How Would you Expand/Realign?

oriolesmeep · 03-12-2016, 04:00 PM

I'm nearing the 30th season of play in my fictional league, which will likely be started in OOTP 17.

To celebrate the release of both OOTP 17 and entering my 30th season, I've decided to expand my league. Only problem - I'm not sure how to.

I've decided to add a team in Salt Lake City and Pittsburgh. Right now, there's 32 teams, 2 sub-leagues, 4 divisions with 4 teams each. Only the division winners make the playoffs. It leads to some very good teams missing out entirely, but also (in my opinion) adds some excitement to the playoff race, when 2 95 win teams are fighting for one playoff spot.

Adding 2 teams gives me 34, which doesn't divide nicely. I could add more, but I haven't done more than 2 at a time before and I don't want to drain teams of talent.

So my options are:

A. Expand to 34, putting Salt Lake City in the Southwest Division and Pittsburgh in the Central Division. Downside - the divisions aren't even.

B. Realign into 2 divisions in each sub league, the East and the West. Downside - extra work and having to institute wild cards, and the divisions still aren't even (though with 8/9 teams per division it means less).

C. Expand to 36 teams, and re-align into 6 6-team divisions. Downside - starting to have too many teams to keep track of, may drain talent, and 3 divisions also would make me have to institute wild cards.

I haven't decided, though I am certain I want to expand. Any other suggestions are welcome.

bwburke94 · 03-12-2016, 04:04 PM

Here's the big question - are you truly opposed to wild cards in any case, or are you willing to expand the playoffs if you expand to 36 teams?

oriolesmeep · 03-12-2016, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwburke94

Here's the big question - are you truly opposed to wild cards in any case, or are you willing to expand the playoffs if you expand to 36 teams?

Personally, I'm not, but for this league I don't want to put them in if at all possible.

Bluenoser · 03-12-2016, 05:49 PM

This is my current setup (your option C).

3 division winners and 1 WC make the playoffs. No DH, No interleague, 26 man rosters.

oriolesmeep · 03-12-2016, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

This is my current setup (your option C).

3 division winners and 1 WC make the playoffs. No DH, No interleague, 26 man rosters.

How was the talent level in your league immediately after expanding? I'm afraid that adding 6 teams at a time might lead to career AA-caliber players earning starting jobs at the big league level.

Bluenoser · 03-12-2016, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oriolesmeep

How was the talent level in your league immediately after expanding? I'm afraid that adding 6 teams at a time might lead to career AA-caliber players earning starting jobs at the big league level.

I didn't expand, I created the league like that from scratch. I wouldn't expand by 6 teams all at once, that would thin the talent for a few years. If I were doing it via expansion, I'd probably add 2 teams every 5 years.

'94 EXPOS · 03-12-2016, 09:26 PM

36 teams

4 nine team divisions in two sub-leagues

Top 2 from each division get into play-offs

From my experience: you don't have any wildcards and rarely will a deserving team miss the playoffs

The Game · 03-13-2016, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

This is my current setup (your option C).

3 division winners and 1 WC make the playoffs. No DH, No interleague, 26 man rosters.

why have both Canadian teams in the NL but still have Houston in the NL?

Bluenoser · 03-13-2016, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Game

why have both Canadian teams in the NL but still have Houston in the NL?

My personal preference, that's all. Rivalry between Tor/Mon, and also Bal/Was.

There's still a Canadian team in the AL West. Rivalry with Sea.

I put Houston back where they belonged and Milwaukee back where they belonged.

Again, all personal preference - ymmv

Padreman · 03-13-2016, 12:07 PM

I have 36 teams once I did have 4 divisions
East, West, Midwest and Central you can do that and have the 4 division winners make the playoffs

Le Grande Orange · 03-13-2016, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '94 EXPOS

36 teams

4 nine team divisions in two sub-leagues

Top 2 from each division get into play-offs

From my experience: you don't have any wildcards and rarely will a deserving team miss the playoffs

I'd say that depends on your schedule.

If you have a balanced schedule, then the divisions are arbitrary, and a wild card qualifier is more legitimate since its record is transferable to any division due to the balanced schedule. If you have a divisionally-weighted schedule, then the division winners have legitimacy but wild card qualifiers are questionable.

The Game · 03-13-2016, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

My personal preference, that's all. Rivalry between Tor/Mon, and also Bal/Was.

There's still a Canadian team in the AL West. Rivalry with Sea.

