Manfred hopes for expansion to 32 teams - Page 2

Westheim · 07-20-2018, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsvitak

Vegas would need a domed stadium, otherwise players would be dying on the field.

Weird. You'd think as a Mets guy I would have heard about all our AAA prospects dying at domeless Cashman Field.

mitchkenn · 07-20-2018, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

There are two issues with it: (1) for those who don't like the wild card, there'd still be wild card qualifiers; (2) it is a harder arrangement for which to create a schedule, especially if interleague is included..

you would no longer NEED inter-league. the schedule could be balanced with 16 teams each league. (yep, i'm not a fan of inter-league play.)

and then with expansion we could have 8 teams losing 100 games instead of the 5 or 6 we may have this year....

but really i'd like realignment, expansion to 32 and get rid of inter-league if they are going to do anything. Divide the country with the Mississippi and have 16 teams each side for easier scheduling/travel. Rename them, so the old American/National league stigma is gone.

Heck, while we're at it we could fix a few other issues as well. some other time i guess.

Orioles1966 · 07-20-2018, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by low

I don't get the hatred for 4-team divisions.

Makes finishing in first meaningless. Everybody and their brother finishes in first place. Too many games between the same teams makes it looks minor league-ish.

I think the NFLs divisional setup has run it's course. Maybe one reason for the drop in ratings.

Orioles1966 · 07-20-2018, 12:11 PM

I would like too see expansion in San Antonio and Montreal (both in the AL) plus move Tampa Bay to the NL.

Orioles1966 · 07-20-2018, 12:14 PM

Isn't Las Vegas already building another Triple A park so MLB expansion would be out of the question?

Le Grande Orange · 07-20-2018, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mitchkenn

you would no longer NEED inter-league. the schedule could be balanced with 16 teams each league. (yep, i'm not a fan of inter-league play.)

A 6-5-5 league is still harder to schedule for since two of the divisions cannot have full division play going on at the same time. That means it can be hard to get a schedule format in which clubs across the divisions play equitable distributions of division and non-division games. Also, a balanced schedule with divisions makes the divisions arbitrary and meaningless.

Le Grande Orange · 07-20-2018, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatSeventiesGuy

Four divisions, 8 teams each, no stinkin' wild cards.

Eight-team divisions have the opposite problem to four-team divisions: they're too big, and make it hard to balance total number of division games played against number of division games against each divisional opponent, as well as the total number of games against the other division and number of games against each non-division opponent.

If you really wanted to go that way, switch to what would effectively be four leagues of eight teams, with regular season play entirely among those eight clubs. (Or perhaps with a limited slate of games against the other 'leagues'.)

kenyan_cheena · 07-20-2018, 10:23 PM

Shorten regular season to 154 games.

Two divisions of eight in each league.

Playoffs would be 2 division champs and 4 wildcards.

Wildcard series best of 3, all games at 1st and 2nd wildcard's home field, so the series is over and done with after a maximum three days.

Diviisonal round best of 7, with two division champs getting 5 home games (2-2-3 format).

LCs and World Series unchanged.

buckeye22 · 07-31-2018, 01:53 AM

REALLY far out idea that I'm not even in favor of, just spitballing and starting a REALLY interesting conversation.

Since 4 team divisions are "too small," 8 team division are "too big," and most of us hate the idea of wild cards, and we ALL know that if anything, they'll EXPAND the playoffs instead of trimming it down.....

Split season. Go with the 4 divisions of 8. Split the season, either at the 81 game mark, the end of June, the All Star break, whatever. Division leader at the time is in. Reset the standings. Division leader of the 2nd half gets in. And then you let in the best overall season record not already in the playoffs (to get rid of the possiblity of a team finishing 2nd in both halves but winning the division overall). 12 teams total make the playoffs, first 2 round can be divisional playoffs. Say you give the best overall season record team the bye.

Again, I'm not in favor. But since the rest of the ideas have just as many holes in them, it's a thought.

Green & Gold Heart · 07-31-2018, 07:32 AM

Who is moving to P. Rico?

Westheim · 07-31-2018, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green & Gold Heart

Who is moving to P. Rico?

The A's probably. They can get a better stadium there.

buckeye22 · 07-31-2018, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

If you really wanted to go that way, switch to what would effectively be four leagues of eight teams, with regular season play entirely among those eight clubs. (Or perhaps with a limited slate of games against the other 'leagues'.)

