All 15 of those teams would have to vote yes on the plan.
(This post was last modified: 05-25-2018 02:06 PM by Wedge.)
05-25-2018 01:59 PM
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C2__ Offline
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Post: #123
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
(05-25-2018 01:46 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  MLB has had and will continue to have discussions on: 1) expanding to 32, 2) making the DH an all-or-none rule, and 3) divisional realignment.

To discuss each topic:

1 - Expansion to 32

First, I would look to relocate the Rays. Tampa Bay has had horrendous attendance and is a largely forgettable franchise. I'd move them to Charlotte and rebrand them either as the Carolina Rays or Carolina Sharks. Then expand by 2: bring back the Montreal Expos and add either in Portland OR, New Orleans LA, Memphis TN, Nashville TN, or Louisville KY.

2 - DH

Baseball didn't have the DH until 1973 when the AL added it. I don't prefer having a DH, but, either way, it should be uniform throughout baseball.

3 - Divisional Realignment

Assuming Portland from #1 above, I'd move to 4-division setup similar to the NHL. I would prefer maintain the AL/NL split keeping Carolina in the AL, Montreal to the NL, and Nashville to the AL along with shifting around some other teams. However, for this post I'll get rid of the AL/NL and go by geography.

Western Conference
Pacific: Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, LA Angels, LA Dodgers, San Diego, Arizona, Colorado
Central: Houston, Texas, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minnesota, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee

Eastern Conference
Metropolitan: Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Atlanta, Miami
Atlantic: Carolina, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, NY Yankees, NY Mets, Boston, Montreal

If the Rays move to Ybor City, they should be fine in Tampa Bay, it's the Marlins that should move.
05-26-2018 12:24 AM
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Fighting Muskie Offline
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Post: #124
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
Baseball could split up into 4 divisions:

West: Seattle, Oakland, SF, LAD, LAA, SD, Arizona, Colorado
Central: Minn, Milwaukee, Chi Cubs, Chi WS, Cincy, Cleveland, Detroit
South: KC, St Louis, Texas, Houston, Atlanta, Tampa, Miami
East: Boston, NYY, NYM, Philly, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, Toronto

To get over the DH issue you allow home to select which rules to follow (this would be done prior to the start of the season and they'd use the same rules all season)

The South is a somewhat forced division but it does keep the Texas teams from having to play heavy west coast schedules.
05-26-2018 07:27 AM
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AllTideUp Offline
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Post: #125
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
I've always thought the most reasonable way to alter the DH rule and make it uniform was to allow each team to use one as long as the starting pitcher is still in the game. When the starter is removed then the DH must be removed as well for his next turn in the order.

Of course, you could leave the player in the game as long as you switched him to a position in the field. Other than that, you are forced to bat your relief pitchers or use pinch hitters.

You could also add an extra roster spot and give everyone 26 so that more veterans are likely to stick around and have the opportunity to utilize the DH spot to extend their careers. The union will be happy with that.

All in all, I think this would actually add more strategy to the game rather than decrease it which is what the DH position essentially does. It would also take care of the complaint that having the pitchers hit just reduces offense and gives the opposing team an easy out.

I've always thought the rule should be uniform for both leagues especially since interleague play counts towards your division standings.

Of course, it will never happen because it's baseball and everyone's too stubborn to consider new ideas.

EDIT: That and even as an NL fan, there is a little tug in my heart that wants to see my Braves get a chance to use a DH every night. Even if you didn't have a stud at the position and most teams wouldn't; it would give every team an opportunity to play that guy that needs extra at-bats. Every team has at least one of those guys at any given time.
(This post was last modified: 05-26-2018 08:44 AM by AllTideUp.)
05-26-2018 08:39 AM
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BePcr07 Offline
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Post: #126
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
(05-25-2018 01:59 PM)Wedge Wrote:  
(05-25-2018 01:46 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  3 - Divisional Realignment

Assuming Portland from #1 above, I'd move to 4-division setup similar to the NHL. I would prefer maintain the AL/NL split keeping Carolina in the AL, Montreal to the NL, and Nashville to the AL along with shifting around some other teams. However, for this post I'll get rid of the AL/NL and go by geography.

Western Conference
Pacific: Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, LA Angels, LA Dodgers, San Diego, Arizona, Colorado
Central: Houston, Texas, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minnesota, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee

Eastern Conference
Metropolitan: Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Atlanta, Miami
Atlantic: Carolina, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, NY Yankees, NY Mets, Boston, Montreal

This is a dead letter at this point. Bud Selig proposed something like this about 10 years ago. The western teams supported it but not enough others did.

Selig's idea was to organize the divisions by time zone, as here, in order to make each club's local TV revenue more valuable, because each team would be playing a lot more road games in its own time zone, i.e., more night games starting at 7 or 7:30 local time instead of 4:30 (for western teams playing on the east coast) or 10:30 (for eastern teams playing on the west coast).

