Acuña’s Bat Flip
NL Rookie of the Year
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MLB optimistic about starting season in late June
- Thread starter Acuña’s Bat Flip
- Start date
That would be a great division for us.
We'd dodge so many bullets.
We'd dodge so many bullets.
I just can’t see them doing realigned leagues with the issues the DH will cause. The NL teams weren’t prepared for a full time DH this soon, and AL teams aren’t prepared to have their pitchers hit as often as they’ll have to if they go the “home team rules” route.
jpx7
Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
Pretty much everyone stays in their “division”, but the AL and NL flavors become amalgamated—except the Braves trade places with the Pirates. I think both teams would take that trade, since the Pirates are rebuilding (and thus probably want to depress their record), while the Braves dodge high-powered east-coast teams in favor of waxing White Sox, waning Cubs, budget-restricted Indians, in-flux Cardinals, and only one really top-flight team (Twins), plus a team (Brewers) with potential to get there.
I think I’d prefer the satisfaction of winning a third straight outright NL East crown, but this realignment is far preferable to the Florida-based re-league.
jpx7
Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
I think there are much bigger hurdles to this plan than reconciling the asymmetries of the designated-hitter rule—especially since these days most AL teams don't even employ full-time, DH-exclusive players. But I think the likeliest scenario, should this provisional plan play out, is every team playing with the designated-hitter this year (which will be a convenient dry-run for permanent full-on implementation in the future); beyond other rationale, it will allow NL teams to be more creative with rest, in what should otherwise be a rushed, double-header-heavy season.
And since DHs for all teams is likely, if this season is ultimately played: get ready to watch a lot more Nick Markakis PAs than you initially accounted for, as I can definitely see Snitker making him the "strong" side of a DH platoon (probably with Austin Riley).
jpx7
Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
I think if folks want to see live baseball any time soon—and perhaps for all of 2020—it's going to be contingent on empty stands.
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
Give me baseball or give me death.
jpx7
Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
CyYoung31
Shift Leader
Even better.
UNCBlue012
Well-known member
Agreed. The Indians, Cubs and Reds could be an issue but I think the Braves and Twins would run through everyone else.
50PoundHead
Hessmania Forever
Change the "or" to "and" and you've probably got the mindset of a lot of fans. Whether it's warranted or not, I just think a lot of folks are going to avoid large social gatherings of any kind.
Top 2 teams from each division, plus 2 more WC teams for a total of 8 teams seems reasonable.
Nerfherders
Well-known member
It's odd that they would swap Atlanta and Pittsburgh instead of keeping all the divisions intact.
Southcack77
Well-known member
I assume the teams will still travel by private airplane so the goal is to reduce flight times?
Not sure how that is better for Covid prevention, but maybe you can have fewer off days?
Braves would have no or fewer time changes in the East...I think?
Not sure how that is better for Covid prevention, but maybe you can have fewer off days?
Braves would have no or fewer time changes in the East...I think?
Nerfherders
Well-known member
All the east division teams are in the eastern time zone, as well as 4 of the 10 central division teams. And while Atlanta is further west than most eastern division teams, Pittsburgh is actually closer to Cleveland, Cincy, and Detroit.