Prospective Astros owner Jim Crane has agreed to move the team to the American League in 2013, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). Crane still needs the approval of baseball's other owners. He would get a discount of approximately $50MM to switch leagues, according to Heyman. Bob Nightengale of USA Today says compensation will be in the $80MM range (Twitter link).
The move would even out the two leagues at 15 teams each and create six divisions of five teams, assuming Houston joins the four-team American League West. The shift is tied to the upcoming collective bargaining agreement, which may include identical schedules for teams within the same division and boost inter-league play considerably. As MLBTR's Tim Dierkes explained in his GM Meetings preview, owners are expected to approve the sale of the Astros from Drayton McLane to Crane this week.
Does this confirm the two 15 team leagues/no divisions?
“and create six divisions of five teams, assuming Houston joins the four-team American League West.”
Ahh…that was added after my original comment. My question is answered nonetheless.
There has been alot of talk about realignment lately. I wanted to post my plan for the change to baseball. I agree with moving one team from the Nl to the Al, doesn’t matter much to me which team moves. I would solve the DH issue by going with the home ballpark rule. If the Al team is at home there would be a dh and vice versa. Currently teams play their division opponents 18 or 19 times per season. Here’s my plan, I would expand the season by 2 games to 164 per season. I would reduce the games against division opponents to 16 games each, so with the divisions being even that would mean 16*4=64 divisional games per season. That would leave 100 games to be divided amongst the other 25 teams which would mean every team would be playing each other at least 4 times per season. I am an Orioles fan so I will use them as an example.
In order to keep travel costs down I would have an O’s west coast road trip consist of 8 to 10 games. They would go to LA and play a 2 game series with the Dodgers and then 2 games with the Angels from there they would go the Bay area and play 2 against the Giants and A’s. This would work for an 8 games trip for a 10 or 12 game trip SD, Seattle or AZ could be added for a 2 game series. This would be the ideal and most fair way to change the game.
It would only be 2 games taking a couple off days away or playing 2 double headers would take care of that. If it were kept at 162 then the 4 games each would not work. If the divisional games were moved back to 15 each and 4 games each were played against the other league that would break down as 15*4=60 and 4*15=60 that would be 120 games. That would leave 42 games to be divided among the other 10 teams in their league. This would allow for the elimination of 2 games to a 160 game season. The owners would never agree to the loss of revenue for 2 games though.
I know Astros fans are going to hate this, but something had to be done. It doesn’t appear expansion is really an option right now and it just doesn’t make sense to have unbalanced leagues.
I feel bad for the fans, but I agree that this was the move that made the most sense. Hopefully a good rivalry will develop between the Rangers and Astros that can help both teams in the future.
notice how no fans responded with “I hate this” lol
Have you not read through some of the discussions on this topic before? Astro fans hate this, and honestly, I don’t blame them. I wouldn’t like it either.
I understand what you meant but my joke was that Astros fans aren’t common
Neither were Braves fans in the late ’80s when they were losing. At least the Astros can sell out a playoff game when they get there.
I HATE this!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hate this
I hate this…
notice how no fans responded with “I hate this” lol
No, the move that made the most sense was moving the Brewers back into the AL Central since they were there for over 20 years. But why would Selig want to make things harder for his former team?
Ok, so then what team are you going to move out of the AL Central to the AL West? The goal here is making six 5 team divisions. Not just throwing any team to the AL.
The move that would make the most sense would be to move Arizona to the AL west and Houston to the NL West.
Agreed on moving the D’Backs to the AL West and Astros to the NL West. We in Houston have a much richer history in the National League than do the D’Backs.
I don’t give a rat’s behind about this supposed history in leagues. It’s nothing but a worthless mirage.
MLB should chuck out the current league alignment entirely, and go with a new alignment that’s 100% geographically based, with two leagues one composed of the teams east of the Mississippi River and the other the teams west of the mississippi river (and include the 2 chicago teams in the West). 2 divisions per league, also based on geography.
Lower travel costs and higher away game viewership since most away games would be no more than 1 time zone away for eastern league games, or 2 tz away for western league games. And that would increase ad revenues because the viewership would be higher.
Yes, because as we all know, history is trivial in the world of baseball.
If any NL West team were to move, it should be Colorado. They have no NL West rivalries and are pretty much the odd one out, plus they play more like an American League team and their ballpark would be well suited for an AL environment.
Move the Brewers to the AL Central, the Royals to the AL West. The Royals were in the AL West back when there were 2 divisions and it’s not as if they have a close rival within the Central.
Or you could just not have divisions, since they skew statistics and hinder real competition.
But as a Tigers fan, I have no interest in Houston coming over. At all. Milwaukee come back home, we’ll send the Royals out west.
No…this is what you do:
Move Milwaukee to AL Central, Move Minnesota to AL West.
Astros stay in NL Central. All NL teams stay in NL, All AL teams (are back and) stay in AL
and Im an Astros fan, and I hate this realignment bs.
No, the move that made the most sense was moving the Brewers back into the AL Central since they were there for over 20 years. But why would Selig want to make things harder for his former team?
Yeah. Just like those hot intra-divisional rivalries between the Cardinals and the Royals and the Rays and the Marlins.
Sure.
Those are inTER-divisional rivalries. “Infra” basically means inside, “inter” basically means outside.
Why Houston, kick Arizona over into the West, Houston has been in the National League for 4 decades, Arizona less than half that.
Why ask why? The answer is obvious. The NLC has 6 teams and they wanted to drop that by 1. The ALW has 4 teams and they wanted to increase that by one. The easiest answer is to take a team from that NLC and move it to the ALW.
And furthermore, picking Houston means that the Rangers have an in-division team to play that doesn’t require flying all the way to the west coast.
You guys are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy too hung up on worthless league history.
