If I Were....

Most of my friends who are also parents lament in the fact that their children are growing up so fast. While I can somewhat empathize, one of the changes in their “likes” that I am completely on board with is the change in their musical tastes. The kiddie songs they enjoyed as toddlers were extremely grating to my audio senses. One that I remember distinctly was a song the boys sang in Sunday School that would get stuck in my head and drive me to the brink of insanity – “If I Were a Butterfly”. They would sing the song and then my wife would join in and then I would pull my hair out…. not literally.

But if I thought about it, the concept of the song isn’t a bad idea. Today I give to you my version of the song, slightly altered, called “If I Were MLB Commissioner” …

The first thing I would do as MLB Commissioner is to get that crazy aforementioned song out of my head, while priming myself for what is about to come by blasting David Bowie’s classic song, “Changes”.

Oh yeah, changes are a comin’!! Now before you start calling me an old fogey and a “purist” just know that some of the changes I would be proposing are forward-thinking. Stick with me!

First and foremost, the 2015 season brought about issues that need to be addressed, headlined by the finish in the NL Central. The top three teams in the division had the top three records in all of baseball. Yet, two of them only get one game to continue playing in the playoffs. Not only that, but the winner then plays the team with the best record in all of baseball! After the NLDS only ONE of the top 3 records in all of MLB will still be playing. That seems wrong altogether. However, division winners should still receive benefits. How we correct that? Realignment!!!

The first issue with creating equal opportunity in the playoffs is evening the leagues. Yes, they currently have the same amount of teams. However, each league has 15 teams which is the unevenness that I speak of. Jeff Passan of Yahoo recently wrote about getting rid of divisions and leagues altogether. I’m not going to get that crazy, but changes need to be made. I believe the NHL has the best playoff system around and that is my model for the new playoff system. The concern is getting to an even number. Do I contract two teams to get to 28 or do I add two teams to get to 32? The numbers make ALL of the difference in this situation. And I like options. Here are the three models I was deciding between:

1. Add two teams: Four 4-team divisions in each league. 18 games vs division, 9 each remaining team in the league
2. Add two teams: Two 8-team divisions in each league. 18 games vs division, 4 games with four teams in other division, 5 games with other four teams in division
3. Retract two teams: Two 7-team divisions. 19 games vs division, 6 games with teams in other division.

Take note – NO MORE INTERLEAGUE play. In my opinion, it takes away from the All-Star Game and the World Series. Therefore, it goes bye-bye.

I’m sure you’re wondering how the playoffs would work in each scenario. Well, I’m glad you asked. Here they are (with the corresponding number):

1. Only the four division winners would make the playoffs. Seeded by record from best to worst. Division series and LCS would be seven games.
2. NHL style playoff system. Top 3 teams in each division make the playoffs. Division winners get byes for first round. #2 seed in Division A plays #3 seed in Division B (reverse is true as well). These series are three games. Division winners have home field for Division Series (best of five). LCS is seven games.
3. Two division winners and three Wild Card teams (next three best records). 2^nd and 3^rd Wild Card teams play 3 game series day after season ends (1/2 format with better record getting two home games). Winner gets to play division winner with best record. 1^st Wild Card plays division winner with lesser wins. These series are five games. LCS is seven games.

My choice – 1. While I love the Wild Card and all the drama it brings, I believe a one game playoff in baseball just isn’t realistic. There are way too many variables coming in to play that can affect a one game playoff. MLB cares about ratings which is why they love the Wild Card, but I’ve always been a proponent of being rewarded for a job well done. And if you realign the divisions via the NFL then a four team division can have a clear winner. However, since there are only 30 teams two would need to be added in order to reach the requisite 32 teams for this particular alignment. There are four cities I have in mind that could possibly support a major league team are San Antonio, Las Vegas, Charlotte and Orlando. Depending on which teams are approved and such (all those details including the expansion draftvwould take up WAY too much of this column), here’s how I would realign the leagues and divisions if I were Commissioner:

Division Alignment:

