NBC Sports: MLB considering expansion, radical realignment...

You can easily keep the 162 game schedule with:

14 vs. the other 7 teams in your division = 98
4 vs. the 8 teams in the other division in your league (either 2H, 2A or alternate years with a 4 game stand) =32
4 vs the 8 teams in one division in the other league (alternate divisions each year) = 32

I hate November baseball, so I'd be pretty open to shortening the schedule a little bit.

156 is easy, too.

12 games against 7 other teams in your division = 84
6 games against 8 teams in other division in your league = 48
3 games against 8 teams in one division in other league = 24

Rotate home and home and division in the other league so after 4 years you've played each team 3 games at your place and 3 games at their place.

patoaflac said:

Yep, another factor. Monterrey would be a better choice, but economics wouldn't permit it, unless MLB subsidizes that franchise, for the internationalitation of the game, which I would consider a little absurd.

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Hasn't Monterrey been one of the most impacted regions from violence and kidnapping due to the drug trade and proximity to the US border? Embassy officials have been under a curfew for years if I recall correctly. Granted this was 4 or 5 years ago, but I had a work trip cancelled there because of the targeting of Americans by cartels.

I think that the NHL breaking the ice (so to speak) with a pro sports team in Vegas, will make it highly likely that MLB and the NHL and the NBA will all have teams there within 10 years. So I bet (pun intended) that should MLB expand, one team will be in Vegas.

j-man said:

idk their air q is not good maybe swich out char for SD or vegas

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I hate to break it to you, but the air quality in San Diego isn't markedly better than CDMX, and San Diego would be a woefully small two team market. Mexico City's air issue is its altitude, which is a full 2,100 feet higher than Coors Field.

If Mexico is considered, you'd have to look at Guadalajara, which is a booming city with a big tech industry that has been actively pursuing Dreamers that have been targeted by this administration, so you very well could have thousands of Americans in the city who grew up following MLB.

Dernells Casket n Flagon said:

Hasn't Monterrey been one of the most impacted regions from violence and kidnapping due to the drug trade and proximity to the US border? Embassy officials have been under a curfew for years if I recall correctly. Granted this was 4 or 5 years ago, but I had a work trip cancelled there because of the targeting of Americans by cartels.

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Yes, but it's still a better market anyway.

Baseball's significantly more popular there than in Mexico City. It has a near-MLB standard stadium that seats 27,000, so you could start play there tomorrow, and its PPP is much higher than Mexico City. The PPP in Monterrey is $32,000 versus $19,000 for Mexico City, and combine that with the higher interest per baseball and you might be ahead in Monterrey on number of baseball fans who can afford MLB or near-MLB priced tickets, so you're not entirely dependent on TV revenue. It's also only 1,770 feet above sea level.

Papelbon's Poutine said:

It's impossible to recapture that nostalgia, sorry.

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Strange. You are allowed to have your dreams but I am not?

Spacemans Bong said:

Yes, but it's still a better market anyway.

Baseball's significantly more popular there than in Mexico City. It has a near-MLB standard stadium that seats 27,000, so you could start play there tomorrow, and its PPP is much higher than Mexico City. The PPP in Monterrey is $32,000 versus $19,000 for Mexico City, and combine that with the higher interest per baseball and you might be ahead in Monterrey on number of baseball fans who can afford MLB or near-MLB priced tickets, so you're not entirely dependent on TV revenue. It's also only 1,770 feet above sea level.

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Agree with everything and besides, yes crime is high as it is in all the nation, but in Monterrey it has dimished in the last few years, it´s nearer to the border (future wall) and doesn´t have the traffic jams Mexico City has. Many of us (living in other cities) that go to Monterrey because of work or vacation, will plan trips when our favorite team plays there. Guadalajara´s crime rate has augmented a lot in recent years.
Regarding the schedule, I also like that all teams play all teams in some years. I suppose MLB also likes it, because a lot of the fan base lives on a city different to the one you were born and when the local team plays the team you root for, those are the dates you go to the stadium.

I really dont think MLB is going to expand into Mexico. Any third tier US city is a better bet at success than any Mexican city would be. I dont think any Mexican team will be getting a massive TV contract which will really limit their spending. In the end, Las Vegas, Montreal, Portland, and Charlotte are much safer bets than any Mexican city would be. And while PPP of $32,000 is high for Mexico, that would be lower than any US market with an MLB team, or in the running for one.

They'd be the de facto national team of a country of 140 million people. Why wouldn't a Mexican MLB team get a massive TV contract? There's multiple competing networks with the money to pay big for MLB.

