Baseball Relegation System

I have made it very clear on Big Time Talkers and other B-Card programming that I am no fan of the British or what they have done in their history. However, there is one idea they have that I like, and that is in the sports world. Relegation in its sports. A system that people have proposed ideas for in the NBA, NFL, and MLS. Today I’m giving my proposal for it in the MLB. Unlike the leagues, we model it after the rules are as follows. The top league, in this case, the MLB, will have 20 teams, and the bottom four teams will have to go to a best-of-3 series against the top four lower tiers. In this case, is the International League currently a Minor League, as this is Baseball and not soccer? For our little excise here today, we will not have seven tiers like the English Football system has. Now, with 30 current MLB teams, we must make ten International League teams.

The second tier in English soccer has 24 teams, so ten current MLB teams and another 14 cities with either no minor league team or with one. To make things easier, the following teams are no longer in the MLB but the International League. The Angels, Marlins, Rockies, Rangers, Tigers, Royals, Reds, Pirates, A’s, and Nationals are the sacrifices from the MLB from AAA the Nashville Sounds, Toledo Mud Hens, Durham Bulls, Reno Aces, Columbus Clippers, El Paso Chihuahuas, Oklahoma City Dodgers, Scranton/WB Rail Riders, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Round Rock Express, Sugarland Space Cowboys, Tacoma Rainers, Las Vegas Aviators, and Montreal Expos.

The next rung down will be the APBL (American Professional Baseball League) with 28 teams. Buffalo Bison, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, Indianapolis Indians, Worcester Red Sox, St. Paul Saints, Norfolk Tides, Memphis Red Birds, Omaha Storm Chasers, Gwinnett Stripers, Salt Lake Bees, Sacramento River Cats, Albuquerque Isotopes, Iowa Cubs, Rochester Red Wings, Syracuse Mets, Louisville Bats, Charlotte Knights, Wichita Wind Surge, Rocket City Trash Pandas, Somerset Patriots, Erie SeaWolves, Akron RubberDucks, Hartford Yard Goats, Portland Sea Dogs, Altoona Curve, Montgomery Biscuits, Frisco Rough Riders, and Arkansas Travelers.

Finally, we have what I’m calling the USBL (United States Baseball League), with 32 teams. Tulsa Drillers, Tennessee Smokies, Bowie Bay Sox, Richmond Flying Squirrels, San Antonio Missions, Amarillo Sod Poodles, Springfield Cardinals, Midland Rock Hounds, Corpus Christi Hooks, North West Arkansas Naturals, Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Biloxi Shuckers, Mississippi Braves, Chattanooga Lookouts, Birmingham Barons, Reading Fightin Phils, New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Harrisburg Senators, Eugene Emeralds, Lake County Captains, Great Lakes Loons, Cedar Rapids Corn Kings, South Bend Cubs, West Michigan White Caps, Bowling Green Hot Rods, Aberdeen Iron Birds, Rome Braves, Hudson Valley Renegades, Brooklyn Cyclones, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, and Dayton Dragons.

The rest of the single-A and independent league teams make up the final division that I’d call the All-Pro League. And throw them in. You make your schedules and conferences.