Re: MLB considering radical floating realignment

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'm trying to wrap my mind around how the "changing divisions based on how you plan to compete or not" would even work. I can't figure it out.

[Cubswin11]

I'm trying to wrap my mind around how the "changing divisions based on how you plan to compete or not" would even work. I can't figure it out.

Yeah me too. So if you "plan not to compete," but manage to have a good year and you have a good enough record to make the playoffs would you still go? Would you not be allowed? Would you have a decision, since after all you weren't "planning on competing?"

[Cubswin11]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/tom_verducci/03/09/floating-realignment/

 

The committee already has made good on Selig's promise by discussing a radical form of "floating" realignment in which teams would not be fixed to a division, but free to change divisions from year-to-year based on geography, payroll and their plans to contend or not.

[Guest]

If a team doesn't plan to compete in a given year, demote them to AAA. :)

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If a team doesn't plan to compete in a given year, demote them to AAA. :)

 

I'm almost wondering if he's talking about a European-style multi-tier league, where the lower-payroll teams could compete amongst themselves for some kind of lesser title?

 

He can't mean putting all the cheap teams in one or two divisions and letting them have a playoff spot same as a yankees/red sox/mets/etc. division?

[dew1679666265]

6 teams from each league make the playoffs, 3 division winners, 3 wild cards. top 2 teams in each league get a first round bye. purists would complain about ruining the divisional races, but you'd still have good races to win bad divisions, races for the final wild card spot(s), and races to get the byes. it would add an extra week or so to the season, but either shorten the regular season to 154 games (unlikely, since this would decrease revenues for at least 60% of the teams) or shorten spring training a little bit.

 

I really like this idea.

[hardcorecubfan]

I thought the point at the end of the page was more interesting.

 

The Cubs already have a manager-in-waiting if Lou Piniella does not come back in 2011 on a new contract, according to one executive familiar with the club's thinking. It's Ryne Sandberg, their Triple-A manager and the darling of new Cubs ownership. Only eight men have managed a major league team after being inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player: Frankie Frisch, Rogers Hornsby, Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, Bob Lemon, Red Schoendienst, Tony Perez and Frank Robinson.

 

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/tom_verducci/03/09/floating-realignment/#ixzz0ho2SsErx

Get a free NFL Team Jacket and Tee with SI Subscription

 

I know it was always a nice rumor that was 90 percent sure of but this is nice to know

[TruffleShuffle]

if by nice you mean horrifying then i agree 100 percent.

[jersey cubs fan]

I thought the point at the end of the page was more interesting.

 

The Cubs already have a manager-in-waiting if Lou Piniella does not come back in 2011 on a new contract, according to one executive familiar with the club's thinking. It's Ryne Sandberg, their Triple-A manager and the darling of new Cubs ownership. Only eight men have managed a major league team after being inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player: Frankie Frisch, Rogers Hornsby, Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, Bob Lemon, Red Schoendienst, Tony Perez and Frank Robinson.

 

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/tom_verducci/03/09/floating-realignment/#ixzz0ho2SsErx

Get a free NFL Team Jacket and Tee with SI Subscription

 

I know it was always a nice rumor that was 90 percent sure of but this is nice to know

 

How do we know anything more after reading that blurb than all the other millions of blurbs that basically said the same thing?

[SouthSideRyan]

Now I know how to get a free NFL team jacket.

[Soul]

If a team doesn't plan to compete in a given year, demote them to AAA. :)

 

There you go.

[SouthSideRyan]

You can't relegate when you have farm systems

[Sammys Boombox]

Although I don't really like this idea

 

is there an idea you like, besides salary cap (which isn't happening) or status quo?

 

I don't think it's a horrible idea and I don't think I'd even be angry if it happened. After all, I did point out the pros to that system and I find that system interesting to think about. However, I wanted to make the claim that it's not my favorite system. I like having 8 total playoff teams (4 in each league). That doesn't make me right or wrong, just what I like.

