Fixing the Compeitive Problem in Baseball

Baseball has a serious competitive problem.  Every year for the past decade, it has been easy to predict that the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels will make the playoffs and that the Orioles, Nationals/Expos, Pirates, and Royals will not.  Generally, these predictions are very accurate and the "tax" on excessive payrolls has done nothing to deter those teams who can afford it from spending lavishly on their rosters.  Baseball doesn't seem to be interested in solving this problem, but I am.  My solution is not perfect, but it will make for some interesting baseball every year and give real hope to many teams every spring.  Based on the English soccer system, I propose that baseball realign itself into 4 leagues every year based on the previous year's record.

Based on the final 2009 records, the 2010 divisions would look like this:

Division I

NY Yankees, LA Dodgers, LA Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies

Division II

San Francisco Giants, Florida Marlins, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners

Division III

Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays

Division IV

Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburg Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, NY Mets, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros,

With 7 teams in the top two divisions as opposed to 8 in the bottom two, it would be slightly easier to win the upper divisions.  The next two teams with the best records, not including the division winners would advance to the playoffs where the competitive balance would be much better than would appear at first.  Say Kansas City won their division in such a format this year.  How many teams would want to go into a short series knowing that they would have to face Zach Grienke at least twice?

Yes, this system destroys the long-standing American and National League, but inter-league play has gone a long way towards doing that already.  I'd rather change divisions every year and see competitive baseball, even if it's relative competition, than know in April that I'm watching a pointless game in terms of the championship.

Generally, at least three new teams will become members of the first division every year, while three new teams will become members of the fourth division.  The divisions would never be static even if certain teams remained in certain divisions for prolonged periods of time.

Baseball will never go for this, of course.  For one thing, it makes too much sense and for another, MLB would be happy to see New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston represented every year, because those cities are the largest television markets.  Heck, the ESPN game of the week may as well be called the "Yankees-Red Sox Game of the Week."  The ironic element to this, of course, is an owner such as Peter Angelos would probably rather lose all 18 home games to the Yankees and Red Sox, knowing, however, that those games will sell out because New York and Boston fans will descend on Baltimore, than enter a division which he might win.

(What I'd really like to see happen is for baseball to go back to two, 10-team leagues with the winners meeting in the World Series, but I may as well root for Jimmie Foxx and Lefty Grove to rise from the dead and sign with the Orioles.)

Something has to be done to restore baseball's competitive balance.  Readers, what do you think?

Comments

[JohnLL]

Yeah, Austin, baseball would never go for it. I'm not a traditionalist- I love to see ideas like this. It gives baseball an English Premiership feel!

My issue, though: I would have some qualms about rewarding teams that are awful with a shot at a playoff spot. In my opinion, the playoffs should be the best teams, not necessarily the best of the worst, which is what that Division IV would be. It's been proven time and again that putting a quality product on the field is possible for small-market teams. Too many small-market owners pocket the luxury tax money instead of improving their product.

I'd like to see baseball try to bring the Yankees and Red Sox into line payroll-wise, and to iron out the issues with the draft. Pipe dreams, both of them. JLL

[Austin]

Good thoughts, John. Yeah, the Pirates are notorious for pocketing the luxury tax, but something must be done! Well, something SHOULD be done (but we know it won't be!)