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Realignment - baseball's next big question?

Despite being a Yankees fan, I admit the economics of baseball are way out of whack. I was talking with a few other fans about the MLB and thought of a radical new change in division re-alignment that may finally end the disparity between all ball clubs having a chance to make the playoffs each year. Much like soccer, it would kind of be a tier system. Scheduling and travel wise it makes a lot more sense as well. For those hardcore fans I would also make each team play at least 3 games against every other team in the Majors. Let’s see if you like what I have done.

The new AL would feature the bigger payroll teams. I know this break’s up 130 years of tradition but it is time to move into the new millennium.  There would be 15 teams in each league so that would make for 1 Interleague series at all times.  Under this format you would not need to add another Wild Card berth.
Proposed Changes

AL EAST

In-PHI, NYM and DET/Out-TOR, TB, FLA

Projected Payrolls in Millions-2011 ($763 Million total or $153 Million per team/Record Last Year Combined 441-359 or 88-74)

New York Yankees-$201.7 and 95-67 (AL Wild Card Winner under new format.)
New York Mets-$120.1 and 79-83
Boston Red Sox-$161.4 and 89-73
Philadelphia Phillies-$173.0 and 97-65 (Division Winner for AL East under new alignment.)
Detroit Tigers-$105.7 and 81-81

Detroit might suffer a little because of the economy but they are one of the proudest franchises and draw well. With New York and Philly 100 miles away they should all play each other a lot more. Boston is not too far either. All of these teams have the capability of drawing 3 Million-4 Million fans to compete.

AL Central

In-CHC and MIL/Out-KC

Projected Payroll in Millions 2011($530 Million total or $106 Million per team/Record Last Year Combined 406-394 or 82-80)

Chicago White Sox-$129.3 and 79-83
Chicago Cubs-$125.5 and 75-87
Minnesota Twins-$112.7 and 94-68 (AL Central Winner under new alignment.)

Cincinnati Reds $76.2 and 91-71

Milwaukee Brewers-$85.5 and 77-85

The AL Central division re-alignment makes the most sense with Milwaukee and the two Chicago teams being only 100 miles apart. Minnesota is within a 6 hour drive of Chicago too. Cincinnati does have the ability to play with the big timers if they play well. Cincinnati is 300 miles from Chicago, 400 from Milwaukee and a quick plane ride to Minnesota

AL West

In-SF, LAD/Out-TEX

Projected Payroll in Millions-2011($514 Million total or $103 Million per team/Record Last Year Combined 397-403 or 80-82)

Seattle Mariners-$86.4 and 61-01
SF Giants-$118.2 and 92-70 (Division Winner under new alignment.)
LA Dodgers-$103.8 and 80-82
LA Angels-$139.0 and 80-82

Oakland-$66.6 and 81-81

I kept Oakland with AL as oppose to switching San Diego because Seattle is closer to the Bay Area.  Road trips would be so much better based on approximate miles to next destination.  Having 2 sets of team’s-under 40 miles away from each other is great for road trips.

National League

NL East

In-TOR, BALT, TB/Out-NYM, PHI, ATL

Projected Payroll in Millions-2011($310-Million total or $52 Million per team/Record Last Year Combined 396-404 or 80-82)

Washington Nationals $63.7 and 69-93
Toronto Blue Jays $62.5 and 85-77
Tampa Bay Rays-$41.9 and 96-66 (NL East winner under new alignment.)
Florida Marlins-$56.9 and 80-82
Baltimore Orioles-$85.3 66-96

It is time to face the truth – that these teams are at a severe disadvantage with the divisions they are currently in. It’s a natural to have BAL-WSH, TB-FLA in the same division. You have to think about practicality here of Marlins/Rays fans being able to watch their own team in the same state a few more times. Toronto is the odd duck of the group, but with four teams having two-sets of close ball yards, going on road trips would be a lot easier.

NL Central

IN ATL, TEX and CLE/Out-MIL/CHC/STL/CIN

Projected Payroll in Millions-2011($345 Million total or $69 Million per team/Record Last Year Combined 393-407  or 80-82)

Cleveland Indians $49.2 and 69-93
Atlanta Braves $87.0 and 91-71 (NL Central Division Winner under new alignment.)
Houston Astros $70.7 and 76-86
Pittsburgh Pirates $46.0 and 57-105
Texas Rangers $92.3 and 90-72 (Wild Card Winner Under New Format.)

Houston and Texas could benefit by more state kind of games. Cleveland is really close in flights to all as is Atlanta.  Pittsburgh would have a chance to compete under this alignment without Chicago Cubs/St. Louis both exceeding $100 million and with one less team in the division

NL WEST

In-STL, KC/Out LAD and SF

Projected Payroll in Millions- 2011($339 Million total or $68 Million per team/Record Last Year Combined 391-409 or 79-83)
Arizona Diamondbacks $53.6 and 65-97
San Diego Padres $45.9 and 90-72 (NL West Division Winner under new format.)

Kansas City Royals $36.1 and 67-95
Colorado Rockies $88.0 and 83-79
St. Louis $105.4 and 86-76

St. Louis already has a higher payroll than any other NL Central team now as we speak other than Chicago.  There is a natural rivalry with Kansas City.  Arizona and San Diego have new parks and could spend more.  Kansas City has the 30^th payroll in the majors anyway so there is no division to put them in.  At least they would only have St. Louis instead of Minnesota, Detroit and the White Sox all exceeding $100 million now.

Looking principally from a payroll point of view, these moves in a dramatic realignment would make sense.

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