Your Preferred League/Schedule/Postseason Structure

[Rich the Giants fan]

So we should expand the league just because those two new teams may be good on the field?
I'm sorry, but there are economic and business considerations to take into account when deciding if you're going to expand a professional sports league.

You can't just go "Hmmm, I think we should have a new team in Montreal and Portland because that would be neat."

I'll give the Rays all the credit they deserve for their on-field performance of the past few seasons, but economically the city has not been there for the team. The attendance has been horrible.

No, they expand because baseball is a multi-billion dollar business that is thriving during tough economic times. You cannot convince me that baseball can't survive another round of expansion.

As to the latter, so has the stadium. If you build it, they will come.

[KevinWI]

No, they expand because baseball is a multi-billion dollar business that is thriving during tough economic times. You cannot convince me that baseball can't survive another round of expansion.

As to the latter, so has the stadium. If you build it, they will come.

The Cubs and Red Sox have done pretty well with ancient stadiums.

That was a joke. I know Wrigley and Fenway are exceptions that prove the rule. (It's taking every fiber of my being to keep me from launching into a tirade about Wrigley, but I digress)

I'd love to see expansion teams do well. I just don't know if it'll happen.

[Rich the Giants fan]

The Cubs and Red Sox have done pretty well with ancient stadiums.

Ancient does not necessarily mean bad. The Trop was a disaster when it was built (construction started in 1986 and finished in 1990) and ill-suited to permanent success. Wrigley Field and Fenway Park are iconic buildings that host teams with long storied histories. The Trop, nee the Thunderdome (my fav) nee the Suncoast Dome, has been around 8-years longer than the team that occupies it. It was built beyond the era of the 70's cookie cutters yet prior to the first of today's more modern designs (New Comiskey, Camden Yards). It lacks modern ammenities and it's decor has always been an area of complaint. With a fixed dome instead of a retractable roof, it is the only stadium left that offers no chance of fresh air or sunshine. It is by all accounts, a bad place to watch a game and, located as it is in St. Petersburg, it is often criticized as being located too far away from the Tampa Bay area's largest population base in Tampa. And although they had a decline in television ratings last season, they had the fifth highest local ratings in all of baseball in 2010, proving that people in the Tampa Bay area do like the Rays.

If the people in the TB region could get their act together and build a new stadium, the fans would come.

And if they are concerned about how much it costs, just tell them to look back at the area that AT&T Park now sits prior to when it was built, and now. The transformation of that district from one of the City's poorest and most neglected into one that is now absolutely thriving simply blows my mind every year. That area was a desolate area before Peter Magowan built that yard. The City ought to give him a key to the City for doing what they failed four times to do themselves. They're lucky the Giants didn't move to Tampa themselves due to their idocy. Thank goodness for Mr. Magowan saving the Giants for San Francisco. His legacy, if properly reflected, will last far beyond the stadium he built. It would show him greatly responsible for the revitalization of that entire area of San Francisco.

[johnnypapa]

also...the DH in both leagues.

[EdTarbusz]

You guys talking about contraction, you're talking about something that MLB hasn't had to do since the National League formed. I think the last team retracted was the Cleveland Spiders. You might want it, but history suggests that MLB will move heaven and earth to ensure you never get it. THey'd have to really hit the rocks for retraction to ever be a realistic possibility.

The last time the NL contracted was after the 1899 season. Cleveland, Washington, Louisville and Baltimore were dropped.

[Imgran]

That's 113 years ago.

The sport is too well-established now to countenance contraction.

[EdTarbusz]

they are the city best known for hijacking two different baseball teams

their owner is the commissioner of baseball who is a dufus
]

Both teams that moved to Milwaukee did so out of economic neccessity. The Braves were dying in Boston and the Seattle Pilots were started prematurely. If Seattle didn't move to Milwaukee there was a good chance they would have been contracted.

In terms of what the job is really about (making money for the owners) Bud Selig is probably the best Commissioner baseball has ever had.

