Pirates and Braves Should Swap Divisions: A Crazy Thought

We all know that the NL East is a harder division then the NL Central. I think the MLB should therefore shake things up, and one of the changes they should implement is to swap the positions of the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Putting the Braves in the Central and the Pirates in the east would help even things out. It's true that last year the Central was a much stronger stronger division, but in the offseason, the East has taken a significant lead.

Here are a few big reasons for the disparity:

1. The Central had the great Wild Card-winning Brewers, but that team lost key pitchers CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets.
2. The Astros aren't looking good with Craig Biggio gone and Brandon Backe on the DL.
3. The Mets picked up K-Rod and J.J. Putz this winter.
4. Adam Dunn is now on the Nationals.
5. The Braves got Derek Lowe.
6. Raul Ibanez was signed by the Phillies.

I think it's pretty obvious that the balance of power has shifted.

But honestly, the real reason this idea came to me is that the Pittsburgh Pirates are more to the East then the Atlanta Braves geographically.

I never understood why the Pirates were moved from the East in '94 in the first place.

Obviously, this can't be done in the middle of the season, but I hope that before the 2010 season Bud Selig reads this article and agrees. It makes so much sense to me, and it would bring a lot of "mojo" back to Pittsburgh.

The Pirates faithful deserve it.

I know this sounds crazy at first, but take time to think about it, and you will see that it would help in a lot of ways.