OoTS 3/31/2013 (Opening Night)

[G-Fafif]

ESPN says the season starts tonight, with a matchup of those old American League foes the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. (I hope the forced relocation of the Astros bothers their fans as much as it bothers me.) Matt Harrison versus Bud Norris. Astros will remain in mathematical contention after tonight no matter what.

Edited March 31, 2013 by Guest

[Frayed Knot]

I keep having to fight the idea in my head that both the Astros and indeed city of Houston itself were forced relocate to a new locale in order to join the AL West.

[Edgy MD]

Diamondbacks would have made more sense seven days a week, and as far as I recall, had already agreed to switch leagues but reneged.

Of course, switching the Brewers back from whence they came also makes sense, especially since they were really switched as a symbolic move, so Bud Selig could demonstrate that league switching was no big thing.

[Gwreck]

My recollection is that the Diamondbacks could have been moved leagues without their consent for a set time as part of their expansion agreement, but that time period had expired.

[Zvon]

Frayed Knot wrote: I keep having to fight the idea in my head that both the Astros and indeed city of Houston itself were forced relocate to a new locale in order to join the AL West.

This came up in conversation with my brothers today. And heres my question (now you have to figure this could never happen cuz of the Skanks but): If the Mets were forced to switch to the A.L., could you, would you still remain a Met fan?

[Fman99]

Zvon wrote: I keep having to fight the idea in my head that both the Astros and indeed city of Houston itself were forced relocate to a new locale in order to join the AL West. This came up in conversation with my brothers today. And heres my question (now you have to figure this could never happen cuz of the Skanks but): If the Mets were forced to switch to the A.L., could you, would you still remain a Met fan?

Ugh, and watch games with the DH every day? It's such a mindless product.

[Frayed Knot]

The way I remember it is that as soon as Arizona got the franchise they insisted on going in as an NL team. I'm not sure what gave that newcomer such clout but had they agreed to go to the AL then that would have been the 16-team league and there would have been no reason for Milwaukee's switch.
The 16/14 split was necessary because that new-fangled inter-league thing was still considered experimental and not permanent.



And speaking of leagues, the NL is kicking the AL's ass so far as Houston leads 4-0 in th ... oh wait.

[Ceetar]

Fman99 wrote: I keep having to fight the idea in my head that both the Astros and indeed city of Houston itself were forced relocate to a new locale in order to join the AL West. This came up in conversation with my brothers today. And heres my question (now you have to figure this could never happen cuz of the Skanks but): If the Mets were forced to switch to the A.L., could you, would you still remain a Met fan? Ugh, and watch games with the DH every day? It's such a mindless product.

The leagues are only going to further merge and you're going to be watching NL DH before you know it anyway.

[Guest themetfairy]

Zvon wrote: This came up in conversation with my brothers today. And heres my question (now you have to figure this could never happen cuz of the Skanks but): If the Mets were forced to switch to the A.L., could you, would you still remain a Met fan?

Of course - no question!

[Benjamin Grimm]

I wouldn't like it, but yes, of course.

If they were to leave New York, however, then I'd drop them immediately.

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

To be honest, I already support realigning to three regional leagues instead of maintaining the artificial American/National league distinctions. I think it would be awesome if the Mets regularly played a balanced schedule against Orioles, Red Sox, Indians, Tigers, Yankees, Phillies, Pirates, Blue Jays, and Nationals. The DH would be permanently scrapped by MLB in this model, of course.

[Farmer Ted]

Bud Selig's switching of the Brewers to the NL was more about his bottom line and having 25,000 Cubs fans in his ballpark a dozen times per year.

[MFS62]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: If they were to leave New York, however, then I'd drop them immediately.

Been there.
Done that.
Not fun.

Later