OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Want to add Hartford and Montreal to existing MLB setup

Muzamba · 11-06-2009, 10:13 PM

I would suggest the following configuration if you're committed to Montreal and Hartford as your expansion teams:

AL East: Boston, Montreal*, NY Yankees, Toronto
AL Central: Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, Tampa Bay
AL Midwest: Chi. White Sox, Kansas City, Minnesota, Texas
AL West: LA Angels, Oakland, Seattle, Arizona^

NL East: Atlanta, Hartford*, NY Mets, Philadelphia
NL Central: Cincinnati, Florida, Pittsburgh, Washington
NL Midwest: Chi. Cubs, Houston, Milwaukee, St. Louis
NL West: Colorado, LA Dodgers, San Diego, San Francisco

I switched the D'backs to the AL and placed Hartford in the NL. My logic here was that, since loyalties in the Hartford area are pretty evenly split between the Yankees and Red Sox, both franchises would strongly object to having a team in the middle drawing fans away. Truthfully, I can't imagine there ever actually being a team in Hartford for this reason alone. But if there HAD to be, I'm sure it would have to be in the NL.

Moving Arizona (The Rockies could be just as easily moved instead) maintains all the main interleague rivalries. Plus, it aligns Houston and Texas--the only teams from the same state that are in different divisions within their respective leagues--and sets them up for an annual rivalry.

You might also consider switching Atlanta back to the NL East and place Washington in the NL Central, if you want to maintain the Braves' Northeast rivalries and align the Nats to face the Orioles every year. (EDIT: I went ahead and did this in the above layout)

Having said this, I would agree that there are probably at least a dozen more practical locations for expansion teams than Hartford (unless you're from that area and want a team in your hometown, which I can certainly understand.) But I also think putting a team in one of the oft-mentioned western cities (Portland, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Vancouver, etc.) would be more realistic and easier to align correctly. And even though MLB probably wouldn't return to Montreal before the above cities, or eastern locations like the Carolinas, New Jersey, or P. Rico (sorry, couldn't resist

) I do still think Montreal is a viable location if the league were to expand. They may have lost the Expos, but they did support them for several decades. Plus, they're now the largest metro area in the US or Canada without a MLB franchise.

Anyway, that's my

. Good luck!

11-06-2009, 10:13 PM	#14
Muzamba Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,325	I would suggest the following configuration if you're committed to Montreal and Hartford as your expansion teams: AL East: Boston, Montreal, NY Yankees, Toronto AL Central: Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, Tampa Bay AL Midwest: Chi. White Sox, Kansas City, Minnesota, Texas AL West: LA Angels, Oakland, Seattle, Arizona^ NL East: Atlanta, Hartford, NY Mets, Philadelphia NL Central: Cincinnati, Florida, Pittsburgh, Washington NL Midwest: Chi. Cubs, Houston, Milwaukee, St. Louis NL West: Colorado, LA Dodgers, San Diego, San Francisco I switched the D'backs to the AL and placed Hartford in the NL. My logic here was that, since loyalties in the Hartford area are pretty evenly split between the Yankees and Red Sox, both franchises would strongly object to having a team in the middle drawing fans away. Truthfully, I can't imagine there ever actually being a team in Hartford for this reason alone. But if there HAD to be, I'm sure it would have to be in the NL. Moving Arizona (The Rockies could be just as easily moved instead) maintains all the main interleague rivalries. Plus, it aligns Houston and Texas--the only teams from the same state that are in different divisions within their respective leagues--and sets them up for an annual rivalry. You might also consider switching Atlanta back to the NL East and place Washington in the NL Central, if you want to maintain the Braves' Northeast rivalries and align the Nats to face the Orioles every year. (EDIT: I went ahead and did this in the above layout) Having said this, I would agree that there are probably at least a dozen more practical locations for expansion teams than Hartford (unless you're from that area and want a team in your hometown, which I can certainly understand.) But I also think putting a team in one of the oft-mentioned western cities (Portland, Las Vegas, San Antonio, Vancouver, etc.) would be more realistic and easier to align correctly. And even though MLB probably wouldn't return to Montreal before the above cities, or eastern locations like the Carolinas, New Jersey, or P. Rico (sorry, couldn't resist ) I do still think Montreal is a viable location if the league were to expand. They may have lost the Expos, but they did support them for several decades. Plus, they're now the largest metro area in the US or Canada without a MLB franchise. Anyway, that's my . Good luck! __________________ "It may be nothing. But it usually is always something and more than something." - Cardinals GM John Mozeliak Last edited by Muzamba; 11-07-2009 at 08:20 PM.