MLB Division imbalance

[89Hen]

I'm not a huge baseball fan, but is anything in the works to rebalance the AL and NL? NL Central has six teams while the AL West only has four, all others have five. Doesn't quite seem fair if there are no other plans for expansion. Maybe move the Brewers back to the AL?

[TheValleyRaider]

The imbalance exists partially because there needs to be an even number of teams in each of the leagues. Because the season is done in 2, 3 and 4 game series, and everyone plays just about every day, you need an even number of teams or else someone gets 3 days off. That would extend the regular season even longer just to make sure everyone got 162 games in. The AL West is the lucky division with no one else close enough to be a member, so they get 4.

[grizbeer]

I heard Anaheim wants a team back :D Seriously, Portland OR and Las Vegas are both trying to get a team. I don't think Portland will get one, but I do think LV will get one.

[blueballs]

Vegas would be a great place to play. They would have to get a retractable roof or a dome though as it gets awfully hot there.

I've played softball in Vegas a few times and the ball absolutely jumps there. There would be some bombs hit there and some nice offensive #'s.

[89Hen]

The imbalance exists partially because there needs to be an even number of teams in each of the leagues.

I did not know that. Even with interleague play? So they'd have to add or subtract two at a time, meaning they won't have even divisions again unless they did 4 divisions of 4 in each after adding two more teams to the AL. No wonder I'm not a baseball fan. OK, let me take a stab at this....

American League
East Division
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays

North Division
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians
Detroit Tigers
Minnesota Twins

South Division
Florida Marlins
Kansas City Royals
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Texas Rangers

West Division
Los Angeles Angels
Oakland Athletics
Portland Sea Dogs
Seattle Mariners


National League
East Division
Atlanta Braves
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals

North Division
Chicago Cubs
Cinncinati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates
Milwaukee Brewers

Southwest Divison (can't really call them South)
Arizona Diamondbacks
Colorado Rockies
Houston Astros
St. Louis Cardinals

West Division
Las Vegas Showgirls
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Diego Padres
San Francisco Giants

[Marcus Garvey]

Has everyone forgotten that from '77 through '92, the AL had 14 teams and the NL had 12. In the NL, you played an unbalanced schedule. 18 times each against division foes (the AL did this prior to '77) and 12 times each non-division foes. That gave you 90 divisional games and 72 non-divisional games. Thus, it was more fair if the NL East champ won 94 games, while 2nd place in the West won 96. The AL meanwhile played 78 divisional games (13 times against each opponent) and 84 non-divisional (12 games each). Talk about messed up. Anyone remember when the '84 Tigers? They won 104 games. Meanwhile Toronto won 89, the Yanks 87, Baltimore 86 and Boston 85. The AL West champion Royals ony won 84!!!! They were the only team in their division with a winning record!

Frankly, there are too many MLB team. Their should be 24 or 28 team. Teams that SHOULD have been eliminated a few years ago were Montreal and Tampa Bay. Allthough the population is larger, the sports popularity among kids has been waning. As a result, there's a real talent drain at pitching.

But, if I were "King For a Day," my first edict would be to abolish inter-league play! It's absurd that the Phils only play the Dodgers and Cubbies 6 times so they can squeeze in games with the O's, Yanks and Red Sox.

[89Hen]

my first edict would be to abolish inter-league play! It's absurd that the Phils only play the Dodgers and Cubbies 6 times so they can squeeze in games with the O's, Yanks and Red Sox.

I disagree. As a Phillies fan, I'd MUCH rather see those three AL teams than the SD Padres more often. The only NL teams Phillies fans come out in droves for are the Braves and Mets, beyond that, they're all the same.

[putter]

I agree, I think interleague play has added interest to some markets. Just ask the Kansas Citys of the world when the Braves come to town or Milwaukee with the Red Sox. They sell out in advance which helps with revenue for those clubs. There could be fewer interleague games but don't abolish them.

[ISUMatt]

If there were 15 each league 2 teams would be off or be plaing interleague everyday!!! As already mentioned kinda (unbalanced Schedule)

[TexasTerror]

MLB would hate it if teams had off on the weekends which would be the case with uneven leagues. Even the MLS knows better. Schedule a majority of games on weekend and you may actually get 5000 to 10000 at a game!

[89Hen]

If there were 15 each league 2 teams would be off or be plaing interleague everyday!!! As already mentioned kinda (unbalanced Schedule)
I guess it's kinda neat to have the interleague games all bunched together, but I'm not sure it's impossible to have an interleague game every day. As it is right now, while 28 teams are playing interleague games at the same time, there are two NL teams playing each other.

[ISUMatt]

Its possible but is that what the league wants, I dont think so or it would be happening already!!!

[NoCoDanny]

Adding teams? They need to get ride of about 10. The NHL needs to get ride of about 20, the NBA about 10, the NFL... they need to add one in LA.

[blur2005]

Vegas would be a great place to play. They would have to get a retractable roof or a dome though as it gets awfully hot there.

I've played softball in Vegas a few times and the ball absolutely jumps there. There would be some bombs hit there and some nice offensive #'s.
Rumor has it the Oakland A's may move there. Vegas is the fastest growing city in the country.

[blur2005]

Impossible Best Case Scenario: MLB drops 6 teams and goes back to two leagues with 12 teams and two six-team divisions in each league.

So, let's see. In the AL we can axe Tampa Bay and Kansas City, since Oakland will move to Vegas in this scenario. In the NL we can chop Pittsburgh (again, sadly), Colorado, Milwaukee (don't like it either) and while we're at it, we'll shoot down Toronto and move Zona to the AL.
So here we are:

American League
East
Baltimore
Boston
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland
Detroit
NY Yankees

West
Arizona
LA Angels (why the hell did Arturo Moreno add Los Angeles...I know, I know, marketing, but still, it's so stupid)
Minnesota
Oakland
Seattle
Texas

National League
East
Atlanta
Chicago Cubs
Florida
NY Mets
Philadelphia
Washington

West
Cincinnati (they were in the AL West back in the two div. days)
Houston
LA Dodgers (I should have to just write Los Angeles, and not add Dodgers)
St. Louis
San Diego
San Francisco

That league would at least be a little more stable financially. If the MLB would ever make a salary cap, then maybe thirty teams would make sense. Until then, this is the best I can hope for.

[Marcus Garvey]

But, if I were "King For a Day," my first edict would be to abolish inter-league play! It's absurd that the Phils only play the Dodgers and Cubbies 6 times so they can squeeze in games with the O's, Yanks and Red Sox.

My second edict as "King For a Day" would be to make ALL baseball palyers wear some semblance of a uniform! That means no more pulling your pants over your shoes, a la Barry Bonds!

That does remind me of Marge Schott's infamous comment about Eric Davis when he was compaining about the Reds' (then) rule requiring all black shoes. They're shoes you idiot! While she never should have used the racial slur, she got the whiny part right! These guys are paid so much money, the least they can do is wear the uniform correctly!