New schedule

[scrabblehack]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/19553601/interleague-rivalry-games-to-be-reduced-as-mlb-alters-schedule-for-2013/rss

So the leagues are limited to 20 interleague games.

I had thought it would be 2 cycles through one's own league = 30 series -- this would include 2 series against the opposite league, then 4 cycles through one's own division = 20 series -- this would include 4 series against the opposite league. Then there would be two series against the opposite league for 52 series.

That's still possible but 20/8 = 2.5. Half those series would have to be two-game sets. If you're going to do one cycle of an opposite league division, that's rather inelegant.

More likely then is that there will be 3 cycles through one's own league = 45 series -- this would include 3 series against the opposite league. Then one more cycle through one's own division = 5 series -- this would include 1 series against the opposite league (the rival series). Then there would be 2 more series against the opposite league (this would complete the cycle of one division in the opposite league).

That's 52 series in all or 156 games. So we'd need 6 "long" series. So one series against each divisional opponent would be long. Possibly the rival series is intended to be long (equivalently two 2-game sets); then one more -- maybe do like the NFL -- if you finish 1st this year you get another long series with another 1st place team next year; if you finish 5th then you get a long series with another 5th place team. It might be better to keep the rival series short and then have long series against the same ranked team in the other divisions of the same league.

Another problem: Suppose the NL East is playing itself. ATL-NYM; MIA-WSN; ???-PHI. It makes for elegant scheduling if the AL East is also playing itself at the same time -- say TBR-NYY; TOR-BOS; then BAL is available to play PHI without having to travel very far.

[Brooklyn]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/1...e-for-2013/rss

So the leagues are limited to 20 interleague games.

I had thought it would be 2 cycles through one's own league = 30 series -- this would include 2 series against the opposite league, then 4 cycles through one's own division = 20 series -- this would include 4 series against the opposite league. Then there would be two series against the opposite league for 52 series.

That's still possible but 20/8 = 2.5. Half those series would have to be two-game sets. If you're going to do one cycle of an opposite league division, that's rather inelegant.

More likely then is that there will be 3 cycles through one's own league = 45 series -- this would include 3 series against the opposite league. Then one more cycle through one's own division = 5 series -- this would include 1 series against the opposite league (the rival series). Then there would be 2 more series against the opposite league (this would complete the cycle of one division in the opposite league).

That's 52 series in all or 156 games. So we'd need 6 "long" series. So one series against each divisional opponent would be long. Possibly the rival series is intended to be long (equivalently two 2-game sets); then one more -- maybe do like the NFL -- if you finish 1st this year you get another long series with another 1st place team next year; if you finish 5th then you get a long series with another 5th place team. It might be better to keep the rival series short and then have long series against the same ranked team in the other divisions of the same league.

Another problem: Suppose the NL East is playing itself. ATL-NYM; MIA-WSN; ???-PHI. It makes for elegant scheduling if the AL East is also playing itself at the same time -- say TBR-NYY; TOR-BOS; then BAL is available to play PHI without having to travel very far.

your math is wrong. while there are 15 teams in the league and 5 in the division, teams don' t play themselves. So they only play 14 other teams in the league and 4 other teams in the division

It would work with:

- 18 interleague games - 3 each against a rotating division, plus 3 against your rival (in years where the rotating division includes your rival, you'd play them 6 times, or they'd have to work something else out)
- 60 intraleauge games - 6 against each non division opponent
- 84 division games - 21 against each division opponent

That is probably not balanced enough, so this could work, too, which may be too balanced

- 18 interleague games - 3 each against a rotating division, plus 3 against your rival (in years where the rotating division includes your rival, you'd play them 6 times, or they'd have to work something else out)
- 100 intraleague games - 10 against each non division opponent
- 44 division games - 11 against each division opponent

Or somewhere in the middle. Probalby with this is teams would play 6 at home and 3 on the road or vice versa against most teams, unless they wind up with lots of 2 and 4 games series.

