There has been much talk of realignment over the past couple months. The ideas have ranged from very few to very radical changes. I am more progressive than most in my thinking about changes to baseball – but any change in baseball comes under a lot of scrutiny. The scrutiny is not without cause – baseball has so much history behind it, and some fans are afraid that changes will ruin what they love. Although I am one who believes the DH should be eliminated, the players would never approve that change. Also, I would reduce the season by a few games – which I don’t believe the owners would ever go for. I made a realignment plan that I think will work under those assumptions. If the season could be reduced, or the DH could be eliminated – then a more radical realignment might be more plausible.
I believe all divisions should have the same number of teams. Why some teams compete with three for their division, while others compete with five is not logical. I would move Houston into the NL West, and then move Colorado to the AL West. This keeps most of the existing divisions and rivalries intact. Wouldn’t it be interesting for Colorado to be in the American League?
One problem this causes is that there will be an inter-league series going on at every point of the season, instead of certain times. Each team will play the other teams in their division twelve games, in other league divisions six games. As far as inter-league play, in the geographically same division, each team will also play six times. Then their will be three games against eight of the ten remaining teams, based on the previous years record. This would total 162 games. The playoff/wild card system would remain the same but all playoff series would be seven games.
National League East
Mets
Nationals
Braves
Marlins
Phillies
National League Central
Pirates
Cardinals
Cubs
Reds
Brewers
National League West
Dodgers
Astros
Giants
Padres
Diamondbacks
American League East
Yankees
Orioles
Red Sox
Rays
Blue Jays
American League Central
White Sox
Indians
Royals
Tigers
Twins
American League West
Angels
Rangers
Athletics
Mariners
Rockies
Example:
Mets play
NL East 12 Games each (48)
NL Central 6 Games each (30)
NL West 6 Games (30)
AL East 6 Games (30),
Twins, White Sox, Indians, Kansas City, Angels, Rangers, Mariners, Athletics 3 Games Each (24)
