Would the Cubs & Sox in the same division be good or bad? (Chicago: layoffs, legal)

[edsg25]

If MLB were to reorganize, would you prefer to see the Cubs and Sox in the same division or in different divisions.

In times past, this would have been an impossibility. The Cubs and Sox were not to be grouped because they belonged to separate organizations, the National League and the American League.

Since pretty much the start of this century, that is no longer true. There is no NL or AL organization; they do not exist as legal entities. Both the Cubs and the Sox are already in the same league, MLB. So within that MLB structure, should the two remain in different divisions or the same?

[James Bond 007]

If you put them both in the same league there would never be the chance of a White Sox-Cubs World Series.

[ThreeSides]

Originally Posted by James Bond 007

If you put them both in the same league there would never be the chance of a White Sox-Cubs World Series.

This is all that needs to be written!!!!!

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by James Bond 007

If you put them both in the same league there would never be the chance of a White Sox-Cubs World Series.

Not much of a sacrifice for me; I suspect I won't be around in 2138

[BRU67]

That would completely take the magic out of the rivalry. Six games plus the possibility of a World Series is more than adequate.

In fact, in my opinion, they should go back to just three games a year like it was originally. But there's too much money involved.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by BRU67

That would completely take the magic out of the rivalry. Six games plus the possibility of a World Series is more than adequate.

In fact, in my opinion, they should go back to just three games a year like it was originally. But there's too much money involved.

isn't it pretty close to those 3 games/yr even now. I mean, for two of every 3 years, it's only 4 games (2 at each ball park). In the third year, I think it is 3/3

[Dport7674]

Let's hear your thoughts op... I can't think of any reason that would make it a good idea.

[edsg25]

Originally Posted by Dport7674

Let's hear your thoughts op... I can't think of any reason that would make it a good idea.

I'm happy with the current set up. Yes, I like the idea that tradition dictates the Cubs are in the NL and the Sox in the AL, although NL and AL are pretty meaningless as since 2000, the Cubs and Sox are no longer in separate leagues, but are in the same league, MLB.

That said, what with interleague and all, I'm not sure it matters that the Cubs and Sox be in different divisions.

Yes, as noted, I'd just as soon see the current Cub/NL, Sox/AL set up stay, I have to admit that a 5 team division of Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Brewers, and Tigers would be really cool.

[James Bond 007]

2002 series - Angels vs Giants (not the same city but at least the same state)
2000 series - Yankees vs Mets
1989 series - A's vs Giants
1985 series - Royals vs Cardinals (not the same city but at least the same state)
1974 series - A's vs Dodgers (not the same city but at least the same state)

Prior to 1960 you get a bunch of series with the Yankees, NY Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers, but I guess they don't count anymore.

Still haven't had an Angels vs Dodgers series or a White Sox vs Cubs series. But both are due to happen sometime in the next 50 years I'd say! There was also never a Rangers vs Astros series, and now that Houston is in the AL that's going to be impossible. With 5 teams in CA I suppose the odds of two of those teams making the WS once in a while in the same year is probably halfway decent.

Also, I think if you had a White Sox-Brewers series that would be "close enough" even though they're in different states. Kinda sorta like a Red Sox-Mets series (1986).

[James Bond 007]

Originally Posted by edsg25

... I have to admit that a 5 team division of Cubs, White Sox, Cardinals, Brewers, and Tigers would be really cool.

Expansion would be a good avenue to realign some teams and create new rivalries. Here's an idea I came up with not long ago: I presumed one expansion team would go to Montreal, and another either to Charlotte or Nashville. Each league would be divided into 4 divisions of 4 teams each. There would be no interleague play (yes I'm a bit of a purist). There would be no wild card in the playoffs either, just the top team of each division would make the playoffs. A few teams would switch leagues and alignment would try to preserve (or even create) geographic rivalries.

A.L. East
Boston
NY Yankees
Baltimore
Expansion (Charlotte? Nashville?)

A.L. Great Lakes
Cleveland
Detroit
Chicago White Sox
Toronto

A.L. Plains
Minnesota
Kansas City
Texas
Houston

A.L. West
Seattle
Oakland
LA Angels
San Diego

--------------------------------------

N.L. Northeast
Expansion (Montreal?)
NY Mets
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh

N.L Southeast
Washington
Atlanta
Tampa Bay
Miami

N.L. Midwest
Cincinnati
Milwaukee
Chicago Cubs
St Louis

N.L. West
San Francisco
LA Dodgers
Colorado
Arizona

If a team west of the Mississippi got an expansion team it would mess with my scheme a bit. If instead of Charlotte or Nashville you got San Antonio, Salt Lake, Las Vegas or Portland, where would it go? I suppose if it was San Antonio you could put it in the AL Plains, move Minnesota to the AL Great Lakes and move Toronto to the AL Northeast. Any farther west than that and I'm not sure what to do.

Another possibility would be to put one of the expansion teams in the NL Southeast and move Washington to the AL East. That would put both expansion teams in the NL but oh well.