MLB Wrong in Discussing Realignment

Any mention of change by Major League Baseball is big news. That's why sports writers coast-to-coast have been giving their two cents on the big "r" word -- realignment.

Commissioner Bud Selig has sanctioned a committee to study a possible shake up, making both the American and National Leagues even with 15 teams a piece. That would be the fair thing to do.

As a baseball traditionalist I wouldn't mind going back to the old days where there were two leagues, no divisions and teams were actually rewarded for playing its full grueling 162-game schedule.

As it stands with 30 major league teams, the only good way to avoid major changes, such as boring interleague games all season, is to bring up a forbidden word -- contraction.

Two 14 team leagues would work perfectly, with the four best making the playoffs, as would two 16 team leagues, but there aren't enough great ball players to fill out 30 teams, much less 32.

Now if MLB were to expand there's not a great option out west, where a new team would be needed. Portland, Ore. is one option, but the city's ill-supported Triple-A team just left. Indianapolis might work in the heartland, but MLB does not need to put another team in the Midwest.

Other top markets all have flaws too. Sacramento cannot support one pro-franchise, and Raleigh and Charlotte, which are in basketball-football states, are also out.

Contraction is a sticky issue, but doable if fairness is truly the aim of "realignment."

The easiest contraction target is Toronto. Sure, the Blue Jays had a few good years in the 90s, but Canada has room for only one true love, hockey.

Miami is the other best option. On a list of 40 things to do in the summer in Miami, going to watch pro-baseball is 41st on the list.

Cutting MLB to 28 teams, would mean more stars per team, and more importantly actually provide a balanced schedule. One teams plays the 13 others, 12 times each, that's 156 games (six less than right now).

With the issue of balancing the leagues out without making some big decisions MLB can focus on fixing its other ailments. More to come on those soon.