If you can move Houston to the American League West, you can just as easily move Arizona to the American League West, and move Houston the National league West.
Incorrect. Moving Arizona to the AL requires two teams changing divisions, not just one. Hence, it is NOT “just as easy”.
NO…
Pirates and Phillies are both in the National League, and neither play in the same division. Why is this all of a sudden okay when it comes to Astros and Rangers???
Heres why: its NOT.
Milwaukee was an AL team first. you move them back and move Minnesota to the AL West. that makes the most sense.
No, it doesn’t make the most sense.
Starting with the Phillies and the Pirates, they used to play in the same division. This changed when MLB went to the 3 div’s per league format because the owners wanted to have a more geographically friendly divisional model so that teams in divisions could play more away games within their own time zones. This has worked out fairly well, with the exception of the Rangers in the AL West. The Pirates could have stayed in the NL East at that time I suppose and made the NL East, rather than the NL Central, the 6 team division.
Back to the question at hand, what makes the most sense is to do whatever preserves the integrity of the geographical divisional model desired by the owners when this current model was created. Flinging teams from various time zones all over the place is silly and only serves to hurt team revenues and away game viewership, which was why they produced the current model in the first place. The most sensible solution is to try to make the move which will have the least impact on this model. Which is why Houston was selected. Arguably, Flipping the D-backs to the AL West and Houston to the NL West could accomplish the same thing fairly well too, though it would move the Astros out of a time-zone friendly NL Central into a terribly time-zone unfriendly NL West, which would mean that all of their in-division away games would end up starting at about 9pm.
They could’ve placed the Brewers back in the AL Central, moved the Royals to the AL West and called it a day.
Seeing that we’re being forced to accept this in Houston, I’d like to see them get the “Colt .45s” name back and start anew in a new league. Yeah, the Colts were an NL expansion team, but they’ve been the Astros for 47 seasons and I just see the Astros as an NL team.
In a time when the old Washington Bullets changed their name to get away from a gun motif, do you really think that MLB would change a team’s name to return TO a gun motif? Besides “Colt 45’s” is a really dumb name.
idk. being named after a gun is kinda awesome imo.
I guess that it’s a matter of taste. I think that it sounds really silly.
Fair point about the Bullets naming issue. Then you made the “dumb” comment and really invalidated yourself.
Regardless, call them the Colts, whatever, I just think the team needs a new identity in a new league. The “Astros” brand with all it’s success and smashing failures is purely synonymous with the NL. The team is far enough in the rebuilding phase, it would be like an expansion team in a new league with a new lineage with the perk of holding on to their heritage.
As for the “dumb” comment, it’s a matter of opinion. I think that it sounds “dumb”
As for renaming, if it was going to happen, doing it as part of the move would make sense I suppose, though some might see it as rubbing salt in the wound.
The Astros name doesn’t seem to have as much zing to it as it did when they played in the Astrodome, but maybe that’s just a skewed opinion of someone who’s looking at it from the outside. 🙂
idk. being named after a gun is kinda awesome imo.
Move the Royals to the National League, people forget they are even in the American League, They have no rivalry with any team, They are still hung up on 1985, convinced the Cardinals are their great rival so we play them twice a year in interleague play (Cardinal fans buy most of the tickets and make the 5 hour drive). If they are so interested in having us be their rival, switch them and Milwaukee, move Texas to the NL West (when I think of Texas I think of the West anyway). and move San Deigo, Colorado or Arizona to the American League West.
I hate this…
I don’t think that it had to be done. I don’t think that it was a big deal having the two leagues of slightly different sizes. I think that requiring constant interleague play is a far greater negative than any supposed benefit from having 2 equal sized leagues.
They should have moved San Diego to the AL West and put Houston in the NL West.
Although DHs will be very attracted to that left field wall.
I guess this means interleague play year round now…
Wouldnt there have to be a change in the scheduling? WIth 15 teams in each league, One team will be off every series right? So they’d have to do something where two teams are playing “interleague” each series right? Is that all part of the new CBA or something? With 15 teams in each league and the current scheduling, one team from each league will have a series off.
There will always be at least one interleague series going on.
That’s what I thought I read someplace. So would “interleague” be like teams in the NL Central playing every team in the AL east a series at home and one on the road? and each division having an opposite league division assignment each year>? That’s what I read on a article online.
I’m not sure how it would work exactly. Hopefully it is something like that so we can have a balanced schedule.
Wow, Thats quite the discount.
I don’t think the NL should get rid of the DH I think the difference between the two leagues really creates a lot of interest. I don’t know about you but I like watching the odd NL game as it differs so much from the AL style.
Yay!
Hope they at least discuss killing the DH.
The union would never allow that. It would most likely be NL adopting the dh. Which I also doubt will happen.
But would the union allow it if rosters were increased to 26? My guess is yes.
Maybe in the next CBA agreement depending on how much the DHs get paid in the near future or what it appears that the new DH role is. eg rotating more instead of single players.
Maybe in the next CBA agreement depending on how much the DHs get paid in the near future or what it appears that the new DH role is. eg rotating more instead of single players.
My guess is “no”.
So wait…you want to get rid of the DH AND add another player? The 26th guy would either be a 6th guy on the bench or the 8th guy in the bullpen. I highly doubt the need for that would convince pitchers and hitters to vote to abolish the DH.
But would the union allow it if rosters were increased to 26? My guess is yes.
Instead of killing the DH they ought to be discussing killing pitchers hitting.
I don’t know why people are talking about killing anyone, seems like quite an overreaction.
Instead of killing the DH they ought to be discussing killing pitchers hitting.
