MLB Thread 2026

#2      
jmwillini
Not sure where to put this.

TSJ jersey fiasco or Ichiro's statue's broken bat?

1775868546195.png
 
#6      
EyeoftheIllini
JP Ritchie, pitcher for the Braves, was called up to make his first career start and his first pitch in majors was deposited over the right field wall. Bounced back quite well though and went 7 innings, giving up only 4 more hits, 2 walks and 1 more run (HR in the 4th), while striking out 7. Hoping he keeps this up because I drafted him in my fantasy team.
 
#7      
Grandpa
AL is not playing good ball. 2 teams that would currently be wildcards are under .500. Both 15-16. NL has 3 teams above .500 that would not qualify for wildcards.
 
#8      
Grandpa
We have 3 threads for specific teams on Loyalty. The fans of all three teams are currently PUMPED by their teams.
Not sure of tie-breakers, but the Sox are either leading the AL Central or one of the wildcards.
Cards are the #1 NL Wildcard.
Cubs leading NL Central. Only have to hold on 126 more games.
 
#9      
Brosky
Grandpa said:
AL is not playing good ball. 2 teams that would currently be wildcards are under .500. Both 15-16. NL has 3 teams above .500 that would not qualify for wildcards.
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Yeah, there are only 2 teams in AL with records above .500.
 
#10      
ChiefGritty
https://twitter.com/x/status/2051436981352038520

This has been making the rounds online.

Four team divisions just reflects the inability for people in sports not to be hopelessly NFL-brained about everything. But it does (mostly) put the local rivalries together, which is the right idea.

The best path has been obvious to me for a long time.

Four eight team leagues. Call them leagues. Call winning them winning a pennant. Winning the pennant in an 8 team league over the course of the six month season was the core of baseball for five-plus decades in which it dominated the public consciousness.

And these leagues should be regional, and the schedule should tilt toward playing the local league more frequently. MLB is not like the NBA where you need the stars to visit every city every year.

Regionalism is a very strong instinct in Americans that sports are increasingly ignoring in favor of bland corporate slurry. Reject that. Winning the Midwest League should be like winning the Big Ten, not like winning the NFC South, it should be an accomplishment recorded and cherished independent of the World Series.

And then this setup dovetails perfectly into the new playoff format, with the four league winners getting byes.
 
#11      
KBLEE
ChiefGritty said:
https://twitter.com/x/status/2051436981352038520

This has been making the rounds online.

Four team divisions just reflects the inability for people in sports not to be hopelessly NFL-brained about everything. But it does (mostly) put the local rivalries together, which is the right idea.

The best path has been obvious to me for a long time.

Four eight team leagues. Call them leagues. Call winning them winning a pennant. Winning the pennant in an 8 team league over the course of the six month season was the core of baseball for five-plus decades in which it dominated the public consciousness.

And these leagues should be regional, and the schedule should tilt toward playing the local league more frequently. MLB is not like the NBA where you need the stars to visit every city every year.

Regionalism is a very strong instinct in Americans that sports are increasingly ignoring in favor of bland corporate slurry. Reject that. Winning the Midwest League should be like winning the Big Ten, not like winning the NFC South, it should be an accomplishment recorded and cherished independent of the World Series.

And then this setup dovetails perfectly into the new playoff format, with the four league winners getting byes.
Click to expand...

Nashville should be ahead of Portland or Charlotte if expansion were to happen.
 
#12      
ChiefGritty
KBLEE said:
Nashville should be ahead of Portland or Charlotte if expansion were to happen.
Click to expand...
Nashville and Salt Lake City seem like they're in pole position, though that could change.

In terms of a 4x8 plan, Salt Lake City is critical because that determines whether Colorado goes west or east.

And there are other issues under the surface. Depending on how you construct it, the Midwest League could be insanely financially weak, especially relative to the East Coast League. But how does that look after the coming Labor Armageddon this offseason?

Regional 8 team leagues are a golden concept though, that develops interest and grows the pie, they are absolute fools if they don't seize that.
 
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