MLB Wants To Do What?

From the desks of: 

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  &  BLAME CARLOS MAY

Mets and Yankees in the Same Division?

To play, or not to play, that is the question.  Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to pursue a modified schedule and potentially risk the health and well being of entire organizations, stadium employees, fans, et al, or continue taking precautions against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end this COVID-19 pandemic.

Extra!  Extra!  Major League Baseball is devising a tentative plan in which they will create three regional divisions of ten teams each.

I do not really care for tooting my own horn ...

Blare the trumpets, please!

I shared this very idea on my podcast back on April 12, 2020; episode #50 to be exact.  But enough about sports and scribes stealing ideas from bloggers, podcasters, and fans.  Let's get to THE PLAN.  First let me say I believe there shouldn't even be a plan.  I'm a proponent of canceling the rest of the season.  That being said, let us separate ourselves from reality.





My plan calls for a 99-game regular season beginning in July and ending first week of October.  Each team will play their division opponent eleven times.  Every other Monday is an off day.  Every Saturday is a double-header limited to seven inning games.  All other games remain nine innings long.  Teams will feature 45-man rosters.  No player will exceed five games per week (pinch hitters/runners not included).  Starting pitchers are limited to five innings.  Implement the DH (which I detest) and electronic strike zone, and any other stupidity Commissioner Manfred can conjure.  Let this season be Baseball's guinea pig or Frankenstein, if you will.

There's no need to play games in minor league facilities, nor kook them up in some contrived village in Arizona and Florida.  Disperse them to their respective regions in a location with two major league parks at their disposal.  The EAST DIVISION can be headquartered in either New York City or the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area; the CENTRAL DIVISION can be headquartered at either Chicago or Texas; and the WEST DIVISION can then be headquartered in the San Francisco Bay area, or Los Angeles/Anaheim.  Two stadiums in each locale can accommodate five games per day (early, midday, and evening) needed to facilitate a ten team daily schedule.

• EAST: Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Orioles, Nationals, Braves, Marlins, Rays, Blue Jays.
• CENTRAL: Twins, Royals, Tigers, ChiSox, Reds, Indians, Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers, Pirates.
• WEST: Dodgers, Angels, A's, Giants, Mariners, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Astros, Padres.

The top two teams from each division qualify for post-season play, along with two overall Wild Card entrants.  Each of the eight playoff qualifiers will then be seeded.  Best records get fourth game as home team.  Otherwise all playoff series proceed as normal.  I'm completely open to playing out the post-season at a neutral site.  However, the last two teams standing will not play in the World's Series as we know it.  They instead will play for the North American Baseball Championship and donate any and all proceeds to a COVID19 related charity or cause.