[EdTarbusz]

That's 113 years ago.

The sport is too well-established now to countenance contraction.

I don't really agree with that. I think the day will come again when teams that aren't pulling their weight financially will be contracted.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Please rememebr to keep it on topic folks. The attacks on cities and insults to posters will stop. Several worthless, self-serving posts have been deleted, along with a little collateral damage. Apologies for the collateral damage.

[Imgran]

I don't really agree with that. I think the day will come again when teams that aren't pulling their weight financially will be contracted.

I hope not because that will mean that the league has become far unhealthier than it is now.

[Mr. Laser Beam]

It's my (naive) view that you can never have too many baseball teams. I would not, under any circumstances, want contraction. Expand or die, as the Breen might say.

Just add two teams (Montreal Expos II, and either Las Vegas, New Orleans, or if I may say so, Omaha ), go to a four-division setup with no wildcards, and you're set.

[Rich the Giants fan]

I hope not because that will mean that the league has become far unhealthier than it is now.

I hope not because that would mean the country is in far worse shape than it is now. Baseball is strong and thriving. There is absolutely no need for talk of contraction when you have a multi-billion dollar business that is thriving during an economic downturn. Expand to 32 teams and eliminate any need for everyday IL play or Wild Cards.

[DJC]

I've attempted to depict the preferred arrangement of each league based on voters' choices in the poll. Let me know if I've misrepresented you.

NL&AL, 3 div/lg, 30 tm, 4 ps/lg (1998-2011): KevinWI, Mr Baseball

(current setup)

NL&AL, 4 div/lg, 32 tm, 4 ps/lg: BeatEmBucs, DJC, John Shoemaker, Mr. Laser Beam, The Dude, Yankeefan3783
E&W, 4 div/lg, 32 tm, 4 ps/lg: Rich the Giants fan
unspecified split, 4 div/lg, 32 tm, 4 ps/lg: Blue387

Division A   Division B   Division C   Division D
Team 1*      Team 5*      Team 9*      Team 13*
Team 2       Team 6       Team 10      Team 14
Team 3       Team 7       Team 11      Team 15
Team 4       Team 8       Team 12      Team 16

NL&AL, 3 div/lg, 28 tm, 4 ps/lg (1994-1997): Zito75

Division A   Division B   Division C
Team 1*      Team 6*      Team 11*
Team 2**     Team 7       Team 12
Team 3       Team 8       Team 13
Team 4       Team 9       Team 14
Team 5       Team 10

E&W, 3 div/lg, 30 tm, 5 ps/lg: leecemark

Division A   Division B   Division C
Team 1*      Team 6*      Team 11*
Team 2**     Team 7**     Team 12
Team 3       Team 8       Team 13
Team 4       Team 9       Team 14
Team 5       Team 10      Team 15

NL&AL, 3 div/lg, 32 tm, 4 ps/lg: YankeeDJW

Division A   Division B   Division C
Team 1*      Team 7*      Team 12*
Team 2**     Team 8       Team 13
Team 3       Team 9       Team 14
Team 4       Team 10      Team 15
Team 5       Team 11      Team 16
Team 6

NL&AL, 2 div/lg, 24 tm, 2 ps/lg (1969-1976): Brooklyn, ian2813

Division A   Division B
Team 1*      Team 7*
Team 2       Team 8
Team 3       Team 9
Team 4       Team 10
Team 5       Team 11
Team 6       Team 12

NL&AL, 2 div/lg, 28 tm, 2 ps/lg (1993): brewcrew82, Seattle 1

Division A   Division B
Team 1*      Team 8*
Team 2       Team 9
Team 3       Team 10
Team 4       Team 11
Team 5       Team 12
Team 6       Team 13
Team 7       Team 14

NL&AL, 2 div/lg, 28 tm, 4 ps/lg: Matthew C.
unspecified split, 2 div/lg, 28 tm, 4 ps/lg: GiambiJuice