Still makes no sense why a newer team can’t be moved…
Arizona, Colorado, Milwaukee…
Any I those clubs would make more sense to flip to the AL than the Astros…except that they aren’t in a perfect strong arm position. This is a perfect use of leverage. It’s just the latest example of how Bud screws the Houston fan. Lets hope Crane is half the “savior” we’re all making him out to be.
Damn, now I have to switch my keeper leagues to AL only…
Part of me still doesn’t understand this. I have no real interest in the matter, but I always felt either the Rockies or D-Backs made the most sense to move to the AL. Both are the newest teams (in the west) and both have characteristics that suit the AL type of baseball, especially the Rockies imo. In turn, you move the Astros to the NL West (I mean the Rangers are the AL West) so I don’t see the difference in “west vs central” argument. Again, doesn’t bother me, but I’ve always felt the Astro’s made the least sense and I still don’t have a conclusive answer as to why they were chosen over the Rockies or D-Backs.
The big argument against the Rockies or Diamondbacks is that it requires moving two teams instead of just one. With the disparity being between the NL Central and the AL West, any move of a team not in the NL Central would have to be facilitated by moving a team out of the NL Central and into another division. The convenience of Houston’s current ownership status aside, the Astros are also the furthest West of the NL Central teams.
Basically, moving the Astros was the easiest way to get it done. The MLB had the luxury of the Astros being in a position that it would be amenable to changing leagues. They may as well take that rather than having to convince a team that has no real reason to change leagues to do so and THEN convincing the Astros to change divisions.
Path of least resistance.
I’m guessing that’s correct and ultimately what it came down too. The Rockies were the best fit for the AL West imo. Plus it would have changed the dynamic for the AL providing a new state/park to play in several times a year. Texas is hot and so now the Yanks, Sox and everyone else have to suffer for an additional 12-16 games a year. I don’t know, but the more I sit here and think about it, this is the one and so far the ONLY move that I think Bud screwed up. I do understand your point however, that it would have been a logistical and somewhat political nightmare for the league. It likely would have taken years longer and it appears Bud was adamant about getting this done before he left.
The big argument against the Rockies or Diamondbacks is that it requires moving two teams instead of just one. With the disparity being between the NL Central and the AL West, any move of a team not in the NL Central would have to be facilitated by moving a team out of the NL Central and into another division. The convenience of Houston’s current ownership status aside, the Astros are also the furthest West of the NL Central teams.
Basically, moving the Astros was the easiest way to get it done. The MLB had the luxury of the Astros being in a position that it would be amenable to changing leagues. They may as well take that rather than having to convince a team that has no real reason to change leagues to do so and THEN convincing the Astros to change divisions.
Path of least resistance.
The Astros aren’t exactly one of the old teams and their organization is only 7 years older than the Brewers.
Also the Astros make more sense than most. They’re in the large division and can move to the smallest without changing a lot of travelling logistics. Add to that with the Rangers there’s a built in market to attempt to manufacture a rivalry.
The only rivalry was between Uncle Drayton and Hicks for dumbest ownership and the (yee haw) silver boot series. Everyone thinks there will be some brutal rivalry ala Steelers-Ravens if the Rangers and Astros are in the same division…don’t count on iy. Also, there goes any hope for a I-45 World Series.
I’m not sure there was ever much hope for that anyway. I mean, this is the Astros we’re talking about.
The same Astros that went to the playoffs in 6 of 9 years and got to the world series 5 years before the Rangers decided to actually play good baseball for once in the past decade plus?
I’m not sure there was ever much hope for that anyway. I mean, this is the Astros we’re talking about.
The only rivalry was between Uncle Drayton and Hicks for dumbest ownership and the (yee haw) silver boot series. Everyone thinks there will be some brutal rivalry ala Steelers-Ravens if the Rangers and Astros are in the same division…don’t count on iy. Also, there goes any hope for a I-45 World Series.
The Astros are also changing ownership and completely rebuilding their roster, so it will cause comparably less disruption to the team…. As far as the fan base, I would be interested in hearing from fans in Houston (Lance Berkman doesn’t count) rather than sports writers.
The Astros are also changing ownership and completely rebuilding their roster, so it will cause comparably less disruption to the team…. As far as the fan base, I would be interested in hearing from fans in Houston (Lance Berkman doesn’t count) rather than sports writers.
It also doesn’t make sense that both Texas teams are now in the AL. It would have made more sense if Colorado would have gone to the AL West, and the Astros would’ve move to the NL West.
I agree with you. I would have liked to see Colorado come play in the West. But then I would be forced to not like the Rockies.
It also doesn’t make sense that both Texas teams are now in the AL. It would have made more sense if Colorado would have gone to the AL West, and the Astros would’ve move to the NL West.
Does no one else view this as extortion? Am I biased because I’m a Houston fan?
This is straight up blackmail basically. “Move to the AL West or I wont approve your ownership…”
(double post)
I like it
Wow, thanks for alienating your fanbase with your first move Jim Crane. It at least took Drayton McClain over 10years to accomplish that…
Yeah…and Uncle Drayton beat Dr McMullen’s record. Things happen quicker in the modern era.
Yeah…and Uncle Drayton beat Dr McMullen’s record. Things happen quicker in the modern era.
As an Angels fan I’d like to be the first to welcome Ed Wade to our humble little division.
Better get some trades in with him this year before he is in the same division and won’t trade. Of course, he’ll probably be gone by the time they get to the AL West.
Appreciate the welcome. Hopefully, Wade can convince the Angels to take on Carlos Lee’s contract like they took on Vernon Wells.
Appreciate the welcome. Hopefully, Wade can convince the Angels to take on Carlos Lee’s contract like they took on Vernon Wells.
it’s about to get humbler
I hate disqus
as much as vevo?
Because the team sale was the only leverage MLB had to get a team to move from the softer league to the AL.
okay seriously disqus is messing with me right now.
it recently sent a comment of mine to a moderator when it didn’t contain any swear words or was in anyway threatening…i feel your pain
I think this is kind of like the random screenings at airports.