The western teams also liked the concept because it would have greatly reduced their travel burdens.

But, it wrecks the traditional AL-NL structure, even if you call one of these leagues the AL and the other the NL. That's a non-starter for baseball tradition-lovers.

Also, the rules of MLB provide that any realignment that involves teams switching leagues must receive both majority approval from all owners and each team that would be moving from one league to the other must agree to the switch. (MLB blackmailed the Astros into agreeing to move to the AL. The team was in the process of being sold, and Selig told them that MLB would only approve the sale if the Astros agreed to switch leagues.) If the above "Western" league is the NL, then you'd have 8 teams moving from AL to NL, and 7 teams moving from NL to AL. All 15 of those teams would have to vote yes on the plan.

Agreed - I love the AL/NL traditional rivals. This was just a geographical exercise.
05-26-2018 06:19 PM
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BePcr07 Offline
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Post: #127
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
(05-26-2018 12:24 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  
(05-25-2018 01:46 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  MLB has had and will continue to have discussions on: 1) expanding to 32, 2) making the DH an all-or-none rule, and 3) divisional realignment.

To discuss each topic:

1 - Expansion to 32

First, I would look to relocate the Rays. Tampa Bay has had horrendous attendance and is a largely forgettable franchise. I'd move them to Charlotte and rebrand them either as the Carolina Rays or Carolina Sharks. Then expand by 2: bring back the Montreal Expos and add either in Portland OR, New Orleans LA, Memphis TN, Nashville TN, or Louisville KY.

2 - DH

Baseball didn't have the DH until 1973 when the AL added it. I don't prefer having a DH, but, either way, it should be uniform throughout baseball.

3 - Divisional Realignment

Assuming Portland from #1 above, I'd move to 4-division setup similar to the NHL. I would prefer maintain the AL/NL split keeping Carolina in the AL, Montreal to the NL, and Nashville to the AL along with shifting around some other teams. However, for this post I'll get rid of the AL/NL and go by geography.

Western Conference
Pacific: Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, LA Angels, LA Dodgers, San Diego, Arizona, Colorado
Central: Houston, Texas, Kansas City, St. Louis, Minnesota, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee

Eastern Conference
Metropolitan: Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Nashville, Atlanta, Miami
Atlantic: Carolina, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, NY Yankees, NY Mets, Boston, Montreal

If the Rays move to Ybor City, they should be fine in Tampa Bay, it's the Marlins that should move.

Maybe. I don't know much about either club except that attendance stinks for both and the Rays had terrible attendance even during their playoffs runs several years ago. Either way, Florida doesn't seem to be a good location for professional sports' teams.
05-26-2018 06:20 PM
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C2__ Offline
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Post: #128
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
The Rays play in a terrible location. Imagine the Giants playing in San Jose or the Indians playing in Akron. If they move across the Bay, they could create a better ballpark culture and be closer to more potential fans as they get off work.
(This post was last modified: 05-26-2018 10:27 PM by C2__.)
05-26-2018 10:27 PM
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chargeradio Offline
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Post: #129
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
(05-26-2018 08:39 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  I've always thought the most reasonable way to alter the DH rule and make it uniform was to allow each team to use one as long as the starting pitcher is still in the game. When the starter is removed then the DH must be removed as well for his next turn in the order.

Of course, you could leave the player in the game as long as you switched him to a position in the field. Other than that, you are forced to bat your relief pitchers or use pinch hitters.

You could also add an extra roster spot and give everyone 26 so that more veterans are likely to stick around and have the opportunity to utilize the DH spot to extend their careers. The union will be happy with that.

All in all, I think this would actually add more strategy to the game rather than decrease it which is what the DH position essentially does. It would also take care of the complaint that having the pitchers hit just reduces offense and gives the opposing team an easy out.

I've always thought the rule should be uniform for both leagues especially since interleague play counts towards your division standings.

Of course, it will never happen because it's baseball and everyone's too stubborn to consider new ideas.

EDIT: That and even as an NL fan, there is a little tug in my heart that wants to see my Braves get a chance to use a DH every night. Even if you didn't have a stud at the position and most teams wouldn't; it would give every team an opportunity to play that guy that needs extra at-bats. Every team has at least one of those guys at any given time.

I’d like to see the DH substitution rules relaxed to match those of their position players, which opens up the double switch.
05-27-2018 06:06 AM
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goofus Offline
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Post: #130
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
(05-27-2018 06:06 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  
(05-26-2018 08:39 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  I've always thought the most reasonable way to alter the DH rule and make it uniform was to allow each team to use one as long as the starting pitcher is still in the game. When the starter is removed then the DH must be removed as well for his next turn in the order.

Of course, you could leave the player in the game as long as you switched him to a position in the field. Other than that, you are forced to bat your relief pitchers or use pinch hitters.

