Astros to the AL? Elimination of divisions?

[erik316wttn]

Interleague throughout the season doesn't mean that the Cubs would play every AL team each year.

 

Nope, just every team in a division, then rotate. We'll play every AL team every 3 years.

[jersey cubs fan]

Interleague throughout the season doesn't mean that the Cubs would play every AL team each year.

 

Nope, just every team in a division, then rotate. We'll play every AL team every 3 years.

 

It wouldn't necessarily mean that either. All it would really mean is interleague wouldn't be bunched up in late June.

[jiml60]

If they go to a 15 team league format with interleague play throughout the season, do you think that means the NL eventually adopts the DH? I've been leaning towards seeing it in the NL lately.

[Clem Fandango]

The Astros suck enough as it is in the NL, they'll suck even worse in the AL

[bukie]

Here's what I'd be in favor of:

 

1. Even out the leagues - Whether it's adding two teams to go 16 each or moving an NL team to the AL to go 15 each. The only caveat for an odd number of teams in a league would be the need to have interleague games going on at all times. It doesn't bother the NFL/NHL/NBA to do it, it shouldn't bother MLB to do it. In order for there to be enough interleague games to cover the whole season, each team would have to play at least 11 interleague games (162 games for 30 teams, 2 teams per game).

 

2. Eliminate divisions - With the advent of the wild card, divisions mean less already than they did in the past. Even before the wild card, there were often complaints about one division being too strong, or too weak. A 15-team league could easily enough be tracked for a season.

 

3. Expand the playoffs slightly - Top 6 teams in each league make the playoffs. Top 2 teams get a "bye" as the other teams go head to head for one game at the home field of the higher seed (3 vs 6, 4 vs 5). The advantage this offers the top 2 teams would be to throw off the other teams' rotations while at the same time letting the top teams rest up a couple extra days and set up their pitching rotations. Also, none of this All-Star game decides home field advantage crap. Just let the team with the best record get the home field advantage, like in every other sport.

 

4. Reduce the schedule to 144 games - Start a couple weeks later, end a couple weeks earlier, the World Series can be done in October. Play 9 games (6H/3A, 5H/4A, 4H/5A, 3H/6A) against each team in your league, and 6 games (3H/3A) against 3 teams in the opposite league. One of the opposites can be the team you finished the same place as in the other league, while the other two can be formulaic in the same vein (i.e. top 3 teams all play each other, then next 3, then next 3, etc).

[jersey cubs fan]

Here's what I'd be in favor of:

 

1. Even out the leagues - Whether it's adding two teams to go 16 each or moving an NL team to the AL to go 15 each. The only caveat for an odd number of teams in a league would be the need to have interleague games going on at all times. It doesn't bother the NFL/NHL/NBA to do it, it shouldn't bother MLB to do it. In order for there to be enough interleague games to cover the whole season, each team would have to play at least 11 interleague games (162 games for 30 teams, 2 teams per game).

 

2. Eliminate divisions - With the advent of the wild card, divisions mean less already than they did in the past. Even before the wild card, there were often complaints about one division being too strong, or too weak. A 15-team league could easily enough be tracked for a season.

 

3. Expand the playoffs slightly - Top 6 teams in each league make the playoffs. Top 2 teams get a "bye" as the other teams go head to head for one game at the home field of the higher seed (3 vs 6, 4 vs 5). The advantage this offers the top 2 teams would be to throw off the other teams' rotations while at the same time letting the top teams rest up a couple extra days and set up their pitching rotations. Also, none of this All-Star game decides home field advantage crap. Just let the team with the best record get the home field advantage, like in every other sport.

 

4. Reduce the schedule to 144 games - Start a couple weeks later, end a couple weeks earlier, the World Series can be done in October. Play 9 games (6H/3A, 5H/4A, 4H/5A, 3H/6A) against each team in your league, and 6 games (3H/3A) against 3 teams in the opposite league. One of the opposites can be the team you finished the same place as in the other league, while the other two can be formulaic in the same vein (i.e. top 3 teams all play each other, then next 3, then next 3, etc).

 

I disagree with most of your plan.

 

First off, reducing the season to 144 games is a non-starter. That would be a huge cut to revenue, and just pointless. Second, going from 8 to 12 teams in the playoffs is not "increasing slightly". That is a very big jump. Lastly, I see no reason to do away with divisions. It's not about being as certain as possible that you get the 8 or 10 or 12 best teams in the playoffs.

 

You go to 6 5 team divisions. You have one interleague series at all times, which adds nothing to the current # of games. You add 1 WC team to each league, and those WC teams play each other in a 1 game playoff for the right to face the 1 seed.

 

This maintains interest in as many cities as possible throughout the season, rewards winning your division and having best record in the league. Adds intrigue to the WC chase, because teams won't just want to settle for that. And those 2 1 game playoffs will be huge draws.

[SouthSideRyan]

Props to Soxman in the Redeye this morning who said to KISS (Keep it simple stupid) by moving Florida, Houston, and Milwaukee to the AL. Finally somebody gets it!

[erik316wttn]

If they go to a 15 team league format with interleague play throughout the season, do you think that means the NL eventually adopts the DH? I've been leaning towards seeing it in the NL lately.

 

Expanding the DH is an interesting topic. I've read several places this season that more players than not HATE to DH and would rather play the field as well. That makes me cautiously optimistic that the damn thing will be gone within my lifetime.

[Derwood]

Props to Soxman in the Redeye this morning who said to KISS (Keep it simple stupid) by moving Florida, Houston, and Milwaukee to the AL. Finally somebody gets it!

