Post by billmcdee on Jul 15, 2016 6:59:32 GMT -5
I alluded to this in the All Star Game post.
If I were in charge of MLB, or had a great deal of influence, I would incorporate the following.
The All-Star Game would no longer determine home field advantage for the World Series. To have an exhibition game whose participants are elected by and large by fans determine where potentially pivotal games 6 and 7 of a World Series would be played is ludicrous.
The World Series would alternate every year, as would the All Star Game.
Starting with the 2020 season, I would add two more teams to MLB and do realignment.
In 2020, an American League ballpark would host the All-Star Game and use the Designated Hitter.
In 2020, the National League champion would host games 1,2, 6 and 7 of the World Series.
In 2021, a National League ballpark would hose the All-Star Game and no DH would be used.
In 2021, the American League champion would host games 1,2, 6 and 7 of the World Series.
The American League would add a 16th team, the Charlotte Knights, currently a minor league team. They would get promoted.
The National League would have the return of the Montreal Expos.
The Arizona Diamondbacks would go to the American League, while the Houston Astros would return to the National League.
Realignment:
Each league would be divided into two conferences, Eastern & Western. Each conference would have 2 divisions, and each division would have 4 teams.
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Atlantic Division - Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays
Central Division - Charlotte Knights, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Midwest Division - Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers
Pacific Division - Anaheim Angels (renamed), Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Atlantic Division - Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals
Central Division - Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Florida Marlins (renamed), Pittsburgh Pirates
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Midwest Division - Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals
Pacific Division - Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants
SCHEDULE:
Each team would play 18 games against their other 3 division rivals (54 total games)
Each team would play 12 games against their other 4 Conference rivals (48 games)
Each team would play 6 games against each of the 8 teams in the other conference (48 games)
Each team would play 3 games against one division in the opposing league on a rotating basis (12 interleague games).
This totals 162 games. This also lends itself nicely to having all series be three game series.
The rotating basis idea for interleague play would mean the Yankees vs Mets would only be once every 4 years instead of yearly. This would make a Yankees vs. Mets series a bit more of a novelty than it currently is.
At the end of the season, only the division winners would advance to the post-season.
The Atlantic & Central Division champions would play a best 3 out of 5 Division Series to determine the Eastern Conference Champion.
The Midwest & Pacific Division champions would also play a best 3 out of 5 Division Series to determine the Western Conference Champion.
Then the East vs West champs play a best 4 out of 7 League Championship Series, then the two league champions would play in the World Series.
DH would be used in the American League park, no DH in the National League park.
That's it in a nutshell. I'd be curious to hear your comments.
It would be cool I believe to have the former Expos and the new Expos as division rivals, and in the same division with the fierce rivalry of the Phillies & Mets.
Also, most teams would have a "natural" interleague rival that they would face off against every 4 years
Yankees - Mets
Red Sox - Phillies
Orioles - Nationals
Blue Jays - Expos
Tigers - Pirates
Indians - Reds
Rays - Marlins
Knights - Braves
Royals - Cardinals
White Sox - Cubs
Rangers - Astros
Twins - Brewers
Angels - Dodgers
Athletics - Giants
Mariners - Padres
Diamondbacks - Rockies
If I were in charge of MLB, or had a great deal of influence, I would incorporate the following.
The All-Star Game would no longer determine home field advantage for the World Series. To have an exhibition game whose participants are elected by and large by fans determine where potentially pivotal games 6 and 7 of a World Series would be played is ludicrous.
The World Series would alternate every year, as would the All Star Game.
Starting with the 2020 season, I would add two more teams to MLB and do realignment.
In 2020, an American League ballpark would host the All-Star Game and use the Designated Hitter.
In 2020, the National League champion would host games 1,2, 6 and 7 of the World Series.
In 2021, a National League ballpark would hose the All-Star Game and no DH would be used.
In 2021, the American League champion would host games 1,2, 6 and 7 of the World Series.
The American League would add a 16th team, the Charlotte Knights, currently a minor league team. They would get promoted.
The National League would have the return of the Montreal Expos.
The Arizona Diamondbacks would go to the American League, while the Houston Astros would return to the National League.
Realignment:
Each league would be divided into two conferences, Eastern & Western. Each conference would have 2 divisions, and each division would have 4 teams.
AMERICAN LEAGUE:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Atlantic Division - Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays
Central Division - Charlotte Knights, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Midwest Division - Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers
Pacific Division - Anaheim Angels (renamed), Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners
NATIONAL LEAGUE:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
Atlantic Division - Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals
Central Division - Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Florida Marlins (renamed), Pittsburgh Pirates
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Midwest Division - Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals
Pacific Division - Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants
SCHEDULE:
Each team would play 18 games against their other 3 division rivals (54 total games)
Each team would play 12 games against their other 4 Conference rivals (48 games)
Each team would play 6 games against each of the 8 teams in the other conference (48 games)
Each team would play 3 games against one division in the opposing league on a rotating basis (12 interleague games).
This totals 162 games. This also lends itself nicely to having all series be three game series.
The rotating basis idea for interleague play would mean the Yankees vs Mets would only be once every 4 years instead of yearly. This would make a Yankees vs. Mets series a bit more of a novelty than it currently is.
At the end of the season, only the division winners would advance to the post-season.
The Atlantic & Central Division champions would play a best 3 out of 5 Division Series to determine the Eastern Conference Champion.
The Midwest & Pacific Division champions would also play a best 3 out of 5 Division Series to determine the Western Conference Champion.
Then the East vs West champs play a best 4 out of 7 League Championship Series, then the two league champions would play in the World Series.
DH would be used in the American League park, no DH in the National League park.
That's it in a nutshell. I'd be curious to hear your comments.
It would be cool I believe to have the former Expos and the new Expos as division rivals, and in the same division with the fierce rivalry of the Phillies & Mets.
Also, most teams would have a "natural" interleague rival that they would face off against every 4 years
Yankees - Mets
Red Sox - Phillies
Orioles - Nationals
Blue Jays - Expos
Tigers - Pirates
Indians - Reds
Rays - Marlins
Knights - Braves
Royals - Cardinals
White Sox - Cubs
Rangers - Astros
Twins - Brewers
Angels - Dodgers
Athletics - Giants
Mariners - Padres
Diamondbacks - Rockies
