For those of you who follow MLB, if the league were to shake up the division structure as part of a move to 32, would you prefer:

8 divisions of 4

4 divisions of 8

6 divisions of 5-6

Ultimately, it comes down to do you prefer to play lots of regional rivals frequently (big divisions) or would you rather have fewer rivals and have more opportunities to play the rest of the league (little divisions)?

8 divisions of 4 permits:

3 games against each team in the other league (48 games)
6 games against each team in the other division of your league (72 games)
14 games against each team in your division (42 games)

If you wanted, you could reduce the divisional games to add an additional 3 game series against a crossover rival or even permit an additional 3 game series against your equivalent geographic division (NL East vs AL East).

4 divisions of 8 permits:

3 games against each team in the other league (48 teams)
6 games against each team in the other divisions of your league (48 teams)
9 games against each divisional rival (63 games)
an additional 3 game series against a rival outside your division (3 games)

(01-03-2026 12:04 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  4 divisions of 8 permits:

3 games against each team in the other league (48 teams)
6 games against each team in the other divisions of your league (48 teams)
9 games against each divisional rival (63 games)
an additional 3 game series against a rival outside your division (3 games)

I would prefer this, but I would put the 3 extra games within the division so that the 66 division games are balanced home and away - either as an extra series against one opponent, or a 10th game against 3 opponents.

At 34 teams with unbalanced divisions, for teams in the 8-team divisions:
66 divison games (9 games against opponent, plus 3 extra games)*
54 league games outside the division
42 interleague games (14 opponents x 3)*
*Both 8-team divisions could substitute a 15th interleague opponent instead of the 3 extra division games

and for teams in the 9-team divisions
72 division games
48 league games outside the division
42 interleague opponents

At 36 teams, 4 divisions still work with a 9-6-3 setup, but you would be limited to playing 12 of the 18 trams in the other league annually. This could be a feature and not a big, as you could have the entire AL West play the entire NL West and the entire AL East play the entire NL East every year, but rotate the opponents for the other division in the opposite league.

(01-03-2026 11:59 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  8 divisions of 4 permits:

3 games against each team in the other league (48 games)
6 games against each team in the other division of your league (72 games)
14 games against each team in your division (42 games)

If you wanted, you could reduce the divisional games to add an additional 3 game series against a crossover rival or even permit an additional 3 game series against your equivalent geographic division (NL East vs AL East).

I would prefer this setup. It's less complicated and more fair. It keeps the season interesting longer as teams are eliminated later in the year. The NFL season went down to the last seconds.

Whether baseball goes geographic or remains AL/NL after expanding to 32, I think they go with 8x4 because divisions.

Division: 36 (12 games versus each opponent)
Intra Conference/League: 72 (6 games versus each opponent)
Inter Conference/League: 48 (3 games versus each opponent)
Total: 156 games

Playoffs: 8 from each Conference/League including autobids to Division champions.

Wild Card Round (Best of 3; at higher seed): 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5
Divisional Round (Best of 5; 2-2-1): highest remaining seed vs lowest remaining seed
Conference/League Round (Best of 7; 2-3-2)
World Series (Best of 7; 2-3-2)

Expansion Candidates: Carolina (Charlotte or Raleigh), Indianapolis, Louisville, Montreal, Nashville, New Orleans, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Vancouver
> Franchise #31: Utah Hornets
> Franchise #32: Nashville Stars
> Relocation: Tampa Bay Rays > Carolina Pilots

AL/NL Alignment

American League
Central: Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers
East: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Carolina Pilots, New York Yankees
North: Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays
West: Las Vegas Athletics, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Utah Hornets

National League
Central: Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals
East: Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, Nashville Stars, Washington Nationals
North: Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates
West: Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants

Geographical Alignment

Eastern Conference
Atlantic: Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals
Metropolitan: Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies
Mideast: Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers
Southeast: Atlanta Braves, Carolina Pilots, Miami Marlins, Nashville Stars

Western Conference
Central: Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers
Midwest: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals
Pacific: Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners
Southwest: Arizona Diamondbacks, Las Vegas Athletics, San Diego Padres, Utah Hornets

A simple agreement to have the Rockies and Rays swap leagues actually creates really good 4 team divisions:

AL E: TOR, BOS, NYY, BAL
AL S: HOU, TEX, KC, COL
AL N: CLE, DET, CWS, MIN
AL W: LV, LAA, SEA, Portland/SLC*

NL E: NYM, PHI, WAS, PIT
NL S: MIA, TB, ATL, NASH/CLT*
NL N: CIN, CCUBS, MIL, STL
NL W: SD, LAD, SF, ARZ

Assuming no lockout/strike in 2027 (big assumption), keep current 3 divisions in each league, adding one team to AL and one in NL starting play around 2030-32 timeframe. Then announce additional expansion of 4 more teams, 2 around 2036 and final 2 around 2040, continually keeping same divisional setup. Beginning in 2040s you have 6 divisions of 6 teams.