I really hope this doesn’t mean the DH will become universal. They should at least keep it interesting by leaving it in the AL only.
I agree! However I liked what I heard someone say about during interleague play AL teams will use the pitcher while at home to hit and NL teams would use the DH when at home. This would give fans of each league the chance to see the other in their stadium
I brought that up awhile back on here. Reactions were mixed. It was actually TLR that was the first I heard suggest it and I thought it was a pretty good idea.
I disagree. It needs to be the same for each league.
What if we don’t want to see the ladies in the AL infect our stadium with their garbage rules?
I agree! However I liked what I heard someone say about during interleague play AL teams will use the pitcher while at home to hit and NL teams would use the DH when at home. This would give fans of each league the chance to see the other in their stadium
I love the integrity of MLB. A discount for moving leagues… Maybe the new owner of the Dodgers can use a 10% off coupon for his purchase.
Of what, Matt Kemp?
Of what, Matt Kemp?
I love the integrity of MLB. A discount for moving leagues… Maybe the new owner of the Dodgers can use a 10% off coupon for his purchase.
Really would have made a lot more sense to move the Diamondbacks (for example) to the AL West and shift the Astros to the NL West. That way you don’t have rivalry in such a confined area and it’d be more like the cities of Chicago or New York. Best of luck on scheduling.
“That way you don’t have rivalry in such a confined area and it’d be more like the cities of Chicago or New York.”
Houston to Arlington is a whopping 45 miles less of a distance than Boston to the Bronx. And LA to San Diego is less than half the distance of either.
It’s not exactly a confined area.
“That way you don’t have rivalry in such a confined area and it’d be more like the cities of Chicago or New York.”
Houston to Arlington is a whopping 45 miles less of a distance than Boston to the Bronx. And LA to San Diego is less than half the distance of either.
It’s not exactly a confined area.
Really would have made a lot more sense to move the Diamondbacks (for example) to the AL West and shift the Astros to the NL West. That way you don’t have rivalry in such a confined area and it’d be more like the cities of Chicago or New York. Best of luck on scheduling.
So Would this mean the world series would be like the superbowl? or would it be 3-7-7-7
in the playoffs
Houston should have had to PAY extra for the privilege of being able to beat up on Seattle/Oakland on a more often basis Not to mention having both in the same division as “competitors” using that term very lightly.
Houston will get worked over in the AL West. NL Central has been weak for decades, and currently boasts two terrible teams in Pittsburgh and Chicago, one mediocre team in Cincinnati, and Milwaukee, whom outside of two good seasons in the past four, is also a middling franchise. Wait till you see what that double-A offense does against some good pitching.
“weak for decades”
Really? Apparently you don’t remember the early 2000’s when the NL Central was no doubt one of the toughest divisions in baseball.
It’s not like the AL West is all that impressive. Outside of Texas, there probably isn’t a team in that division that would finish better than 3rd in the NL Central.
The NL Central is ordinarily a picnic of a division. Is it the worst every year? No. But it boasts lame franchises that repeatedly stink, and others that only step up once in a while. St. Louis is great.
The AL West will get no easier for the Astros. The pitching is much better. The Oakland A’s would fare just fine in the NL, and the Seattle Mariners are on the way up. The Astros suck and will continue to suck for some time, and now they don’t have the other suck squads to match up with.
“weak for decades”
Really? Apparently you don’t remember the early 2000’s when the NL Central was no doubt one of the toughest divisions in baseball.
It’s not like the AL West is all that impressive. Outside of Texas, there probably isn’t a team in that division that would finish better than 3rd in the NL Central.
Think the combo of Seattle having a terrible time fielding a competitive team for years, Oakland and a lousy stadium situation, -0- offense and just lost pretty much the 2 best pieces they had on the field in Willingham and crisp will render them pretty ineffective for at least a couple of years.
Pittsburgh showed some signs last year and watch out for the Cubs with Epstein in charge, that man is no Jim hendry and it won’t take him more than 2 years to turn that situation around more than likely.
Texas will fall again..This is the 1st time they really have had a decent team in their 40 years..What are the odds it lasts? Would count on building a team against Anaheim and them only.
The A’s won 81 games in 2010. That season, Coco Crisp put in just 328 plate appearances and Josh Willingham played for the Nationals.
With full seasons from Crisp and Willingham in 2011, the A’s won 74 games.
Sure A’s have a lot of problems, but do you seriously believe that losing those two will “render them pretty much ineffective for at least a couple of years”?
Hyperbole, this is johnsilver. I don’t think you two have met.
Say those 2 alone were responsible then.. tell me who else is going to replace the Athletics offense next year? All anyone has to do is look at the stats and see those 2 were the best they had by a mile.
LOL the three-division structure has only been around since 1994.
close enough, dude. three years off. Hope you had a good LOL over that.
Hasn’t the Central been around since 1994? Not even 2 decades.
Refresh my memory – Is the NL Central that division that sent two teams to the plaoyss this year….with one of them winning the world series? That “weak” division?
Houston will get worked over in the AL West. NL Central has been weak for decades, and currently boasts two terrible teams in Pittsburgh and Chicago, one mediocre team in Cincinnati, and Milwaukee, whom outside of two good seasons in the past four, is also a middling franchise. Wait till you see what that double-A offense does against some good pitching.
But now they get to contend with the Rangers and Angels. Seattle and Oakland have great pitching as well, but not much firepower.
Houston should have had to PAY extra for the privilege of being able to beat up on Seattle/Oakland on a more often basis Not to mention having both in the same division as “competitors” using that term very lightly.
Why not put them in the AL Central and move an AL Central team to the AL West?
