Last Sunday evening, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on-the-Air made comments that brought back expansion to the national baseball conversation, and with it the idea of geographical repeat.
By the time the competition is expanding – probably by two teams – it will have been 30 years or more since the last time MLB expanded when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays came online in 1998. That is the longest piece in the era after the investigation in 1961.
Expansion can influence the Atlanta Braves, because two cities in “Braves Country” are often mentioned as possible houses for new teams – Nashville and Charlotte. Two other cities on the outskirts of the Braves Southeastern Footprint, Orlando and Raleigh-Durham, NC have also been in the conversation, even if the chance of a third team in Florida seems to be secluded.
Other cities mentioned as options include in other parts of North America: Portland, Salt Lake City, Montreal, Vancouver and San Antonio.
The most interesting part of possible expansion is geographical rescheduling – one that could see the establishment of eight divisions with four teams. As Manfred suggested, the ability to let team play more matches in their geographical region, reduce travel and possibly allow the competition to adjust the play -offs.
The footprint of the division, regarding the Braves, is where the rest of this article will concentrate. There will be three scenarios – one with both expansion teams in the southeastern footprint, one with only one in the region and finally one without an extension team in the region.
Braves Country gets two new neighbors
If MLB adds two teams in the southeast with the next expansion round, things may be interested, depending on the chosen cities. If the two cities are Nashville and Charlotte, there would be a plausible division: Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa and Miami. In this case, Nashville could join Cincinnati, St. Louis and one of the Chicago teams.
If it is Nashville and Raleigh-Durham, then Atlanta, Nashville, Tampa and Miami can be division measures, with Raleigh-Durham with Washington DC, Baltimore and possibly Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
A third option, if the Florida teams were assigned elsewhere, would be Cincinnati, Nashville, the North Carolina team and Atlanta. Regional rational seems to have the two teams in Florida linked with, for example, the New York Mets and Philadphia, far -fetched, but strange things have happened.
Only one extra Southeast team
If one of Nashville or Charlotte is added, it seems that team that becomes a member of a division with Atlanta and the two teams in Florida probably.
If it was Raleigh-Durham, an option would be Cincinnati who displays their old NL West Division partner Atlanta with Tampa and Miami. Cincinnati is today the closing city of Atlanta.
Expansion outside the region
If MLB chose to have both new teams on the west coast or had added one team beyond the Rocky Mountains and brings the exhibitions back to life, Atlanta apparently only has one option.
That would be the two Florida, Atlanta and Cincinnati.
Since the future of national and American competitions appears to be in danger, two options are based on divisions without a competition indication.
A wipe for a new coordination
With Nashville and Raleigh-Durham:
Southeast – Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Nashville
Heartland – Houston, Texas, Kansas City, St. Louis
Mountain – Arizona, San Diego, La Dodgers, Colorado
West – Seattle, San Francisco, Athletics, Los Angeles Angels
Midwest – Minnesota, Milwaukee, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs
Rest Belt – Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Detroit
Northern – Toronto, New York Yankees, Boston, New York Mets
Mid-Atlantic-Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Raleigh-Durham
With Nashville/Charlotte and a city on the west coast:
Southeast – Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Nashville/Charlotte
Heartland – Houston, Texas, Kansas City, Colorado
Southwest – Arizona, San Diego, La Dodgers, La Angels
Northwest – Seattle, San Francisco, Athletics, Portland/SLC
Midwest – Minnesota, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago White Sox
Rustbelt – Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh
Northern – Detroit, Toronto, New York Yankees, Boston
Mid -atlantic – New York Mets, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC
With West Coast and Montreal:
Southeast – Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Cincinnati
Heartland – Houston, Texas, Kansas City, Colorado
Southwest – Arizona, San Diego, La Dodgers, La Angels
Northwest – Seattle, San Francisco, Athletics, Portland/SLC
Midwest – Minnesota, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago White Sox
Rustbelt – Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh
Northern – Montreal, Toronto, New York Yankees, Boston
Mid -atlantic – New York Mets, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC
With two cities on the west coast:
Southeast – Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Cincinnati
Southcentral – Houston, Texas, Arizona, Colorado
SouthWest – Athletics, San Diego, La Dodgers, La Angels
Northwest – Seattle, San Francisco, Athletics, Portland
Midwest – Minnesota, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Kansas City
Rustbelt – Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh
Northern – Detroit, Toronto, New York Yankees, Boston
Mid -atlantic – New York Mets, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC
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