I know the Texas Rangers swept the previously mighty Boston Red Sox and we're all atwitter about the American League West division race heading into August ... September ... maybe even October?
But what if baseball were governed according to, say, European football standards?
You know, the top teams rewarded with international play and/or advancement and the worst facing relegation to the league below. I can see the initial extended excitement. Actually a reason to watch Pirates-Nationals and your Rangers flirting with the Champions League? Yeah, I get it. But I also see some problems. As in, it would be a total upheaval of the current farm system.
But I'm a man of open mind.
And being a man of international mystery and domestic food, my buddy Dave Faries actually thinks it would be a good thing. Dave, state your bloody case ...
Baseball claims that inter-league games add excitement. But let's say there were 11 teams in contention for the final "Champions League" spot while at least eight struggled to avoid dropping to AAA level - that's 19 races to keep track of, not including the five battling for the top spot.
In the minor leagues, things are even more dramatic. Instead of our two-team "World Series", we'd end up with a Champions League tournament pitting the top five MLB squads against a pool featuring the best from Japan, Canada (note Toronto has been kicked out of the MLB), Korea, Europe, South and Central America, and so on. An actual world series, if you will.
The enusing tables are as of last Sunday morning - July 19, the All-Star break - with standings based upon wins only. Ties are broken by the number of road victories. Just makes things easier. As it stands going into the break, the Indians, Padres and Nationals are likely to end up in AAA next season, with Sacramento, Colorado Springs and Norfolk top candidates to advance into the major league.
Jump for the insanity that would make for a delicious reality ...
MLB
(* Champions League; # Relegation to AAA)
*1. LA Dodgers 55-32
*2. Boston 53-34
*3. NY Yankees 51-36
*4. San Francisco 49-38
*5. St. Louis 48-41 (24 road wins)
6. LA Angels 48-37 (22)
7. Texas 48-38 (20)
8. Tampa Bay 48-40 (18)
9. Philadelphia 47-38 (26)
10. Detroit 47-39 (21)
11. Colorado 46-41
12. Chicago Sox 45-42 (23)
13. Milwaukee 45-42 (21)
14. Seattle 45-42 (21)
15. Florida 45-44 (20)
16. Minnesota 44-44
17. Atlanta 43-44 (22)
18. Houston 43-44 (20)
19. Cincinnati 42-44 (22)
20. Chicago Cubs 42-42 (16)
21. NY Mets 41-45
22. Baltimore 39-48
23. Arizona 38-50 (18)
24. Pittsburgh 38-49 (16)
25. Kansas City 37-50
26. Oakland 36-49
#27. Cleveland 35-53 (16)
#28. San Diego 35-52 (12)
#29. Washington 26-60
AAA
(* Advance to MLB; ^ Advancement Playoff; # Relegation to AA)
*1. Sacramento 55-34
^2. Colorado Springs 51-38
^3. Norfolk 50-37 (27)
^4. Durham 50-39 (25)
^5. Louisville 50-39 (23)
6. Nashville 50-39 (21)
7. Scranton 49-36
8. Gwinnett 48-42
9. Syracuse 47-40
10. Reno 46-44 (22)
11. Iowa 46-43 (21)
12. Salt Lake 46-44 (19)
