http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/article/2010-03-10/mlb-discussions-over-floating-realignment

 

Major League Baseball teams would be able to pick their division and league annually under a plan being floated by a committee charged with examining the game.

Long and short of it is that each team will be able to pick what division they would like to play in each year.

 

For instance, if the Nationals feel like they want to rebuild and not take such a harsh beating from the Mets, Phillies, Braves and Marlins. Each year they can choose to play in the NL Central and compete and play against the Pirates, Brewers, Astros, and Reds.

 

The Rays could possibly join the NL East one year, Then move back to the AL Central, then Move to the NL Central before ending up if they wish back in the AL East. (possibly the real motivation or Floating alignment is the power plays teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Braves had on their divisions for so long. Interleague play would cease to exist, instead being replaced by a interleague like schedule found in the NHL, NBA, or NFL (you play anyone, any day, anywhere).

 

What do you guys think?

 

Personally, I don't like the idea. Although, I am in favor of re-aligning the divisions somewhat. I feel the Phillies and Pirates should be in the NL East together. Mets and Marlins can't be broken up. The AL west needs that 5th team, but if the league feels approriate, even a 4 division, 4 team per division AL and NL would be cool.

Seems odd to me.

What happened to keeping it traditional?

 

Cause wouldn't the weakest division lets say of the pirates, nationals, reds, and what ever other bad teams have a team in the play offs over teams that would be far better.

Unless they would just go by seeds like in basketball?

forget the divisions, just the best 8 teams period by record.

Well I dont think there would be one "weak" division. Imagine if the NL Central becomes: Pirates, Royals, Reds, and Nationals. You know a team like Tampa is going to do everything possible to get into that division so that they can make it to the playoffs.

I personally think this is a dumb idea though.

Plus why would any team really choose to be in a 'tough' division. I dont like this

Plus why would any team really choose to be in a 'tough' division. I dont like this

 

 

If you're tanking (i.e. Indians, Padres), it's good way to get a higher pick.

 

Also, if you're a money grubber, it gives you more games against Yankees and Red Soxs = more revenue.

This "floating realignment" idea has to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I'm not what you would call a traditionalist but this is just ridiculous.

 

MLB does need realignment however. For starters even out the friggin leagues. Why they moved Milwaukee to the NL for no reason in 1998 is beyond me. Best I can come up with is Selig wanted to see the Brewers pitchers hitting .

 

Ideally I'd like to see baseball adopt a fully balanced schedule. Screw the antiquated concept of divisions(you don't take the train to away games anymore, don't need to cluster teams together). And I'd lose the leagues as well. Just play a 3 game series home and away versus every other team in the Majors. It would only add 12 games to the schedule. Play some double headers, expand the roster one or two guys and bingo. Top 8 make the playoffs.

 

I think it would make for a much more competitive league. The bigger market teams wouldn't be able to feast on the little guys and the smaller teams like the Jays and Orioles wouldn't have to play the Yankees or Sox 16 times a year. I'd like to see the Sox, Yankees, Angels, Mariners, etc. etc. come to town(and lose) every year, not every 5 or 6.

 

I swear MLB is stuck so far in the past I'm surprised the players don't show up to the games on horseback.

MLB does need realignment however. For starters even out the friggin leagues. Why they moved Milwaukee to the NL for no reason in 1998 is beyond me. Best I can come up with is Selig wanted to see the Brewers pitchers hitting .

 

 

 

because they needed an even number of teams in each league or they'd only be able to play 7 games on a certain day and then one team from each league would have to be left waiting. this way every team can play and there wouldn't have to be interleague games integrated every week.

Guys, I actually saw a featurette on MLB tv on this idea. The plan would more or less be this (correct me if I am wrong) First, the league realizes that over the last 15 seasons the yankees and redsox have won 30% of the available playoff spots in the AL. That may not seem like a whole lot but when there is at least 10 to 12 other teams it is quite a bit. What they are saying is that since the teams like the yanks, red sox, angels, etc... a)win divisions and wild cards as a constant and b) draw massive crowds on their away games, teams that declare to be "rebuilding" can be in the same division as these teams so they can draw big crowds and make more money. By doing this it pairs teams that win fairly easily with teams that dont really mind getting steamrolled and in the process the teams make enough money from that division to spend more money on free agents the following year. While teams that are average and slightly above average fight it out in "more fair divisions". I for one dont have an issue with this but i am curious to see how teams are able to declare what division they want to play in.

Plus why would any team really choose to be in a 'tough' division. I dont like this

 

 

If you're tanking (i.e. Indians, Padres), it's good way to get a higher pick.

 

Also, if you're a money grubber, it gives you more games against Yankees and Red Soxs = more revenue.

I wonder which division we would pick. :mischief

This is plainly retarded. The best teams should be in the playoffs, not the best team of the worst division.

The Orioles always complain about having to play in the same division as the Yankees and Red Sox. I wonder how willing they are to trade off the 18 games each year guaranteed to be near sell-outs.