Not terrible. 14 games against the other 7 in your league would give you 98 "league" games. Play 8 against an entire other league each season (64 more, getting you to 162), rotating. Keeps schedules pretty well balanced among leagues, league champions make the playoffs. It's actually pretty clean and balanced. I'm not big on massive realignment, but if it happened this makes as much sense as anything else.

The biggest problem I have with current interleague play is that 1 geographic rivals gives certain teams 4-6 guaranteed tough games a year while others get 4-6 "easy" games and 2 it's just not balanced. I'd hate to see a division race decided simply because one team got to play Kansas City 4 times while the other drew Cleveland 4 times.

Le Grande Orange · 08-01-2018, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckeye22

Not terrible. 14 games against the other 7 in your league would give you 98 "league" games. Play 8 against an entire other league each season (64 more, getting you to 162), rotating. Keeps schedules pretty well balanced among leagues, league champions make the playoffs. It's actually pretty clean and balanced. I'm not big on massive realignment, but if it happened this makes as much sense as anything else.

The only trouble there is 14 and 8 are not good numbers to work with for schedule purposes. You could go with 16 games within the league and 6 games against each team in one other league each year. That works out to 160 games (7*16=112 plus 6*8=48 equals 160).

Tony M · 08-03-2018, 12:08 PM

Start the first 32 team season with the teams ordered in W%

The top 8 play each other 6 times (1 x 3 game series home and away)
9-16 play each other 6 times
17-24 play each other 6 times
25-32 play each other 6 times

After these 42 games a set of 3 games series

5 v 12, 6 v 11, 7 v 10, 8 v 9 - with the winners occupying the higher space in the ladder and the loser occupying the lower
13 v 20, 14 v 19, 15 v 18, 16 v 17 - winners occupying the higher space, loser occupying the lower
21 v 28, 22 v 27, 23 v 26, 24 v 25 - ditto as above

the top 4 and bottom 4 can have a three day rest (or organise exhibitions)

Once the 3 game series have been done and dusted - start again from the beginning with the now new top 8 playing as a group again, down to 25-32... have another 3 game series and rearrange the ladder and do the whole thing once more...

On the third set of 3 game playoffs the winners are paired off against the top four teams in a single elimination tournament for the World Series...

drksd4848 · 08-03-2018, 02:47 PM

OH GREAT! So instead of having four good teams, and 26 suck-bag teams, we'll have four good teams and 28 bags of crap.

Baseball doesn't get it - as per usual. They don't need to expand, they need to CONTRACT!

In fact, baseball has way more to be concerned about than expanding. That would be the worst thing to do.

Le Grande Orange · 08-03-2018, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drksd4848

OH GREAT! So instead of having four good teams, and 26 suck-bag teams, we'll have four good teams and 28 bags of crap.

You must be looking at some other version of the 2018 MLB standings than I am. Because the one I see currently shows six teams in the AL in the post-season hunt and seven teams in the NL. (Post-season hunt defined as leading the division or within two games or less of a wild card berth. If one expands that to within five games or less, the NL figure rises to eleven.)

drksd4848 · 08-03-2018, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

You must be looking at some other version of the 2018 MLB standings than I am. Because the one I see currently shows six teams in the AL in the post-season hunt and seven teams in the NL. (Post-season hunt defined as leading the division or within two games or less of a wild card berth. If one expands that to within five games or less, the NL figure rises to eleven.)

Well, we can debate the quality of the teams in play, but let me put it this way:

Baseball has way more important things to worry about before they even consider expansion. Expansion should the least of their priorities. If Rob Manfred doesn't realize this, he is as clueless as the players.

Le Grande Orange · 08-04-2018, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drksd4848

Baseball has way more important things to worry about before they even consider expansion. Expansion should the least of their priorities.

The only thing about expansion for me is the likelihood of four-team divisions. That's not something I want to see. (If nothing else, let's hope MLB doesn't do what the NHL did and expand simply to stuff the league coffers with some quick expansion fee bucks.)

Westheim · 08-05-2018, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

(If nothing else, let's hope MLB doesn't do what the NHL did and expand simply to stuff the league coffers with some quick expansion fee bucks.)

