MLB - Expansion and realignment

[bird watcher]

3 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

You would also have worse hitters so the elite pitchers would strike out even more batters.

Maybe so.  Though I don't hear people complaining about a lack of quality hitters as much a lack of quality pitchers.  

[Can_of_corn]

7 minutes ago, bird watcher said:

Maybe so.  Though I don't hear people complaining about a lack of quality hitters as much a lack of quality pitchers.  

I heard a lot about the poor offense the first half with this team.

[gmelson26]

I say another team in NY and BOS.. maybe LA.  Clearly they can afford the hit that would come.

[bird watcher]

31 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

I heard a lot about the poor offense the first half with this team.

AMEN!  

I was specifically referring to expansion talk though.  

[mrbig1]

I think Portland can support a team. People are moving there because of the legal weed. Weed and baseball. What a great combo.

[weams]

8 hours ago, Moose Milligan said:

No...no.  No.  No.

No need for expansion.  Don't need to water the game down.

Also, Montreal?  Really?  Didn't they already prove once that they didn't support the ML team they had 15 years ago?  

No. They were the victim of Jeff Loria's mega swindle. 

[weams]

1 minute ago, mrbig1 said:

I think Portland can support a team. People are moving there because of the legal weed. Weed and baseball. What a great combo.

It will be the Orioles there. 

[Can_of_corn]

6 minutes ago, mrbig1 said:

I think Portland can support a team. People are moving there because of the legal weed. Weed and baseball. What a great combo.

I'm sure the concession stands will do great.

[Morgan423]

5 hours ago, Can_of_corn said:

I think a lot of the problem is that MLB has no idea how to market itself to the young.

Check out the swing at 1:16.

Off topic, but cricket certainly wouldn't have an issue finding players if it ever expands in the US. Plenty of minor leaguers wash out all the time with applicable skill sets for that sport. 

[Can_of_corn]

10 minutes ago, Morgan423 said:

Off topic, but cricket certainly wouldn't have an issue finding players if it ever expands in the US. Plenty of minor leaguers wash out all the time with applicable skill sets for that sport. 

I'd watch the 3 hour version.

[Tx Oriole]

46 minutes ago, weams said:

No. They were the victim of Jeff Loria's mega swindle. 

Too many teams as is. Expansion would ruin baseball. IMO 

[weams]

1 hour ago, Tx Oriole said:

Too many teams as is. Expansion would ruin baseball. IMO 

Montreal IS getting a team. One way or the other. You might want to wish for expansion. 

[NedFromYork]

21 hours ago, Can_of_corn said:

Please elaborate.

Do you mean having outfielders play out of position will increase the difficulty of playing defense?

How about we tie their shoe laces together so they can't run so fast?  That will spark offense.

The opposite.  I am saying the purpose of the shift is so the player hits right in to it, nobody has to move.  I am saying requiring two infielders between third and second base, two between second and first, and outfielders in their traditional zones would lead to needing more athletic players (OF range), more balls hit in to areas where the athletic players have to move, more exciting plays, and make speed/athleticism a more important trait.

[Chromehill]

35 minutes ago, NedFromYork said:

The opposite.  I am saying the purpose of the shift is so the player hits right in to it, nobody has to move.  I am saying requiring two infielders between third and second base, two between second and first, and outfielders in their traditional zones would lead to needing more athletic players (OF range), more balls hit in to areas where the athletic players have to move, more exciting plays, and make speed/athleticism a more important trait.

Or batters can learn to hit the other way or bunt.  Do that enough the shifts will stop. 

[spiritof66]

17 hours ago, mrbig1 said:

I think Portland can support a team. People are moving there because of the legal weed. Weed and baseball. What a great combo.

It takes more than an adequate metro-area population to support a franchise to the point where it can be both competitive with existing teams and financially viable. I think MLB is acutely aware of that reality through its experience in Miami and Tampa. (This is much more the case for baseball than for other major sports, given the need to sell lots more tickets for lots more games and each team's dependence on proceeds from sales of their own media rights.)

I've been looking at this issue sporadically over the past year or two. I believe some of the other key factors that influence an MLB franchise's success include lots of fairly wealthy people, and corporations and professional service firms, that can afford to and might buy -- and retain -- season tickets at reasonably high prices, the area's prospects for growth or shrinkage in population, businesses and wealth, the existence or capacity to build a baseball tradition and loyal fan base over decades, the stability or transience of the population, the potential to expand the franchise's fan base (and TV audience)  regionally beyond the metro area, and an attractive and well located stadium that's built or well along in planning.

I don't know a great deal about most of the cities that are the leading candidates for MLB expansion, but I think it's important to look beyond the number of people who live in the metro area.