Expansion

[Speedy]

Re: Expansion

That's my feeling to be honest but I went with the premise of the thread. It's just that I can't think of any teams off the top of my head that are in dire need of contraction. Even the candidates from the last few years (Marlins, Twins, Rays, and Montreal before they moved) are in much better situations now.

Montreal? Not so much, of course management is root cause...I'm curious as to how good Florida could be if they had a payroll above $50mil for a change, possibly the new stadium could get fans more involved and influence ownership - but that's a reach. The only year they did I think was in '04 or something then they had another firesale.

The only thing they'd have to do is put Milwaukee back in the AL, get rid of the unbalanced schedule (am I the only one tired of seeing Yankees-Red Sox?) and problem's solved...15 teams on both leagues.

[SPTO]

Re: Expansion

The only thing they'd have to do is put Milwaukee back in the AL, get rid of the unbalanced schedule (am I the only one tired of seeing Yankees-Red Sox?) and problem's solved...15 teams on both leagues.

and it'd get rid of interleague which I think pretty much waters down the World Series. I liked it in the past where the two teams never faced each other and there was more room for both teams to feel each other out.

[Stroehms]

Re: Expansion

St. Louis Browns!!!! Lol. I think Memphis could do it. The have the Cardinals AAA affiliate and have great attendence with great atmosphere downtown. Memphis Music Men

[TarHeelMan]

Re: Expansion

1. Charlotte, NC
2. San Antonio, TX

Charlotte would have a hard time supporting a MLB team, in my opinion. Not enough fan support to justify 81 home games. Even the minor league Knights have trouble. There had been talk several years ago about the Twins possibly relocating to Greensboro, which is pretty much the halfway point between Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham. But still, not enough fan support to count on for the midweek games.

[rsox]

Re: Expansion

and it'd get rid of interleague which I think pretty much waters down the World Series. I liked it in the past where the two teams never faced each other and there was more room for both teams to feel each other out.

You would still have 1 interleague series being played all the time. Though i agree interleague play has lost most of it's luster.

I'm also with Wake on dumping the unbalanced schedule. Watching the same teams play eachother 18-19 times during the season is starting to become mind-numbingly boring. Honestly the more games teams play against eachother the less importance they seem to have. And we are yet to really see a playoff race hang in the balance off all the extra games.

[Speedy]

Re: Expansion

I don't think interleague is too bad as I get to see teams I don't normally watch (like Toronto when they came to Atlanta) but with more games being televised on ESPN, WGN, FoxSports, MLB Network, etc. it definately isn't as interesting as it was in years' past.

Personally, if it's going to continue (as I doubt Selig would put the Kibosh on it), I'd like it switched around a bit like it's been talked about before...If Boston plays in Atlanta then we'd have the DH in effect for that series and if Atlanta plays in Boston then the pitcher would bat; it would give the hometown fans a different look. However, that would probably lose its luster after a couple of years as well.

It was once called America's past time for a reason...we should go back to those traditions as well. Cincy always hosting/playing the first game of the season, interleague play only being in the all-star game and the WS.

[jake44np]

Re: Expansion

and it'd get rid of interleague which I think pretty much waters down the World Series. I liked it in the past where the two teams never faced each other and there was more room for both teams to feel each other out.

Having 15 teams in each league and no interleague play would not work at all.
You would have to increase the season by almost a month because there would always be two teams not playing all the time. This was the subject on local sports talk a few weeks ago and a major league baseball schedule maker said there is no way to have 15 teams in each league. Imagine two teams off every day, and the teams still have to play 162 games a year?? Again impossible, and that is not even taking into account having the owners mad because their teams would be off on weekends sometimes. I think people like to be too nick picky, as I think the schedule works pretty well the way it is. The balanced schedule is a God send for the owners as it keeps local rivals palying more. Which puts more butts in the seats.

[fugazi]

Re: Expansion

St. Louis Browns!!!! Lol. I think Memphis could do it. The have the Cardinals AAA affiliate and have great attendence with great atmosphere downtown. Memphis Music Men

it woudl be a failure...believe me. This is not a baseball town, not ML level certainly.

Please, no more expansion.

And I agree with one of the posts above...NO MORE UNBALANCED SCHEDULE!! It blows. Slightly unbalanced is one thing...but this is too much. That being said, after some number crunching, it is tough...I certainly want the division to be decided in the division, but I don't want the WILD CARD being decided by a lopsided or wonky division...

TBH, I want the two-division alignment reinstalled, and keep the WC in a 1a vs 2b format. I think the biggest reason for the 3-div is travel...try arranging the NL into two divisions...it doesn't fit perfectly...but that doesn't mean i don't want it back. The AL kinda works better.

I also would not shed a tear if interleague was gone, too.

[rsox]

Re: Expansion

You could still have the races decided within the division with out the unbalanced schedule. Have the teams play primarily their own division for most of april and again in september and the rest of the season play everyone else.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Expansion

I'd like to see another NYC team, but the Steinbrenners/Wilpons would never allow it.

[SPTO]

Re: Expansion

I'd like to see another NYC team, but the Steinbrenners/Wilpons would never allow it.

I'd love to see Brooklyn have baseball again. I was talking to some relatives in NYC and we were talking about the different boroughs. Apparently Brooklyn is getting a bit affluent in some areas of the borough and I think there'd be more then enough interest to put a team there.

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: Expansion

I'd love to see Brooklyn have baseball again. I was talking to some relatives in NYC and we were talking about the different boroughs. Apparently Brooklyn is getting a bit affluent in some areas of the borough and I think there'd be more then enough interest to put a team there.

Technically they do, but there's no way they'd have a ballpark built. Look how much trouble Ratner has had trying to build the Barclay's Center.

[kehlis]

Re: Expansion

The only thing they'd have to do is put Milwaukee back in the AL, get rid of the unbalanced schedule (am I the only one tired of seeing Yankees-Red Sox?) and problem's solved...15 teams on both leagues.

Sorry, I know I am late to this but...

While not impossible, it would be extremely dumb to have 15 teams in each league. Scheduling would be a nightmare, and in order to continue with having a majority of days where every team plays, there would have to be interleague games every day, including opening day, and to end the season.

They made this change in order to have an even amount of teams in each league.

And I just think that would ruin some of the anticipation of the tail end of the year.

I mean, it's possible, but not very realistic.

[hotboyz81]

Re: Expansion

I think Carolina & Alabama would be good. Expansion teams are quite intresting
EX: Charlotte Bobcats, OK/Thunder.

[rsox]

Re: Expansion

I think Carolina & Alabama would be good. Expansion teams are quite intresting
EX: Charlotte Bobcats, OK/Thunder.

The Thunder aren't an expansion team, they are a relocated team (Seattle Supersonics).