Baseball PhD Podcast: MLB Realignment

Yes, I know it is hockey season and you are all fidgeting in your seats awaiting more NFL picks. BUT I am a baseball fan at heart and this is just an issue that must put forth. REALIGNMENT. Yes, just recently the Houston Astros have agreed to be sold on the terms that they will be moved to the American League. While I admire MLB's idea to make both the American and National Leagues have an equal amount of teams, 15, I do, however disagree with this move. When it comes to realignment they might as well tear it all up and create divisions that will create more natural rivalries. I mean come on why are the Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants not in the same division given their proximity and success of the Bay Bridge series. Why don't we get this all year round like Yankees vs. Red Sox.

After going back to a podcast that was recorded this summer, by Baseball PhD, I couldn't help but come up with my own ideas on how the realignment should work.

Take in mind that the Designated Hitter will be eliminated.
With six divisions each team will play each division opponent 14 times.
They will also play each other team in baseball in one four game series.

- alternating home and away each year
This comes out to a total of 156 games.
Yes, we are eliminating the 162 game schedule, offering more off days for the players and making more room for postponed games.
Each division will send their top seed to the playoffs.
The next best four records will play in a three game series (wild card round).
The winners will face the #1 and #2 seeds in the second round.
This will be followed by a semi-finals and then World Series, which has the possibility of having the two best teams, record wise, in the World Series every year.

Here are my new divisions.

Northeast
Boston Red Sox
New York Mets
New York Yankees
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates

Atlantic Coast
Baltimore Orioles
Washington Nationals
Atlanta Braves
Miami Marlins
Tampa Bay Rays

Great Lakes
Toronto Blue Jays
Minnesota Twins
Milwaukee Brewers
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Indians

Great Plains
Chicago Cubs
Chicago White Sox
St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati Reds
Kansas City Royals

California
San Francisco Giants
Oakland A's
Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
San Diego Padres

Western
Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers
Houston Astros
Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks

I love this. More rivalries. Higher Attendance. More intensity. More Hype.

No reason for MLB not to look into this.

DO YOU AGREE? DISAGREE? I would love to hear what everyone has to say.


Be sure to check out Baseball PhD
Twitter: @BaseballPhD
Podcast: Download

Also: Bet on TEBOW tonight. He is everyone. Everyone loves him. That is all.