League and Division Re-Alignment

[Villain]

If you could change up the divisions and playoff format any way you wanted, what would you do? Would you keep it the same?

I'm a fan of the notion behind geographical divisions.



1 - AL
Mariners
Giants
A's
Angels
Dodgers

2 - NL
Rockies
Padres
Diamondbacks
Cardinals
Royals


3 - AL
Twins
Cubs
White Sox
Brewers
Tigers

4 - NL
Braves
Marlins
Rays
Rangers
Astros

5 - NL
Phillies
Reds
Blue Jays
Indians
Pirates

6 - AL
Yankees
Mets
Red Sox
Orioles
Nationals


The hardest part was deciding who to put in the AL or NL, and what to do about the Padres and the Mariners. Division 2 is the one that gets shafted the most by travelling.

For the playoffs, I'd keep it the same, except to make the Wildcard a best-of-3. Not sure about DHs.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

We had a short thread on this the other day, when discussing where would two new expansion teams fit in.

I've seen a similar "geographic" realignment a few years back, but I just don't like the thought of the Mets and Yankees playing each other 19 times a year. I can imagine the Cubs, White Sox, Angels and Dodgers have similar feelings.

 

[Villain]

We had a short thread on this the other day, when discussing where would two new expansion teams fit in.

I've seen a similar "geographic" realignment a few years back, but I just don't like the thought of the Mets and Yankees playing each other 19 times a year. I can imagine the Cubs, White Sox, Angels and Dodgers have similar feelings.

But the Angels suck so it's like free wins.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

But the Angels suck so it's like free wins.

LOL! Okay, it would work out for you guys, but probably not for the Mets.

To answer the question, I wouldn't mind seeing 32 teams, 8 divisions, 4 division winners make the playoffs. You couldn't do any wildcard teams that way, though, unless you wanted to give two division winners a bye or something.

 

[rmilia1]

I prefer ( once they expand) having 8 4 team divisions. Take the 4 divisor winners and 2 best records after. 1 and 2 get byes. 3 vs 6 and 4 vs 5 then reseed after the first round. I don't think you split up historic rivals that are currently in the same division. Sox-Yanks, Cubs-Cards, Giants Dodgers would all have to be kept intact as division rivals but after that I say do what you need to do. If and when they realign I think a decision needs to be made on the DH and interleague. Personally I'm fine doing away with interleague and making the DH standard

 

[ericd7633]

This realignment option would require expansion.

AL East:
Boston Red Sox
NY Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays
Miami Marlins

AL North:
Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates
Cleveland Indians
Baltimore Orioles

AL Central:
Minnesota Twins
Detroit Tigers
Chicago White Sox
Milwaukee Brewers

AL West:
LA Angels
Colorado Rockies
San Diego Padres
Oakland Athletics

NL East:
Philadelphia Phillies
NY Mets
Washington Nationals
Texas Rangers

NL South:
Tampa Bay Rays
Atlanta Braves
Expansion Team(if it makes sense geographically)
Houston Astros

NL Central:
Chicago Cubs
St. Louis Cardinals
Kansas City Royals
Expansion Team(if it makes sense geographically)

NL West:
Arizona Diamondbacks
LA Dodgers
Seattle Mariners
San Francisco Giants

I honestly tried to model it after the 8, 4 team divisions of the NFL. The Rangers being in the East doesn't make geographical sense, but neither does the Cowboys in the NFC East, but they are, and it works. You still have traditional rivalries in the same division(Yanks/Sox, Cubs/Cards, Dodgers/Giants, Phils/Mets etc), and with realignment some new rivalries could start(Orioles/Pirates, Twins/Brewers, Royals/Cards, etc). Also have a DH for both leagues, more longballs = more eyeballs.

Playoff Format would be division winners, and the next 2 best records in each league.

This is what it would have looked like last year(keep in mind THIS NL Central would be stacked last year):

American League:
#1 Seed - Pittsburgh Pirates(AL North Winner)
#2 Seed - Toronto Blue Jays(AL East Winner)
#3 Seed - LA Angles(AL West Winner)
#4 Seed - Minnesota Twins(NL Central Winner)
#5 Seed - NY Yankees(Wild Card #1)
#6 Seed - Cleveland Indians(Wild Card #2)

National League:
#1 Seed - St. Louis Cardinals(NL Central Winner)
#2 Seed - LA Dodgers(NL West Winner)
#3 Seed - Texas Rangers(NL East Winner)
#4 Seed - Houston Astros(NL South Winner)
#5 Seed - Chicago Cubs(Wild Card #1)
#6 Seed - Kansas City Royals(Wild Card #2)

Playoff Format:

American League:
LA Angles vs. Cleveland Indians - best of 3 - winner to face #2 Toronto Blue Jays
Minnesota Twins vs. NY Yankees - best of 3 - winner to face #1 Pittsburgh Pirates

National League:
Texas Rangers vs. Kansas City Royals - best of 3 - winner to face #2 LA Dodgers
Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs - best of 3 - winner to face #1 St. Louis Cardinals

 

[tducey]

Yes, if expansion happens realignment would have to occur. Something like 4 4 team divisions in each league.

 

[handicappers]

No divisions, everyone plays each other the same, and the top 4 teams get in with 2 wildcards.....based on record and tiebreakers

 

[Villain]

AL West:
LA Angels
Colorado Rockies
San Diego Padres
San Jose Athletics

Had to make a minor correction

I like your set up.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

If it aint broke…

 

[Villain]

If it aint broke…

Just for fun. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Just for fun. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Word. I actually like the setup/idea, but the current system is fine to me.

 

[Villain]

Word. I actually like the setup/idea, but the current system is fine to me.

Me too, actually. I think it'd be fun to do a season on MLB: The Show with divisions setup this way.