1358 replies to this topic

[Kramerica Industries]

I've refused to delve into this thread before, but it really dawned on me while thinking about Trout/Cabrera from the 2012 MVP discussion (yeah, that still happens with me) earlier today about how MLB could benefit from a simplified two division format than the somewhat cluttered three division format. This thinking was also inspired by the NHL re-alignment, which, for many of the problems I have with its execution (which I've discussed in the NHL thread), I do like the premise of.

Of course, the first question would be - why realign at all?

A: Kinda like how the NHL at times tends to have one weak division get an automatic high seed (Southeast Division almost every time), this also happens regularly in baseball, and seems to happen quite a bit with the AL Central. Detroit won 88 games in 2012, which was fewer than Texas (93), Tampa Bay (91), and Anaheim (89), all teams who missed the playoffs. In 2009, Minnesota won 87 games, but had a worse win percentage than Texas (due to playing a Game 163; Minnesota and Detroit won 86 games in the 162 game slate). In 2008, Chicago eked past Minnesota in a Game 163, but had a worse win percentage than the Yankees (89-73 vs. 89-74). Obviously, the 2005 NL West is the most egregious example, when 82-80 San Diego got in the playoffs (and then got BLASTED in the NLDS), and the 2006 Cardinals winning the Central at 83-78 is also pretty memorable (for some wrong reasons).

Yes, the 1972 Mets won a remarkably weak NL East with a miserable 82-79 record (and then beat the Reds juggernaut in the best-of-5 NLCS, showing the randomness of short series'). This is about the only memorable example of a two division format yielding a horribly weak division in the 25 years this lasted in MLB (1969-1993). Sometimes, random   happens,  but it happens much less often than it does now.

So, with that in mind, my proposal would be able to keep a four-team playoff in each league, while doing a better job at getting the best teams in the playoffs.

AL East:
New York Yankees
Boston
Baltimore
Toronto
Tampa Bay
Cleveland
Detroit

AL West:
Anaheim
Texas
Seattle
Oakland
Houston*
Chicago White Sox
Minnesota
Kansas City

NL East:
New York Mets
Atlanta
Washington
Philadelphia
Florida
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati

NL West:
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Arizona
Colorado
San Diego
St. Louis
Chicago Cubs
Milwaukee*

*I fully agree that the Brewers should've returned to the AL, not switching the Astros over after 50 NL seasons. But, since Milwaukee would go in the AL West anyway (geographic rivalries with Chicago and Minnesota), this is a very simple swap if you so wish it to be that way.

If this were applied to 2012, for instance, then the Yankees, A's, Rangers, and Orioles all get into the playoffs without any dispute, and in the NL, the Nationals, Giants, Reds, and Braves all do the same. In other words, the four best records in each league (...wait for it...) ALL REACH THE PLAYOFFS!

And, really, isn't that the way it's supposed to work anyway? Detroit, talent-wise, was one of the best teams in the AL, but they actually would've gotten punished for their immense underachievement in the regular season. So it goes.

And Mike Trout might've won the MVP award he so deserved, too.

[McCall]

The point of the Astros switching leagues was to even out the divisions. By going to 2-divisions in odd-numbered leagues, you've just created more unbalance. So that right there makes this plan less attractive than the actual current alignment.

And no the Brewers should not have switched leagues. Milwaukee, thanks to the Braves, was always more of an NL city anyway, plus they've formed much better rivalries with the NL Central clubs than they ever did in the AL. Either Colorado or Arizona should've been the ones to switch leagues.

Also, Miguel Cabrera won the Triple Crown, something not down for 45 years. I find that pretty damn deserving. His defense might not have been as stellar as Trout's, but he actually ended up being fairly adequate enough at 3rd base that it shouldn't have taken away from his offensive numbers, which were the best. Thus, the Triple Crown.

[Kramerica Industries]

That's just a strike against MLB deciding to even out the leagues then. Put Houston back in the NL, though it would create a mildly sticky situation about who to put in the NL East. Chicago is the only team I could think of, based on geography, but even then that's a team west of the Mississippi and also has a ton more rivalries in that division than they would in the East. Ditto with St. Louis and Milwaukee. I guess Houston?