- 20 interleague games - 3 each against a rotating division, plus 5 against your rival (in years where the rotating division includes your rival, you'd play them 8 times, or they'd have to work something else out)
- 90 intraleague games - 9 against each non division opponent
- 52 division games - 13 against each division opponent

[drdg]

article V
section (D) and (E) of the CBA states

D. Interleague Play
Each Club may be scheduled to play up to 20 Interleague games during
each championship season. In each Interleague game at an
American League park, the Designated Hitter shall be used; at each
Interleague game at a National League park, the Designated Hitter
shall not be used.

E. 15/15 Realignment
Beginning with the 2013 championship season, the Office of the Commissioner
will prepare a schedule based on the following criteria:
(1) There will be no more than 20 Interleague games. The bulk
of Interleague play will be based on a rotating division format, but
may include no more than one series against a prime inter-league
rival unless they play two two-game series. In the years when the
corresponding divisions are scheduled for Interleague play, two
series of three or fewer games against the prime inter-league rival
may be played.
(2) Each Club will play no fewer than 17 games against each
Club in its division if the schedule is 181 days or more. Each Club
will play no fewer than 18 games against each Club in its division
if the schedule is 180 days or fewer.
(3) The original schedule may contain one home split doubleheader
for each Club.
(4) The All-Star break will contain four days for all Clubs.

[UnderPressure]

Decrease division games. I'm sure I'm in the minority here. Why would you suggest 21 division games? 18-19 is already too many, IMO.

[scrabblehack]

I think we're looking at 84/60/18 or 72/70/20.

72 divisional games would be 24 series, or 6 circuits around the division.
70 nondivisional league games would be 20 series, or 2 circuits around the league (with 1/2 of those 20 series being "long" or 4-game sets)
20 interleague games -- 5 * 3 = 15 against one division plus 5 against your interleague rival - 7 series.
Dang, you'd end up playing 10 games against your interleague rival in years when you played your own division.

84 divisional games still need to be played in 24 series -- 6 circuits around the division. So 1/2 of those series would be long.
60 nondivisional games would also be 20 series, all of them "short," or 3-game sets.
18 interleague games = 5 * 3 = 15 against one division, plus 3 against your interleague rival.

So without a renegotiation of the CBA, we might be looking at 84/60/18.
72/70/20 is appealing. I'm trying to figure out how to apportion the 20 games though. You could do 5 * 4 = 20 then drop the interleague rivalry altogether. At least one of the 4-game interleague sets would have to be broken into 2 home and 2 away.

[scrabblehack]

It wound up at 76/66/20.

It looks like 24 series within the division, with one long series per team: 76 games
20 series within the league, other divisions, 6 long series per team.
7 series against the opposite league - 5 against every team in one division plus 2 series against the rival.

That still makes for some inelegant scheduling.

I got to thinking to divide each league into sets of 3 teams:
NYM-PHI-WAS/PIT-ATL=MIA/CIN-CHC-MIL/STL-COL-ARI/LAD-SFG-SDP
NYY-BOS-BAL/DET-TOR-TBR/CLE-CHW-MIN/KCR-TEX-HOU/ANA-OAK-SEA

Then each team would play its rival twice, and other teams in the opposite league subdivision once, plus one set against another subdivision.
Each series would be 3 games (2 home and 3 road or vice versa), then against the rival would be two series: a 4 game set at home and one on the road or vice versa.

I figure there need to be at least 4 series against nearby teams in the opposite league - this makes it easier to complete circuits of the division without having to travel far. So, Mets play Nats while Phils play Bosox, then Mets play Phils while Nats play O's, then Phils play Nats while Mets play Yanks.

But each of those teams would have a road trip or home stand versus ANA-OAK-SEA, TEX-HOU-KCR, CLE-CHW-MIN, or TOR-DET-TBR (TBR is an inconvenient team for any subdivision - but the clusters are somewhat tighter with TBR in with TOR and DET.

I think the 1-game sets should either be at the beginning of the season (preferably) or right before the All-Star break.

I suppose some would complain that certain teams would get a break in the schedule because of geography.

[Nerdlinger]

As someone who's much more knowledgeable about schedules than I am, perhaps you could weigh in on my question here? Thanks!

[Rich the Giants fan]

Decrease division games. I'm sure I'm in the minority here. Why would you suggest 21 division games? 18-19 is already too many, IMO.