 

which would make the AL have 17 teams and the NL 13 teams.

 

stupid indeed

[NonProfitCow]

If they go to a 15 team league format with interleague play throughout the season, do you think that means the NL eventually adopts the DH? I've been leaning towards seeing it in the NL lately.

 

Expanding the DH is an interesting topic. I've read several places this season that more players than not HATE to DH and would rather play the field as well. That makes me cautiously optimistic that the damn thing will be gone within my lifetime.

Players are idiots. There is no chance of the DH being gone in your lifetime. There is an infinitely higher chance that it's adopted by the NL.

[SouthSideRyan]

If they go to a 15 team league format with interleague play throughout the season, do you think that means the NL eventually adopts the DH? I've been leaning towards seeing it in the NL lately.

 

Expanding the DH is an interesting topic. I've read several places this season that more players than not HATE to DH and would rather play the field as well. That makes me cautiously optimistic that the damn thing will be gone within my lifetime.

Players are idiots. There is no chance of the DH being gone in your lifetime. There is an infinitely higher chance that it's adopted by the NL.

 

If there's no chance of it being gone, then by definition there's an infinitely higher chance of it being adopted by the NL

[erik316wttn]

If they go to a 15 team league format with interleague play throughout the season, do you think that means the NL eventually adopts the DH? I've been leaning towards seeing it in the NL lately.

 

Expanding the DH is an interesting topic. I've read several places this season that more players than not HATE to DH and would rather play the field as well. That makes me cautiously optimistic that the damn thing will be gone within my lifetime.

Players are idiots. There is no chance of the DH being gone in your lifetime. There is an infinitely higher chance that it's adopted by the NL.

 

Why exactly are the players idiots for wanting to play the field as well? GM's are more willing to pay for a guy who can hit 20 HR's and also play the field than a guy who hits 30 HR's and can only DH. The first player is seen as more versatile. Read the article on Adam Dunn a few weeks ago in SI.

[rocket]

If they go to a 15 team league format with interleague play throughout the season, do you think that means the NL eventually adopts the DH? I've been leaning towards seeing it in the NL lately.

 

Expanding the DH is an interesting topic. I've read several places this season that more players than not HATE to DH and would rather play the field as well. That makes me cautiously optimistic that the damn thing will be gone within my lifetime.

Players are idiots. There is no chance of the DH being gone in your lifetime. There is an infinitely higher chance that it's adopted by the NL.

 

Why exactly are the players idiots for wanting to play the field as well? GM's are more willing to pay for a guy who can hit 20 HR's and also play the field than a guy who hits 30 HR's and can only DH. The first player is seen as more versatile. Read the article on Adam Dunn a few weeks ago in SI.

 

if all teams have the dh than the gm's will be willing to pay just as much for the dh as players who play the field

[jersey cubs fan]

If they go to a 15 team league format with interleague play throughout the season, do you think that means the NL eventually adopts the DH? I've been leaning towards seeing it in the NL lately.

 

Expanding the DH is an interesting topic. I've read several places this season that more players than not HATE to DH and would rather play the field as well. That makes me cautiously optimistic that the damn thing will be gone within my lifetime.

Players are idiots. There is no chance of the DH being gone in your lifetime. There is an infinitely higher chance that it's adopted by the NL.

 

Why exactly are the players idiots for wanting to play the field as well? GM's are more willing to pay for a guy who can hit 20 HR's and also play the field than a guy who hits 30 HR's and can only DH. The first player is seen as more versatile. Read the article on Adam Dunn a few weeks ago in SI.

 

if all teams have the dh than the gm's will be willing to pay just as much for the dh as players who play the field

 

If no teams have the DH, there are just as many jobs available, but they will go toward more all-around type guys instead of bat only guys. So all-around guys should prefer no DH.

[SouthSideRyan]

 

If no teams have the DH, there are just as many jobs available, but they will go toward more all-around type guys instead of bat only guys. So all-around guys should prefer no DH.

 

There aren't as many everyday jobs available.

[hardcorecubfan]

If they go to a 15 team league format with interleague play throughout the season, do you think that means the NL eventually adopts the DH? I've been leaning towards seeing it in the NL lately.

 

Expanding the DH is an interesting topic. I've read several places this season that more players than not HATE to DH and would rather play the field as well. That makes me cautiously optimistic that the damn thing will be gone within my lifetime.

Players are idiots. There is no chance of the DH being gone in your lifetime. There is an infinitely higher chance that it's adopted by the NL.

 

Why exactly are the players idiots for wanting to play the field as well? GM's are more willing to pay for a guy who can hit 20 HR's and also play the field than a guy who hits 30 HR's and can only DH. The first player is seen as more versatile. Read the article on Adam Dunn a few weeks ago in SI.

 

Great economic argument, that demonstrates trade offs and opportunity cost.

Personally I like the chess game that the manager has to play in the NL esp. in the later inning.

[NonProfitCow]

Great economic argument, that demonstrates trade offs and opportunity cost.

Personally I like the chess game that the manager has to play in the NL esp. in the later inning.

What makes it any different with a DH?

[Guest]

Great economic argument, that demonstrates trade offs and opportunity cost.

Personally I like the chess game that the manager has to play in the NL esp. in the later inning.

What makes it any different with a DH?

 

With a DH, the DH hits for the pitcher.

[NonProfitCow]

Great economic argument, that demonstrates trade offs and opportunity cost.

Personally I like the chess game that the manager has to play in the NL esp. in the later inning.

What makes it any different with a DH?

 

With a DH, the DH hits for the pitcher.

My mind is blown.