Division A   Division B
Team 1*      Team 8*
Team 2**     Team 9**
Team 3       Team 10
Team 4       Team 11
Team 5       Team 12
Team 6       Team 13
Team 7       Team 14

unspecified split, 2 div/lg, 28 tm, 6 ps/lg: RDB_SoxFan

Division A   Division B
Team 1*      Team 8*
Team 2**     Team 9**
Team 3**     Team 10**
Team 4       Team 11
Team 5       Team 12
Team 6       Team 13
Team 7       Team 14

NL&AL, 2 div/lg, 32 tm, 2 ps/lg: NineWorldSeries, wrgptfan

Division A   Division B
Team 1*      Team 9*
Team 2       Team 10
Team 3       Team 11
Team 4       Team 12
Team 5       Team 13
Team 6       Team 14
Team 7       Team 15
Team 8       Team 16

NL&AL, 2 div/lg, 32 tm, 4 ps/lg: KHenry14

Division A   Division B
Team 1*      Team 9*
Team 2**     Team 10**
Team 3       Team 11
Team 4       Team 12
Team 5       Team 13
Team 6       Team 14
Team 7       Team 15
Team 8       Team 16

NL&AL, 0 div/lg, 24 tm, 2 ps/lg: Reds5

Team 1*
Team 2*
Team 3
Team 4
Team 5
Team 6
Team 7
Team 8
Team 9
Team 10
Team 11
Team 12

NL&AL, 0 div/lg, 28 tm, 1 ps/lg: EdTarbusz

Team 1*
Team 2
Team 3
Team 4
Team 5
Team 6
Team 7
Team 8
Team 9
Team 10
Team 11
Team 12
Team 13
Team 14

NL&AL, 0 div/lg, 30 tm, 4 ps/lg: johnnypapa

Team 1*
Team 2*
Team 3*
Team 4*
Team 5
Team 6
Team 7
Team 8
Team 9
Team 10
Team 11
Team 12
Team 13
Team 14
Team 15

NL&AL, unspecified div/lg, 26 tm, 4 ps/lg: bluesky5

(as in 1977-1992, but with 2 wild cards per league?)

[Yankeefan3783]

I was listening to sports radio the other day, and they were discussing the 15 team leagues and everyday interleague. Everyone who called in was against it. Mostly because the two leagues play under different rules. Also, interleague has been watered down and they already play too many IL games as is.

One solution was reducing to 28 teams, but the more popular solution was expanding to 32 teams. Indianapolis, San Antonio, and Portland were some of the cities that were brought up as potential future homes to MLB. As the host said, this move for next season was not very well thought out and didn't buy that the players union forced this move (as Selig claims).

[RMD]

It's my (naive) view that you can never have too many baseball teams. I would not, under any circumstances, want contraction. Expand or die, as the Breen might say.

Just add two teams (Montreal Expos II, and either Las Vegas, New Orleans, or if I may say so, Omaha ), go to a four-division setup with no wildcards, and you're set.

I hear you. But I'd also love to see past teams with history in the 20th Century return - Expos, Browns, Brooklyn, 2nd team in Philly, 2nd team in Boston.

I'd also love to see some new cities/states with intriguing history attempt to get behind teams - Portland, Utah, Las Vegas, Omaha, Indiana, Memphis, San Antonio, New Orleans, Birmingham, Oklahoma City.

Baseball is so American. Should be the identity of summer around the country. I'd love to see these American cities get the chance. I could care less if the league's talent waters down a bit, the mlb's economics take a hit, etc. I value the history of the game and the history of cities more. Too bad these values aren't aligned in the 21st Century.

[doug217]

I agree. Old Bud killed baseball traditions and rivalries that existed for decades, all in the name of greed.

[dominik]

wow a lot of options.

but you forgot one:

why not make it like in soccer in europe: one league and the winner of the regular season is the champion (no playoffs). that way you would really find the strongest team. I know that is not going to happen but from a pure sports point of view this would be the best format.

