Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

[lonewolf371]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

I like everything the way it is. I can't stand how much the NFL changes every year. If MLB started changing a lot, I'd probably go have to watch soccer or something.

[AUTiger1]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

Massachusetts is in the north east so the Sox should be in an eastern division.

Here's my take for realignment:

AL East:
Red Sox
Mets
Yankees
Phillies
Nationals

AL North
Orioles
Tigers
Brewers
Twins
Pirates
Blue Jays


AL Pacific
Diamondbacks
Angels
Dodgers
Padres

NL Central
Cubs
White Sox
Reds
Indians
Royals
Cardinals

NL South
Braves
Marlins
Astros
Rays
Rangers

NL Northwest
Rockies
A's
Giants
Mariners

Hey guys. I don't know if any of yall remember me from last year at this time. But it's great to be back.

I did the same thing and that's close to what I came up with. East and West leagues like the NHL and NBA have is the only way to make the divisions more fair. Because it's no surprise that the highest payroll teams are in the highest populated cities which most are in the northeast and there for should be put into the same division.

[AUTiger1]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

Okay, here's my "modest" suggestion, which is designed to:

1. Give more teams a chance to reach the postseason (ie, the rest of the AL East)
2. Keep the wild card, but give teams MUCH MORE incentive to win their division as opposed to the WC
3. Not tinker with the playoff format (much) or divisional realignment (at all)

STEP 1

As many have suggested, make the schedule more balanced than it is now. Instead of facing divisional opponents 18-20 times and non-divisional opponents 6-9 times, make it 14-16 and 9-12 respectively.

STEP 2

Add ONE wild card team per league, so that 5 teams (3 division winners plus 2 WC) total make the postseason in each league. On the Monday after the season, the 2 WC play a 1-game playoff to see who moves on to play the division winner with the best record in the Division Series. The Division Series starts on a Wed or Thurs like it does now, the rest of the playoffs play out like it does now.

Why would I do this? Because it gives more teams a chance to make the postseason while making a division title much more desirable and a wild card spot much less so.

Consider this: in the current format, the wild cards have had great success because it's not much of a disadvantage. Other than pride, does it REALLY matter to the Yankees or Red Sox which one takes the division and which the WC? No, not really. Once the playoffs start, they're on an even standing. In 2009, the Red Sox and Rockies cruised to the WC, could set up their pitching rotation how they wanted, and didn't even have to face the division winner with the best record (Yankees and Dodgers) in the Division Series, because of MLB's dumb rule about not letting two teams from the same division face each other in the first round of the playoffs. Winning the WC isn't much of a disadvantage at all, and that devalues division races.

BUT...if you use my system, the wild card is a scary prospect all of a sudden. Last year, the Red Sox knew they were going to the WC and play the Angels for weeks, and could rest their players and set up their rotation however they pleased. Using my system, the Red Sox instead have to face the Rangers in a winner-take-all game on the Monday after the season. Even if Boston wins, they'd probably have to use Lester or Beckett against Texas, which would put them at a disadvantage in the ALDS (which would be against the Yankees, not the Angels). Compared to the current system, there's a ton of uncertainty involved for the wild card, and a lot more incentive to win the division title and avoid a do-or-die scenario.

I agree with your idea somewhat. I think the team with the best record doesn't get rewarded. There should be some reward like there is in the NFL. If they were to add a 2nd wild card team they could have those teams play each other while the other 2 division winners play each other. And let the team with the best record have a 1st round bye. Then have the winner of the wild card series play the team with the best record.

Nope that wouldn't work either. I guess your idea is the best way to do it. Great job. You stomped me.

[rsox]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

Hey guys. I don't know if any of yall remember me from last year at this time. But it's great to be back.

I did the same thing and that's close to what I came up with. East and West leagues like the NHL and NBA have is the only way to make the divisions more fair. Because it's no surprise that the highest payroll teams are in the highest populated cities which most are in the northeast and there for should be put into the same division.

If you look more into this thread i posted an idea for an NBA/NHL style Eastern and Western Confrences. Honestly that is really the only kind of drastic realignment i could see working.

[AUTiger1]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

If you look more into this thread i posted an idea for an NBA/NHL style Eastern and Western Confrences. Honestly that is really the only kind of drastic realignment i could see working.

Yeah. I didn't feel like reading all the posts. I figured someone else would have thought of that too.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

If not Charlotte Tennesee or Oklahoma could work as possibilities.

I was thinking about this again a couple of days ago. Memphis/Nashville or Oklahoma City would work as possible locations. Although does Memphis creep into St. Louis' market and Nashville the Braves'?

Anyway, with the 32-team, 8-division thing I posted about earlier, I never thought about how the schedule would work out. So, here's my take on that:

14 games against each of the 3 division opponents (42 games)
9 games against each of the 4 teams in the other 3 divisions of your league (36 games x 3 = 108 games)
3 games against each of the 4 teams in one of the other league's divisions with rotating division opponents each season (12 games)

162 total games. The inter-league rivalry that teams play each season regardless of what division your team's division is supposed to play (i.e. Reds vs Indians) would be scrapped. I don't really care about that anyway.

