2019 MLB postseason thread

One thing that needs to happen is the geographic contraction of the International and Pacific Coast Leagues, through the creation of a third, centrally-based AAA league. Of course, it can't be the American Association anymore, because that name is already taken by an independent league. The only reason there are only two triple-A leagues is so they can have a triple-A Championship, a game nobody cares about.

Should be 10 in the IL (Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Pawtucket/Worcester, Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, Columbus, Lehigh Valley, Norfolk, Toledo, Louisville); eight in the PCL (Tacoma, Sacramento, Fresno, Vegas, El Paso, Albuquerque, Salt Lake, Reno), and the rest (Charlotte, Durham, Gwinnett, Memphis, Round Rock, Indianapolis, Iowa, Nashville, Omaha, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, wherever New Orleans ends up) in the new league.

You could even keep Charlotte and Durham in the IL and go 12 IL, 8 PCL, 10 Heartland League.

 

I wonder if Gwinnett would be one of the teams that may get downsized to the Sally. It's incredibly convenient for the Braves to have their AAA team that close, and a nice stadium in the middle of nowhere suburbia, but I've never seen more than a couple hundred people there, except for "free tickets for grade school kids" nights. And it's easily the odd-team out in a revamped IL.

It would fit in nicely with Rome, Augusta, Charleston and Greenville, however.

EDIT: The Baby Cakes are heading for Wichita, another good reason for a Mid-Continent AAA league.

 

I'm guessing the contraction would be in the number of Class A teams with everyone still having a AAA and AA squad? The closer geographic matches makes some sense with the frequent back and forth of pitchers, but teams do play half their games on the road.

 

Why did they ditch the AA in the first place? Two leagues are swell, but the travel now is just insane.

 

Huh. The more you know.

I always thought that was a random place for a team. Apparently I'm not the only one.

 

They could easily split up the Triple A teams to four eight team leagues - maybe have some cross league play. Pacific Coast, IL (NE) turn one of the southern and midwest A leagues into AAA for Washington, Atlanta, Florida, TB, Texas and Houston etc.

 

Someone thought it would be a great idea to hold a Triple-A title game.
Back in the heydey of the minors, the IL and AA would play a "Little World Series," with the PCL doing it's own thing.

 

The Tigers had a decade long run when they were contenders and a five year window when they should have won a Series but didn’t
They had no choice but to tear it down once Mike Ilitch died

 

It sounds like that’s what they’ll do in place of the short season teams
I wonder if teams will disband the Florida State League in favor of Class A leagues like the Midwest
The plan seems to be extended spring training and rookie leagues in Florida
In Detroit, they have a four-team independent league that plays all its games at a ballpark in Utica
One of the Twins starters came from there

 

Of all the options available, that's the one Avila sold C. Ilitch on. Unfortunately, Avila had no idea how to do it correctly, which is where the Tigers are at right now.

 

It seems like the short-season and rookie levels are about to go extinct. Eliminating the FSL is a fascinating idea. With the exception of the Miracle, all of those franchises are subsidized by their parent clubs. And FSL attendence is ... unimpressive in oppressive summer heat. The Midwest (with St. Paul) would be an excellent candidate as a High A replacement.

 

I wonder what, if anything, this does to possible expansion plans? Montreal and Portland (yes, Hillsboro Hops) are basically immune from this realignment, but would need additional minor league affiliations if added.