![]() Either four- or eight-team divisions would likely result in a playoff expansion, an extra division winner, or extra wild cards. The introduction of eight separate four-team divisions would increase would create even better odds for clubs, however arbitrary and manufactured those divisions might be. ![]() Portland is perhaps an increasingly popular one, and the city made a bid to lure the Expos in 2003, as Jay Jaffe noted in a deep dive on the subject last week for Sports Illustrated.Īn increase to 32 teams would force a split to two or four divisions per league, and this author suspects MLB would favor the later. Montreal seems like a favorite to land an expansion team. West: Anaheim, Arizona, Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle. Midwest: Both Chicago franchises, Colorado, Houston, Kansas City, Milwaukee, St. North: Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Minnesota, Montreal, both New York franchises, and Toronto. He also proposes radical geographic realignment with four, eight-team divisions, as follow:Įast: Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Miami, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, and Washington. Ringolsby addresses those issues in his Baseball America piece. The relentless demands of the schedule and the travel it requires are both increasing concerns for players. Reshaping divisions could also reduce travel for players, which would please the MLBPA. So expansion would largely be motivated by a desire for growth, but it would have a significant ancillary benefit, too: the addition of two more clubs would allow the league to restructure dramatically the way its divisions are aligned, its playoffs are structured, and the way its season is scheduled. Getting rid of the would really be a good deal for us.” ![]() “I think 32 would help us from a schedule and format perspective,” Manfred said. Manfred has said baseball is, ultimately, a “growth industry.” Manfred then, during the broadcast, mentioned other incentives for expansion that this author hadn’t previously heard the commissioner address. But once those situations are put to rest, MLB seems committed to expansion. He again suggested that the stadium issues in Oakland and Tampa must first be resolved. There have been rumblings of expansion for some time.Īs a guest in the Rockies’ broadcast booth back in August, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred was asked about expansion.
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