Quote:
Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange
Well, if you're looking for a discussion of how to realign the current major leagues, that's a whole other matter. 
Personally, I'd probably go with three 5-team divisions in each league, even though that means interleague play all season long. But it would at least mean a symmetric schedule and a nearly identical set of matchups for each team within a division (or, as the NFL terms it, the 'common opponents' format).
If you want more radical suggestions, you could opt for three 10-team divisions, with or without interdivisional play. Or five 6-team divisions, again with or without interdivisional play. If you added to clubs to get to 32 in total, then you could have four 8-team divisions. Or eight 4-team divisions.
In any event, I will add this little historical postscript: originally, when it was decided both leagues would expand in 1969, the AL had already elected to split into two 6-team divisions, playing a 156-game schedule. The NL, however, was intending to operate as a single 12-team division playing either a 165- or 162-game schedule. The prospect of such a structural difference between the two major leagues didn't please anyone, and after much debate and arguing the NL reluctantly agreed to also split into two 6-team divisions provided a 162-game schedule was retained, which was agreed to by the AL. |
And that everyone is why LGO is the man around these boards when it comes to baseball history and scheduling, roster rules etc. A veritable walking baseball encyclopedia...Now where's that "We're not worthy/You are the man" smilie when you need it? I could legally hot link it from a site that allows those sorts of things, but I don't want to upset the forum muckety mucks, so you'll just have to imagine it LGO.
Despite my hatred for interleague play, I would possibly be able to stomach it in a 15 by 15 team league scenario if it meant a balanced schedule, but then what's the point of divisions? There's always something isn't there? Oh well at least in OOTPland the rigours/cost of travel don't have to be weighed under a scenario in which there would be a lot more travel. "It's your game..."