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MLB discusses realignment

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From ESPN

For all practical purposes, the players' association has held veto power in baseball's structure for years, and so as the realignment discussion goes forward, it's worth noting that it's the union that is viewed as the driving force behind the idea of two 15-team leagues. Realignment can't happen without approval from the players, and the players want this to happen.

Sources familiar with the discussions to date say the talks are serious, and while one executive believes the odds of change are less than 50-50, another says this is the type of discussion that can gather momentum and become a reality. "It's really important that the players are behind this," he said.

There are details to work out, of course. Some on the ownership side would favor a division-less structure -- that is to say, 15 teams in each league looking to survive to get to the postseason, in a structure similar to what was in place before 1969 -- but some players indicated on Saturday night that the only internal discussions they've had center around three divisions of five teams in each league.

There would be compelling reasons for either structure -- with divisions, or without. With three divisions of five teams in each league, rivalries would be fostered, with the Giants and Dodgers still contending for the NL West crown, the Cubs and Cardinals banging heads for the NL Central. The three division winners would be the top three seeds in the playoffs, with two wild-card teams facing off in a short series to advance.

But some executives like the structure without divisions, feeling that it would be fairer for the Blue Jays, Orioles and Jays, in particular, who every year have to try to climb over the sport's two financial monsters, the Yankees and the Red Sox. It's possible that the Jays or Rays or Orioles would have the third-best record in the AL in a three-division structure and still not make the playoffs.
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Daft
They want an Astros/Rangers rivalry, Wally.
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this is the wrong reason to do this. i wrote about this a couple of years back, have even sent several letters to the chief moron selig about the inequity in the schedules from one club to the next or one division to the next. if they level the leagues 15/15 and DON'T rotate the teams played on the interleague schedules, it's useless to have gone to 15/15 alignment.

the team that has gotten the worst screwing since the 6-division realignment is texas. all of the rangers' division foes are two time zones away. go tell the yankees that all of their division road trips will be to milwaukee, kansas city, minnesota and houston and see how that idea would fly.

the mets also get screwed by playing the yankees 6 interleague games each year while the rest of the nl east might not face the yankees at all.

i'm a die-hard astros fan and really do not want them switching leagues. the team that made the most sense to have put in the american league when mlb went from 28-30 teams is arizona. you can blame that on then-owner jerry colangelo reportedly having a little tantrum about being an nl club.

still, i'd be fine with houston moving to the al as long as it meant real even scheduling (rotating interleague games instead of the regional rivalry crapola). houston has new ownership, and as such that group has little pull in what happens right now. so mlb might just bully them into making the switch.

remember that these latest rumors are also tied to talks with the players association, so for the mlbpa to agree then the mlbpa might make some demands on other changes. one thing that could happen is the adoption of the designated hitter across both leagues, or increasing rosters from 25 to 26 players. i'm not a dh kinda' guy, never have really liked that rule. if the point is to put the best hitters out there and the best fielders/pitchers out there, then go all the way with a full-out offensive lineup and a defensive lineup.
 
Bay Bud
this is the wrong reason to do this. i wrote about this a couple of years back, have even sent several letters to the chief moron selig about the inequity in the schedules from one club to the next or one division to the next. if they level the leagues 15/15 and DON'T rotate the teams played on the interleague schedules, it's useless to have gone to 15/15 alignment.

the team that has gotten the worst screwing since the 6-division realignment is texas. all of the rangers' division foes are two time zones away. go tell the yankees that all of their division road trips will be to milwaukee, kansas city, minnesota and houston and see how that idea would fly.

the mets also get screwed by playing the yankees 6 interleague games each year while the rest of the nl east might not face the yankees at all.

i'm a die-hard astros fan and really do not want them switching leagues. the team that made the most sense to have put in the american league when mlb went from 28-30 teams is arizona. you can blame that on then-owner jerry colangelo reportedly having a little tantrum about being an nl club.

still, i'd be fine with houston moving to the al as long as it meant real even scheduling (rotating interleague games instead of the regional rivalry crapola). houston has new ownership, and as such that group has little pull in what happens right now. so mlb might just bully them into making the switch.

remember that these latest rumors are also tied to talks with the players association, so for the mlbpa to agree then the mlbpa might make some demands on other changes. one thing that could happen is the adoption of the designated hitter across both leagues, or increasing rosters from 25 to 26 players. i'm not a dh kinda' guy, never have really liked that rule. if the point is to put the best hitters out there and the best fielders/pitchers out there, then go all the way with a full-out offensive lineup and a defensive lineup.
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The time line of the concerts that were attended fits.
Being a die-hard Astros fan fits.
Posting style is somewhat different but then we have a different breed of moron here than over there.
 
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