Is it time for MLB to consider expansion?

[HawkFanatik]

Care to explain why?

There are TONS of youths playing baseball during the summer months.

 

[whatsup12579er]

There are TONS of youths playing baseball during the summer months.

And how many kids don't play baseball in middle/high school because they are focusing on another sport or it takes up too much time in the summer? The answer is a helluva lot more than back in 1960.

 

[BioHawk]

Here's my crazy thought - instead of expanding the MLB - why not model things after how European soccer leagues work?

That is, instead of the traditional Triple A that is permanently a step below the MLB level, create a "champions league" of mid-sized markets like Omaha, Charlotte, San Antonio, Portland, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Montreal, Buffalo, etc. and make relegation a reality.

At the end of the season, the top 3 teams in this Champions League get to taste the MLB level the next season, and the bottome 3 record teams in the MLB would be dropped into the Champions League.

THis would really juice up some of those otherwise boring late August and September series. Can you imagine the Cubs fighting to avoid having to play an entire season down a league ?!

It would never happen, but it sure would be fun as hell.

I disagree because that leads to incredibly boring, and predictable, standings. There's a reason Real Madrid, Barcelona, and those other Champions league teams always win their leagues. Basically, if you did it the way Europe does that then the Yankees, Red Sox, and a few other teams would always make up the top four teams. I don't think the relegation system would fly in the United States because people wouldn't accept it. Plus, it's hard to justify a $200 million stadium that seats 70k for a team that gets relegated every other year.

 

[RalphKramden]

No one ever said a AAA club would/could compete financially with the Yankees. There are about 20 teams in the MLB right now that can't either. What's your point?

My point is that you're an idiot if you think Des Moines could even compete with those other 20 teams.

What's the point for setting a team up for guaranteed failure like that? You either go cheap and finish in dead last, or bankrupt the franchise and still finish last or second-to-last, then get sent back down for your troubles.

The entire thing is beyond pointless.

 

[ANYCHawk]

A few reasons relegation is entertaining:

• You never, ever, see teams tank on purpose in order to improve their draft position, etc., There is too much at stake financially to lose on purpose. Not true in American pro sports, where sucking to get better is all-too frequent
• It gives fans of struggling teams something to cheer for. Fighting for your spot in the top league is a HUGE deal. You'd still get big crowds for late season games when your team is 20 games out.
• It's super exciting for smaller market fandoms to get a crack at the big boys with their team. Can you imagine if Des Moines had a team and they got to host the New York Yankees? That would be awesome.

As I said, it will never happen because of the way American leagues are set up (the club model is very different than in Europe). But it certainly has appeal for fans, IMO.

Again I' don't get it. To point one, yeah you got a bunch of teams stuck in mediocrity just to stay in the main division! As I said with Houston they tore it down and rebuilt it and are now set. I'd prefer that then finishing 72-90 every year just to stay in the main league. To point to. Yeah something to cheer for late in the year, but again stuck in crappiness. So there is nothing to cheer for. I'd rather cheer for playoff team one year, a terrible one the next and then a championship one after that than just being a flat line team with something to cheer for every September to stay in the main league. And yes small markets get a crack, but there is a reason they are smaller markets and don't have a team it hurts the overall bottom line.

 

[ANYCHawk]

And how many kids don't play baseball in middle/high school because they are focusing on another sport or it takes up too much time in the summer? The answer is a helluva lot more than back in 1960.

There were 455,000 HS baseball players last year.