I wanted to keep things within the general parameters of the league sizes and playoff qualification. In general, a two-division format will yield more teams that should've been in the playoffs than a three-division format does. It was pretty heinous last year that 7th place Detroit not only won their division, but they were actually the first AL team to clinch. Thus, they were able to set themselves up for the playoffs while the 95, 94, and 93 win Yankees, A's, Rangers, and Orioles had to duke it out to the finish line, and even a little bit beyond that.

Also, I don't want to insinuate that Miggy had a poor season or something in 2012. In most years, I would agree with being an MVP winner. But Trout's combination of power, speed, and top-flight defense at a premium position like CF, not to mention Anaheim's stellar record with him in the lineup, put him over the top, in my eyes. Miggy was not exactly as adequate as we think he was at 3B. He was one of the worst defensive 3B in the league.

[McCall]

Chicago's west of the Mississippi? When did they relocate the city?

A 3-division format that's evenly numbered with one wild card is better balanced than different numbered divisions. Then you got teams in two divisions claiming the winners of the other two only have to beat out 6 teams aswear they have to beat 7. It's like one of the reasons for switching Houston, the winner of the NL Central had to beat 5 teams when the AL West winner only had to beat 3. If they just ditched the second wild card team, it'd be a much neater 3 division winners plus a wild card. Year-round Interleague play is not the problem. Minimally teams would only have to play like 12 interleague games total. MLB just wanted more games.

[Kramerica Industries]

More-so than anything else, my idea was borne out of the idea of eliminating the weak sister division winner, again, like the NHL is doing beginning next year. A 38-44 team had home ice in the East last year, which is unforgivable. In baseball, there have been a number of 80-89 win division winners and 85-90+ win teams that missed the playoffs in those same seasons. Flukes will happen, but they shouldn't be so frequent. A year like 2002 is a case where three divisions worked, since the division winners that year were 103, 103, and 95 wins.

I dunno. Maybe it's just parity that is at the true source of the problem. The best teams in any sport should be legitimately excellent teams. We don't really have that in baseball these days.

[Magnus]

I'm somewhat glad that there will only be 4 divisions in the NHL next season. Goodbye Southleast!

By the by:

Edited by Magnus, April 17, 2013 - 15:39.

[davidzzyy]

Lee., on March 20, 2010 - 12:16, said:

Since some of you monkeys are bored as , and since no one likes pointless realignment posts crapping up real threads, I've created this thread specifically for you to post your pointless, unrealistic, and borderline asinine realignment ideas here.

Anyone from this point on who posts anything realignment-related in a real thread from hereon in deserves every amount of crap the rest of the community decides to heap upon them.

Go hog wild.

Defender dressed in cheap Real Madrid soccer jersey Sergio Ramos lamented the heavy defeat (4-1) of his team against Borussia Dortmund in the first game of the semifinals of the Champions League, Real Madrid outlining that lacked "attitude".

"We lacked attitude, starting with me first and for all that we have left the field.'ve Been higher, now we have to rely on the return leg though it is difficult to a German team," said Ramos, who wears a cheap soccer jersey, available in www.pick-jerseys.info.

Seville appeals to the Bernabeu to trace a tie that has become very difficult. "Hopefully in the ninetieth minutes at home do better because it is a competition that is very fond of him," he added in a statement to 'Canal +' by Europa Press.

Finally, Ramos dressed in cheap jersey recalled that Borussia proved to be "a great team". "Overall, when you play a team like this people think that is a good thing, but it's a great team team at the collective level," said the Real Madrid player.