This seriously going to be a shock to our fans. 9:00 start times for away games.. OUCH!
Now you know how the Rangers feel. We always have to go play on the west coast…welcome to the party.
That sounds horrible. I mean, especially after getting to watch your team win its division and make it to the World Series in each of the past two seasons. Really, I don’t know how you brave, brave Rangers fans do it.
PS – I called the wambulance for you.
Thanks
Now you know how the Rangers feel. We always have to go play on the west coast…welcome to the party.
What AL Central team would you move? Geographically Houston is the Western-most city and would have the shortest travel to play the other AL West teams.
Also, as stated by many others above, it’s easiest to just move one team.
What AL Central team would you move? Geographically Houston is the Western-most city and would have the shortest travel to play the other AL West teams.
Also, as stated by many others above, it’s easiest to just move one team.
Why not put them in the AL Central and move an AL Central team to the AL West?
This seriously going to be a shock to our fans. 9:00 start times for away games.. OUCH!
I wonder how it affects the whole “The AL is better than the NL” argument for the absolute worst NL team to leave and join the AL.
This is a very good point.
This is a very good point.
I wonder how it affects the whole “The AL is better than the NL” argument for the absolute worst NL team to leave and join the AL.
Berkman would be a good DH.
Berkman would be a good DH.
Not excited about consistent interleague games needing to be played now….. as long as the NL isn’t forced to use the DH rule then I guess I’m ok with it…
I would actually like to see the DH rule reversed so the NL fans can see a DH live and AL fans can see their pitchers hit live….not for ever but for a couple year….AND get rid of the ASG determining the WS HFA…..use the collective record of the teams advancing to the playoffs….(ex this year NL 382 AL 379….NL gets HFA)
ANY game between AL and NL teams, regardless of who’s ‘home’, in either the regular season or World Series, the DH should be used. The AL teams lose one of their best bats that they rely on to build their team and their pitchers have to hit. Puts AL teams at a disadvantage because the NL is still stuck in the 19th century.
No the NL is still playing BASEBALL. The AL seems content to become the first professional softball league.
Not excited about consistent interleague games needing to be played now….. as long as the NL isn’t forced to use the DH rule then I guess I’m ok with it…
Year round interleague play then?
Year round interleague play then?
Damn u Selig. Nuff said.
Damn u Selig. Nuff said.
No Team to beat up in the NL Central Now.
Cubs?
only for 2 years, if that….
Cubs suck. have sucked. and will continue to suck.
No Team to beat up in the NL Central Now.
I’m sure someone has brought it up already, but wont this require year round inter league play?
Thats what they meant by “boost inter-legue play considerably”
Thats what they meant by “boost inter-legue play considerably”
Awesome.
So, instead of contracting two teams from a watered down MLB and eliminating interleague play, we’re going to have year round interleague play until one more expansion team is added to each league.
And more wildcards too. Hey, that sounds awesome! Especially since there’s no way the owners will allow the season to be shortened. So that first round of the playoffs can’t be anything longer than a three game set between the two wild card winners from each league. So when the Rays win 95 games and take the first wild card slot, it only makes sense the second place team in the AL Central or West deserves a shot at the playoffs after winning just 87 games.
I can’t believe how awesome this is…
New plan…
Contraction!
Yep, everyone hates contraction, but this is my plan, and you can take it or leave it. Stop reading here if you don’t like it.
I’ll be accepting contraction suggestions from anyone, as well as arguments against contraction. Unfortunately for me, my two favorite teams, the Orioles and A’s, are probably at or near the top of the contraction list. Others on the bubble: Royals, Rays, Pirates, Astros, Nationals. Discuss…
Next… Highlights of restructuring and such:
– After contraction, each league will be made up of 14 teams and no divisions. The four best teams in each league make the playoffs.
– We’ll keep the DH in the AL for now (we can’t change too much all at once, people!).
– Get rid of the unbalanced schedule. Team A is the best team in baseball. Team B is the worst team in baseball. Team C is a mediocre team. Why should Team B have to play Team A 18 times while Team C only has to play Team A six times? Sorry, but that makes no sense. Someone who is much smarter than me should be able to figure out how to schedule the MLB season in a way that travel won’t be too crazy. Which leads us to the next point…
– Cut the season back to 154 games. Which leads us to the next point…
– Make each postseason series seven games.
– Oh, and get rid of interleague play. It was a fun gimmick for while, but the fun has been done for a while.
– And speaking of gimmicks, get rid of the “league that wins the All Star Game gets Home Field Advantage in the World Series” rule. That was never a good idea. A game that decides something that momentous should not be played as an exhibition. So let’s keep it an exhibition, but get rid of that horrific rule. Which leads us to the next point…
– Home Field Advantage throughout the playoffs will be given to the team with the better record. You win more games in the regular season, you’re the better team. The better team gets HFA. It’s as simple as that.
That’s all I’ve got for now.
(Edit: Fixed a typo)
We were so close in 2001 with the Twins and Expos. Sigh…
I more or less like it but no cutting of one of the first 16 teams. So Oakland and Baltimore are safe.
I like the way you think.
The O’s, A’s, and Pirates have to rich of a fanbase to get rid or. The Royals have a good farm and a great future that could bring back a fanbase. The Nationals are in the same boat as the Royals but are willing to spend. I could see the Rays and Astros being contracted but they won’t because the Rays are winning and the Astros are getting a new owner. It’s an interesting idea but won’t happen.
Contraction won’t be an option. Nearly every team plays in a relatively new ballpark built with public funds that won’t be paid in full for many years. What do you do with an empty, multi-million dollar liability?
Kaufman Stadium opened in 1973. The Trop opened in 1990.
I’m not saying that any of this will happen. There are a lot financial issues that would need to be worked around. And there are risks too. And the owners aren’t going to approve anything that could possibly cost them money.