American League

East – Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles and Blue Jays

South – Royals, Astros, Rangers and new San Antonio/Las Vegas team

North – White Sox, Twins, Tigers and Indians

West – Angels, Mariners, A’s and Rockies

National League

East – Mets, Nationals, Phillies and Pirates

South – Braves, Marlins, Rays and new Charlotte/Orlando team

North – Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers and Reds

West – Dodgers, Giants, Diamondbacks and Padres

There is some movement among leagues and teams, but the geographical aspect looms large in my mind. Cutting down on the travel would produce better baseball, in my opinion. Therefore, the shorter the distance between teams in a division, with all the games being played amongst them, would benefit the teams. The major change are the Rockies moving to the American League. First and foremost, having a DH in Colorado would produce more runs, which brings in viewers. Do I like the DH? No. I believe everyone that plays should have and use a glove. However, I also understand the power and complexity of the MLB Players Association and with all the changes coming, throwing out an olive branch would help. Another team moving would be the Rays moving to the NL South. Again, this change was predicated on a more regional look for the division and less grueling travel. Three Florida teams and an Atlanta team in the same division solves that issue.

So, how would that look? Here’s how this year’s records would fall into place with the new alignment (granted, I understand the records would be different because of the new schedule format, but throw me a bone…):

AL East

1. Blue Jays                 93-69
2. Yankees                   87-75
3. Orioles                     81-81
4. Red Sox                   78-84

AL South

1. Royals                      95-67
2. Rangers                    88-74
3. Astros                       86-76
4. San Antonio/Las Vegas

AL North

1. Twins                        83-79
2. Indians                      81-80
3. White Sox                 76-86
4. Tigers                        74-87

AL West

1. Angels                      85-77
2. Mariners                   76-86
3. Athletics                   68-94
4. Rockies                    68-94 

Already you can see that they playoffs change – Yankees, Astros, and Rangers don’t make the playoffs while the Twins do make the postseason. But again, you’ve got to give to get… Let’s look at the National League

NL East

1. Pirates                      98-64
2. Mets                         90-72
3. Nationals                  83-79
4. Phillies                     63-99

NL South

1. Rays                         80-82
2. Marlins                     71-91
3. Braves                      67-95
4. Orlando/Charlotte

NL North

1. Cardinals                100-62
2. Cubs                         97-65
3. Brewers                    68-94
4. Reds                         64-98

NL West

1. Dodgers                   92-70
2. Giants                      84-78
3. D-Backs                  79-83
4. Padres                     74-88 

The feel good story of the playoffs so far, and MY team, the Cubs would be out of the playoffs while a team under .500, the Rays would be included. I believe this would be different than the NFL (and an anomaly) because the Rays played against the AL East this year – and their record would be much different playing against the Braves, Marlins and an expansion team – so keep that in mind.

Playoffs would like like the following:

American League

Royals v Twins – Royals with home field advantage

Blue Jays v Angels – Blue Jays with home field advantage

National League

Cardinals v Rays – Cardinals with home field advantage

Pirates v Dodgers – Pirates with home field advantage

The home field advantage in the World Series would be determined by the best overall record between the two teams. Should there be a tie, the tiebreaker would best league record followed by best divisional record.

These changes would also filter down to the All-Star Game, which reverts back to being a true exhibition. While we’re at it – let’s carve up that weekend as well. I enjoy the Futures Game and it will stay. The HR Derby changes this year were fantastic and brought more drama and less downtime then years before, so I would keep it as well. One minor thought I would consider for the HR Derby…if fans like the long HR’s so much let the players use the old aluminum bats and let’s really see how far some of these mashers can drive a baseball.

I do like the thought of a skills competition though – events like fastest around the bases, throwing for accuracy from the outfield, fastest pitch, catchers accuracy to second base, etc… Finally, the game itself. I empathize with the fans who want to see a player from their team at the ASG. But IF this is a feature to keep for the fans, then we will expand the rosters so that more players can experience the weekend and get a change to play.

Well, there you have it. Just a FEW of the changes I would make if I were the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Hopefully, your thoughts have been stirred (whether you agree or not) and with a bit of luck you don’t have an annoying song stuck in your head.