Possible MLB Realignment?

[RipCity32]

HOUSTON — Astros manager Brad Mills has spent time in both leagues and definitely would prefer to stay put. That could change, though, under a realignment plan Major League Baseball is exploring.

MLB is considering a proposal that would have 15 teams in the American League and 15 clubs in the National League, as opposed to the present format of 16 teams in the NL and 14 in the AL. Under the possible plan, the leagues would not be split into divisions. The top three teams would make the playoffs. The fourth- and fifth-place clubs would be wild cards and play for one spot.

Commissioner Bud Selig’s committee for on-field matters, a panel that includes executives, managers and others, has discussed the change that would take effect in 2012. ESPN first reported the possible realignment.

The Astros would be among the teams considered for switching leagues. The last major league team to change leagues was Milwaukee, which moved from the AL to the NL for the 1998 season.

The Brewers’ shift came when Tampa Bay and Arizona were added as expansion teams — at the time, baseball didn’t consider it practical to have an odd number of clubs in each league.

Mills, in his second year as manager of the Astros, says no one has discussed such a possibility with him. He also says he doesn’t believe such a move is imminent.

A former bench coach for the Red Sox, Mills prefers the National League and would like the Astros to remain there.

“I like having the pitcher hit and having more guys involved in ball games as pinch runners, pinch hitters, pitchers, your bullpen,” he said. “I think you’re able to get more players in the ball games because of that and it changes the makeup of your ball club.”

Star rightfielder Hunter Pence has seen the reports, but he isn’t worried because any decisions on realignment would be out of his control.

“I like the National League,” he said. “I like where we’re at. I don’t focus on those things at all and I really don’t want to.”

Owners and players would have to agree to the plan as part of their talks on a new labor contract, with the current deal expiring this December.

Under the potential scenario, five teams from each league would make the playoffs. Selig recently said he expected the postseason field would expand next year, and it seemed likely that a pair of wild-card teams would make it from both leagues.

A drawback to the realignment plan could be a schedule that necessitates at least one interleague game on a mostly daily basis. Interleague play started in 1997 and over the years some teams have said they thought the NL vs. AL matchups created schedule imbalances.

Houston centerfielder Michael Bourn isn’t excited about the potential for a move.

“It would be different because you don’t know (any) of those teams over there in the American League,” he said. “It’s a whole different brand of baseball and it would be a totally different atmosphere. You’d have to get used to new pitching and new elements of the game. I know you play interleague, but you don’t play it every day. It’s a totally different game.”

Would certainly suck dick for Houston.

 

[Mexi]

move the rockies instead > _>

 

[elcheato]

If they realign, states that have multiple teams should both be in the same league but I doubt they'd do this.

 

[cruzg24]

I thought it was going to be a division realignment, not a league realignment. But either way this might spice things up a bit with just the top 5 teams of each league which would make more sense if you think about it.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

moving the Astros actually makes sense. I mean, Texas is in the AL West, so it would seem logical to put Houston in a Western division.

 

[RipCity32]

IMO. They should keep all the divisions and just move Houston to the AL West.
Why make just two conferences? lol. No divisions would be a bad idea IMO.

 

[playmaker7]

Houston shouldn't be in the AL with the Rangers at all...that'd just change the way things are. It'd just fuck up the flow. I doubt it happens though.

 

[bestkeptsecret13]

I don't get how 15 teams in each league would work... With 16 & 14 you've got an even number of teams in each, meaning every team can play on the same day. With 15 teams it just seems like it would be harder to schedule series. Would one team have 3 off days in a row, while the other 14 teams play a series? Would interleague play be throughout the entire season? I don't get it. Am I missing something?

 

[Giantmetfan07]

Houston shouldn't be in the AL with the Rangers at all...that'd just change the way things are. It'd just fuck up the flow. I doubt it happens though.

Im not saying they should be in the AL, but the way I see it is you have one team from Texas in the West and another team from Texas in the Central.

I don't get how 15 teams in each league would work... With 16 & 14 you've got an even number of teams in each, meaning every team can play on the same day. With 15 teams it just seems like it would be harder to schedule series. Would one team have 3 off days in a row, while the other 14 teams play a series? Would interleague play be throughout the entire season? I don't get it. Am I missing something?

huh. never really thought of that. But you're right, that would fuck thing up. Unless theres the prospect that 2 more teams might enter the league in a few years, allowing them to add 2 more teams and move Houston to the AL, which would make it 16x16