The future of baseball

[Northern Star]

With universal DH, there should be no more National and American Leagues anymore. Change it to East or West whatever, and get new divisions, so there is less traveling, and more rivalry games. White Sox play the Cubs 18 games a year. same with NY.

Or keep the name for old time sake, but now make the Leagues more efficient.

AL East

Sox

Yanks

Mets

O's

Phillies

Since the rules are now Universal, and everybody plays each other anyway, whether DH or not, there really is no more National or American Leagues.

Only way you go back is where one League doesn't play each other.

Like when there was no DH.

Basically there is no more inter-league anymore. It's just one that you might not play another team that year.

 

Absolutely not. Your argument lacks logic. As someone else pointed out, both leagues played with the same rules for decades. Nothing changes once they play with the same rules again.

[Northern Star]

Those against changing rules for extra innings, as though the current arrangement is so sacrosant: Have you forgotten how far baseball has evolved since its beginnings? Evolution is not to be feared when it's born of necessity, and 18 or 20 inning games are unacceptable - too much risk of injury, and burning through bullpen arms, all to score 1 measly run. If the season weren't so long, with so many games and teams playing almost every day of the week, maybe you'd have a point that lengthy extra innings here and there is not so bad. But that's not the case.

[Bellhorn04]

Absolutely not. Your argument lacks logic. As someone else pointed out, both leagues played with the same rules for decades. Nothing changes once they play with the same rules again.

 

What has changed though, is that the wall between the two leagues has already been broken down by inter-league play.

 

Really what difference would it make now to have one league?

Edited February 16, 2019 by Bellhorn04

[Bellhorn04]

Those against changing rules for extra innings, as though the current arrangement is so sacrosant: Have you forgotten how far baseball has evolved since its beginnings? Evolution is not to be feared when it's born of necessity, and 18 or 20 inning games are unacceptable - too much risk of injury, and burning through bullpen arms, all to score 1 measly run. If the season weren't so long, with so many games and teams playing almost every day of the week, maybe you'd have a point that lengthy extra innings here and there is not so bad. But that's not the case.

 

18 inning games are very rare though.

 

In 2018 Red Sox pitchers threw 1458 2/3 innings.

 

162 * 9 = 1458

 

The extra innings were basically cancelled out by the games where only 8.5 innings were played.

 

Extra innings, and the absence of a time clock, are one of the things that give baseball it's unique character.

 

That's just my personal take, of course. I can see why there would be differing opinions on the matter.

[notin]

What has changed though, is that the wall between the two leagues has already been broken down by inter-league play.

 

Really what difference would it make now to have one league?

 

Playoff formatting?

 

You can’t have an AL champion and an NL champ without an AL and an NL.

 

Both the AFC and the NFC play with the same rules yet maintain division. Both the East and West conferences of the NBAhave the same rules, too.

 

Even the AL and NL played with the same rules from 1903 to 1972...

[Bellhorn04]

Playoff formatting?

 

You can’t have an AL champion and an NL champ without an AL and an NL.

 

Both the AFC and the NFC play with the same rules yet maintain division. Both the East and West conferences of the NBAhave the same rules, too.

 

Even the AL and NL played with the same rules from 1903 to 1972...

 

Sure - just change from leagues to conferences.

[notin]

Sure - just change from leagues to conferences.

 

 

Can we be traditional just this once?

[moonslav59]

Can we be traditional just this once?

 

It seems the tradition for most sports is to change to regional divisions or conferences.

[notin]

It seems the tradition for most sports is to change to regional divisions or conferences.

 

AL East, AL Central and AL West are NOT regional?

 

 

Baseball started this process in 1961 and re-aligned again in 1994 and (in a limited fashion) again in 2013...

[moonslav59]

AL East, AL Central and AL West are NOT regional?

 

 

Baseball started this process in 1961 and re-aligned again in 1994 and (in a limited fashion) again in 2013...

 

More so than before, and they did make severe changes more than once.

[notin]

More so than before, and they did make severe changes more than once.

 

 

But bringing the DH to the NL doesn’t require any sort of realignment like inter league play justified. To justify realigning everything because there is a DH in the NL is just opportunism combined with “change for the sake of change”...

[moonslav59]

But bringing the DH to the NL doesn’t require any sort of realignment like inter league play justified. To justify realigning everything because there is a DH in the NL is just opportunism combined with “change for the sake of change”...

 

No, I never said bringing the DH meant you had to make major changes, and to me, it's not for the "sake of change."

 

Creating regional rivalries would be fantastic for baseball.

 

Us playing Toronto 18 times a year means nothing to me. If we played the Mets, it would be much better.

 

Adding rivalries would mean much more to other teams, and some low teams can use all the help they can get.

 

KC vs STL

 

TB vs MIA

 

Oak vs SF

 

SD vs LAA

 

Tex vs HOU

 

MN vs MIL

 

MIL vs Cubs

 

Cin vs CLE and DET

 

Pit vs CLE & DET

 

Then, the mega city rivalries:

 

NYY v NYM

LAD V LAA

Cubs v CWS

 

I get the hold tradition has, but this is the modern age.

 

Build rivalries.

 

Cut travels costs and time (Players would love less long flights.)

 

 

It's not change for change sake. It's change for the better. To me, the advantages are clear as day.

 

[Bellhorn04]

Us playing Toronto 18 times a year means nothing to me. If we played the Mets, it would be much better.

 

I don't think playing the Rays 18 times a year adds much to anyone's excitement level either.