I'd rather see fewer Interleague games, and MORE division games.

[Bothrops Atrox]

I'd rather see fewer Interleague games, and MORE division games.

I can't wait for the day we get to see Y. Gallardo pitch against the Cardinals 9x per year. That is a lot more exciting than watching Jeter and Longoria and the Sox coming to town. Or more games vs. classic franchises like the Dodgers and Giants and Braves. That would be horrible.

Same pitchers. Same uniforms. Same ballparks. Game after game after game. No thanks. I would also like to see a decrease in divisional games. Playing the same 4 teams 20x each is boring.

And yes, I know I am in the minority too.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

I can't wait for the day we get to see Y. Gallardo pitch against the Cardinals 9x per year. That is a lot more exciting than watching Jeter and Longoria and the Sox coming to town. Or more games vs. classic franchises like the Dodgers and Giants and Braves. That would be horrible.

Same pitchers. Same uniforms. Same ballparks. Game after game after game. No thanks. I would also like to see a decrease in divisional games. Playing the same 4 teams 20x each is boring.

And yes, I know I am in the minority too.

If I was a Cardinal fan, I would want to face Yovani Gallardo as much as possible.

[Rich the Giants fan]

I can't wait for the day we get to see Y. Gallardo pitch against the Cardinals 9x per year. That is a lot more exciting than watching Jeter and Longoria and the Sox coming to town. Or more games vs. classic franchises like the Dodgers and Giants and Braves. That would be horrible.

Same pitchers. Same uniforms. Same ballparks. Game after game after game. No thanks. I would also like to see a decrease in divisional games. Playing the same 4 teams 20x each is boring.

And yes, I know I am in the minority too.

Interleague play has spoiled the mystique of the World Series, and division games are the meat of the division races. I'd eliminate Interleague play altogether, but unfortunately I'm in the minority on that one.

[drdg]

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?118792-2015-Interleague-Schedule&p=2332609#post2332609

so without all the extra stuff the 2015 new schedule with the same division interleague play
comes down to what MLB has been doing all along since the 15-15 split

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interleague_play

[Bothrops Atrox]

Interleague play has spoiled the mystique of the World Series, and division games are the meat of the division races. I'd eliminate Interleague play altogether, but unfortunately I'm in the minority on that one.

I am so excited when the Cards make the WS, I really don't care who the heck they are playing or if they played them earlier. "Oh man, this WS sucks. We already played the Orioles this year. I am not even sure if I even care anymore." It doesn't spoil it for me at all. And even if it did, I would take that risk considering the tiny probability each year the Cards have to make the WS compared to the 100% chance of boredom having to watch the Brewers and Pirates a billion times per year. I can't imagine how much fun it must be to see those ugly Padres unis and watch 1-0 games in those two parks 19x per season. I really feel sorry for you.

As far as divisional races, this is one of the reasons you get such unbalanced schedules too. It is much more fair for everybody in the league to play each other the same number of times. I think it makes the divisional races and standings more authentic.

I also don't think you are in the minority. It seems most people whine and cry about interleague play here.

[Bothrops Atrox]

If I was a Cardinal fan, I would want to face Yovani Gallardo as much as possible.

Good point.

[drdg]

Interleague play has spoiled the mystique of the World Series, and division games are the meat of the division races. I'd eliminate Interleague play altogether, but unfortunately I'm in the minority on that one.

I'm with you, after all those years I am tired of interleague play.
I'm glad changes were made, and I hope MORE changes can be made in the future
I say eliminate the natural rivals, I believe fans had gotten tired of them
this year for the Yankees/Mets series, the attendance number/tv numbers were down
I would go with just 5 series of 3 games each keeping the present rotation
ALe-NLe, ALe-NLc, ALe-NLw, and so on
so the Yankees would play the Mets every 3 years, rotating the home games
one year the Yankees are the home team and the next time in 3 years the Mets are the home

The way the interleague schedule is now, there is no way to predict who is going to be the home team
the red sox hosted the Nationals the last time they played and they will do so again in 2015.
granted the 15-15 split started this year, but the schedule is still unpredictable