Posted on 04/10/2020 9:39:53 PM PDT by dangus
MLB is talking with the players' union to play 2020 with a radical realignment, replacing the National League and American League, in effect, with the Grapefruit League and the Cactus League. All games would be played in front of empty stadiums in Florida or Arizona. I would be so thrilled if this could be worked out; nothing could help restore the national spirit like bringing baseball back! Yes, it might seem wierd for some people to see empty stadiums, but who hasn't seen a Marlins game?
But here's the thing: Once we've temporarily done with the traditional leagues, why go back? The AL and NL are merely divisions now... except for the fact that they've always kept separate records. But once 2020 blurs those records, why re-establish the separation? Why not permanently restructure baseball on geography, giving fans much greater ability to travel to see their favorite teams on the road. Of course, this doesn't particularly benefit geographically isolated teams like Denver as much as teams in clusters, like the Yankees and Mets.
Check out these divisions:
Boston -- New York -- New York -- Toronto -- Philadelphia -- Washington -- Baltimore
Pittsburgh -- Cleveland -- Detroit -- Cincinnati -- Tampa -- Florida -- Atlanta
Chicago -- Chicago -- St. Louis -- Milwaukee -- Kansas City -- Texas -- Houston -- Minnesota
San Diego -- Anaheim or Los Angeles of whatever -- Los Angeles -- Oakland -- San Francisco -- Seattle -- Phoenix -- Denver
Imagine the rivalries! 2 divisions per league, 2 wild-card teams per division (or none). No interleague play needed. I mean, who wants to see Philadelphia play Denver when you could watch then play the Yankees, or even the Orioles?
I suppose they could put blow up dolls in the stands...Good thing is that the Spring league stands are pretty easy to fill...
Shouldn't fans in Philly have a chance to throw rocks at see Michael Jordan Mike Trout play?
Doesn’t it make so much more sense for Los Angeles Dodgers fans to see Trout play?
Why couldn’t they put cameras with Zoom on every seat, and sell access to remote viewing from each seat?
Or people could go play golf, get some actual exercise, and help local golf courses out.
Or take up gardening.
Or just spend time as a family doing something.
They do see Trout play, right?
If you are a Yankees fan living in Los Angeles, you never get to see them play?
And the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants?
No, I’m not for that. I’m fine with temporarily holding games in AZ so they can get the season started, but I want things put back into place next season. I’d rather see them forget this season and start it up next year, than destroy 100 years of tradition.
They already screwed baseball up enough with stupid things like the DH rule.
Yes we do.
Only if someone comes by with peanuts and a hot dog and a soda, as well as a program and Souvenoirs Here!
Have you ever heard of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim?
Yeah, we get the Yankees every single season here in LA.
As long as they get rid of that awful, un-American Designated Hitter rule, they can play the games anywhere.
No thanks. I want them to keep the league alignments as they are. Here’s an easy fix for you: stop interleague play.
I heard a few days ago about the proposal to play in Phoenix, but I haven’t heard anything since. I could live with it, just to see baseball again. If they start in Phoenix that doesn’t mean they have to play the whole season there. Let’s start in Phoenix on May 1 and go back to regularly scheduled programming ASAP...could be as soon as June 1.
This idea comes from the communists.
The Cardinals train in Florida.
Your divisions don’t align with the grapefruit and cactus leagues. For example Houston is a Grapefruit team and Texas is a Cactus team.
So desperate for TV money... pathetic
Try again in 2021
Totally agree.
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