MLB Mulling Revamp To “Rivalries” Schedule
Via Adam Rubin -
Major League Baseball is working on a scheduling reconfiguration for the 2013 season and beyond that likely will eliminate the Mets and Yankees as well as other “natural rivals” playing home-and-home, six-game series annually, baseball sources told ESPNNewYork.com.
With the Houston Astros moving to the American League West next season and the leagues becoming balanced at 15 teams apiece, natural rivals throughout baseball no longer will be guaranteed six games a season and home-and-home series, the sources said.
That goes for obvious intracity rivals such as Mets-Yankees and Cubs-White Sox, as well as for more-forced natural rivals such as the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.
The Mets and Yankees will continue to play six games a season — three apiece at Citi Field and Yankee Stadium — when the AL East and NL East line up for long-form interleague play every three years.
But in the other seasons, a major league source added, the competition likely will be limited to three games at one ballpark, or two games apiece at each ballpark.
Sources cautioned that the 2013 Major League Baseball schedule, and the precise new configurations, are still being discussed.
I wish there was a way to get this right. If the Yankees are going against the Red Sox, Rays, Orioles and Blue Jays to see who finishes first in their division, then, those five teams should all play the same schedule. That’s only fair, right?
Steve L. wrote:
Agree 100%. In the NFL, each division plays two other divisons each season in addition to their own intra-division games (and two floaters based on previous season’s divisional ranking).
If the AL East is playing the NL West in a given year, the Yanks, Red Sox, Orioles, Rays and Jays should all be playing the Giants, Dodgers, Padres, Rockies and Diamondbacks.
The only catch I see is that, with three divisions of five teams each, the home-and-road balance may be affected during those interleague games.
Of course, the nightmare here, now, in 2013, is that there will be an interleague game played on every day of the season – with both leagues having 15 teams.
They should just add two teams (1 to each league) and do away with interleague…I really don’t care for it.
The only thing for certain is that the Commissioner will screw this one up just like he did having an exhibition game determine home field advantage in the world series and having a single play-in game amongst the two wild card teams. Really, how does that guy keep his job?
LMJ229 wrote:
Record profits, I suppose. I still think he’s a schnook.
Corey Italiano wrote:
The last thing baseball needs is more expansion. There are three or four teams too many as it is. A further dilution of talent — and no viable markets to put new teams — wouldn’t improve baseball.
Raf wrote:
Yes, and that’s what all his decisions are based on, profits. That’s why the owners love him.
MJ Recanati wrote:
I would agree 100%.