Yeah, go ahead and give Rob Numbfred ideas...

ThatSeventiesGuy · 08-05-2018, 10:54 AM

Meh, contraction is not gonna happen. It's a sign of weakness, and nobody wants to show that. Plus, only one team has contracted in the four major sports leagues in the past 50 years, and that was more of a merger than an actual contraction (Cleveland Barons, look it up, kids).

I'm with LGO, I fear 4-team divisions far more than I fear expansion at this point.

08-03-2018, 12:08 PM	#34
Tony M Global Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Here Posts: 6,156 Blog Entries: 3	Start the first 32 team season with the teams ordered in W% The top 8 play each other 6 times (1 x 3 game series home and away) 9-16 play each other 6 times 17-24 play each other 6 times 25-32 play each other 6 times After these 42 games a set of 3 games series 5 v 12, 6 v 11, 7 v 10, 8 v 9 - with the winners occupying the higher space in the ladder and the loser occupying the lower 13 v 20, 14 v 19, 15 v 18, 16 v 17 - winners occupying the higher space, loser occupying the lower 21 v 28, 22 v 27, 23 v 26, 24 v 25 - ditto as above the top 4 and bottom 4 can have a three day rest (or organise exhibitions) Once the 3 game series have been done and dusted - start again from the beginning with the now new top 8 playing as a group again, down to 25-32... have another 3 game series and rearrange the ladder and do the whole thing once more... On the third set of 3 game playoffs the winners are paired off against the top four teams in a single elimination tournament for the World Series... __________________ This signature is intentionally blank

08-03-2018, 02:47 PM	#35
drksd4848 All Star Starter Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,815 Blog Entries: 1	OH GREAT! So instead of having four good teams, and 26 suck-bag teams, we'll have four good teams and 28 bags of crap. Baseball doesn't get it - as per usual. They don't need to expand, they need to CONTRACT! In fact, baseball has way more to be concerned about than expanding. That would be the worst thing to do. Last edited by drksd4848; 08-03-2018 at 02:49 PM.

08-05-2018, 10:54 AM	#40
ThatSeventiesGuy Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Midland, MI Posts: 3,421	Meh, contraction is not gonna happen. It's a sign of weakness, and nobody wants to show that. Plus, only one team has contracted in the four major sports leagues in the past 50 years, and that was more of a merger than an actual contraction (Cleveland Barons, look it up, kids). I'm with LGO, I fear 4-team divisions far more than I fear expansion at this point. __________________ https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...00&postcount=1

07-20-2018, 12:11 PM	#24
Orioles1966 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 2,869	I would like too see expansion in San Antonio and Montreal (both in the AL) plus move Tampa Bay to the NL.

07-20-2018, 12:14 PM	#25
Orioles1966 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 2,869	Isn't Las Vegas already building another Triple A park so MLB expansion would be out of the question?

07-20-2018, 10:23 PM	#28
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,038	Shorten regular season to 154 games. Two divisions of eight in each league. Playoffs would be 2 division champs and 4 wildcards. Wildcard series best of 3, all games at 1st and 2nd wildcard's home field, so the series is over and done with after a maximum three days. Diviisonal round best of 7, with two division champs getting 5 home games (2-2-3 format). LCs and World Series unchanged.

07-31-2018, 01:53 AM	#29
buckeye22 Major Leagues Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 322	REALLY far out idea that I'm not even in favor of, just spitballing and starting a REALLY interesting conversation. Since 4 team divisions are "too small," 8 team division are "too big," and most of us hate the idea of wild cards, and we ALL know that if anything, they'll EXPAND the playoffs instead of trimming it down..... Split season. Go with the 4 divisions of 8. Split the season, either at the 81 game mark, the end of June, the All Star break, whatever. Division leader at the time is in. Reset the standings. Division leader of the 2nd half gets in. And then you let in the best overall season record not already in the playoffs (to get rid of the possiblity of a team finishing 2nd in both halves but winning the division overall). 12 teams total make the playoffs, first 2 round can be divisional playoffs. Say you give the best overall season record team the bye. Again, I'm not in favor. But since the rest of the ideas have just as many holes in them, it's a thought.

07-31-2018, 07:32 AM	#30
Green & Gold Heart Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,242	Who is moving to P. Rico?