A possible change is coming to Major League Baseball!
That statement alone has triggered every baseball fan into their feelings, and what possibly could Rob Manfred have cooking for the game's future? As he's done before, Manfred dropped yet another controversial nugget, this time regarding possible expansion and realignment for MLB in the future.
To begin, I don't think this is set in stone...yet. I truly believe, like the "Golden Bat" rule was mentioned, Manfred is floating this out there to gauge the reception of it from fans and how it plays in the overall fan-o-sphere of sports discourse.
Second, I believe this is also a strategy for upcoming labor discussions. Everyone is geared up for the inevitable doom that is "to salary cap" or "not to salary cap". Work stoppage is likely, but a gentle early toss on the table of possibly adding more jobs for players can't be overlooked in labor negitoations.
Expansion
Let's start here, as realignment doesn't work without it.
I'm not a fan.
I know it's easy to get wrapped up in new things, and new cities, and ballparks, and everything else, but I genuinely believe MLB has a major competition problem. A huge competition problem, actually. Adding two more teams to that issue only exacerbates the problem.
There are a lot of teams that can barely compete, won't compete, or don't have the talent to compete.
However, I understand that the overall vision is indeed to lean into baseball's natural regional focus, which I do think is a positive. From TV start times to being able to stack games for fans to see (see: NFL and NBA), according to time zones, there is a lot that can be done. Baseball has been great in spite of itself in these areas.
The snarkiness in me is more so like - can we get the Athletics and Rays figured out?! But eh...
So, for the sake of realignment, getting baseball to that new model, I guess I'll be on board.
Realignment
Anyone advocating against this realignment because of American League and National League traditions needs to check themselves. There is nothing that separates the leagues anymore. Nothing. Sorry traditionalists, or people who don't like change, because...
However, for the sake of compromise and carrying some sort of legacy through the fabric of your sport, I think keeping the leagues would be a nice touch (more on that in a bit) in getting this over with ALL demographics.
My biggest support for this realignment is simply this: MLB's playoff format is awful.
Every league discusses making the regular season more important, yet expands playoffs for revenue. The current MLB system penalizes a division winner by making them play a Wild Card. It's all sorts of wonky and unfair, and overall, it reduces the urgency of divisional play.
I'm down for the eight divisions with four teams.
The proposal I'm not in favor of is a popular one (of course) via Jim Bowden:
I know the radicalness of this excites quite a few people. That Yankees, Phillies, Red Sox, and Mets division is as sexy as it comes in baseball. However, I'm not sure having a handful of your flagship (and large-market) teams eliminated from the postseason based on structure is a good idea.
Just my opinion.
Negatives:
- We will fully embrace East and West conferences. You might as well scrap the league names if they carry no tradition.
- With East and West, you eventually have to eliminate the separate Awards, which are sort of silly now (e.g. AL & NL MVP). Moving to MLB MVP, MLB Cy Young, etc...will likely be the transition. Again, too much, too soon.
- No more Cubs vs. Cardinals? Huh?
- I'm not sure if Chicago and New York are ready for Yankees vs. Mets and White Sox vs. Cubs frequently. Ugh...talk radio!
The positives:
- It's likely the best structure geographically of all the options out there.
There is this option from Fox Sports that moves the needle a bit closer:
Negatives:
- American League and National League in name only. None of the teams involved resembles the traditions of the old leagues. You might as well scrap it though I appreciate the attempt to include it.
- Aren't the A's moving to Las Vegas? Shouldn't they be in the NL Southwest? I know it's not perfect, but that seems like it can be fixed, no?
- I find the division names to be so cheesy. "AL Great Lakes"? Ugh...
Positives:
- This outlook preserves more of the deep-rooted rivalries that were nixed in Bowden's proposal, specifically Cubs vs. Cardinals.
- It's better than Bowden's...I guess.
And finally, the proposal I'm rocking with right now via The Athletic:
Negatives:
- Some regions have a bit more travel than others. But that's inevitable considering the cities in play.
Positives:
- Minimal damage while preserving some tradition and records. The Rockies are moving to the AL - maybe the change will help. They need a change. Hey, it worked for the Houston Astros.
- A Seattle Mariners vs. Portland Baseball team would be an instant rivalry (see: Sounders vs. Timbers in MLS).
- Things seem orderly in this one.
Okay, dude, thanks for your opinion!
Ultimately, here is what I would like to see if expansion and realignment come to fruition:
- Cover Them! - Both expansion teams added retractable roofs. It shouldve have been mandated for all in the latest wave of stadiums being built. Rainouts are not friendly in today's entertainment space.
- Talkin' About Playoffs!? - It hasn't been discussed much, but it does seem like we're moving to a 16-team playoff format. Ugh...I hope not. Half the league seems like a lot!
- Location, Location - I don't have as strong an opinion on which cities are granted expansion. It does feel like Nashville is a lock with Portland and Utah as the favorites out West. There is always the put baseball back in Montreal! crowd. I just hope for sound leadership for both. If I'm being too honest, I would say give Oakland back its team. You know what, ditch Vegas and just give them their team back. Just saying...
- Thread the Game - As noted, I'm pulling for The Athletic's model. It's important in this realignment to balance not just the future, but the past as well.
- No more Interleague - I'll go one step further and say, remove interleague play going forward. It reignites the All-Star Game and makes the Pennants feel special, as well as the World Series.
- Unbalanced - Unbalanced schedules once again should be in place - I'm fine with upwards of 19 games in-division once again.
All in all, this entire post might be for nothing. It's fun to think about. We'll see where it goes. But hopefully (and more importantly), we get a labor agreement in place very soon.
When is Manfred dropping that nugget for all of us to run with?