[dgalehouse]

The best solution for the DH is to just make it optional for the manager , no matter where or when the game is being played . The N.L. would fall in line very quickly .

[notin]

The best solution for the DH is to just make it optional for the manager , no matter where or when the game is being played . The N.L. would fall in line very quickly .

 

 

Technically, it is optional in the AL. If a manager insists on letting his pitcher bat, that’s allowed. Just put your “DH” in the field after one (half) inning...

[moonslav59]

I don't think playing the Rays 18 times a year adds much to anyone's excitement level either.

 

True, but in the Tampa area there are a lot of Sox fans (and Yank fans), but certainly them playing Miami and Atlanta would create a better rivalry.

[notin]

True, but in the Tampa area there are a lot of Sox fans (and Yank fans), but certainly them playing Miami and Atlanta would create a better rivalry.

 

The only rivalries anyone in Florida cares about involve college football teams...

[moonslav59]

The only rivalries anyone in Florida cares about involve college football teams...

 

You picked the one with the least impact.

 

Yes, I doubt anyone makes a road trip to the other team's park. Some Braves fans might go to TB to watch a game.

 

I'm thinking more of these match-ups:

 

SF-Oak

KC-STL

NYY-NYYM

NYM- BOS/BAL

Cubs-CWS

MIL-Cubs

MIL-MN

CLE-CIN

DET-CIN

CLE-PIT

DET-PIT

PHI-NYY

PHI-BAL & WS

BAL-WSH

HOU-TEX

SD-LAA

SEA-SF

 

I believe it would be a big boost to attendance, TV viewership and interest.

 

[notin]

You picked the one with the least impact.

 

Yes, I doubt anyone makes a road trip to the other team's park. Some Braves fans might go to TB to watch a game.

 

 

The 2018 NL East champion Atlanta Braves were 11th in MLB attendance and are typically in the 13-20th place in MLB. One could argue the Braves struggle to get fans to go to games in Atlanta, let alone Tampa, which is 6 1/2 hours away...

[moonslav59]

The 2018 NL East champion Atlanta Braves were 11th in MLB attendance and are typically in the 13-20th place in MLB. One could argue the Braves struggle to get fans to go to games in Atlanta, let alone Tampa, which is 6 1/2 hours away...

 

Every team has some rabid fans, and my guess is there are a few Braves fans near the FLA border or even in FLA.

 

Are you really thinking these new rivalries won't generate much added interest?

 

You keep picking out the least of the match-ups, and never comment on the mega rivalries out there for the taking.

[BillyWilliams]

You picked the one with the least impact.

 

Yes, I doubt anyone makes a road trip to the other team's park. Some Braves fans might go to TB to watch a game.

 

I'm thinking more of these match-ups:

 

SF-Oak

KC-STL

NYY-NYYM

NYM- BOS/BAL

Cubs-CWS

MIL-Cubs

MIL-MN

CLE-CIN

DET-CIN

CLE-PIT

DET-PIT

PHI-NYY

PHI-BAL & WS

BAL-WSH

HOU-TEX

SD-LAA

SEA-SF

 

I believe it would be a big boost to attendance, TV viewership and interest.

 

 

I always thought it would have made more sense for the Rays to be in the NL and the Marlins in the AL.

 

Given the amount of NYer's and new england people in South Florida would give a big boost to the Marlins while the proximity of Atlanta to TB might have helped the Rays a bit.

[moonslav59]

I always thought it would have made more sense for the Rays to be in the NL and the Marlins in the AL.

 

Given the amount of NYer's and new england people in South Florida would give a big boost to the Marlins while the proximity of Atlanta to TB might have helped the Rays a bit.

 

How about just disbanding the Rays and Marlins and go with 4 divisions of 7 teams:

 

East

BOS

NYY

NYM

PHI

BAL

WSH

ATL

 

North

TOR

PIT

CLE

CIN

DET

CWS

CC

 

Central

MN

MIL

STL

KC

HOU

TEX

COL

 

West

SEA

OAK

SF

LAD

LAA

SD

AZ

 

18 games x 6 own div= 108 games

3 games x 2 divisions= 40 games (2 teams just 2 games)

2 games x 1 division= 14 games

[notin]

How about just disbanding the Rays and Marlins and go with 4 divisions of 7 teams:

 

 

 

 

Hey!! Owners have collusion lawsuits to pay off here...

[Northern Star]

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/foul-balls-are-the-pace-of-play-problem-nobodys-talking-about/?addata=espn:mlb:index

[Northern Star]

In the past I said I'd consider cutting games down to 7 innings. I forgot how many more no-hitters we'd get as a result. Keep it at nine.

[Youk Of The Nation]

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/foul-balls-are-the-pace-of-play-problem-nobodys-talking-about/?addata=espn:mlb:index

 

That's a really interesting article. I'd never considered that before, but it raises a good point. Unfortunately I can't think of a perfect way to fix it.

[notin]

That's a really interesting article. I'd never considered that before, but it raises a good point. Unfortunately I can't think of a perfect way to fix it.

 

 

Robot hitters now!!

[Youk Of The Nation]

They should just replace the umpires, players, stadiums, and equipment with an intricately calibrated computer program that simulates 162 games a season for each team.

[Slasher9]

Robot hitters now!!

 

ban offspeed pitches!

straight FB only!

[Slasher9]

They should just replace the umpires, players, stadiums, and equipment with an intricately calibrated computer program that simulates 162 games a season for each team.

 

as long as i can get real beer i am OK with this approach.....