Why don't they must move 1 team over... AL has 14 and NL has 16
2007-03-21 17:16:38 · 18 answers · asked by ? 3 in Sports ➔ Baseball
When the divisions were realigned before the 1998 season, it was done to match up teams that play in the same time zones. As part of that re-alignment the Milwaukee Brewers came from the American to the National league. The idea was that strengthening the local rivalries would be good for the game (i.e., the bottom line).
There was a proposal by Commissioner Selig in 2001 to move either the Devil Rays or the Diamondbacks to the American League, but it created problems for the schedulers, the owners and the fans, so it was dropped. It is easier to have one 14 (AL) and one 16 (NL) team league for the schedulers, and no owners wanted to switch leagues after watching what it did to Milwaukee's attendance. So it has stayed the same ever since.
2007-03-21 17:42:19 · answer #1 · answered by davidap1 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no real explanation for it. Probaly has to do with none of the teams in the NL wanted to move to the AL. There actually was a stipualtion when the Diamondbacks came into the league that they could be moved to the AL at anytime provided it was before the 2003 season. This never materialized but it was in the language. It probably has to do with money and teams not wanting to move between leagues and divisions. Milwaukee moved to the AL at the same time but this might be because Milwaukee had had a NL team when the braves played there.
2007-03-22 00:36:54 · answer #2 · answered by woody46rulz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they moved the stinkin' Brewers to the NL. This the NL has 16 teams (3 divisions of 5/5/6) and the AL has 14 teams (3 divisions of 5/5/4). Had they left the Brew Brew in the AL, there would be 3 divisions of 5 teams each in both leagues. Thanks, Mr. Selig. Of course, he has no favored interest in the Brewers at all....
2007-03-22 10:43:53 · answer #3 · answered by hankshammers 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some reason that I never understood when they realigned the NL and AL in the late 90s they had the Milwaukee Brewers move from the AL to the NL. They never gave a clear reason either but that's why those divisions are uneven, because the Brewers moved. I'm sure money has something to do with it.
2007-03-22 00:27:36 · answer #4 · answered by BOOM 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some reason, the Brewers left the AL to join the NL.
I believe that neither they or Kansas City was willing to be in the AL West, so KC joined the AL Central and Milwaukee switched leagues.
I don't like a division with only four teams either.
2007-03-24 15:29:27 · answer #5 · answered by steve p 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When the moved the Brewers they had to to keep an even number of teams in both leagues or else someone would have to be off every day or there would have to be an interleague game every day. There would be 15 AL and 15 NL teams.
2007-03-22 12:45:40 · answer #6 · answered by Philip S 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Baseball teams play nearly every day. If there were an odd number of teams in a league there would always be a team that had no one to match up with. Unless they had one interleague series going on at all times but they don't want to do that. They'd rather have a certain time during the season when everyone concentrates on interleague matchups. They certainly don't want a stretch run with the teams in contention wasting their time playing a team in the wrong league.
2007-03-22 10:33:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because its the Senior circuit and none of those teams want to play in the AL except for the Brew Crew, thats the only league they can make it to the playoffs in
2007-03-22 10:47:04 · answer #8 · answered by Ricky Lee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Bud Selig was an owner of the Milwaukee Brewers and put Milwaukee in the n.l. throwing the alignment out of whack! This is another reason this commissioner needs to go!
2007-03-24 23:50:00 · answer #9 · answered by G.W. loves winter! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always asked myself that question...
Astros should move to NLWest and Colorado should move to the AL West (So as there aren't two Texas teams in the same division.)
2007-03-22 00:24:51 · answer #10 · answered by Adam C 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