Bowden: expansion is inevitable..and so is realignment?

[btdart20]

9 minutes ago, Frobby said:

I don’t see expansion as being that likely.   

It depends on how they see expansion impacting revenues.  They can't realistically expect to add more games to the season.  And the playoff format is about max'd out unless they want teams with losing records vying for playoff bids.  Revenues from ways to distribute viewing is slicing the same pie and maybe double dipping into the same consumer pockets in ways too.  And that's a constant state of flux with people moving away from cable and facing micro/macro-economic decisions.

I can see expansion being on the table. 

[interloper]

1 hour ago, waroriole said:

I can’t see them putting all those heavy payroll teams in one division. I like our division though. 

Why not? It's kind of good for everyone if they're just battling each other in one division instead of spreading their dominance out across multiple divisions. At least that's how I see it. Put em in a division and let em try to out spend each other like goons. 

[Sports Guy]

1 hour ago, Frobby said:

I don’t see expansion as being that likely.   

Apparently Manfred and the owners want it.

Im sure the MLBPA would be good with it because that’s 52 more jobs.

Edited February 7, 2023 by Sports Guy

[NJOriolesFan]

2 hours ago, Sports Guy said:

https://theathletic.com/4159445/2023/02/07/mlb-expansion-geographic-realignment/?source=user_shared_article
 

Some interesting stuff in this article.

Eastern Conference

East Division

Boston Red Sox
New York Mets
New York Yankees
Philadelphia Phillies

North Division

Cincinnati Reds
Cleveland Guardians
Detroit Tigers
Toronto Blue Jays

Mid-Atlantic Division

Baltimore Orioles
Charlotte expansion team
Pittsburgh Pirates
Washington Nationals

Southeast Division

Atlanta Braves
Miami Marlins
Nashville expansion team
Tampa Bay Rays

I think I would make a couple of changes.  I think Toronto should go to the East (Northeast) Division.  Then Pittsburgh should go to the North Division.  Philadelphia should then be in the mid-Atlantic.  I think I could be convinced to swap the Charlotte and Nashville expansion teams.  Although it may work better if it was Charlotte/Nashville/Louisville in the mid-atlantic and New Orleans in the Southeast.

The other divisions, I suppose would be:

Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, St Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers

Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins

Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, {Las Vegas} Athletics, San Francisco Giants

Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels, Arizona Diamondbacks

 

[ScGO's]

3 hours ago, Sports Guy said:

https://theathletic.com/4159445/2023/02/07/mlb-expansion-geographic-realignment/?source=user_shared_article
 

Some interesting stuff in this article.

Eastern Conference

East Division

Boston Red Sox
New York Mets
New York Yankees
Philadelphia Phillies

North Division

Cincinnati Reds
Cleveland Guardians
Detroit Tigers
Toronto Blue Jays

Mid-Atlantic Division

Baltimore Orioles
Charlotte expansion team
Pittsburgh Pirates
Washington Nationals

Southeast Division

Atlanta Braves
Miami Marlins
Nashville expansion team
Tampa Bay Rays

 

[wildcard]

The problem I have with this is Bowden is the source.

[ScGO's]

Living in WNC, I would love to see Charlotte and Nashville expansion teams. Could potentially see the O's in 3 Hrs or less at Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville.

[OsFanSinceThe80s]

6 minutes ago, wildcard said:

The problem I have with this is Bowden is the source.

Same. If I hear another MLB analyst or writer talk this up then I’ll take it more seriously. Bowden’s track record with MLB rumors is about as good as Jason LaCanfora is with NFL rumors. 

Edited February 7, 2023 by OsFanSinceThe80s

[oriole]

It’d be a lot cooler if every team played each other an even amount of times and then every year the divisions are made to reflect the spending power of that team. So divisions with teams with unlimited resources only have one league leader and the rest in that division have to be okay with potential wild card spots. Then teams that don’t spend so much have a chance. Maybe it’s just me but Yankees and Dodgers every single year is just boring and more detrimental to the sport overall than having a handful of behemoth. 
 

I’m aware that it’ll never happen because the logistics would be a nightmare and a lot of teams would find more reason to spend less money, not more…so the players association would never agree to it. But maybe couple it with a complete removal of the salary cap so that the Yankees and Dodgers can each have $600 million pay roll or whatever but the playing field is evened out with a balanced schedule and then in the end they are only really competing against other financial juggernauts to get a good spot in the playoffs. 
 

Probably more trouble than it’s worth, but the “balanced schedule” is a half-measure when you still have to win more games than the others in your division who have the ability to sign stupid contracts and then eat the contract when the player stops being productive. The O’s still won’t be able to win more games than the Yankees unless it’s a fluke because one team will spend money and the other won’t. 

[eddie83]

33 minutes ago, OsFanSinceThe80s said:

Same. If I hear another MLB analyst or writer talk this up then I’ll take it more seriously. Bowden’s track record with MLB rumors is about as good as Jason LaCanfora is with NFL rumors. 

This isn’t the first time Manfred has discussed expansion. 

[eddie83]

This is from 2018 he discussed it.  It’s a matter of when not if. 

[eddie83]

 

[eddie83]

 

[ChuckS]

16 minutes ago, eddie83 said:

 

LOL.  Good luck requiring MLB players to take up residence in Mexico. 

[crowmst3k!]

3 hours ago, Roll Tide said:

If I’m the Orioles I like it as it moves them away from the high revenue teams.

Yes, but the Red Sox and Yankees fans fill the park. The gate takes for those games are something the O's will absolutely miss.