Possible three 10-team divisions for 2020 MLB season, report says

[PhilSimms11]

MLB is considering a three-division, 10-team plan in which teams play only within their division – a concept gaining support among owners and executives. It would abolish the traditional American and National Leagues, and realign the divisions based on geography.

Among them is a plan that would drop each team into one of three hubs (Arizona, Florida, Texas).

The divisions would keep many of the natural rivals together, while playing one another before an expanded playoff format.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale suggests the three divisions could be based on geography and result in an East Coast division (presumably in Florida), a West Coast division (Arizona), and a Central division (Texas). Obviously this plan would also require a revised postseason format.

Beyond keeping division and geographical rivalries intact, such a plan would also be beneficial for broadcasting. It's unlikely fans will be allowed into the ballpark, so MLB and the MLBPA will have to make sure everyone can easily watch games on television or online. Keeping every team in its natural time zone only makes sense.

West
ARZ, COL, HOU, LAA, LAD, OAK, SD, SEA, SF, TEX

Central
CHC, CHW, CIN, CLE, DET, KC, MIL, MIN, STL, TOR

East
ATL, BAL, BOS, MIA, NYM, NYY, PHI, PIT, TB, WAS

This is how I did it. What's weird about having a 'Texas hub' is that HOU and TEX are 2 of the 10 most western teams geographically so they would 'qualify' for the 'Arizona hub'. Half of the MLB is in the north/northeast part of the US, so I don't know how this would work. It's just one of the ideas they are throwing around. I wish them luck.

 

[molsaniceman]

here they are

The divisions would be divided as follows.

East: New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins

West: Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners

Central: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers

Reports: MLB may use three 10-team divisions if baseball returns

 

[Sportsguy9695]

I along with everyone else out there would just be happy to see any kind of baseball at this point this season. But I have a question. What if someone breaks the steals record or homer in record and does it only in say 100 games instead of 162? Is it considered a full season or are the stats players get in this abbreviated season not going to count for the record books

 

[Rock Strongo]

here they are

The divisions would be divided as follows.

East: New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins

West: Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners

Central: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers

Reports: MLB may use three 10-team divisions if baseball returns

i kinda like this

 

[Cedrique]

I along with everyone else out there would just be happy to see any kind of baseball at this point this season. But I have a question. What if someone breaks the steals record or homer in record and does it only in say 100 games instead of 162? Is it considered a full season or are the stats players get in this abbreviated season not going to count for the record books

That's an interesting question. I'm assuming any of the counting stats like hits, runs, rbis will still go towards their career totals. If someone hits .400 there might be a big asterisk next to it (either real or in people's minds). I'm pretty confident no one is breaking Henderson's stolen base record, and the only way someone is hitting 74 homers is if they use a stadium that is ridiculously hitter friendly.

 

[CaptainStubing]

let's get it going. the sooner the better.

 

[jvett77]

I hope they give it a shot. It would be interesting. At least we could watch the games on the tube, I mean on the screen. Half a season is better than none.

 

[podsox]

Sounds good to me. Perfect time to try some weird shit in these weird times

 

[bksballer89]

i kinda like this

me too

 

[bksballer89]

Let's add the DH to the NL as well

 

[Stakesarehigh]

That's an interesting question. I'm assuming any of the counting stats like hits, runs, rbis will still go towards their career totals. If someone hits .400 there might be a big asterisk next to it (either real or in people's minds). I'm pretty confident no one is breaking Henderson's stolen base record, and the only way someone is hitting 74 homers is if they use a stadium that is ridiculously hitter friendly.

Ummm yeah I don't think any of the total records are in jeopardy

 

[tabascojet]

pass....braves get the shaft in that realignment

 

[PhilSimms11]

I assume that the playoff format would be the 3 division winners and 7 wildcards if they don't reduce the number of playoff teams. Going by last year's standings it might look something like this:

1st round
(9)CLE (93-69) @ (8)WAS (93-69)
(10)STL (91-71) @ (7)TB (96-66)

Quarterfinal
(1)HOU (107-55) vs (8)WAS or (9)CLE
(4)MIN (101-61) vs (5)ATL (97-65)

(2)LAD (106-56) vs (7)TB or (10)STL
(3)NYY (103-59) vs (6)OAK (97-65)

Semifinal
(1)HOU vs (4)MIN
(2)LAD vs (3)NYY

World Series
(1)HOU vs (2)LAD

 

[DefCONNOne]

Let's add the DH to the NL as well

How about instead of your idea, we go with my idea and scrap the DH for the AL.

 

[Chewbaccer]

If they do it like that, they’ll fuck over the Braves again by putting them in the West. So glad that was before my time, but it’s still bullshit

 

[packerzrule]

I'm ready to watch tee ball if necessary.

Get this effin thing going.

 

[Shanemansj13]

I don't mind it....just want to see some baseball.

 

[podsox]

I assume that the playoff format would be the 3 division winners and 7 wildcards if they don't reduce the number of playoff teams. Going by last year's standings it might look something like this:

1st round
(9)CLE (93-69) @ (8)WAS (93-69)
(10)STL (91-71) @ (7)TB (96-66)

Quarterfinal
(1)HOU (107-55) vs (8)WAS or (9)CLE
(4)MIN (101-61) vs (5)ATL (97-65)

(2)LAD (106-56) vs (7)TB or (10)STL
(3)NYY (103-59) vs (6)OAK (97-65)

Semifinal
(1)HOU vs (4)MIN
(2)LAD vs (3)NYY

World Series
(1)HOU vs (2)LAD

I don’t get how they can have wild card teams when you are only playing teams in your division. I know we get unbalanced schedules every yr but this would be to the extreme

 

[PhilSimms11]

I'd like to see this whole thing trigger a change in the scheduling. How dumb is it to play each division opponent 19 times? Extremely. I think it makes sense to schedule each league foe 10 times each. That's 140 games within the league. No, you don't have to get rid of divisions. Play 14 interleague games and presto...a nice 154-game season. It'd be like 1920-1960 all over again. Currently, each team plays 20 of the interleague variety. This would mark the first time since 1968 in which there was 100% balanced scheduling (teams played each other 18 times x 9 teams = 162 games). Somebody get Peter Ueberroth on the phone. I've been going to this high school for 7 and a half years....I'm no dummy.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

So I guess they use the same DH rules they do for interleague? Whomever is the home team dictates using the DH?

Looks like some kind of trial for a radical realignment and one set of rules.