Astros To The AL West

[BigP50]

Outgoing Owner Confirms Astros Move To AL West | SI Tracking Blog

 

[GaelicSoxFan]

About goddamn time.

 

[Capt. Serious]

What happens to the M's? Staying or leaving the division?

 

[HeavyD]

What happens to the M's? Staying or leaving the division?

Why would the leave? this evens everything up?

 

[GaelicSoxFan]

What happens to the M's? Staying or leaving the division?

The AL West is a four team division (Texas, Anaheim, Oakland, Seattle). The NL Central is a six team division (Cubs, St. Louis, Houston, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati).

The Astros would be going to the AL West to restore balance to the league (and the Force).

 

[DewsSox79]

another wild card team in each league? **** that.

 

[Capt. Serious]

The AL West is a four team division (Texas, Anaheim, Oakland, Seattle). The NL Central is a six team division (Cubs, St. Louis, Houston, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati).

The Astros would be going to the AL West to restore balance to the league (and the Force).

Astros being in the AL makes zero sense. Keep em where they belong.

 

[GaelicSoxFan]

Astros being in the AL makes zero sense. Keep em where they belong.

Then which team would you move to the AL West? Arizona? Then you'd have to move Houston to the NL West.

 

[GaelicSoxFan]

This may offend some of you traditionalists out there, but I would be in favor of getting rid of the American and National leagues altogether in favor of more geographically-aligned conferences like the NBA and NHL. The AL and NL exist in name only anyway since MLB did away with the American and National League offices.

Here is my idea of what the conferences would look like:

Eastern Conference:

Northeast Division:

Yankees
Mets
Red Sox
Phillies
Blue Jays

Southeast Division:

Nationals
Orioles
Marlins
Rays
Braves

Central Division:

Tigers
Indians
Reds
Brewers
Pirates

Western Conference:

Midwest Division:

Cubs
White Sox
Cardinals
Royals
Twins

Southwest Division:

Astros
Rangers
Padres
Rockies
Diamondbacks

Pacific Division:

Angels
Dodgers
Giants
A's
Mariners

I know it's not perfect geographically, but I think it is the most equitable.

Oh, and the DH would be mandatory league-wide.

 

[Crystallas]

Lets have a BCS-like computer determine the ranks. If baseball is the one sport that can be tied down to stats as an accurate representation of teams, I don't see what the problem would be. Screw having any division whatsoever.

 

[AE23]

That's 4 teams from 2 states in 1 division, That's pretty geographically aligned, still I don't like having too many in state teams in the same division. These states, California and Texas are pretty big, so, no biggie, but I wouldn't want two teams from the same city on the same division

 

[Rice Cube]

This may offend some of you traditionalists out there, but I would be in favor of getting rid of the American and National leagues altogether in favor of more geographically-aligned conferences like the NBA and NHL. The AL and NL exist in name only anyway since MLB did away with the American and National League offices.

Here is my idea of what the conferences would look like:

Eastern Conference:

Northeast Division:

Yankees
Mets
Red Sox
Phillies
Blue Jays

Southeast Division:

Nationals
Orioles
Marlins
Rays
Braves

Central Division:

Tigers
Indians
Reds
Brewers
Pirates

Western Conference:

Midwest Division:

Cubs
White Sox
Cardinals
Royals
Twins

Southwest Division:

Astros
Rangers
Padres
Rockies
Diamondbacks

Pacific Division:

Angels
Dodgers
Giants
A's
Mariners

I know it's not perfect geographically, but I think it is the most equitable.

Oh, and the DH would be mandatory league-wide.

I like this idea except for the part where the divisions would be very imbalanced and thus you'd continue to have the problem of having three teams in one division battling for two playoff spots. I'm not sure how you'd always guarantee that the best teams make the playoffs without additional wild cards, and additional wild cards might also allow stupid teams to sneak in and luck into a championship. I don't think any realignment/playoff system in baseball is foolproof due to the randomness inherent in the sport.

 

[AE23]

but this move isnt till 2013, right?

 

[Rice Cube]

but this move isnt till 2013, right?

That's the plan, my man.

 

[CODE_BLUE56]

ya....ditto to everyone that says its about time

 

[Jntg4]

JoeCawks, you're a dumbass. /thread

Why the hell would the M's move out of the West in this? And why does Houston have to stay in the NL in your opinion? Why does it make zero sense? Give some reasons.

 

[Rice Cube]

JoeCawks, you're a dumbass. /thread

Why the hell would the M's move out of the West in this? And why does Houston have to stay in the NL in your opinion? Why does it make zero sense? Give some reasons.

The Houston in NL thing makes sense from a traditional standpoint because they came in as a NL expansion team. The problem is that they are the ones with the least leverage so they have to move. You'd think Milwaukee would've moved, but Bud Selig has power, so....

 

[dabynsky]

I have to say I don't like this because of interleague year round being necessary with this move. As much as I hate to say it, I think the days of pitchers batting for themselves are numbered as MLB moves closer and closer to being like every other pro league in the US with the two leagues becoming conferences and having nearly half the teams make the playoffs every year. Ugh.

 

[MotorCityCub]

Astros to AL WEST

I have to say I don't like this because of interleague year round being necessary with this move. As much as I hate to say it, I think the days of pitchers batting for themselves are numbered as MLB moves closer and closer to being like every other pro league in the US with the two leagues becoming conferences and having nearly half the teams make the playoffs every year. Ugh.

Isn't baseball already a single league with two conferences? That's how I view it. They have a common draft, player movement including trades between the two and a single collective bargaining agreement. The only difference is one rule. It stopped being two leagues years ago.

While I love the tradition of baseball, I like the DH and interleague play. I like seeing NL teams at Comerica and being able to go to NL parks every year to see the Tigers.

 

[brett05]

I have to say I don't like this because of interleague year round being necessary with this move. As much as I hate to say it, I think the days of pitchers batting for themselves are numbered as MLB moves closer and closer to being like every other pro league in the US with the two leagues becoming conferences and having nearly half the teams make the playoffs every year. Ugh.

Were at 1/3 of the teams. Least of all major sports if I am not mistaken