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And when they expand the playoffs and belatedly realize that weather is going to affect games played in northern cities, what's next? Designating southern cities for all playoff games? How about a World Series contested in a designated city, just like the Super Bowl. Why not cut all the hometown fans out of the picture? Or have they got even more insidious ways of screwing with us? (Let's not even get into a discussion about how watered down the playoffs will get once second or even third-place teams are in. I guess Bud Selig is entranced by the NHL...and thinks that three quarters of the franchises being able to make the playoffs is a good arrangement).
Consider all the local and in-state division rivalries that such an arrangement would create. There could be 5 division winners and as many wild cards as the powers that be may dictate. And while we're at it, let's improve the playoff climate by shortening the regular season by a week or two.
Consider all the local and in-state division rivalries that such an arrangement would create. There could be 5 division winners and as many wild cards as the powers that be may dictate. And while we're at it, let's improve the playoff climate by shortening the regular season by a week or two.
A little screwy your breakdowns. You have a team from all the way up in Michigan (Detroit) having to go to Georgia. Maybe taking geography more into consideration would be better. Marlins, Rays, Braves together, and maybe Toronto, Detroit, Cincinatti together as an example.
I guess there's no room for such antiquated notions as "tradition" anymore, is there? I'm afraid I don't like that radical realignment at all. For some peculiar reason, I like having a National League and an American League, where the champions play in the World Series. A generic championship, like we see in the NBA and NHL (and NFL, since the merger) doesn't interest me at all.
Maybe what we need is just the removal of Bud Selig from the picture!
I guess there's no room for such antiquated notions as "tradition" anymore, is there? I'm afraid I don't like that radical realignment at all. For some peculiar reason, I like having a National League and an American League, where the champions play in the World Series. A generic championship, like we see in the NBA and NHL (and NFL, since the merger) doesn't interest me at all.
Maybe what we need is just the removal of Bud Selig from the picture!
Fred,
Here's my problem. Toronto and Baltimore are 2 decent teams trapped in a division with 3 solid teams. In any other division most likely they could contend. In a short series any team can possibly beat any other team but not in the long haul. That's why realignment sounds good. I do agree that long time rivalries are cool but giving certain teams more of a chance would be cool too. I'd like to see a team like KC or Pittsburgh in the playoffs. In a short series like the playoffs, Toronto or a Baltimore could give many teams a run for the money.
Fred,
Here's my problem. Toronto and Baltimore are 2 decent teams trapped in a division with 3 solid teams. In any other division most likely they could contend. .
Baltimore's record against the AL Central and AL West..Last Five Seasons:
That is a combined record of 148-198, .428 ball. While that is a better performance than against their own division where they have been 135-228, .372 ball for those last five seasons, it still hasn't been good enough for the Orioles to have been contenders. They would be better losers in another division, but still losers. Their problem hasn't been the division in which they play, their problem has been bad ballplayers.
Your thesis finds more support in the case of Toronto. The last five seasons they have just about held their own against the AL East, 179-181, .497, but have been far stronger against the Central and West divisions, 200-158, .559 ball.
These are the winning percentages of the AL Central and AL West winners the last five seasons.
AL Central
.580
.534
.546
.593
.593
AL West
.556
.559
.617
.580
.574
So, yeah, looks like there could have been a couple of seasons where Toronto at least was contending.
A little screwy your breakdowns. You have a team from all the way up in Michigan (Detroit) having to go to Georgia. Maybe taking geography more into consideration would be better. Marlins, Rays, Braves together, and maybe Toronto, Detroit, Cincinatti together as an example.
I thought it was screwier when the Braves and Reds were in the West.
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