I put Houston back where they belonged and Milwaukee back where they belonged.

Again, all personal preference - ymmv

Didnt notice Milwaukee. I hated the Brewers when they played in the AL. Phil Garner led teams always started a fight. i always keep states with just 2 teams in separate leagues.

Bluenoser · 03-13-2016, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Game

Didnt notice Milwaukee. I hated the Brewers when they played in the AL. Phil Garner led teams always started a fight. i always keep states with just 2 teams in separate leagues.

I remember and enjoyed the days of Harvey's Wallbangers

jokerhusky1129 · 03-13-2016, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

This is my current setup (your option C).

3 division winners and 1 WC make the playoffs. No DH, No interleague, 26 man rosters.

Wow, you put Washington in the AL too? I thought I was the only one. I also rename them the Senators (Nationals in the AL? Haha).

Anyways, what I do is I don't expand. 30 teams to me is best. Put Washington and Milwaukee in the AL, and Houston back in the NL. Two divisions in each, 5 teams make the playoffs. Division winners get a bye along with the highest rated wild card (We'll call them the Super Wild Card). One game playoff for the Wild Card Playoff, best of 7 division series, championship series, and World Series. I make the DH universal, so at that point, I name them the American and National Conference.

OakDragon · 03-14-2016, 11:36 AM

I voted "Other" and I'd go with '94 Expos' suggestion.

T-Bone · 03-14-2016, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '94 EXPOS

36 teams

4 nine team divisions in two sub-leagues

Top 2 from each division get into play-offs

From my experience: you don't have any wildcards and rarely will a deserving team miss the playoffs

This one

View Poll Results: How should I expand?
Option A	4	16.00%
Option B	4	16.00%
Option C	12	48.00%
Other (Please reply with your suggestion)	5	20.00%
Voters: 25. You may not vote on this poll

03-12-2016, 04:00 PM	#1
oriolesmeep Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 103	How Would you Expand/Realign? I'm nearing the 30th season of play in my fictional league, which will likely be started in OOTP 17. To celebrate the release of both OOTP 17 and entering my 30th season, I've decided to expand my league. Only problem - I'm not sure how to. I've decided to add a team in Salt Lake City and Pittsburgh. Right now, there's 32 teams, 2 sub-leagues, 4 divisions with 4 teams each. Only the division winners make the playoffs. It leads to some very good teams missing out entirely, but also (in my opinion) adds some excitement to the playoff race, when 2 95 win teams are fighting for one playoff spot. Adding 2 teams gives me 34, which doesn't divide nicely. I could add more, but I haven't done more than 2 at a time before and I don't want to drain teams of talent. So my options are: A. Expand to 34, putting Salt Lake City in the Southwest Division and Pittsburgh in the Central Division. Downside - the divisions aren't even. B. Realign into 2 divisions in each sub league, the East and the West. Downside - extra work and having to institute wild cards, and the divisions still aren't even (though with 8/9 teams per division it means less). C. Expand to 36 teams, and re-align into 6 6-team divisions. Downside - starting to have too many teams to keep track of, may drain talent, and 3 divisions also would make me have to institute wild cards. I haven't decided, though I am certain I want to expand. Any other suggestions are welcome.

03-12-2016, 05:49 PM	#4
Bluenoser Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In The Moment Posts: 14,503	This is my current setup (your option C). 3 division winners and 1 WC make the playoffs. No DH, No interleague, 26 man rosters. Attached Images

03-13-2016, 12:07 PM	#10
Padreman Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2013 Location: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico (formally San Diego, CA.) Posts: 4,131	I have 36 teams once I did have 4 divisions East, West, Midwest and Central you can do that and have the 4 division winners make the playoffs __________________ Chargers= Despicable Traitors

03-12-2016, 04:04 PM	#2
bwburke94 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Belchertown, MA, USA Posts: 4,523	Here's the big question - are you truly opposed to wild cards in any case, or are you willing to expand the playoffs if you expand to 36 teams?

03-12-2016, 09:26 PM	#7
'94 EXPOS Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 323	36 teams 4 nine team divisions in two sub-leagues Top 2 from each division get into play-offs From my experience: you don't have any wildcards and rarely will a deserving team miss the playoffs

03-14-2016, 11:36 AM	#15
OakDragon Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Jose, CA USA Posts: 3,494	I voted "Other" and I'd go with '94 Expos' suggestion.