I wonder how true this is. If this is a fait accompli, why isn't there more news about it than Gammons' tweet? Why isn't there anything on ESPN about it or MLB.com or Sports Illustrated? I checked the Houston paper and all I saw was an Astros blog with a statement from the Astros' owner to be denying anything has taken place.
http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros...hange-al-move/
Originally Posted by Raisor
Better late than never. I've been calling this for the last 5 years. It made no sense to have one division with six teams and other division with four. Only MLB would do something so stupid. It was obvious the Astros would be the ideal team to move to the AL West because they'll have the natural rivalry with the Rangers. Also, Houston is nowhere near the rest of the five NL Central cities, which are all fairly close together. This makes too much sense and has for quite some time.
And I've read stuff that makes it sound like a done deal. Won't take effect until 2013, but it's going to happen.
MLB most usually has two teams within close geographical areas in different divisions. The only exception to this currently is the Pirates and Phillies:
Reds (NL) Indians (AL)
San Fran (NL) Oakland (AL)
Astros (NL) Rangers (AL)
Marlins (NL) Rays (AL)
Nationals (NL) Orioles (AL)
Cardinals (NL) Royals (AL)
And recently:
Brewers (NL) Twins (AL)
This isn't counting the Yankees-Mets, White Sox-Cubs, and Dodgers-Angels, since they are within the same city or close to it.
I'd move Arizona to the AL West and Houston to the NL West:
NL Central-
Cubs
Reds
Brewers
Pirates
Cardinals
NL West-
Rockies
Astros
Dodgers
Padres
Giants
AL West-
Angels
DBacks
A's
Mariners
Rangers
I'd personally say screw it and start over. 2 leagues, 15 teams each league, 3 divisions in each league, each division has 5 teams. All divided up geographically and still allowing for near proximity rivals. Both leagues either have the DH or don't have it. Balanced in both leagues. Personally, I'd abolish the DH and interleague play.
Balanced scheduling to equal the playing field. 18 games against each of your 4 in division opponents (72 games). 9 games against each of your other 10 in league opponents (90 games).
Natural geographic in-state rivals are colored
National League
West
Mariners
A's
Giants
Dodgers
Angels
Southwest
Padres
Diamondbacks
Rockies
Rangers
Astros
Central
Twins
Cubs
White Sox
Royals
Cardinals
American League
Central
Reds
Indians
Blue Jays
Tigers
Brewers
Southeast
Marlins
Rays
Nationals
Orioles
Braves
Northeast
Red Sox
Yankees
Mets
Phillies
Pirates
I know it seems weird to have some teams in different leagues, but if we eliminate the stereotypes of the leagues (as in the DH stuff) then that's diminished considerably. It may look weird to have the Pirates in the same division as the Yankees, but it should actually help the pirates in the fact that they'll draw more fans due to the quality of their opponents and should see a rise in their income. I also like the fact that the 4 powerhouse teams in terms of finances are in the same division and thus will only get 1 team in the playoffs (possibly the wild card).
For the playoffs, I go with the 3 division winners and 1 wild card. Best overall record in each league plays the wild card regardless of wild card's record. 2 remaining division winners play each other. 1st round, best of 5. Pennant, best of 7. World series best of 7.
Last edited by _Sir_Charles_; 10-14-2011 at 01:20 PM.
Pittsburgh is closer to Cincinnati than it is to Philadelphia, and much closer to Cleveland.
I love this idea.
My dad got to enjoy 3 Reds World Championships by the time he was my age. So far, I've only gotten to enjoy one. Step it up Redlegs!
Report: Astros staying put in the National League
http://www.foxsportshouston.com/10/1...68&feedID=3716
According to the Chronicle, a spokesman for Jim Crane's prospective ownership group said there have been "no meetings about moving the Astros to the American League" as of Wednesday morning.
Crane's group is seeking to buy the Astros for $680 million.
My dad got to enjoy 3 Reds World Championships by the time he was my age. So far, I've only gotten to enjoy one. Step it up Redlegs!
True but all of the examples you listed have another team close by in their division.
Texas/Houston in the AL West together works better then two divisions then 1 team in the central time zone and 4/3 in the western time zones.
Go Gators!
This can change quite easily if Bud lets them know moving to the AL is a part of being approved for ownership.
Go Gators!
But I think it's more useful to take advantage of in-state natural rivalries. 2 from Ohio, 2 from Pennsylvania.
True, and that change can un-change if the current owners threaten to sue MLB for cramming the league switch down their throats and reducing the marketability of their team.
Stick to your guns.
http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros...os-move-to-al/
Sounds like Crane will walk away from the sale if things aren't settled by Nov. 30th.
Is MLB negotiating in bad faith here by making the league switch a mandatory part of approving the sale? This has never been an issue for any other prospective ownership group in the history of the game.
My dad got to enjoy 3 Reds World Championships by the time he was my age. So far, I've only gotten to enjoy one. Step it up Redlegs!
All told, this could be easily settled with Arizona switching to the AL since they've said that they would have no problem switching leagues.
My dad got to enjoy 3 Reds World Championships by the time he was my age. So far, I've only gotten to enjoy one. Step it up Redlegs!
The problem is too many teams in the NL Central. How does moving Arizona solve that problem?
You would have to move NL Central teams west. I don't see that happening.
Easy, you move Houston to the NL West, where they were before the 3 division split.
My dad got to enjoy 3 Reds World Championships by the time he was my age. So far, I've only gotten to enjoy one. Step it up Redlegs!
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