Buck Showalters MLB realignment plan

1. Open mouth
2. Take out left foot
3. Put in right foot


Somebody warn Showalter that he should stop copying Fay Vincent's vision.

Vincent vision almost ran into into some litigation. Any realignment without league approval would be in violation of the National League Constitution.

Vincent was never able to complete the five year term that he had inherited from Bart Giamatti, and was outsted by the 28 owners.

Vincent was the last truly impartial commissioner of baseball. He held no team ownership.

There may have been something there when some insiders think MLB made a huge mistake by not appointing Vincent's deputy commissioner.

MLB recent realignment, in 1994, formed three divisions each and expanded the playoff format.

The fans responded and love it. The owners have been making big bucks on it ever since.

Thanks Fay.

Try not to lose you day job Buck!

Isn't the long term plan of MLB to add 2 more AL teams anyway? So that you'd have 16 in each league?

I think Buck's point was just that he felt they should shoot for a balanced schedule. MLB chose the other path, aiming to enhance certain rivalries. Buck made a comment the other night that it seemed like they were forever talking about Red Sox-Yankees games. Well, he may get tired of it, but the attendance and TV numbers suggest the fans don't. And money talks very loudly in these decisions.

There does seem to be a problem with the AL being so much stronger than the NL for some time now. But, such trends tend to ebb and flow. It wasn't that long ago (1970's) that it was often said that the NL dominated the AL. It may seem like we're in a cycle that will never change, but it ain't necessarily so.

Midlo,
I think that was the point also, making things a bit more balanced and cost effective for MLB.

The DH rule does strengthen the AL, without a doubt, I think that is something that should be addressed.

JMO.

quote:

There does seem to be a problem with the AL being so much stronger than the NL for some time now.

Proof:

John Smoltz -

Red Sox: 2-5, 8.33 ERA
Cards: 1-0, 0.0 ERA, 7 straight Ks.

quote:

Originally posted by dbg_fan:

quote:

There does seem to be a problem with the AL being so much stronger than the NL for some time now.

Proof:

John Smoltz -

Red Sox: 2-5, 8.33 ERA
Cards: 1-0, 0.0 ERA, 7 straight Ks.

Don't forget, the Padres are one of the worst offenses around, regardless of league. Other than Adrian Gonzalez, there isn't much scary about that lineup.

Hey Bear,
how ya doin?
Being the excellent, very knowledgeable baseball person he is I would say that he very well knows that any league realignment has to have approval of the National League, Buck is a devout fundamentalist as is, unless I miss my guess John Kruck, Harold Reynolds and Joe Morgan, I really like it when these guys are announcing, they bring some very excellent fundamental baseball advice to the table.

Emanski's Heroes,
for those of you out there who have not played every day professional baseball, and do not realize how a second division club or even a 220 hitter can absolutely slice you apart at any given time just when you desperately need to win those games down the stretch in particular,one thing you learn playing every day is that you play them all without under estimating any team or player,so the Padre's having one of the worst offenses around as the Cardinals, Giants players will all tell you, we take no one player or team lightly, we play them as if they were the best, I teach all players I come into contact with never underestimate any player or team give them full respect.
kom_ervin@yahoo.com
Smoltzy had a great outing didn't he?

The real problem with this idea is that it ignores why there are two NYC teams ... two Chicago teams ... two Bay area teams ... two LA area teams ... two teams in DC/Baltimore ... Florida ... Missouri.

Meaning, they do that so that fans in those regions can see the NL teams come through, and the AL teams as well. Pick a league that's your favorite. Root for your home team and its league.

I wonder what merging the leagues completely would do to that setup. Would the A's survive? The Nats? Both FL teams? Would the Mets become to the Yankees as the old Browns were to the Cardinals? (I know, some would say they already are, but you get my point I hope.)