Astro's move to AL finalized?

[sangar]

According to this article the pace seems set for mid-November:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/10/astros-expected-to-complete-sale-move-to-al.html

[BaltimoreTerp]

Brewers or Diamondbacks. Brewers or Diamondbacks. BREWERS OR DIAMONDBACKS, DAMMIT!

God, I hate Bud Selig so much.

[NewMarketSean]

Brewers or Diamondbacks. Brewers or Diamondbacks. BREWERS OR DIAMONDBACKS, DAMMIT!

God, I hate Bud Selig so much.

Well the Brewers moved to the NL in the 90's...wouldn't it be jerking them around to move them back to the AL?

[The Rick]

Well the Brewers moved to the NL in the 90's...wouldn't it be jerking them around to move them back to the AL?

Well, they have familiarity with the AL so that would have made the most sense.

However, the Astros are closer to the AL West in proximity, so I think that has a lot to do with it. Plus, I think MLB wants to hype up this Houston/Texas rivalry.

I agree with BT, Selig is a complete and utter disaster. Always has been and always will be.

[Remember The Alomar]

Interleague play...every day!!!!

Goddammit.

[NewMarketSean]

The Diamondbacks would have made the most sense. I do agree there. But on top of that I guess they didn't want to have to move a team from the central to the west.

[TGO]

Well, they have familiarity with the AL so that would have made the most sense.

However, the Astros are closer to the AL West in proximity, so I think that has a lot to do with it. Plus, I think MLB wants to hype up this Houston/Texas rivalry.

I agree with BT, Selig is a complete and utter disaster. Always has been and always will be.

In addition to the HOU/TEX rivalry this also should very slightly improve travel schedules for OAK, SEA and LAA since they should be able to piggyback an additional city onto their Arlington trips. The Mariners in particular basically get screwed every year when it comes to miles travelled. For example, in their TEX trips this year SEA went MIN-TEX-OAK, OAK-TEX-(off)-SEA, and LAA-TEX-(off)-SEA.

[TGO]

The Diamondbacks would have made the most sense. I do agree there. But on top of that I guess they didn't want to have to move a team from the central to the west.

Yeah, they obviously didn't want to move HOU to the NL West or KC/MIN to the AL West (to accommodate MIL).

[Crazysilver03]

Would this take effect next year or in 2013. Wouldn't this completely change the schedule for 2012 if they were to be moved to the AL for next year?

[The Rick]

Would this take effect next year or in 2013. Wouldn't this completely change the schedule for 2012 if they were to be moved to the AL for next year?

Is the schedule for 2012 already out?

[Remember The Alomar]

Is the schedule for 2012 already out?

Yup.

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=bal#m=4&y=2012

[MikeAD]

Interleague play...every day!!!!

Goddammit.

Yeah I am not going to look forward to watching grown men swat at a ball every 2-3 innings for twice as many games every year.

Just put in the DH and call it a day.

[TGO]

Sounds like this is a done deal for 2013, pending approval by the owners tomorrow. And because it's part of approving Crane as the new Houston owner, make no mistake, they will vote yes.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/story/2011-11-13/mlb-schedule-proposal-astros/51212594/1

[Pedro Cerrano]

Love this move.

[srock]

Marketing inter-Texas rivalry is smart. Texas is a huge market.

Can we dump the 6 division alignment? It makes no sense for baseball.