Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
March 17, 2004
Balancing Act

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays would prefer to go back to a balanced schedule:


This is not the Rays whining. This is not a team looking for special favors. Naimoli insisted on playing in the AL East when Tampa Bay was being awarded an expansion franchise and he's living with that decision.

So, yes, it is Tampa Bay's responsibility to beat Boston and New York if it wants to be a division champ. That's not the issue.

The problem is the Rays are at a disadvantage when it comes to competing for the wild card. Because the Rays play almost half their games against AL East teams, they have a more difficult schedule than a team from the AL Central or AL West. Thus, they are unfairly handicapped.


At this point in their history, it doesn't matter what kind of schedule Tampa plays. They are not going to compete with anyone. However, they should be careful what they wish for. It could be that someday they are a strong team in a weak division, and then they will be very happy to have an unbalanced schedule.

I like the unbalanced schedule because it makes the an under .500 division champion less likely.


Posted by David Pinto at 09:09 PM | Scheduling | TrackBack (0)
Comments

That's true, but I'd like the unbalanced schedule a lot more if each league had four divisions of four teams each (yes, this would require another expansion... but I think there's enough talent in the minor leagues--so-called quad-a players--to manage it).

Of course, a four-team division is mighty small.

Posted by: John Y. at March 17, 2004 11:12 PM

why not just put the brewers back in the AL, where they belong, make the elagues even to start, then start to worry about scheduling

Posted by: Brandon at March 18, 2004 12:41 AM

I love the unbalanced schedule too. I think it's actually fair, 'cause it forces the bad teams to earn their wins and gives the strong teams a (somewhat) deserved level of ease. I think of it similar to playoff seedings. You get what you deserve, and you have your adventure through that environment.

Posted by: Devon at March 18, 2004 02:40 AM

Do you think that by being in the AL East, they will ever be a strong team in a weak division, barring moving to another division or revenue sharing? That is, will the Yankees or Red Sox ever be a weak team?

Posted by: Dean at March 18, 2004 10:06 AM

This is an argument against the wild card really. The second-best non-division winner is not necessarily the 4th best team in the league because of the unbalanced schedule.

The unbalanced schedule adds drama to divisional races, but it does make the wild-card unfair. As much as it would have hurt me as a Cub fan over the last few years I'd go back to 2 division/2 league format. The regular season is a marathon, and should be treated with the respect it deserves.

Posted by: Eric at March 19, 2004 10:23 PM