It'd be a different funding model than most other teams, they'd probably be more reliant on national TV revenue than any other team, even the Blue Jays. But I like the idea of potentially hitting it big in Mexico versus some of the other non-Montreal options.

MLB is moving away from revenue sharing for all but the smallest markets, and I just can't see Portland as anything but a revenue sharing teat in the future. It's not a city with a lot of corporate presence besides Nike, stadium funding is going to be hassle (tbf, Montreal will be too), it's not a huge market as it stands. Just barely inside the top 20. And it's a better candidate than Charlotte or Las Vegas.

Spacemans Bong said:

They'd be the de facto national team of a country of 140 million people. Why wouldn't a Mexican MLB team get a massive TV contract? There's multiple competing networks with the money to pay big for MLB.

It'd be a different funding model than most other teams, they'd probably be more reliant on national TV revenue than any other team, even the Blue Jays. But I like the idea of potentially hitting it big in Mexico versus some of the other non-Montreal options.

MLB is moving away from revenue sharing for all but the smallest markets, and I just can't see Portland as anything but a revenue sharing teat in the future. It's not a city with a lot of corporate presence besides Nike, stadium funding is going to be hassle (tbf, Montreal will be too), it's not a huge market as it stands. Just barely inside the top 20. And it's a better candidate than Charlotte or Las Vegas.

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Not really. There is a huge competition between Televisa and TVAzteca not sure how that would work out. They have the money yes, but their model is quite different. And I don't believe you sell commercial time at the same rate you do in a US market.

But there are other issues as well. Having MLB players work and live in Mexico presents a lot of hassles in matters of customs, immigration, and probably taxes. I am pretty sure the Mexican Government will not be as lenient as the Canadian Government is. Also, do MLB players want to live in Mexico? How about their families? School? There is a huge language barrier. There is a currency that keeps falling in value. Would Mexican players spend all their time in hotels while their families are back home? That basically eliminates part of Home Field Advantage.

There is a lot to think when planning to place a team in Mexico.

At least with Puerto Rico you had a US Territory with US Dollars and a good chance of finding good schooling and all (plus no Federal Taxes). But it will be some time before that can be considered, unfortunately.

Also, Monterrey is scorching hot all year long. I just doubt that MLB decides to open an expansion franchise there in this next round of teams. Have they played any exhibition games down there? It seems like a massive gamble with a lot more to lose than to win. And again, even as one of the richer cities in Mexico, it would still be the poorest market in all of MLB, which I am sure would have an effect on their ability to sign top FA talent, without even considering all of the other issues players would face by living in Mexico.

Current US travel warning:

Nuevo Leon (includes Monterrey): U.S. government personnel may travel outside the city of Monterrey only during daylight hours on toll roads. Between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., U.S. government personnel must abide by the Embassy-imposed curfew and remain within the municipal boundaries of San Pedro Garza Garcia or Santa Catarina (south of the Santa Catarina river). Travel to and from Monterrey airport is permitted at any time.

A lot of MLB players are not going to want to play for an expansion team in Monterrey, or anywhere else in Mexico for that matter.

Living in Mexico, I share most of the things you have said. Mexico can’t be compared to the US in wealth, crime rates (although one should compare individual cities) and most of all baseball fandom. If I had to bet I would say it´s impossible that a MLB team establishes down here. However, there are some things that could happen:
1. Manfred has talked about the possibility:
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/232063444/rob-manfred-wants-mlb-games-in-mexico/
https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-sounds-serious-about-expansion-into-mexico-for-regular-season-games-soon/
2. As said Mexico´s population (around 130 million), with a lot of wealthy people amidst a shameful poverty, could embrace the team as a "national team", like the soccer "selección". Besides, there is a lot of people who follow baseball on a regular basis and will like to see their team in a Mexican city, not having to go to the States for it. And remember we also have wealthy pink hats that like to show up in sporting events all over the world.
3. There are 15 Mexicans with more than 1,000 million dollars (TV Azteca´s Ricardo Salinas, 3600 and Televisa’s, Emilio Azcarraga 2100). The richest, Carlos Slim, 54,500 million dollars is a big baseball fan (grrr MFY fan) who attends MLB games frequently and who would get TV for Telmex (his biggest company) in the near future.. Alfredo Harp (1200) is the owner of Diablos Rojos in Mexico City. There are a lot other wealthy Mexicans that love baseball and could see a good business investing on it.
4. Mexican-Americans in the US are more than 36 million. Wouldn´t some cable network in the US see a good business in transmitting the games sponsored by tacos, cerveza, tequila, etc.
5. Well, maybe big stars born in the US wouldn´t like to come, but what about all latinos that are playing in MLB baseball. The language and many of their habits are the same. Indeed, American young players play in many of the winter leagues in Latin-America. American rookies will accept contracts and of course when they hit free agency they won´t sign here, but Dominican, Venezuelan and Puerto Rican players will sign if the dollars are OK, which could be.
6. Between politicians baseball is quite popular: the front running candidate for México´s next year presidency López Obrador loves baseball and in spite of his age (63), he plays baseball as frequently as he can. Other politicians (the president of the Bank of Mexico, the Treasury Secretary and one of the Senate leaders, engage in baseball games). All of this is to say that customs will be no problem, and the government will support baseball because of the welfare it will bring; the same it has supported all the American industries (car, electronics, etc). Maybe Trump would be the one who doesn´t like it and will want a very high green monster.
In conclusion I think it is possible, but I wouldn´t bet on it.