But this is my plan to make MLB better, with a more level playing field and more parity.
Here’s another idea: Keep everything as it is now, keep the silly 15/15 plan for 2013, but move the Rays to the New Jersey Meadowlands to break up the New York market.Discuss…
I’d more more inclined to move the Athletics back to Philadelphia.
Kauffman Stadium just had a $250 million renovation not too long ago, so I doubt they’d be contracted. If two team were to be contracted, I would imagine it would be teams with bad stadium situations, so the A’s and the Rays.
I agree with some but not all of your assertions. I have long supported contraction as a means. Tampa is the first to go, and the remaining cities can duke it out to stay.
I disagree wholeheartedly on interleague play, but under a contracted format, it would need to be adapted. I like the idea of having a home and home series each year and keeping it consistent. The Subway Series, Freeway Series, Texas battles, Chicago matches, Phillies/Red Sox are some of the most entertaining matchups of the year. Keeping those as consistent home and homes lets the fans get to experience the highs of interleague play and not have to deal with the crap of over rotation.
Overall I like it. As an M’s fan this means slightly less travel, hopefully, as both Texas teams can be played on the same road trip and there should be a couple fewer games against non-division teams which tend to be far away. Sucks that they have to beat 5 teams but one of them is the Astros so it’s a wash.
The way I wish they’d done it, however, was to create one division aligned along the west coast, and another along the southern border to keep travel down some. This is ok, though.
So if my math is correct there shouldn’t be a lot more interleague play. With one team in each league having to play an interleague game at all times, that means one of fifteen series for each team is interleague. Teams play about 54 series (162/3) each season. That makes for 3.6 interleague series (54/15), or about 11 interleague games, minimum. The M’s played 15 interleague games last year. So I don’t think the amount of games will change, they’ll just be sprinkled throughout the season.
Of course, the M’s have to beat only four teams. Although the M’s are really good at beating the M’s, they don’t technically have to beat themselves to win the division.
Of course, the M’s have to beat only four teams. Although the M’s are really good at beating the M’s, they don’t technically have to beat themselves to win the division.
All of you on the West coast are lucky. It’s the Rangers that have to travel the thousands of miles to go play the other 3 teams. Must be nice for y’all.
The M’s travel the most miles in baseball. The Rangers come to Seattle a couple times a year, but trips to the AL Central and East are a lot shorter for them than they are for the Mariners.
Well at least the divisions are equal now. It was ridiculous for the NL central teams to have 5 other teams to compete with and the AL west teams to only have 3 others
Well, if the Ms can play that many games against Oakland and Houston, maybe we have a shot
Well, if the Ms can play that many games against Oakland and Houston, maybe we have a shot
send the brewers back to where they came from! mlb is messing up.
and they should do this without even thinkin about…its simple they came from bring them back
What I don’t understand is, why the Astros & Rangers rivalry in the same league. All the other geographical rivalries (Yankees/Mets, Cardinals/Royals, Dodgers/Angels, Giants,A’s, Nats/O’s) would still be in separate leagues.
Inter league will have to expand dramatically. If both leagues have an odd number of teams, one team from each league will have to play each other every day. Inter league all year long.
As a M’s fan, I was hoping it would be the DBacks. They made a lot of sense. But no NL team wants to go to the AL, and this is just the MLB having leverage in a situation. It makes the most sense.
However, I’m glad there will be more to the season than just the As, Angels and Rangers…it got old being in this small of a division
Why would you hope for the dbacks? They already have a great team and a top 5 to 7 farm system. They would slaughter the M’s for years to come. The Astros on the other hand will pad all of the AL’s win columns.
Oh, because I live in Arizona.
The only thing this will do is give two wild card teams from the West. The Astros would be a last place team in any division, when they trade all their good players to Philly.
o yes because Bourn went to phillie….
I’d kind of like to see them mix up the divisions, though the O’s chances aren’t much better in a division with PHI, WAS, ATL
It would have made more sense for the Rockies to move to the AL West and become interleague rivals with the Diamondbacks (“Mountain v. Desert Series” or something), and for the Astros to move to the NL West, replacing the Rockies, and continuing as interleague rivals of the Rangers. They would be in the same geographical area, too, instead of one Texas team being in the “West” and another in the “Central.” Now if only they’d talk about doing away with the DH already. That experiment has gone for far too long. The era of the long ball is over. It’s time for aging, POS players past their prime to be weeded out, not moved to part-time roles.
Liked your post until you got to the DH. This game needs more offense, not less.
There is no chance that they get rid of the DH. Too many teams would be screwed up because they are designed to have a DH and have given big contracts for those players. It’s easier to add a DH to the NL than it is to get rid of it in the AL. Not even worth arguing. There is a 0.000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001% chance that the DH is gone in the AL.
We gotta dump National League ball. Boring as Hell watching pitchers strike out. DH all the way!
It’s actually kind of fun watching them embarrass themselves on tv, not saying all pitchers can’t hit.
o so seeing some big fat guy strike out is better? and then he walks to the bench and grabs a doughnut and watches the rest of his team actually play baseball?
It’s chicken and beer, not doughnuts smart guy.
Pitchers play baseball in the NL. DHs only play (baseball x 0.5)
speak for yourself, I like having a pitcher at the bottom of the lineup, and so do all the Pitchers in the National League. Once we start doing things like that because its considered boring by some, then we’ll start implementing High School or Olympic Rules, like all extra innings start with runners on 1st and 2nd base. Or you can have a courtesy runner for any 1 position player that can’t run but reaches base.
As for yearlong interleague play, I don’t think you guys understand what it will mean.
Let’s take 28 teams — 14 from each league — and place them against eachother.