[Magnus]

Respectfully submitted to the NHL Board of Governors: I believe that the realignment plans outlined herein present a more suitable list of possibilities than the current realignment that was agreed to upon the negotiation of the current contract between the NHLPA and NHL Board of Governors.
The realignments herein are more suitable because they all allow for the maintenance of two conferences of 15 teams each.  
Further to this proposal, I submit that qualification for the playoffs have the following stipulation: Division winners would be allowed a playoff seed,
however, it would fall in the appropriate standing relative to the other 7 teams that qualify for the playoffs in that conference.
(i.e. if the Southern Division winner has fewer points than the 4th-best team in the other division of its conference, it would be seeded 5th.)

Please note: The rendering of the franchise currently known at the Phoenix Coyotes has been changed to Quebec Coyotes in this model, but could also suitably be replaced with their current location, and placed into the appropriate division henceforth.

[McCall]

You have the Southern Division stretching from LA to Carolina and the Florida teams? Just because they're geographically south, doesn't mean they fit well in a division. The total distance would be ridiculous coupled with it spanning 4 time zones. You think fans of the teams on the east coast are gonna want to stay up and watch that many games being played 3 hours behind? No, they're not. And there's gonna a lot of games within the division. Not to mention separating the Blues from the Blackhawks.

[Magnus]

 McCall, on April 28, 2013 - 14:19, said:

You have the Southern Division stretching from LA to Carolina and the Florida teams?
Just because they're geographically south, doesn't mean they fit well in a division.
The total distance would be ridiculous coupled with it spanning 4 time zones.
You think fans of the teams on the east coast are gonna want to stay up and watch that many games being played 3
hours behind? No, they're not. And there's gonna a lot of games within the division.
Not to mention separating the Blues from the Blackhawks.

Eh, it's what had to be done. I thought preserving the Wings and Hawks was more important.
As far as the Southern division being absolutely screwed for travel, I get where you are coming from - as well
as the late starts. For that reason, I think that proposals #1 and #3 help even out the total travel that every team
would have to endure, as I placed one Eastern time division with a westerly division, a la NFL, into two conferences.

Perhaps the Southern's divisional games could be staged on weekends, though - say Friday night,
and Saturday/Sunday 3 PM starts (Pacific Time), airing at 6 PM on the east coast.

Just a thought.

Actually, my real preference would be 10 pods of 3 teams - but I don't know if that would seem too drastic for the NHL.

PODS:

Edited by Magnus, April 28, 2013 - 21:24.

[Seadragon76]

Now, for something fun... NBA D-League Realignment!

In this planned realignment, each NBA team has a minor league team, so that way it can be, in a way, like the NBA is. Also keep in mind that the teams getting new teams will have the parent team's name as a placeholder for the time being. Also, location will also matter here. So, let's begin...

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Delaware 87ers (Philadelphia)
Erie Bayhawks (New York)
Maine Red Claws (Boston)
Ottawa Raptors (Toronto)
Springfield Armor (Brooklyn)

Central Division

Canton Charge (Cleveland)
Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Indiana)
Green Bay Bucks (Milwaukee)
Iowa Energy (Chicago)
Toledo Pistons (Detroit)

Southeast Division

Durham Bobcats (Charlotte)
Florida Flame (Miami)
Jacksonville Magic (Orlando)
Richmond Wizards (Washington)
Savannah Hawks (Atlanta)

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Billings Jazz (Utah)
Idaho Stampede (Portland)
Omaha Nuggets (Denver)
Sioux Falls Skyforce (Minnesota)
Tulsa 66ers (Oklahoma City)

Southwest Division

Austin Toros (San Antonio)
Lafayette Pelicans (New Orleans)
Little Rock Grizzlies (Memphis)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston)
Texas Legends (Dallas)

Pacific Division

Albuquerque Suns (Phoenix)
Bakersfield Jam (LA Clippers)
Los Angeles D-Fenders (LA Lakers)
Reno Bighorns (Sacramento)
Santa Cruz Warriors (Golden State)

[Evil G]

Inspired by Magnus, I've made that style work for the NBA.