You could also add an extra roster spot and give everyone 26 so that more veterans are likely to stick around and have the opportunity to utilize the DH spot to extend their careers. The union will be happy with that.

All in all, I think this would actually add more strategy to the game rather than decrease it which is what the DH position essentially does. It would also take care of the complaint that having the pitchers hit just reduces offense and gives the opposing team an easy out.

I've always thought the rule should be uniform for both leagues especially since interleague play counts towards your division standings.

Of course, it will never happen because it's baseball and everyone's too stubborn to consider new ideas.

EDIT: That and even as an NL fan, there is a little tug in my heart that wants to see my Braves get a chance to use a DH every night. Even if you didn't have a stud at the position and most teams wouldn't; it would give every team an opportunity to play that guy that needs extra at-bats. Every team has at least one of those guys at any given time.

I’d like to see the DH substitution rules relaxed to match those of their position players, which opens up the double switch.

I am not sure if I understand because sometimes DH will move to a position in the field after a field guy is pinch hit for. Then the pinch hitter becomes the new DH.

For example, the starting catcher gets the day off as catcher and instead is the DH that day. Later in the day, the new catcher is taken out for a pinch hitter. So the DH slides into the catcher spot on the field, and the pinch hitter becomes the DH.
(This post was last modified: 06-02-2018 07:01 PM by goofus.)
06-02-2018 07:00 PM
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Wedge Offline
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Post: #131
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
(06-02-2018 07:00 PM)goofus Wrote:  
(05-27-2018 06:06 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  
(05-26-2018 08:39 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  I've always thought the most reasonable way to alter the DH rule and make it uniform was to allow each team to use one as long as the starting pitcher is still in the game. When the starter is removed then the DH must be removed as well for his next turn in the order.

Of course, you could leave the player in the game as long as you switched him to a position in the field. Other than that, you are forced to bat your relief pitchers or use pinch hitters.

You could also add an extra roster spot and give everyone 26 so that more veterans are likely to stick around and have the opportunity to utilize the DH spot to extend their careers. The union will be happy with that.

All in all, I think this would actually add more strategy to the game rather than decrease it which is what the DH position essentially does. It would also take care of the complaint that having the pitchers hit just reduces offense and gives the opposing team an easy out.

I've always thought the rule should be uniform for both leagues especially since interleague play counts towards your division standings.

Of course, it will never happen because it's baseball and everyone's too stubborn to consider new ideas.

EDIT: That and even as an NL fan, there is a little tug in my heart that wants to see my Braves get a chance to use a DH every night. Even if you didn't have a stud at the position and most teams wouldn't; it would give every team an opportunity to play that guy that needs extra at-bats. Every team has at least one of those guys at any given time.

I’d like to see the DH substitution rules relaxed to match those of their position players, which opens up the double switch.

I am not sure if I understand because sometimes DH will move to a position in the field after a field guy is pinch hit for. Then the pinch hitter becomes the new DH.

For example, the starting catcher gets the day off as catcher and instead is the DH that day. Later in the day, the new catcher is taken out for a pinch hitter. So the DH slides into the catcher spot on the field, and the pinch hitter becomes the DH.

MLB rules state that if the DH is moved into a field position, the team loses the DH position for the rest of the game, meaning that the pitcher either has to bat or be pinch-hit for.

http://m.mlb.com/glossary/rules/designated-hitter-rule

Quote:If a player serving as the DH is later used on defense, he continues to bat in his same lineup spot. But for the rest of the game, his team cannot use a DH to bat in place of the pitcher. A team is also barred from using a DH for the rest of the game if the pitcher moves from the mound to another defensive position, a player pinch-hits for any other player and then becomes the pitcher, or the current pitcher pinch-hits or pinch-runs for the DH.
06-02-2018 07:41 PM
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C2__ Offline
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Post: #132
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
One change I hope baseball makes is going back to the pre-1969 format. The best teams from the season almost never play in the World Series and are often pushed out due to luck and timing, which define baseball.
06-06-2018 01:26 AM
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vandiver49 Offline
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Post: #133
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
(06-06-2018 01:26 AM)_C2_ Wrote:  One change I hope baseball makes is going back to the pre-1969 format. The best teams from the season almost never play in the World Series and are often pushed out due to luck and timing, which define baseball.

Another idea that is DOA. While MLB would concede that 162 games is more than enough the find the best team in both leagues, fan interest fell off a cliff once their team was functionally eliminated. That was the major impetus in playoff expansion.
06-06-2018 03:23 PM
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C2__ Offline
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Post: #134
RE: MLB Expansion/Realignment
Then they should do a better job of protecting the best teams. The baseball playoffs are too much like Russian Roulette.

Even worse is having 1-game playoffs (I'm not referring to the WC round) after 162 games.
06-06-2018 07:33 PM
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