A typical day could look like:
AL:
BOS vs NYY
OAK vs TEX
SEA vs LAA
DET vs MIN
TBR vs TOR
BAL vs CLE
CWS vs KCR
That leaves the Astros.
Okay, now lets look at the NL:
ARI vs SFG
LAD vs SDP
COL vs CHC
CIN vs PIT
STL vs MIL
PHI vs ATL
WAS vs FLA
That leaves the Mets.
So, the Mets and Astros play for a series while the other guys play those series. Then the Astros will have another interleague game after all other teams each play in one. To me, that sounds better than having it all lumped together…
Does anyone else find it funny that they are moving from a central division to a west division but staying in the same city? Like how the Dallas Cowboys are in the NFC East and not in the south or the west? Must be a Texas thing.
Stoopid move. The M’s have to travel about 20,000 miles more per season than any other team in baseball. Adding another team EVEN FURTHER EAST to the AL West only worsens that problem.
A better solution? Move Arizona and Colorado to the AL West and Texas to the NL West. But then, that would make geographic sense. Wouldn’t mind adding a team in Vancouver BC either.
Well that’s because of the genius who put the Mariners way up in the corner of the country where the closest AL team is in Minnesota or Los Angeles
The closest AL team is in Oakland. But thanks for playing. Do we have some nice parting gifts for the dumb Braves fan, Johnnie?
shut up, the point was that the Mariners are isolated
I disagree with this, i am not a fan of interleague play because it decreases the significance of the world series in my opinion, i suggest adding 2 more teams to the AL, make 4 divisions, none or very few interleague games. the only problem is how do you get those 2 teams the players? i would like to see a complete turnover, redraft the entire league, teams would draft players and their contracts, meaning if you were to draft A-rod you get his mammoth of a contract as well, it can’t be renegotiated, and you can draft free agents, but you have to negotiate contracts, and if you can’t agree on one they hit a period of free agency and go to any team they wish…this would make the league much more competitve, it would give the world series more meaning, and the leagues would be even team wise.
This is the most ridiculous comment in the history of the internet.
As a Pirates fan living in Houston, I am not a fan of this move, I’ll lose my yearly opportunities to see the Bucs play live. MLB should have never moved Milwaukee from the AL in the first place or tried to get Arizona to move.
Dodgers and Angels is not as big of a rivalry as Dodgers/Giants. In fact almost all real rivalries are in the same league. Yankees/Red Sox, Cubs/Cardinals, Phillies/Braves/Mets. The geographical locations don’t necessarily mean a rivalry. Yeah, there is competition for fans, but a rivalry is more about consistently playing the other team with something on the line beyond the win/loss.
Cardinals/Royals? Not exactly something to get fired up about. Cub/Cardinals = Fired up fan bases.
Edit: Meant as a reply to coreif.
That is true. As I Yankee fan, I get more hyped for Yankees/Red Sox (hell, even Yankees/Rays these past few years) than Yankees/Mets, but the people talking about this realignment are making all the points about the geographical rivalries.
The best solution is to add 2 more teams to make it even at 32 teams. Add another NY team and 1 other team in another area. Then you have each league with 4 divisions of 4 teams each. The trick is finding 2 areas that can support 2 teams.
Houston Can support 2 teams. Not sure they would want to. But they absolutely have the financial stability.
It would make more sense to move the Pirates to Las Vegas or Salt Lake City, and the AL West in one shot.
Here’s why:
1) Having both TX teams in the same division is inconsistent with current geographically similar teams. Florida has two teams – on NL and one AL. Texas currently has one of each. The Bay Area has two teams, one NL and one AL. Then NY, Chicago, and LA, all have one of each league. It’s the same everywhere except…
2) Pennsylvania has the Phillies and Pirates, both in the NL, and in two different divisions! They don’t even directly compete in the same division, and thus haven’t created the type of Interleague or cross-town rivalry that sells tickets. I think that has hurt the Pirates because polarization of a market actually creates ticket sales and team support because you get to have that discussion of “who is better” with family and co-workers (See LA, NY, Chi for how that works).
3) Pittsburgh has been unable to make money in their current market to field a team worth rooting for.
4) Possibly Las Vegas, and more likely Salt Lake City, are ready to support an MLB franchise. One team could even serve both markets if marketed well. Plus, both cities would be considered “West”.
Ideally, Pittsburgh should have been moved to the AL East during the last
restructuring, with Toronto moving to the AL Central, and KC sliding
West to capitalize on NFL rivalries. But since that didn’t happen, the Las Vegas Pirates (see, you could keep the team name!) makes more sense to me.
I vote Carlos Lee for DH. Also, the Rangers and Astros don’t need to be in the same division to have a rivalry. Ala Mets & Yankees.
Carlos lee will be gone by 2013
Crazy Idea but makes senese
American League East = Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays
American League Central = White Sox, Indians, Tigers, Brewers, Twins
American League West = Diamondbacks, Angels, Athletics, Mariners, Rangers
National League East = Braves, Marlins, Mets, Phillies, Nationals
National League Central = Cubs, Reds, Royals, Pirates, Cardinals
National League West = Rockies, Astros, Dodgers, Padres, Giants
Or put the Pirates in the National League East, and the Braves in the National League Central. Severing the ties between the Diamondbacks and the National League isn’t going to bring tears to anybody’s eyes, Houston has been in the National League more than twice as long anyway. The Brewers and Twins seem to be natural geographic rivals, while the Royals would finally have a divisional rival in the Cardinals.
I want the dbacks to stay in the NL thank you very much.
Well, being that they are the Youngest team in the National League, they should be the first ones to move, Houston has 4 decades in the National League, other teams have been there for over a hundred years, I’d rather move Houston before I moved a Pittsburgh for example, the Pirates have been in the National League for more than 120 years. But its not like the Diamondbacks have this long historic tradition of National League baseball.
exactly
I want the dbacks to stay in the NL thank you very much.
