SHOULD MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ELIMINATE ITS DIVISIONAL FORMAT?

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sports : SHOULD MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ELIMINATE ITS DIVISIONAL FORMAT?

[+] ballot by xxxxxxxx
ACTIVE Tue Sep 27, 05 - Sun Jun 22, 08
This year goes a long way as to argue that the divisional format should be eliminated. In the National League, every team in the Eastern Division is better than every team in the Western Division. In other terms, as it stands right now, the worst team in the NL East is better than the best team in the NL West.

Also, it looks as if the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will advance to the playoffs by virtue of winning the AL West but likely have a worse record than at least one team in the AL East or AL Central that won't make the playoffs.

So here's my proposal: Do away with the divisional format, have each team play a balanced schedule, and have the four best teams in each league advance to the playoffs. Then have the best and fourth-best teams play in the Division Series, along with the second- and third-best teams. This would assure that the best teams in each league would advance to the playoffs.

Your thoughts?

Yes -- I like your format.
Yes -- but I'd rather have a different format.
No -- keep it as is.

Ballot #81913 : SEE RESULTS

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COMMENTS:
This will be a fun ballot to look at after the Angels have wiped the floor with the rest of the American League.

Seriously though, if your division can't produce a 500 team then I think you should forfeit you spot in the playoffs. Should they even bother playing the Padres vs. whoever series?

by cdubatrc on Wed Sep 28, 05 3:35am [+]

Why does the AL West have four teams and the NL Central have six? Send Milwaukee back to the AL and adjust the schedule so that the two odd teams out play an interleague series.

by _Beelzebubba on Wed Sep 28, 05 8:56am [+]

Agreed, seems awful stupid to me.

by cdubatrc on Wed Sep 28, 05 6:29pm [+]

The way it is set up now, all teams are really playing 162 games for is home field advantage in the playoffs.

The Red Sox were the wild card team in the playoffs and won it all.

Teams that had better winning percentages for the seasons never got to play in the World Series.

The Divisional setup is not meant to make SENSE, it's was developed to make DOLLARS.

Intead of 1 winner in each league, you now have 4. That's 4 times more fan interest and Television Revenue. $$$$$

by Grapost on Wed Sep 28, 05 6:49pm [+]

Well I have nothing against four teams advancing, because it adds to the drama. And I like the idea of moving a team to the AL (most likely the Diamondbacks, as the Diamondbacks and Devil Rays agreed upon joining MLB to give MLB exclusive permission to move them to the opposite league if desired by MLB) to even it out and having a 'regional rivalry' of sorts.

The regional rivals would most likely be: Yankees-Mets, Devil Rays-Marlins, Orioles-Nationals, Blue Jays-Phillies, Red Sox-Braves, Indians-Reds, Tigers-Pirates, White Sox-Cubs, Twins-Brewers, Royals-Cardinals, Rangers-Astros, Mariners-Rockies, Angels-Dodgers, Athletics-Giants, and Diamondbacks-Padres (moving the D-Backs to the AL).

If the divisional format is eliminated, that means that each team can play the other 14 teams in its league a total of 11 times, which equals 154 games right there. Add another 11 games against the regional rival, and that makes 165 games. The three-game increase adds revenue as well, not to mention adding drama.

Since every team plays each other an odd number of times, the teams alternate from year to year who gets the extra home game (i.e. with the Yankees and Red Sox, in odd years they could have six games at Yankee Stadium and five at Fenway Park, and in even years they could have five games at Yankee stadium and six games at Fenway Park).

This format would put all teams on an even plane schedule-wise.

by xxxxxxxx on Wed Sep 28, 05 7:14pm [+]

Congratulations! You just earned the right to be the next Commissioner of the MLB!

by Truthseeker013 on Wed Sep 28, 05 8:10pm [+]

Hey Counciltucky. Like most good ideas it looks good on paper.

In reality there are a million things that have to be considered and taken into account to accomplish it.

by Grapost on Wed Sep 28, 05 8:18pm [+]

That is true, Grapost. The plan I laid out basically amounts to a rough draft. I will confess to not knowing the intricacies of setting up an MLB schedule enough to truly come up with a fully functional scenario. What I drew up was basically a skeleton.

by xxxxxxxx on Wed Sep 28, 05 9:06pm [+]

Also, if desired, the 'regional rivalry' can be cut down to eight games to make it a 162-game season.

by xxxxxxxx on Wed Sep 28, 05 9:09pm [+]

I'm a Mets fan....so I'll keep my mouth shut! :)

by Guy_Cabbelero on Thu Sep 29, 05 2:00am [+]

Well the divisional format does allow for more games against natural rivals. What I hate is the "wild card" which eliminates all great pennant races. Example: Yankees, Red Sox in hot race and playing each other in the last series. Should be a series for the ages, but its dull because they're both in the playoffs.

by The_Dude on Tue Jul 04, 06 9:49am [+]

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