MLB Central Division teams as of today: only two have winning records

Last edited Fri Jun 9, 2023, 01:16 PM - Edit history (1)

Milwaukee and Pittsburgh in the N.L. have records of 34-29 and 32-29, while the best Minnesota can muster in the A.L. is 31-32.

Is this an anomaly? Or is it because for the first year every team in baseball will play every other team in baseball at least once.

That's 24 fewer games against their divisional opponents than they did previously, 52 rather than 76.

Before, teams played more games against their divisional opponents (76) than they did the rest of their league (66). That's why Cleveland, Kansas City, Detroit, Pittsburgh, et al gravitated to the Central Division during the last realignment -- to help ensure a fair shot at postseason.

Now they’ll play 64 against the rest of the league and 52 against their division.

MLB lauds the new schedule but it's not fair to small market teams whose media contracts and payrolls pale in comparison to those of the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Padres, Phillies, etc. (in both central divisions, the Cubs and White Sox rank highest in payroll at #13 and #14, followed by #16 Cardinals, #17 Twins, #19 Tigers, #20 Brewers, #23 Royals, #25 Reds, #26 Guardians, and #28 Pirates.

I'd be willing to bet that in the near future Manfred merges divisions into one National League and One American League, thus ensuring teams with the highest payrolls, best media contracts, and biggest stars can perennially face each other in the playoffs. It's pretty obvious he doesn't give a damn about the small markets.

I hated this new schedule from the beginning