There were polls conducted here in Houston that showed over 75% hated the idea.
I seem to remember that the Diamondbacks were suppose to be an American League team anyway. Switch the Brewers and Royals, then put Arizona over in the AL West, Houston is a National League city, the National League wouldn’t be the same without them.
The NLC has boasted the NL pennant champ in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2011. That is half of the last 8 years.
I always thought it would be beneficial to the league with travel if they restructured the whole league, but I know that would never happen. I think it would be fun to see the divisions like this, even though it doesn’t make much sense.
AL NL
D1 D1
BOS CHC
DET CHW
NYY KC
NYM MIN
TOR STL
D2 D2
CIN ARI
CLE COL
MIL HOU
PHI SEA
PIT TEX
D3 D3
ATL LAA
BAL LAD
FLO OAK
TB SD
WAS SF
I think that would make for some interesting divisions. But to the move on Houston going to the AL, it makes sense to me since it would make it the easiest move to make since you don’t have to move one or more teams to different divisions. But I don’t think that its the best move.
Way to complicated. Just move the Astros to the AL. That is all you have to do.
It’s all you have to do, but simplicity does not mean it’s the right thing to do.
The *right* thing to do, rather, would have been to ship the franchise that initiated this, Selig’s own Brewers, back to the AL Central where they actually have more roots than they do with the NL even including the Braves time there…
Then, to have moved the Royals to the AL West, where, again, they actually have some roots, and are significantly closer to the far Northwest team than Houston.
If the point of this would be to keep competition within the division fairly close (geographically) you would have to move Seattle out of the West.
If you were to move Seattle out of the west, who would you put in there place? Also where would they go?
I like the idea of trying to create division rivalries based on geography, but I do like the tradition of some of the teams in the leagues they are in, Some of the teams in the National League have been their for over 100 years, they should stay there. I seem to think that Minnesota and Milwaukee in the AL Central would create a great rivalry, and neither of those 2 teams have a rivalry with another team like the Cardinals and Cubs, or the Giants and Dodgers do. I’d also advocate moving the Royals into the National League Central thus finally giving them a division rival, nobody really gets excited to play the Royals, nor does Kansas City ever get really excited about playing anybody else, except for their cross state rivals, the Cardinals. But on the same hand, cities with 2 teams need one in each league, (Chicago, Oakland/San Francisco, New York, Baltimore/Washington). I think keeping teams in the same state in different leagues is better as well with the only exception being Missouri, and although that exist in Pennsylvania right now, I think the Phillies and Pirates have both been in the National League to long to be moved. The Original members of the leagues shouldn’t change, but the expansion teams based on time in the league could be moved much easier.
Geographical with a Midwest,Southeast,California,Altantic,Northeast,West and Central Divisions
Still waiting for Bud to explain this to Astros fans.
But I guess one team’s fanbase counts less than the other 29 teams’
The only way this could even remotely be acceptable is if the Astros got assurance that they’d be back in the NL after the next expansion.
It’s Bud, but it’s also Crane.
The people who keep feeling sorry for Crane are failing to understand that Bud had legitimate concerns about Crane’s character, and that once that was satisfied, Bud had every reason (about 680 million of them) to move to accept Crane regardless of whether he would permit the franchise to be shifted.
If that doesn’t make sense, try this… they also have some difficulty, if Selig’s the puppetmaster and Crane the puppet, in explaining how Crane is able to get Selig and his minions to pay him $80, let alone $80 million… why do that?
It’s not acceptable, and many of us will be finding new National League teams, not to mention, we’ll be watching to see what businesses partner with Crane to ensure that we do not patronize those.
What makes me most angry at this minute, though, is how everyone in national media is ignoring our plight as-if it’s all okay for the Milwaukee Brewers-owner-turned-commissioner to have made this move… how is it ethical that he moves his franchise to the NL, and some years later, forces the move of another franchise to the AL?
Glad, though, to see some of you here are empathizing. It’s not ethical. It’s not right.
Hit the nail on the head.
This is a shady backroom deal by Crane to sweep many issues he’d have with getting approval by the other owners in exchange for selling us down the river for $80M.
BTW – do you really think that $80M will be used on improving the team and system? I sure don’t.
Crane may be the stoolie, but Bud is the primary villain here, forcing a stipulation to the sale that was not agreed upon initially, and considering his conflict of interest with the Brewers, not something he should be involved in.
Yes, but I have to disagree in two important ways.
1) Selig playing the part of devil is to be expected.
Crane, a Houston resident, agreeing to a deal with the devil is egregious.
2) Again, if the exchange is “I’ll approve you IF you change leagues,” it makes no sense then for Crane to, IN ADDITION TO THAT, also be able to successfully acquire $80 mil in concessions.
No, Crane IS COMPLICIT WITH Selig in this. And because he has the final word and lives here, he’s MORE GUILTY than Selig.
How about just do East & West league-DH for every team:
Northeast:
Yankees
Mets
Phillies
Red Sox
Blue Jays
Southeast:
Orioles
Nationals
Braves
Marlins
Rays
North:
Pirates
Indians
Reds
Tigers
Brewers
Central:
Royals
Cardinals
Twins
White Sox
Cubs
West:
Mariners
Diamondbacks
Rockies
Astros
Rangers
California:
Giants
A’s
Dodgers
Angels
Padres
The Leagues, the history and the history of particular teams in particular leagues is to important to get rid of.
Move the Athletics back to Philadelphia while we are at it,
No, it will be 1-5-7-7
MLB asked Arizona to move, and we declined.
You lost me at “Move the Pirates to Las Vegas”
Arizona has a World Series title, something that Houston and Colorado do not 🙂
Selig actually had a similar plan when he took over.