MLB Realignment: Former Reds GM and ESPN Analyst Jim Bowden Weighs in

Every year or two, someone decides that the MLB alignment is malignant and wants to present the cure. In 2009 Buck Showalter and I, Caesar Cliffius both displayed blueprints.

In the midst of talks that the MLB owners will be debating the possibility of realigning the divisions, this time it is former Reds GM-turned ESPN analyst Jim Bowden.

The MLB proposed plan, like my 2009 plan, calls for balancing the leagues with 15 teams each. Have you ever looked at the standings? The NL Central has six teams and the AL West has four. That makes no sense right there; I don’t care who you are (courtesy of Larry the Cable Guy).

The painful question is which team should be cut loose from the Senior Circuit to make things even. I said then, and I say it again now for emphasis. The Milwaukee Brewers use to be in the AL, so it would seem fitting that they should go.

Bowden goes radical. He intends, as did Showalter, to do away with the American League and the National League, leaving one league with two conferences. Sound familiar?

The old AFL merged with the NFL in 1966 creating the new NFL with American and National Conferences. It seems to have worked well for them, why not MLB?

I like the sound of that, to some degree. You wouldn’t have to worry about inter-league play because there would not be two leagues to do battle with.

In Showalter’s 2009 brainchild, both Florida teams would be eradicated and four divisions of seven squads each would emerge. Showalter called for naming his divisions after players; Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson.

I questioned the last two names then and I repeat the same questions today. Ruth and Aaron are both considered two of the best players ever. The same cannot be said of Clemente and Robinson. In fact, Frank Robinson would make more sense than Jackie. I digress.

Each team would play everybody else six times, three home and three away. It sounds weird but by God, the numbers come out right.

Showalter was unclear about playoff scenarios, but at least it would be a fair and balanced (apologies to Fox News) arrangement.

In Bowden’s imaginary world, there would be the AC and the NC. His divisions would be geographical both in name and placement. The American Conference would consist of East, Central and Midwest divisions. The National Conference would be made up of Southeast, Western and California divisions. Each division would have five teams.

I can’t find what he proposes in terms of scheduling on that website. At the risk of allowing my diminished math skills to be revealed, I believe that there would either be more or less games played. You just can’t get 162 divided by 29 to give you a whole number.

He does, however, plan an earlier start to the season – March 24. Spring training would be shortened by this earlier date.

Bowden also calls for the first few weeks to be played at National Conference sites due to traditionally better weather. Having a game scheduled for March 24 in Denver. Really?

He does call for expanded playoffs but is unclear on a schedule. I would think you’d want to figure out how to get to the playoffs before designing them.

In my plan, each team would play their Division foes 12 times, with 10 games to be played with the other teams in their league. This would take up 148 of their 162 games, leaving 14 for inter-league play.

How about the Designated Hitter? I was against it for years, cursing it until a fly wouldn’t land on it. Now, I don’t completely embrace it, but have finally accepted that it is here to stay. I mean, we are too far in now to flush it down the crapper.

I demand equality! Everybody should have the same rules. Why should old sluggers be relegated to the American League to die as an aged DH?

Somewhere amongst all these designs is probably something that would work. Do you have any suggestions?