Northwest:
Portland Trail Blazers
Seattle Sonics (Formerly Sacramento)
Utah Jazz

California:
Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers

Texas:
Dallas Mavericks
Houston Rockets
San Antonio Spurs

Southwest:
New Orleans Pelicans
Oklahoma City Thunder
Phoenix Suns

Wilderness:
Denver Nuggets
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves

Central:
Chicago Bulls
Indiana Pacers
Memphis Grizzlies

Great Lakes:
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Toronto Raptors

Northeast:
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
Washington Wizards

Atlantic:
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets (formerly Bobcats)
New York Knicks

Southeast:
Atlanta Hawks
Miami Heat
Orlando Magic

[McCall]

Breaking them down to 3-team separations create way too many divisions. Also, why in the world did you move the Magic to Tampa? After opening a brand new arena in Orlando.

[Evil G]

1. I just don't see Orlando basketball, but thanks for the point.
2. Explain why too many would hurt. The playoffs can still function.

[rams80]

Evil G, on May 5, 2013 - 18:32, said:

1. I just don't see Orlando basketball, but thanks for the point.
2. Explain why too many would hurt. The playoffs can still function.

Why don't you see Orlando basketball?  They do pretty well at the gate, built a new arena, and are the only game in town.  They'd do far better where they are than moving to a super-saturated Tampa Bay sports market.

[Evil G]

rams80, on May 5, 2013 - 18:38, said:

Evil G, on May 5, 2013 - 18:32, said:

1. I just don't see Orlando basketball, but thanks for the point.
2. Explain why too many would hurt. The playoffs can still function.

Why don't you see Orlando basketball?  They do pretty well at the gate, built a new arena, and are the only game in town.  They'd do far better where they are than moving to a super-saturated Tampa Bay sports market.

Once again, good point, and now looking at the attendance, both of you have proven your point.

[Magnus]

An addition to my earlier-posted realignment where there are 10 divisions of 3:
Reduce the regular season to 60 games. Each team plays every other team once at home and once away.
That makes 58 games. In theory, this makes the travel burden a lot more for Eastern clubs, and so puts their travel amount closer to what Western teams have to endure.

And then, to wrap up the regular season in dramatic fashion - a way that I believe will be attractive to American audiences...

"NHL Bowl Week ©"

Yes, you heard it here first, folks. ALL 30 TEAMS get to play in an outdoor stadium - once as a guest, and once as a host, against two of their greatest rivals.

Here's the breakdown:

Group 1: Great Lakes
Buffalo Wings Bowl, sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings - Buffalo hosts Toronto at Ralph Wilson Stadium
Trillium Bowl - Toronto hosts Detroit at BMO Field or Skydome
Motor Bowl - Detroit hosts Buffalo at Michigan Stadium or  Comerica Park or Ford Field or my personal favourite, the Pontiac Silverdome

Group 2: Northwest
Whale Bowl - Vancouver hosts Calgary at BC Place
Encana Bowl - Calgary hosts Edmonton at McMahon Stadium
Rexall Bowl - Edmonton hosts Vancouver at Commonwealth Stadium

Group 3: California
California Bowl - Anaheim hosts Los Angeles at Mount Baldy Ski Resort, California
Fish Bowl - San Jose hosts Anaheim at the Badger Pass Ski Resort, California
Golden Bowl - Los Angeles hosts San Jose at Mount Baldy

Group 4: Southern
Busch Bowl sponsored by Budweiser - St Louis vs Nashville at Busch Stadium
Tomato Bowl - Nashville vs Columbus at Volunteer Stadium *(tomatoes are the state fruit of Tennessee)
Buckeye Bowl - Columbus vs St Louis at Buckeye Stadium

Group 5: Central
Bomber Bowl - Jets vs Wild - Bombers Stadium
Gopher Bowl - Wild vs Blackhawks - TCF Bank Stadium, U of Minnesota
Wrigley Bowl - Blackhawks vs Jets - Wrigley Field

Group 6: Mountain/Desert
Oasis Bowl - Phoenix vs Dallas - Sunrise Park Ski Resort, Arizona
Cowboy Bowl - Dallas vs Colorado - Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX
Buffalo Bowl- Colorado vs Phoenix - Folsom Field (home of the Colorado Buffaloes), Boulder, Colorado