If there is an extended lockout/strike, it becomes very much less likely for multiple expansions, unless there is a steroid era again bringing fans back quickly. In this case I would consider 32 teams as the stopping point, and create 4 divisions of 4 teams in each league, again keeping the AL/NL, no switching to East/West Conferences.

I feel like the MLB owners will use expansion fees for 2 additional teams to help make up for lost revenue during the lockout.

(01-10-2026 10:21 AM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I feel like the MLB owners will use expansion fees for 2 additional teams to help make up for lost revenue during the lockout.

Sad but true.

(01-06-2026 05:26 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  A simple agreement to have the Rockies and Rays swap leagues actually creates really good 4 team divisions:

AL E: TOR, BOS, NYY, BAL
AL S: HOU, TEX, KC, COL
AL N: CLE, DET, CWS, MIN
AL W: LV, LAA, SEA, Portland/SLC*

NL E: NYM, PHI, WAS, PIT
NL S: MIA, TB, ATL, NASH/CLT*
NL N: CIN, CCUBS, MIL, STL
NL W: SD, LAD, SF, ARZ

I like this. There aren't any islands of misfit toys.

(01-25-2026 09:29 PM)Porcine Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 05:26 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  A simple agreement to have the Rockies and Rays swap leagues actually creates really good 4 team divisions:

AL E: TOR, BOS, NYY, BAL
AL S: HOU, TEX, KC, COL
AL N: CLE, DET, CWS, MIN
AL W: LV, LAA, SEA, Portland/SLC*

NL E: NYM, PHI, WAS, PIT
NL S: MIA, TB, ATL, NASH/CLT*
NL N: CIN, CCUBS, MIL, STL
NL W: SD, LAD, SF, ARZ

I like this. There aren't any islands of misfit toys.

Yep, and scheduling is pretty simple too. A team probably plays 14 games against each team in your pod/division, 6 games against each team in your conference, and 3 games against each team in the opposite conference.

Assuming expansion, the divisions will be geographical. No more AL/NL.

West - Seattle, San Francisco, LA Dodgers, LA Angels, San Diego, Arizona, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City

Central - Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas City, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Detroit

North - Toronto, Boston, NY Yankees, NY Mets, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland

East - Washington, Baltimore, Miami, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Nashville/Charlotte, Texas, Houston


-Each division has 8 so you play all 7 divisional foes 8 times each for a total of 56 games.

-Each team from the other divisions gets 4 games. That's 24 teams at 4 games each for a total of 96

That's a grand total of 152 games which helps everything remain more congruent and allows the schedule to be fresher. The divisional match-ups are a little over 1/3 of your schedule. You will play your rivals more, but not incessantly like the current format.

Each team loses 10 games over the current model, but I don't see that hurting the overall product. Throw in a few extra off days and have a ton of 4 game series.

-All the division winners earn a playoff spot and a 1st round bye.

-The 2nd and 3rd place team from each division will make the playoffs as wildcards and play a best of 3 series.

-The winners of the wildcard round will face off with division winners. Best records get highest seeds...division winners are guaranteed home field advantage. Best of 5 series in this round.

-Semi final round will feature the 4 winners. Highest seeds and home field advantage goes to best records. Best of 7 round.

-World Series is best of 7, best record gets home field advantage.

(01-25-2026 11:48 PM)GoBuckeyes1047 Wrote:  

(01-25-2026 09:29 PM)Porcine Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 05:26 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  A simple agreement to have the Rockies and Rays swap leagues actually creates really good 4 team divisions:

AL E: TOR, BOS, NYY, BAL
AL S: HOU, TEX, KC, COL
AL N: CLE, DET, CWS, MIN
AL W: LV, LAA, SEA, Portland/SLC*

NL E: NYM, PHI, WAS, PIT
NL S: MIA, TB, ATL, NASH/CLT*
NL N: CIN, CCUBS, MIL, STL
NL W: SD, LAD, SF, ARZ

I like this. There aren't any islands of misfit toys.

Yep, and scheduling is pretty simple too. A team probably plays 14 games against each team in your pod/division, 6 games against each team in your conference, and 3 games against each team in the opposite conference.

I reckon I ought to give Nedlinger some credit.

(12-15-2025 09:18 PM)Nerdlinger Wrote:  Since it was phrased as "should", I chose 4 divisions of 8 because that would work best in a full geographic realignment.

AL East: Boston, Miami, New York, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Toronto
AL West: Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina*, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Nashville*, Washington

NL East: Chicago, Chicago, Houston, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minnesota, St. Louis, Texas
NL West: Arizona, Colorado, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle

However, if the traditional AL/NL structure remains (as is more likely), with few teams changing leagues, then 8 divisions of 4 would work best.

