Astros to the AL?

[swerb]

http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports. ... 2/29964472

[FortheWin]

It would probably be Milwaukee back to the AL

[Pressrunnr]

According to a highly ranked executive, one consideration that has been raised in ownership committee meetings is eliminating the divisions altogether, so that 15 AL and 15 NL teams would vie for five playoff spots within each league. Currently, Major League Baseball has six divisions.

Five at-large playoff spots. What this is all about, I'm pretty sure, is minimizing the chances of the Yankees or Red Sox not making the playoffs.

[Spin]

Stupid idea.

Just about everyone agrees we need less interleague play, not constant interleague play.

Aren't there more important things to worry about right now?

[Am I Here Again?]

I looks like moving more than one team from NL to AL. Tampa Bay becoming a NL team? Astros AND Rockies moving to the AL? What the heck, someone toss up all the names in the air and grab them on the way down? Besides, maybe Selig likes interleague play but I've had my fill of it. I'm one of those rare old birds who actually liked seeing a pitcher make a difference in his game. BTW, Cliff Lee got two hits today.

[Eckersley]

According to a highly ranked executive, one consideration that has been raised in ownership committee meetings is eliminating the divisions altogether, so that 15 AL and 15 NL teams would vie for five playoff spots within each league. Currently, Major League Baseball has six divisions.

Five at-large playoff spots. What this is all about, I'm pretty sure, is minimizing the chances of the Yankees or Red Sox not making the playoffs.

I think you're spot on. As if the deck isn't already stacked enough in their favor.
No other major sport caters to a few select teams like MLB does.

Selig does everything within his power to give these 2 a free ticket into the playoffs each year, then talks about parity whenever the cameras are on & wonders why fans arewn't showing up in small market cities. Great sport...rigged system.

[swerb]

Neyer says bring it on

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/6/12/22197 ... ring-it-on

[Spin]

Why not divide the teams up like the NBA and NHL do? East and West, and smaller regional divisions. Eliminate the DH.

I need a break from homework, what the hell...

Northeast
Boston
NYY
NYM
Toronto
Baltimore
Phily
Washington

Central
Cleveland
Detroit
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
Atlanta
Florida
Tampa Bay
St Louis

Midwest
ChiSox
Cubs
KC
Minnesota
Texas
Milwaukee
Houston

Pacific
Seattle
Anaheim
Oakland
San Francisco
Arizona
LA
San Diego
Colorado

[Kingpin74]

I don't like interleague either but as long as it doesn't increase the number of overall games, I'd rather have 2-3 series per weekend for the whole season than the glut of games in June and July. The Astros are a random selection but whatever, they even out the division sizes and utilize the Texas market better. I'd rather have Milwaukee come back but then you'd be giving a brutal travel schedule to whichever current Central team that moves to the West.

[Kingpin74]

In fact, I think the Astros' prospective move to the AL is being negotiated by these guys:

[motherscratcher]

I guess I can live with it either way. There are ood and bad things about the idea.

As long as they keep the DH. I like the DH. Should be in both leagues.

[swerb]

Interesting ... from Buster Olney

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6651634

According to a highly ranked executive, one consideration that has been raised in ownership committee meetings is eliminating the divisions altogether, so that 15 AL and 15 NL teams would vie for five playoff spots within each league. Currently, Major League Baseball has six divisions.

A source who has been briefed on the specifics of the labor discussions says that the players' union has indicated that it is open to the idea of two 15-team leagues, but that the whole plan still hasn't been talked through or presented to the owners.

Sources say the talks are serious, and while one executive believes the odds of change are less than 50-50, another says this is the type of discussion that can gather momentum and become a reality.

[Spin]

So it's all a bargaining chip in the negotiations...

[fairvis]

Why hasn't there been any expansion/contraction talks?

I always felt that the 30-team MLB was always temporary before adding 2 teams (from the list of Vegas, Nashville, Portland, or Raleigh-Durham, emerging markets with strong fan support for AAA teams) to go to 32, and a full 16 teams per league. In that, you may have another realignment to 4-team pods in the divisions, which would cause more headaches...

[Jumbo]

Why hasn't there been any expansion/contraction talks?

Because there's no currently chance of successfully extorting a new stadium from public tax dollars.

[Madre Hill, Superstar]

According to a highly ranked executive, one consideration that has been raised in ownership committee meetings is eliminating the divisions altogether, so that 15 AL and 15 NL teams would vie for five playoff spots within each league. Currently, Major League Baseball has six divisions.

Five at-large playoff spots. What this is all about, I'm pretty sure, is minimizing the chances of the Yankees or Red Sox not making the playoffs.

In my best Mike D'Amato voice: "Are you kiddin' me!?" In one bold stroke you've put a bullet in any meaningful September baseball - or any meaningful regular season baseball to begin with and cut another hole in the floor under the smaller markets. Which probably means in all likelihood you'll sooner rather than later have a full 16-team postseason complete with the newly rechristened Early Winter Classic. MLB, its faaaaaaaaaan-tastic.

Realignment and more interleague I can live with. Less so with another pair of postseason teams, but whatever. Killing the divisions? That's not a good sign at all.

[Am I Here Again?]

Why hasn't there been any expansion/contraction talks?

I always felt that the 30-team MLB was always temporary before adding 2 teams (from the list of Vegas, Nashville, Portland, or Raleigh-Durham, emerging markets with strong fan support for AAA teams) to go to 32, and a full 16 teams per league. In that, you may have another realignment to 4-team pods in the divisions, which would cause more headaches...

No expansion while the economy is contracting, IMO. And also IMO 4-team pods shouldn't cause more headaches. If I was Bud Selig (and thank God for it that I'm not!) I'd suggest keeping both leagues. The NL stands pat with its 16 teams. The two new teams go to the AL - let the cities duke it out. THEN each league is reshuffled into four divisions. The top team from each division goes into the playoffs (of course in my play NY or Bahstun are OUT BwaHaHa!). First round a five-game elimination; second round seven. Then the WS. Perhaps this way they won't be playing baseball in the snow in November.

[Pressrunnr]

I rest my case: It's all about making sure the Red Sox and Yankees make the playoffs

BC-BBA--Francona-Realignment, 1st Ld-Writethru,0334
Francona thinks realignment proposal has merit
Eds: Updates with details, quotes.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona thinks a potential realignment plan has some merit.

[googleeph2]

It would have merit if the leagues were reshuffled and separated into haves and have-nots.

Maybe reshuffle every year according to payroll.

They could still all play each other.

Selig has always said he is concerned about the smaller markets.

Won't happen, but how can he promote an upheaval and not address that?