The MLB is currently in the process of signing a new labor agreement, and they are not going to need a lockout to get it done. It seems crazy, but professional sports leagues are capable of getting things done in a normal manner.
There are two main changes to the baseball landscape that will take place over the next few years.
Astros To The AL
The first change has to do with the Astros moving to the American League. This will give each league 15 teams, which improves the competitive balance in both leagues. The Astros will move to the AL West, which only has four teams currently.
This move needed to be done, and the Astros were a perfect fit for the move. The AL West needed to add another team, as it was the only division in baseball with four teams. The move was decided upon after the sale of the Astros to Jim Crane, who is actually receiving a discount of around $65 million because of the move.
The move will take place in 2013, and it will inflict great change upon the sport. The odd number of teams in each league will lead to interleague play all-season long. This means that there will be interleague games during the stretch run in September, which could hurt an American League team who is on the road. The DH rule will likely not be changed in the near future, if ever, so AL teams will have to give their pitchers routine batting practice in spring training.
Extra Wild Card Teams
This move brings with it another change to the MLB dealing with the playoff format. Beginning either next season or the following one, there will be two wild card teams from each league. It is expected that they will play a one-game playoff, with the winner going on to the ALDS.
Some critics of the system say that it would take away from the late-season excitement, such as runs of the Rays and the Cardinals at the end of this season. But what we all saw this past season rarely ever happens, so the new system will be good for the sport of baseball.
Wild Card teams will now want to try to win their division instead of just feeling comfortable making it into the playoffs. Making it in as a wild card will make it more difficult to even make it to the ALDS, so teams will need to play hard until season’s end.
An interesting scenario that could arise would be ties at the end of the year at the top of a division. This would lead to a one-game playoff for the division, with the loser possibly being in a one-game playoff for the wild card. If anything, this move makes the postseason more exciting than it already is.
About Steve Kubitza