Hank Scorpio said:

Or maybe another Florida market? It seems odd that such a big state would only have one team.

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Florida is an odd state. Football crazy and loaded with transplants that maintain their allegiance to other teams, that's why the two teams are consistently near the bottom in attendance. A new stadium in Tampa won't make a difference, it didn't in Miami.

I wouldn't mind the 4 divisions with 4 wildcards, but you gotta retain the leagues. And there wouldn't be a need to shorten the regular season if they didn't have the wildcard play-in games and so many scheduled days off.

Just can't wait for the outcry over "that's not the way we do things" when a team in Mexico adopts local traditions, music, and mannerisms.

Re: Mexico. What would happen if Trump actually gets his wall built?

BigMike said:

In terms of #4. I don't think that would be allowed. National games would be subject to the whole total mlb package that gets bid on. Now maybe a Mexican team would add value to that package if the feeling was ESPN DeSportes would be more valuable part of package, but any revenue there would be shared.

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I don't get what you're saying. Why wouldn't it be allowed? TBS used to broadcast the Braves nationally, as did WGN with the Cubs. As far as I know, they stopped doing so voluntarily (TBS when they got the National contract), not because of any rule. They'd have to black out when the team was featured on a national broadcast, but other than that, I don't see what the problem would be with say, Telemundo broadcasting the other games nationally.

The Needler said:

I don't get what you're saying. Why wouldn't it be allowed? TBS used to broadcast the Braves nationally, as did WGN with the Cubs. As far as I know, they stopped doing so voluntarily (TBS when they got the National contract), not because of any rule. They'd have to black out when the team was featured on a national broadcast, but other than that, I don't see what the problem would be with say, Telemundo broadcasting the other games nationally.

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WGN still broadcasts Cubs games (and I think some Sox) nationally. They just don't do it very often.

A Mexican-American market of more than 36 million people plus other latinos (around 2 million dominicans, and many venezuelans, etc.), many of them preserving their customs and traditions (baseball one of them), I think will root for a team with a latino manager and several players from countries south of the border. I believe this would be a good business. Besides, many latinos living in the US will follow this team in order to beat the "gringos", like in soccer matches. I believe Telemundo, Univision or ESPN deportes will pay good money for the rights and memorabilia of those players will be sold more frequently south of the border.
Regarding the previously mentioned difficulty players will have, living in a city like Monterrey, to find proper education for their children, well that is not a problem apparently for all the Americans or Europeans, whom because of their jobs, live down here.
A lot of latino players do not have an easy adaptation to US life outside of baseball. Do you remember what Sergio Romo said to a police officer when he was, not very kindly, questioned about the car he was driving?
I insist it´s a pipe dream, but there is some probability this could happen. I'm sure that attendance in Monterrey will be bigger than in Tampa or Oakland.

With all the talk about games taking too long, no one has mentioned that maybe the season is too long. In 2017, 17 of the 30 clubs had their pitchers and catchers scheduled for their first workout on February 14 (the 45th day of the year and the reporting date would be the day before that). If the World Series goes to game 7, then the season will stretch out to November 1 (the 305th day of the year).

[Well, actually, I did say I wanted to see a 154-game season if they go to expansion/realignment but I wouldn't have a problem if they cut it even more...I know...money.]

I feel like a team in Brooklyn could be a huge draw. Big population, plenty of money, and the Bronx / Queens are a huge pain in the ass to get to from there.

The Brooklyn Urban Farmers. Let's see it happen.