I'm writing a letter to Bud Selig about this. What do you think he'll say?

Question

New MLB League Allignment

American League

East
New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
Baltimore Orioles
Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Central
Toronto Blue Jays
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Indians
Louisville Sluggers (Expansion Team)

Midwest
Chicago White Sox
Minnesota Twins
Utah Blue Sox (Expansion Team)
Kansas City Royals

West
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Oakland Athletics
Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers

National League

East
New York Mets
Atlanta Braves
Washington Nationals
Florida Marlins

Central
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates
Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers

Midwest
Chicago Cubs
Houston Astros
Colorado Rockies
St. Louis Cardinals

West
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Francisco Giants
San Diego Padres
Arizona Diamondbacks

Each team will play their divisional rivals 24 times each, every other league rival 6 times each, and 18 interleague games.

There will be 4 division champions in each league and no more wild-card.

To anyone that says this would hurt the talent pool:

I really don't think so. There are so many great high school and college ballplayers around. Not only in the US but around the world. My 10 year old brother plays little league ball and he wants to be in the majors when he grows up. He is a really good player and I believe he will be a future hall of famer.

Answer 1

I totally disagree to your MLB alignment due to the fact that two or more wild card teams have won the WS since they implement the current alignment. Now where you received this information of having two more expansion teams. It depends on whether or not Louisville and Utah do have a large television market. That's a great idea but Selig might not like it.

Do you really want to play a division team 24 times instead of the current 20 times? I don't think so and the interleague games should rotate every year meaning for example in 2007

AL East teams vs NL East teams
2008 AL East teams vs NL Central teams
2009 AL East teams vs NL West teams

Sometimes they don't do that for some strange reason.

The intrastate rivals like the Mets and Yanks should be every other year instead of every year. The teams do get sick and tire of facing each other every year for the sake of the fans. Do you agree? I would love to see a Yankees-Reds (the last time was in the 1976 WS where the Redlegs sweep them). That's what I would love to see instead of the same thing every year.

Answer 2

Nice idea in theory but here's your problems:

1. Any more expansion of MLB would hurt the talent pool playing at the MLB level. Look what happened when the NHL increased the number of teams.

2. The wildcard system is a necessity in sports nowadays, Let's say for example in the AL West, both the A's and Angels finish with over 100 wins, but the winner of the (using your system) AL Central has only 84 wins... why should the 84 win team earn a playoff spot over the team that won over 100?

3. Playing division rivals 18 times each is already too much. I couldn't stand watching the Marlins / Nationals 24 times in a season.

4. MLB was actually looking to eliminate 2 teams a few years ago, there's no way that the owners would be sold on expanding. Especially in Kentucky and Utah where there's virtually no market. (Particularly where Louiville is so close to Cincinatti).

Try your scenario again, but remove 2 teams rather than add 2.

Answer 3

I think he would say it's not going to work out. Bud Selig wouldn't like to add expansion teams specially teams that have no market. Besides, if MLB eliminates wild card, wild card teams like Red Sox and Marlins wouldn't win the World Series. Facing 24 times against divisional rivals is too much. I don't know about Red Sox and Yankees but I don't like to see Mets facing Nationals 24 times. They will be playing 8 series and playing at least 18 games against divisional rival is enough already.

Answer 4

He would say that you are breaking up a lot of good rivalries, and that the talent pool is already diluted enough, why would they expand and add two more teams/farm systems. Besides, Utah and Lousville don't have the markets to get a team. He would also point back to the Florida Marlins of the world, the wild card teams that go on to win the World Series. I do agree that they need to change the divisions a little, but not by expansion, and not at the expense of the wild card. The wild card race is why I watch baseball the last two weeks of the regular season.

Answer 5

There's way too many problems with this theory to list. But, I do like the idea of equalling out the divisions to 4 teams each. I don't think the Rockies should be in the Midwest... The Reds should be in the Midwest, as should the Brewers. This would mess with conventional rivalries. Plus, I don't think 4 divisions would work out well at all. I like the idea of the Wild Card because a lot of teams are really good and in a really good division. This gives them the chance to make it to the Playoffs.

Answer 6

Congratulations on a nice effort and I can see you put in a lot of time in coming up with this Idea. There are two big issues for me. First, I don't like four team divisions with each team playing others in their division (24) times. There has to be more variety to keep fans coming to the ballpark. Second, You have no control over the expansion issue. There is a very good chance that Utah and/or Louisville will never have a major league franchise, and that would put your mix of teams in a tailspin. Great effort on your behalf.

Answer 7

1. Flip Utah and Texas
2. Division rivals play 22 games
3. Inter league plays 24 games (play 2 divisions per year) and get rid of home & away series for Cubs/Sox & Mets/Yankees etc.
4. 4 division winners and 2 wild-card teams

You will never get rid of wild-card teams in baseball. It is too profitable for MLB. It has increased attendance and television revenue. I will admit I was opposed to it in the very beginning, but it does make the seson more exciting.

Answer 8

How many times are you going to post this? Utah Blue Sox? lmfao that's gay lol. What happened to your Indianapolis Blue Jays? Thought you were racist against canadian teams? You said only American teams should be allowed in the MLB. I smell double standard here.

Answer 9

I am positive that he will immediatley say yes and change everything the way you want it by the end of the week. He also will probably go ahead and put your brother in the HOF with the next class of inductees.

Answer 10

Don't waste your time. Louisville and Utah will never get teams. MLB never replied to my rules question a year ago.