[TruffleShuffle]

I don't think it's a horrible idea and I don't think I'd even be angry if it happened. After all, I did point out the pros to that system and I find that system interesting to think about. However, I wanted to make the claim that it's not my favorite system. I like having 8 total playoff teams (4 in each league). That doesn't make me right or wrong, just what I like.

 

i don't mean the playoff idea, i mean the competitive imbalance in baseball. clearly you can't think it's fair that the d-rays, orioles and blue jays have to compete for (at most) two playoff spots with the two wealthiest teams in the game. my question was how you would address this issue of fairness and competitive imbalance... "do nothing, it's unfair, too damn bad" is a position you can take.

[Electron Blue]

I think they should consider a BCS-style system.

[Sammys Boombox]

I don't think it's a horrible idea and I don't think I'd even be angry if it happened. After all, I did point out the pros to that system and I find that system interesting to think about. However, I wanted to make the claim that it's not my favorite system. I like having 8 total playoff teams (4 in each league). That doesn't make me right or wrong, just what I like.

 

i don't mean the playoff idea, i mean the competitive imbalance in baseball. clearly you can't think it's fair that the d-rays, orioles and blue jays have to compete for (at most) two playoff spots with the two wealthiest teams in the game. my question was how you would address this issue of fairness and competitive imbalance... "do nothing, it's unfair, too damn bad" is a position you can take.

 

Oh, I never really addressed that. To be honest, I don't really have a good alternative idea. I do think something needs to be done. I would hope they can come up with a system that can keep the playoff format to 8 total teams that didn't have a rotating system but still allow teams to not be dominated because only 2 teams can make the playoffs from one division. Maybe a balanced schedule where the top 4 teams make the playoffs would be the fairest system but it definitely has its flaws as well.

[jersey cubs fan]

I assume you like 8 teams because it keeps it an accomplishment to make the playoffs. I think adding 2 more, for 10 total, maintains that allure. 37.5% of NFL teams make the playoffs, while 53.3% make the NBA and NHL. MLB's 26.7% is still the most exclusive, but 33.3% would still be the most exclusive if they added 2 more wild cards. It also makes winning your division so much more important, since the 2 WC in each league would play each other for the right to face the #1 seed. This also keeps the playoff season at the same amount of time, so it's not it's own beast.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The solution would be to keep the playoff format as-is and stop using an unbalanced schedule. If you can't win the Wild Card with a balanced schedule, then you are at best the third-best team in the league and I can live with you missing the playoffs.

[JonnyRed]

How do we get in a division with the Nationals, Padres, Royals and Pirates?

[NCCubFan]

There's only one explanation for the article. It's obviously an April Fool's Day joke that accidentally slipped out early.

[bcl412]

How about they go back to having two leagues and the top teams from each league play for in the World Series? It's probably the best way to determine a baseball champion.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

How about they go back to having two leagues and the top teams from each league play for in the World Series? It's probably the best way to determine a baseball champion.

 

The best way would be all the teams in one league with a round-robin where they all play each other home and away the exact same number of times, and then the best record is the winner.

[erik316wttn]

So then what happens 10 or 15 years down the road if two teams in a division dominate the way the Yankees and Red Sox have? Do you shuffle everything again?

 

Divisional placement is not the problem. The lack of a salary cap is the problem.

 

Yes, you'd have to make some serious concessions to the players, like a salary floor, the DH in the National League, and probably some other stuff, but if it means the Red Sox and Yankees can't field all-star teams every year, so be it. Teams would actually have to (gasp) develop a farm system!!

 

And yes, I know the Yankees and Sox have, I'm just saying that they wouldn't be able to spend their problems away.

[hardcorecubfan]

All I want to see is that the World Series finish by mid-October.

 

I remember the seventies with the gas crisis there was a proposal to base everything on geography in in order to save gas, in a way we went that direction but the proposal was cubs, mil., Clev. Detroit and Cinci

[Schwarber Fan]

How about every team makes the playoffs and we have November madness?

 

http://www.printyourbrackets.com/images/bracket30thumb%20copy.jpg