[hwmongoose]

I voted "Other" for Question 8. I would like to see World Series home field advantage awarded to the team representing the strongest league that year, whichever league had the best winning percentage during inter-league play that same year. In the unlikely event of an exact tie, then the winning league of the All-Star Game could be used as the tie-breaker.

[theAmazingMet]

24 teams two historic leagues, 2 divisions of 6 teams. 4 teams make the playoffs. 7 game LCS, 7 game WS. WS decided by better record.

[Rich the Giants fan]

I agree. Old Bud killed baseball traditions and rivalries that existed for decades, all in the name of greed.

Wow, a Giants fan and a Dodgers fan agree. Crazy world.

[Yankeefan3783]

With Magic buying the Dodgers, maybe Jordan can follow suit and lead a group into bringing a ML team to Charlotte.

[Brus]

I wasn't exactly sure how to answer this one. There was no option for "20 teams".

Historically, I'm standing up for the oh-so-brief 20-team era, i.e., 1962-1968. The best thing about this era was the number of great pennant races - not just two-team races, but 3 and 4 team races. (1967 AL, 1964 NL, e.g.). I think this was no accident. The 10-team leagues were the biggest "divisions" MLB has ever had, and it's just tougher to run away from 9 other teams than 5 or 7 or 3. I don't think there was more than one (1908 NL) real down-to-the-wire 3-way race in the 16-team era.

As a what-if, I've always wondered how things would have been if the PCL had been accepted as a third major league in the 1950s rather than the later expansion of the NL and AL to the west coast. I posted several months ago on ideas for a three-way World Series.

Either way, I still love the old pure-pennant races.

[PeteU]

I'd keep most things the same.

4 playoff teams per league, with three division winners and one wild card, works fine. The wild card allows for at least one team who truly deserves a post season berth but plays in a tough division to get in. But I like the notion of having to work hard to get in the postseason. None of the NHL/NBA nonsense where half the teams get in and the playoffs last two months. That's ridiculous.

I'd switch back to rotating between the AL and NL for World Series home field, regardless of who wins the All Star game.

I would get rid of interleague play. Make the World Series be the first time (other than preseason) where an AL team meets an NL team on the field of play. Give it back a sense of sacredness that it lost when they introduced interleague play.

I'd add two teams. I'd give Montreal another shot, and perhaps as the other team, I'd expand to Omaha (they have a brand new, state of the art 30,000 seat baseball-first stadium that gets used 2 weeks out of year....what a waste of a perfectly good ballpark!). I doubt 2 more teams would dilute the talent pool all that much.

NO CONTRACTION! Contraction is for fledgling novelty sports, not the nation's pastime.

Oh, and I'd keep the DH in the AL, pitchers hitting in the NL. Keep an individual sense of character per league. These are leagues, not conferences.

[Zoltan]

I'd keep most things the same.

4 playoff teams per league, with three division winners and one wild card, works fine. The wild card allows for at least one team who truly deserves a post season berth but plays in a tough division to get in. But I like the notion of having to work hard to get in the postseason. None of the NHL/NBA nonsense where half the teams get in and the playoffs last two months. That's ridiculous.

I'd switch back to rotating between the AL and NL for World Series home field, regardless of who wins the All Star game.

I would get rid of interleague play. Make the World Series be the first time (other than preseason) where an AL team meets an NL team on the field of play. Give it back a sense of sacredness that it lost when they introduced interleague play.

I'd add two teams. I'd give Montreal another shot, and perhaps as the other team, I'd expand to Omaha (they have a brand new, state of the art 30,000 seat baseball-first stadium that gets used 2 weeks out of year....what a waste of a perfectly good ballpark!). I doubt 2 more teams would dilute the talent pool all that much.

NO CONTRACTION! Contraction is for fledgling novelty sports, not the nation's pastime.

Oh, and I'd keep the DH in the AL, pitchers hitting in the NL. Keep an individual sense of character per league. These are leagues, not conferences.

I firmly agree with your last line here. And about no Interleague play. Bring the "mystique" about the other league back.