why MLB NL central division the only division that has 6 teams and AL west has only 4?

Answer 1

probably b/c theres alot of teamns in the national league central area

Answer 2

There are more NL teams in the central. As to why, I don't know. It could partially be that the midwest was settled before the west, so teams like the Cardinals, the Tigers, The Pirates, and the Cubs have been around for 114 years, 105 years, 119 years, and 130 years, respectively. The first west coast teams came from New York in 1957. That may be one reason there are fewer teams. Also, the Brewers became an NL team in 1998. The Pirates have only been in the central division for 12 years. The AL Central has 5 teams, so that's 11 central teams all together, compared to 5 AL west and 4 NL west teams and 5 AL east and 5 NL east teams.

Answer 3

I don't know why it happened or why it has stayed this way. I think the best solution would be to move the Colorado Rockies to the AL West. The Rockies are better suited to be an AL team and could compete in the weak (and only 4 teamed) AL West. Then, you move the Brewers over to the NL west (where they become one of the top teams).

After all this, the divisions would all be equal at 5 and would be more competitive.

Answer 4

Before the creation of the last four expansion teams, (Rockies, Marlins, D-Rays, Diamondbacks), there were actually 14 AL teams and only 12 NL teams. In 1998, after the creation of the Rockies and the Marlins, the leagues were even in size. However, in that season the Milwaukee Brewers switched from the American League to the National League, as it was presumed that BOTH of the teams to come, (the Devil Rays and the Diamondbacks) would be located in the AL. Under the presumed strategy, the leagues would then be equal in size. However, the Diamondbacks joined the NL, and Bud Selig, not wanting to display indecisiveness, let the leagues remain as they were, with 16 NL teams and only 14 AL.

Answer 5

it's so that there are an even number of teams in each league- 16 in the National League, 14 in the American League. They don't want two interleague games a week. They only want them when there are other interleague games going on, but then there's still always two NL teams left who have to play each other. What would make sense is doing baseball the same way as football- 4 teams in each division, 16 per league, 32 total. Everybody could play inter and same-league games at the same time. That also works if you're like me and you think that 8 teams aren't enough for the playoffs. They would be the same as football. (The only thing that wouldn't change is having series, as opposed to just one game.) The two best teams in each league get first round byes, while 3 seed plays 6 seed and #4 plays #5. It could be a short three or five-game series. The second round, five-game series, would consist of the best team playing the worst and the second-best against the third of the remaining teams. After that, the two teams left in each league would obviously play each other in a five or seven-game series, and, of course, finally, the World Series, still a seven game series.

Answer 6

To add to what philly said, the folks who make up the schedule are apparently too lazy (or stupid) to want to worry about having intraleague games all season (which they would have to do if there were odd numbers of teams in each league). The 4x4 idea in each league would be ok if there were 32 teams, but given the existing 30, there should be 3x5 in each league, and the scheduling geniuses should just make sure they always have (at least) one intraleague series going on so everybody plays.

And while we make these changes, get rid of the DH! It adds (at best) only about one hit per game, so all you people that think it makes the game more exciting need to wake up, baseball isn't exciting anyway, it's a game of skill and stategy. And don't say it adds more than that, even if DH's averaged .300 (and they don't, not by a long shot), pitchers average over .100, so the difference is certainly less than 1 hit per game. Whatever that extra hit adds, it takes away from the lack of strategy in the game, there's more base stealing, bunting, double switches, all that in the National League, that's why it's a better game to watch.

Answer 7

Because Seattle did not want to take back the Pilots (now better known as the Milwaukee Brewers).

Seriously, though, the idea was actually to have 32 teams, but it was discovered that expansion had spread everything too thin (consider the lack of pitching these days) and so they stopped before adding two more teams to the AL, leaving the imbalanced 16-14 split.

Also, where the heck would you put two more teams? Portland, Oregon and Las Vegas? Pocatello, Idaho? Albuquerque? Buffalo? Your guess would be as good as mine.

Answer 8

A lot of people ask this question. You MUST have an even number of teams in each league, because when it is not time for interleague play, the American League teams play each other and the National League teams play each other. If you had 15 teams in the American League and it was time to start a 3-game series, 14 teams would compete in 7 matchups and the 15th team would be forced to take 3 days in a row off.

Answer 9

Thats a good question!!! I have been asking this questions since the league set up the six divisions. There is an easy solution to this problem. Move the Astros to the AL West and this sets up a natural rivalry with the Texas Rangers and it helps with a more balanced schedule. But thats just my opinion, we'll leave the decision to space cadet "Bud"!!!

Answer 10

This is the reason that the Nl Central is the toughtest Division in baseball,Think you team is tough come on down to the central and we shall see,we shall see

Answer 11

itis because of the in balanceof the American League 14 teams and the National League having 16 teams and most of thos teams are in the midwest
Milwaukee
Chicago
Cinncinatti
St. Louis
Pitsburgh
Houston. all the are teams are closer to the west or east coast