[rsox]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

I was thinking about this again a couple of days ago. Memphis/Nashville or Oklahoma City would work as possible locations. Although does Memphis creep into St. Louis' market and Nashville the Braves'?

Anyway, with the 32-team, 8-division thing I posted about earlier, I never thought about how the schedule would work out. So, here's my take on that:

14 games against each of the 3 division opponents (42 games)
9 games against each of the 4 teams in the other 3 divisions of your league (36 games x 3 = 108 games)
3 games against each of the 4 teams in one of the other league's divisions with rotating division opponents each season (12 games)

162 total games. The inter-league rivalry that teams play each season regardless of what division your team's division is supposed to play (i.e. Reds vs Indians) would be scrapped. I don't really care about that anyway.

Baltimore/Philadelphia/Washington are all co-existing just fine so i don't think that treading on anyones turf would really matter.

I like your breakdown of games and agree that they can scrap the "natural rival" nonsense since most of those teams play eachother in spring training anyway.

[elicoleman]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

I was thinking about this again a couple of days ago. Memphis/Nashville or Oklahoma City would work as possible locations. Although does Memphis creep into St. Louis' market?

Yeah, down here is typically Cardinals country. Memphis Redbirds is the STL AAA affiliate as well. I can't imagine pro sports (including the Grizzlies) really doing well in this city. People seem pretty content on just rooting for the Tigers.

[Sandman42]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

I like Jeff Passan's idea. Elimate all division. Just a 14 team AL and 16 team NL, top 4 records in each league make the playoffs.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-alignment042010

[SlimKibbles]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

I like Jeff Passan's idea. Elimate all division. Just a 14 team AL and 16 team NL, top 4 records in each league make the playoffs.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...lignment042010

You know, I wouldn't mind seeing that happen either. Works for me.

[lonewolf371]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

I like Jeff Passan's idea. Elimate all division. Just a 14 team AL and 16 team NL, top 4 records in each league make the playoffs.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...lignment042010

That's a great idea.

[fugazi]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

I like the UNalignment idea the best....that is, next to a 2 divisions per league arrangement....i like rivalries, and think they can be maintained one way or another, but I am not opposed to Unalignment...

As for expansion....how should I put it? NO NO NO NO NO NO.

First, all those markets mentioned suck. Especially Memphis, and yes, it is Cardinals Country.

Retraction would be better, but it isn't likely. Losing 2 teams would be better than adding 2.


If they do UNalign, I kinda prefer a ProBowlers style ladder...
#3 and #4 play 3-Game Series; Winner and #2 play 5, Winner plays #1 in 7-game series for trip to World Series. No Off-Day between first and second round...

Either way, if Playoffs are too long, then shorten the regular season.

Personally, I think I am in love with the ladder playoff idea...it makes the ordering of positions VERY VERY important...the alternative of a 1v4&2v3 round does NOTHING to reward, say, a team that wins 105 games (#1) which essentially becomes the equal to a #4 team that, say, won 85 games....If they want to make the Regular Season "more meaningful" this is the way to do it... Wow...I LOVE THIS IDEA!!! it will never happen

[Dirty Turtles]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

My grandfather always harps about how they need to go back to one league and lose the division crap as Passan suggested.

I think two divisions per league, East/West, with 2 wild cards is the best way to go. Lose the interleague games. Basically it'd be the 1993 alignment, but a few changes (ie Tampa for Milwaukee in the AL East and Atlanta and Cincy to the NL East for St Louis, Milwaukee added to the NL West)

AL EAST
Baltimore
Boston
Cleveland
Detroit
New York
Tampa Bay
Toronto

AL WEST
Chicago
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Oakland
Minnesota
Seattle
Texas

NL East
Atlanta
Chicago
Cincinnati
Florida
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Washington

NL West
Arizona
Colorado
Houston
Los Angeles
Milwaukee
San Diego
San Francisco
St Louis

[fugazi]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

Nope....

Ladder Playoff FTW!!!

There is no better idea.

[wang_chi7]

Re: Realignment ideas from Rosenthal

My grandfather always harps about how they need to go back to one league and lose the division crap as Passan suggested.

I think two divisions per league, East/West, with 2 wild cards is the best way to go. Lose the interleague games. Basically it'd be the 1993 alignment, but a few changes (ie Tampa for Milwaukee in the AL East and Atlanta and Cincy to the NL East for St Louis, Milwaukee added to the NL West)

AL EAST
Baltimore
Boston
Cleveland
Detroit
New York
Tampa Bay
Toronto

AL WEST
Chicago
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Oakland
Minnesota
Seattle
Texas

NL East
Atlanta
Chicago
Cincinnati
Florida
New York
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Washington

NL West
Arizona
Colorado
Houston
Los Angeles
Milwaukee
San Diego
San Francisco
St Louis

Switch CHI and MIL around and that looks great. If only to keep Cubs-Cards together.