Fixing MLB …

Last week, my mind meandered – fancifully – as I pondered ways to make the NBA a better TV entertainment product.  That prompted an email from “the reader in Houston” to this effect:

“I have to hand it to you that you always come up with some real good ideas/suggestions to make sports more entertaining whether for TV purposes or not (even if some may seem almost ludicrous), but as in most cases, money talks and the longer the NBA games and timeouts, the greater the advertising revenue, though I have to hand it to baseball, the pitch clock has done wonders to speed up the games.

“As far as your ideas for limits on three-point shots, I will be elected Pope before that ever comes to fruition, but keep on coming up with ideas. I love them, even if just for entertainment purposes.”

What more encouragement could I possibly ask for?  I dealt with the NBA last week, so my mind wandered to MLB over the weekend.  And so, today, you will get to read some more fanciful thoughts about how to make baseball more of an entertainment product.

At the outset, I must agree with “the reader in Houston” that MLB came a long way forward with the insertion of the pitch clock and the slightly larger bases to encourage base stealing.  There is a significant increase in the density of action on the field in MLB in 2025 than there was in 2019; the MLB mavens deserve kudos for those actions.  However, as  tribute to the concept of constant incremental improvements, let me offer the following.

• MLB needs to bite the bullet and expand by two teams to make MLB a 32-team league that can organize itself better than it is organized today.  Here are six potential expansion sites; my favorite two are in bold here:
  • • Montreal, Que
    • Nashville, TN
    • Portland, OR
    • Raleigh-Durham, NC
    • Salt Lake City, UT
    • Tidewater, VA
• Once the two new franchises are sold – – wherever they may be – – MLB needs to reorganize into 8 divisions with 4 teams in each division.  Moreover, those divisions need to be as geographically close-packed as possible; MLB needs more ”rivalry games” than it has today.  I am neither a Yankees’ fan nor a Red Sox fan; but I enjoy the rivalry; I am not a Cubs’ fan nor a Cardinals’ fan; but I enjoy the rivalry.  Importantly, proximity breeds rivalry …

So, here is a first cut at my 8 new divisions:

1. Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Blue Jays
2. Phillies, Orioles, Nats, Pirates
3. Tigers, Guardians, Reds, Twins
4. Brewers, Cubs, White Sox, Cards
5. Braves, Rays, Marlins, Raleigh-Durham
6. Astros, Rangers, Royals, Rockies
7. Mariners, A’s, D-Backs, Salt Lake City
8. Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Angels

As if all of the above is not sufficiently offbeat, now I want to suggest the highly improbable action of MLB contracting its regular season schedule.  My idea is to make the regular season 144 games for each team and for the playoffs to have no wild cards – – only the 8 division winners.  Cutting the regular season schedule allows for some if not all of the following:

• Start the season later when “winter” is less likely in various cities.
• End the season earlier when “winter” is less likely in various cities
• Make all playoff series – – in all three levels of the brackets – – 7 games in duration.

And here are the basics of the scheduling format:

• Each team plays its three division rivals 24 times – – 8 each three-game series.  That accounts for 72 games.
• Each team plays home and home series with each team in three other divisions; the selection of which other divisions would rotate as the NFL does.   That accounts for 72 more games.
• Voilâ!  There you have a 144-game regular season schedule …

In terms of “rivalries”, look at Division #1 and Division #4.  Each one has existing rivalries baked in already.  Then look at Division #8; virtually every intra-divisional game would be a rivalry game there.

I know; “the reader in Houston” will be elected Pope before any of my ideas get serious attention from Rob Manfred and his band of merry men.  But it is fun to let my mind wander – – off the leash – – for a little bit occasionally.

Finally, it seems appropriate to conclude today with a series of observations from thinkers deeper than I:

“It is only afterward that a new idea seems reasonable. To begin with, it usually seems unreasonable.”  Isaac Azimov

And …

“Those who can’t change their minds can’t change anything.”  George Bernard Shaw

And …

“There is one path in the world that none can walk but you. Where does it lead? Don’t ask, walk!”  Friedrich Nietzsche

But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………