Group 7: Northeast
Green Monster Bowl - Boston vs Montreal, Fenway Park
Boule Olympique - Montreal vs Ottawa, Stade Olympique
National/Canada Bowl - Ottawa vs Boston, Frank Clair Stadium


Group 8: Metro
Yankee Bowl - Rangers vs Islanders, Yankee Stadium
Big Apple Bowl - Islanders vs Devils, Citi Field
Swamp Bowl - Devils vs Rangers, Meadowlands Stadium

Group 9: Atlantic
Keystone Bowl - Philadelphia vs Pittsburgh from Penn State
Liberty Bell Bowl - Pittsburgh vs Washington from Penn State
Federal Bowl - Philadelphia vs Washington from RFK Stadium


Group 10: Tropical
Carolina Blue Bowl - Carolina vs Tampa from Appalachian State University - Boone, North Carolina
Bama Bowl - Tampa vs Florida from Cheaha Mountain, Alabama
Jamaica Bowl - Florida vs Carolina from Blue Mountain Peak, Jamaica

**Away opponents could of course be rotated from season to season to keep things interesting.**

---
Now I realize that you are probably thinking - a 60 game season? There is no way that any NHL owner would want to cut out 11 home dates from their schedule.
I have a solution to that as well. You know how HC Davos hosts the Spengler Cup each year? Every NHL club could do the same, whether they prefer to do so before or after the regular season.

Here's an example I came up with.
--
PENNSYLVANIA KEYSTONE CUP - hosted by Penn State University
Participants:
Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Penn State Nittany Lions, Pitt Panthers, Robert Morris Colonials, Mercyhurst Lakers

Tournament Structure:
Each team plays all five opponents. Top two teams play for championship - third and fourth-ranked teams play for bronze.

Tournament payout:
Winners of the Keystone Cup receive 25% of net revenues raised, and their name engraved on the Keystone Cup.
Second place gets 22% of revenues (47%)
Third place gets 18% of revenues (65%)
Fourth place gets 14% of revenues (79%)
Fifth place gets 11% of revenues (90%)
Sixth place gets 10% of revenues (100%)
--
Now, I can almost guarantee that we would see the two NHL clubs play for the championship most years, but the incentive payout for the university clubs is there as well - sort of like how NCAA teams get big payouts to travel and get demolished by playing in the big football programs' stadiums.

YAY CAPITALISM.

Edited by Magnus, May 11, 2013 - 11:53.

[C's]

Eh what the hell.

24 team NBA

ATLANTIC
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Brooklyn Nets
Washington Bullets
Miami Heat
Orlando Magic

CENTRAL
Chicago Bulls
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Cleveland Cavaliers
Toronto Raptors (or Huskies or something a little less dumb than Raptors)
Philadelphia 76ers

----------------------------

MIDWEST
Houston Rockets
Dallas Mavericks
San Antonio Spurs
Memphis Grizzlies
Oklahoma City Thunder
Denver Nuggets

PACIFIC
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers
San Francisco Warriors
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Utah Jazz

--------------------

CONTRACTED
Charlotte Bobcats - They're completely incompetent and irrelevant (currently and historically). Get rid of them.
New Orleans - Nobody there gives a  :censored: about pro basketball, this has long since been established, why the league felt the need to bend over backwards to keep the team there I do not know.
Minnesota Timberwolves - See Charlotte, but slightly less historically irrelevant.
Milwaukee Bucks - Hopefully those arena plans fall through.
Atlanta Hawks - Kind of a tough cut because of the (ancient) historical relevance, but oh well.
Sacramento Kings - Solid market... when they're winning. They better hope they strike it rich in the 2014 draft, otherwise, well... yeah. Toughest cut of the bunch for me.

There you have it. Better quality basketball now that the talent pool is less diluted and some of the perennial losers have been culled. Couldn't think of a way to logically work Seattle into the picture after the cuts without expansion.

[Magnus]