13. Albuquerque 45-43 (23)
14. Fresno 45-44 (21)
15 Pawtucket 43-43 (22)
16. Lehigh Valley 43-46 (22)
17. Rochester 43-44 (21)
18. Tacoma 43-44 (21)
19. Memphis 43-45 (15)
20. Oklahoma City 43-45 (14)
21. Portland 42-48
22. New Orleans 41-46 (20)
23. Indianapolis 41-48 (20)
24. Las Vegas 41-49 (19)
25. Toledo 40-48 (19)
26. Charlotte 40-48 (17)
27. Round Rock 39-50
#28. Columbus 38-51
#29. Omaha 35-53
#30. Buffalo 32-53
AA
(* Advancement to AAA; ^ Advancement playoff; & Relegation play out vs A team; # Relegation to A)
*1. Birmingham 60-29
*2. Akron 56-33
^3. Connecticut 52-36
^4. Reading 50-37
^5. Bowie 49-40
^6. Jacksonville 48-42 (23)
^7. Erie 48-40 (18)
^8. Huntsville 47-42 (29)
^9. Mobile 47-42 (24)
^10. New Britain 46-42 (25)
11. NW Arkansas 46-38 (22)
12. San Antonio 46-39 (22)
13. Springfield 46-39 (20)
14. Tulsa 45-39
15. Carolina 44-45
16. Midland 43-42 (20)
17. Trenton 43-44 (18)
18. Montgomery 42-48 (26)
19. Frisco 42-43 (21)
20. Portland 42-45 (20)
21. W. Tennessee 41-49 (20)
22. Tennessee 41-49 (18)
23. New Hampshire 40-48
24. Chattanooga 39-49
25. Mississippi 38-52
&26. Corpus Christi 37-48 (17)
#27. Harrisburg 37-50 (15)
#28. Arkansas 34-51
#29. Altoona 33-56
#30. Binghamton 31-56
A
(* Advancement to AA; ^ Advancement play off vs AA team; # Relegation to non-league status)
*1. Fort Wayne 59-27
*2. San Jose 56-31
*3. High Desert 52-35 (26)
*4. West Michigan 52-34 (25)
^5. Lynchburg 51-33 (25)
6. Lakewood 51-34 (25)
7. Fort Myers 51-34 (24)
8. Cedar Rapids 51-35 (24)
9. Kane County 51-35 (23)
10. Brevard County 49-38
11. Potomac 47-36 (30)
12. Lake Elsinore 47-40 (23)
13. Kannapolis 47-39 (22)
14. Great Lakes 46-40 (24)
15. Greenville 46-38 (22)
16. Charleston 46-41 (22)
17. Clinton 46-40 (21)
18. Wilmington 45-39 (25)
19. Charlotte (FL) 45-39 (24)
20. Winston-Salem 45-43 (23)
21. Bowling Green 45-41 (22)
22. Lexington 45-41 (22)
23. Modesto 45-42 (18)
24. Peoria 45-40 (16)
25. Savannah 44-43 (20)
26. Visalia 44-43 (19)
27. Augusta 43-43 (20)
28. Bakersfield 43-44 (20)
29. Hickory 43-42 (18)
30. Wisconsin 43-42 (15)
31. Dunedin 42-40 (24)
32. Salem 42-43 (23)
33. Delmarva 42-43 (20)
34. Greensboro 42-44 (16)
35. Clearwater 41-40 (25)
36. Daytona 41-42 (23)
37. Inland Empire 41-46 (21)
38. Jupiter 40-44 (20)
39. Lake County 40-44 (20)
40. St. Lucie 40-41 (17)
41. Frederick 39-45 (20)
42. Rome 39-48 (18)
43. West Virginia 38-47 (19)
44. Tampa 38-42 (18)
45. Cucamonga 38-49 (17)
46. Asheville 37-48 (15)
47. Quad Cities 37-48 (11)
48. Hagerstown 36-48 (22)
49. Burlington 36-49 (21)
50. Palm Beach 36-50 (17)
51. Lakeland 35-44 (17)
52. South Bend 35-49 (17)
53. Sarasota 35-49 (16)
54. Lancaster (CA) 35-52 (16)
55. Dayton 34-52 (19)
#56. Stockton 34-53 (17)
#57. Beloit 33-53 (18)
#58. Kinston 33-51 (17)
#59. Myrtle Beach 33-50 (17)
#60. Lansing 30-54
OPEN
In the non-league division there are 40 teams competing. Currently holding advancement positions:
1. Brooklyn
2. Salem-Keizer
3. Mahoning Valley
4. Elizabethton
5. Tri City