AL East: Baltimore, Boston, New York, Toronto
AL North: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Minnesota
AL South: Colorado, Houston, Kansas City, Texas
AL West: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland*, Seattle

NL East: New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington
NL North: Chicago, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, St. Louis
NL South: Atlanta, Carolina*, Miami, Tampa Bay
NL West: Arizona, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco

(01-29-2026 12:07 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  Assuming expansion, the divisions will be geographical. No more AL/NL.

West - Seattle, San Francisco, LA Dodgers, LA Angels, San Diego, Arizona, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City

Central - Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas City, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Detroit

North - Toronto, Boston, NY Yankees, NY Mets, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland

East - Washington, Baltimore, Miami, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Nashville/Charlotte, Texas, Houston


-Each division has 8 so you play all 7 divisional foes 8 times each for a total of 56 games.

-Each team from the other divisions gets 4 games. That's 24 teams at 4 games each for a total of 96

That's a grand total of 152 games which helps everything remain more congruent and allows the schedule to be fresher. The divisional match-ups are a little over 1/3 of your schedule. You will play your rivals more, but not incessantly like the current format.

Each team loses 10 games over the current model, but I don't see that hurting the overall product. Throw in a few extra off days and have a ton of 4 game series.

-All the division winners earn a playoff spot and a 1st round bye.

-The 2nd and 3rd place team from each division will make the playoffs as wildcards and play a best of 3 series.

-The winners of the wildcard round will face off with division winners. Best records get highest seeds...division winners are guaranteed home field advantage. Best of 5 series in this round.

-Semi final round will feature the 4 winners. Highest seeds and home field advantage goes to best records. Best of 7 round.

-World Series is best of 7, best record gets home field advantage.

I like the idea of 4 8-team divisions with no AL and NL, but I would do things slightly different in schedule.

I would have 2 eastern time zone divisions split into traditionally American and National league teams.

West: SD, LAD, LAA, LV, SF, Sea, Ariz, Portland
Central: Tex, Hou, Col, KC, Minn, STL, CHC, Mil
American East: CHW, Det, Cle, Tor, Bos, NYY, Balt, Tam
National East: NYM, Philly, Wash, Pitt, Cincy, Atl, Mia, Nashville

Then play each team in your division 12 times for 84 games.

Then play every team outside your division 3 times for 72 games.

Thats 156 games total and leaves 6 games to fill. That will be filled with playing an extra 3 or 6 games against a traditional rival, that can be either inside the division or outside the division. For example the Yankees could play an additional 6 games against the Mets or could play 3 games against the Mets and 3 games against the Phillies.

On the other hand nobody in east or central wants another west coast trip. So the Angels choose another 3 games against the Dodgers and another 3 games against the A's.

Without expansion, you could simply do:

As, Angels, and Mariners to NL West (8)

Rangers and Astros to AL Central (7)

Mets, Phillies, and Nationals to NL Central (8)

Marlins and Braves to AL East (7)

The result is all the Western teams together, a Midwest + TX division, a Midwest/Northeast division, and an East Coast division.

Alternatively—the Nationals could join the Marlins and Braves in the AL East.

I just don’t see MLB doing away with AL & NL. The NL just turned 150 yrs old this year. AL is 125 yrs old. That’s too much history to disregard.

(07-14-2026 06:28 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I just don’t see MLB doing away with AL & NL. The NL just turned 150 yrs old this year. AL is 125 yrs old. That’s too much history to disregard.

MLB actually did away with the last semblances of the AL and NL as legal entities a while back, not to mention both leagues now use the designated hitter.

(07-15-2026 06:14 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(07-14-2026 06:28 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I just don’t see MLB doing away with AL & NL. The NL just turned 150 yrs old this year. AL is 125 yrs old. That’s too much history to disregard.

MLB actually did away with the last semblances of the AL and NL as legal entities a while back, not to mention both leagues now use the designated hitter.

I get that AL and NL have long ceased to be separate entities but the rivalries haven’t gone away. You’ve got teams that have played each other regularly and uninterrupted as league/division mates for over 100 years. You’re not breaking up the Indians, Tigers, and White Sox just because someone else might be a tad closer.

(07-16-2026 03:17 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(07-15-2026 06:14 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(07-14-2026 06:28 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  I just don’t see MLB doing away with AL & NL. The NL just turned 150 yrs old this year. AL is 125 yrs old. That’s too much history to disregard.

MLB actually did away with the last semblances of the AL and NL as legal entities a while back, not to mention both leagues now use the designated hitter.

I get that AL and NL have long ceased to be separate entities but the rivalries haven’t gone away. You’ve got teams that have played each other regularly and uninterrupted as league/division mates for over 100 years. You’re not breaking up the Indians, Tigers, and White Sox just because someone else might be a tad closer.

The White Sox were separated from the Tigers from 1969-97 and from the Indians from 1969-93, and the Indians were separated from the Tigers from 1994-97.