MLB expansion timing

[nicksaviking]

I'd also guess the expansion teams will be the ownership groups who offer the most for expansion fees. Last I heard it was 2 billion (insane), and now it's listed as 2.5 billion. So, it doesn't sound like a set price, but more like a negotiating tool.

And looking at the candidates, thus far while there are lots of cities with plans, only Salt Lake and North Carolina actually have ownership figured out, so I'd put my money on those two cities. Portland third. I get Mike's concerns about Portland (and Salt Lake), but Portland already has an 800M stadium funding pledge from the mayor, while the other contenders do not have. 

MLB is moving the A's to Vegas, which was already a dumb idea. Unlike football, very few people plan a vacation around going to see their favorite MLB team play. So I don't think the league cares so much about what happens after; the other 30 owners just want their money up front.

Edit: More proof that they don't care what happens to these clubs after they pay their expansion fee: Another Florida team is an option?!?!?! Are they all out of their minds? How did an Orlando group not get laughed off of the phone?

[NYCTK]

43 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Twins in the AL West? 9PM start times most of the year and the worst travel in the league.

Twins are in that awkward position where they really can't complain if that were the case. Houston/Texas have that as is and they're not that much farther West than the Twin Cities. Obviously the Timberwolves are in the West.

But that is WHY I would prefer they just kill off traditional AL/NL. Regional is so much more interesting for everyone involved and significantly better for the players. A division with the Twins/Brewers and both Chicago teams? That sounds like so much fun! Mets, Yankees, Phillies, and Red Sox? Sign me up! 

Only drawback is the business value lost with the consolidation of Northeast into one division, and the loss of traditional alignment, but as soon as the NL adopted the DH I think that tradition is worthless. 

[TheLeviathan]

5 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Twins in the AL West? 9PM start times most of the year and the worst travel in the league. Hell no, why would we accept that? I'm not in favor of any format where the Twins are the team that is screwed the most. Twins with the other Midwest teams, or MLB can go figure something else out. Which they will, because as others have mentioned, MLB won't be going back to four divisions. 

Not that I like small divisions, but it keeps teams in the playoff chase longer which keeps fans engaged longer. I don't see the league changing that.

It's pretty ****** for the Wolves right now for a test case on this.  Wild have similar issues.

Baseball, much to it's benefit and loss, has committed to being a regional game driven by regional investment.  They might as well double down at this point.