The Hot Corner

The Hot Corner
by Matt Service

For this weeks column, I will concentrate on the controversial topic of realignment. There is a plan for realignment which may come into effect as early as next season. I will give you the positives and negatives of this plan, and allow you to e-mail me telling me if this plan should be put into effect.

Here is the plan:

American League

East:

Baltimore
Boston
New York
Toronto

Central:

Chicago
Cleveland
Detroit
Kansas City
Minnesota
Texas

West:

Anaheim
Arizona
Oakland
Seattle

National League

Northeast:

Montreal
New York
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia

Southeast:

Atlanta
Cincinatti
Florida
Tampa Bay

Central:
Chicago
Houston
Milwaukee
St. Louis

West:

Colorado
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco

Facts: 1) The National League will have 4 division winners, and NO wildcard

2) The American League will have 3 division winners, and 1 wildcard

3) Interleague play will rotate. Like the NFL the East division will play the Northeast division one year, then the Southeast division the next year, then the Central division the next year, and then the West division the next year, and it will rotate.

4) Arizona and Tampa Bay will receive a significant amount of money for switching leagues.

Postives of this Realignment plan:

1) Geographically it works. Other than Cincinnati being in the Southeast, every other team is properly placed.

2) Old Rivalries are renewed: For example having Pittsburgh in the Northeast renews its rivalries with the Phillies and Mets.

3) New Rivalries are formed:
Atlanta - Cincinnati
Florida - Tampa Bay
Texas - Cleveland
Arizona - Seattle

4) Teams will play more inner division games, which baseball desperately needs.

Negatives of this Realignment Plan:

1) Baseball is going fine now as it is, Why try to tinker with things now??

2) Losing the Wildcard in the National League

3) Having 6, 4 team divisions, and then 1 odd division having 6 teams.

4) Losing Rivalries:
Mets - Braves
Reds - Cardinals
Dodgers - Diamonbacks

5) The possibility of having 1 team dominate a division for many years. The Mets and Cardinals come to mind. Both could easily dominate their division for many years with the other teams just rotting behind.

Well those are the facts on this new Realignment plan. Please feel free to send me your comments and thoughts at Sunfan32@aol.com

Until next time, this is Matt Service on the Hot Corner.