If

This blog is really in response to my little brothers blog over at Hayden's blog. I really think that it's a cool idea. The what if i was MLB Commish. Things i would possibly change. While i really don't want to hope onto the bandwagon and do blog post just like his there was a few things there that i would change and i don't agree with. So let me give a short little spin.

He talked alittle bit about changing up the divisions and reworking the playoff systems.

First of all any true baseball old timer is already enraged by the way the system works no with the three divisions and the wildcard. i know it's been 15 years and at this point a two division league is old school. But, something that the "new" play off system has shown us is that it works. it brings more excitement and build atticpiation. It gives the possibility for any team to gain the ability make a challenge for world series. next year is now every year for alot of towns.

You would think this makes playoffs less special and that was the fear of many old timers within the game. Is the fear of taking away what was so sought after.

i think this only works so far however, if you look at sports such as basketball, such as football. Thier post seasons go on much longer and have more teams involved. YET, they are still just as special year after year.

With that said, Hayden suggested a realignment within baseball's divsions. I don't disagree that it wouldn't be a bad idea. So with that said. Instead of trying to readjust everyone for the current West-Central-East. I made a new division calling it the mid-west. While i am an west coast fan i enjoy watching the Mariners. I would love to see a change that made each division alittle more competative. I like the thought of having only 3-4 teams within a division. it makes for a greater rivalry and it makes playing those games all that more important.

What i hate is that there is six teams within the NL central division. I think that an realighment could bring an even greater balance to the most balanced in the Big four of pro sports (Baseball, Basketball, Football and Hockey)

The realigned standing in the AL ..

West - Angles, Athletics, Mariners

Mid-West - Rangers, Royals, Twins

Central - White-Sox, Indians, Blue Jays, Tigers

East - New York, Boston, Tampa, Baltimore

Standings in the NL

West - Padres, Dodgers, Giants,

Mid-West - Arizona, Colorado, Houston,

Central - Cinnci, St.Louis, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Millwauake

East - Philly, New York, Atlanta, DC, Florida-Maimi

you can adjust the playoff system in two different ways.

Creating a new round in which two wild cards play the bottom 2 seeded teams, much like the NFL.

or

You could elimatinate the wild card all together and go with each division representing itself in post season play. I think more purest would go for that action.

However, with that you run the risk of having the NL East completely rebel as there are five teams fighting for one spot against an NL West that has three teams fighting for one spot. obviously someone makes out in the end and someone ends up short.

If you do award two wildcards you run into the issue of a higher percentage of teams within the AL goes to the playoffs every year over the NL. obviously thats the case now as the AL has only 14 teams vs the NL of 16. the only other option in that case is expansion. While i am against the idea of expansion at this time within Major League Baseball i feel if you went with a two wild card system this would be the best way to even everything out.

So who would be in line for my top 2 expansion slots?

I think you would be surprised. As more and more sports are trying to spread overseas and trying to gain a more global presence within the sports, baseball has a unique oppertunity. Instead of going overseas. Why not head south?

My expansion teams would be Mexico City, and Puerto Rico.

Why not dive into the spanish market. It's the top baseball producing market in the world, and while they may not have the money you could see the start of REAL international baseball take place. Why not we have had baseball in Canada for over 40 years not. While the Montreal situation was horrible, Toronto has facilitated an excellent fan base for the past 17 years.

Why not try it south of the boarder.

Then you have another team to add to the central and east divisions. Want to put puerto rico in the NL so it can generate a good rivlary with Florida(aka miami) switch them with that 'Natinals' new city, new league. It wouldn't be devestating switch and it maybe a great marketing move to have DC play Baltimore more than once every three years. that could be a great grown rivlary.

This all boils down to pure speculation and while thats all it is. Is there really a need to realign the divisions. No, not really. But, I think baseball's next commish has some interesting moves ahead of him (or her) and i think it's important to see how they involve the south american market, which besides it's countrymen that they send us to play in our Major Leagues, is an economic untapped resource.