Changes I would make to MLB
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by user Alex Holowczak
Having read a few articles recently based on the same theme, I thought I would write my own. I may introduce a few English ideas into the game, which would be a different slant on the idea.
AL/NL
I like the idea of two different versions of the game, i.e. one with a DH and one without. So I'd keep that.
Number of Teams
30 is too many. I'd reduce it to 24, and have 2 divisions of 6 in each League. The bottom six based on record from the previous season would be pushed down to Minor League status. The two divisions would be the West and the East. This would increase the stature of the game, as some of the poorer players at the bottom of the scale would drop down into the minors. This would increase Minor League Baseball's competitiveness, which would help when they get to the Majors.
Number of Games
162 games is far, far, too many. With 24 teams, I would split the schedule like this:
- Divisional Opponents - 5 games, Home and Away (Total [7*5*2] 50 games)
- Same League Opponents - 3 games, Home and Away (Total [3*6*2] 36 games)
- Interleague Opponents in Corresponding division (i.e. both East divisions) - 3 games, Home or Away (Total [3*6] 18 games)
- Other Interleague Opponents - 1 game, Home or Away (Total 6 games)
- Total Number of Games - [50+36+18+6] 110
As a result, the season would last only four months, from April-May, then July-August. June would be the MLB "Summer Holiday". This month off would give the players a break they deserve, and help to resolve injuries.
The Playoffs
With 24 teams, I think 8 should get in. The top two in each division qualify, playing against the other team in their League. E.g. West 1 plays East 2 and East 2 plays West 1. I would introduce best of 5 series. It pretty much goes around the rotation once. The playoffs should be finished by October.
The Preseason
No one month, 30 game preseason. I would reduce it to 10 games, enough to give each pitcher two starts.
The Draft
With the month off in June the draft would fall there. This would give GMs time to evaluate their teams performance, and pick accordingly. The picks would be allowed to play in the Second Half of the season. Also, no compensatory picks - if a player retires, so be it.
Draft Contracts
Picking a player would tie the picking team into a contract with that player until the end of the season. He would then become a restricted free agent. Other players would be unrestricted.
All-Star Game
After the season, the All-Star Game would be played. No home-field advantage either. Players would be selected by the players themselves (but they cannot vote for themselves). Only the 25 players in the team at the start of the second half of the season would vote. This would be played in a rotating venue.
International Baseball
With the success of the World Baseball Classic, I would put this tournament in November. It would be held in one country, like the Soccer World Cup. If 12 teams take part, with 2 groups of 6 and the top 3 advancing it would be enough for one pitching rotation. The second stage of six would then go through another rotation. The top 2 in that would advance to a final. This would conclude after [5+5+1(+2 - day off between each stage)] 13 days, so would be over by the middle of November. I don't know whether it would be AL or NL Baseball, but I'd probably plump for NL, as it is more tactical.
The Draw
I would introduce the concept of a "drawn" baseball game. This would give a team one point. A win would earn two. MLB would work by this logic, and so would the World Baseball Classic. If a match was rained off, it would count as a no result, which would be worth one point - i.e. as much as a draw. A match must be played over nine innings to count as a result. Shorter matches will not count as a result IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. A match in MLB would be rearranged due to the advantage some teams would get by playing in a domed stadium.
The Trade
I would abolish the trade, and introduce a "Transfer List". Any player that wishes to leave his team, or vice versa, can opt to put themselves on the transfer list. This is essentially an unrestricted free agent pool, and the player can be approached by any team. The team owning the players contract would recieve a transfer fee as compensation. A transfer listed player can still play for his contracted team, however. When the player signs for a new team, the team then negotiates a contract with the player. Only once this has been signed can he play for the team. The transfer deadline would be the day before the second half of the season starts.
Everything Else...
I'd keep the same, unless someone changes my mind.
What do you all think of these ideas?
Date
Sun 07/02/06, 6:50 am EST
