Seven Ways to Improve MLB

Remove Manfred From Office

Removing Rob Manfred from office would be an imperative first step to reclaiming baseball. The league would first have to undergo a makeover (to undo Manfred’s makeover). Next, new rules – friendly to the game and not Manfred’s personal agenda – could be instituted.

The team owner’s voted Manfred in, then to add insult to injury, voted in 2018 to extend him through the end of the 2024 season. For the most part, team owners love him, as he’s been more owner-friendly than game-friendly. Despite the platform that Manfred presented once nominated, he’s done very little to help the game. He stated that that one of his primary goals as commissioner was to strengthen player relations. as of now, player relations are in shambles.

In the wake of the Astros’ cheating scandal and how he handled it, removing Manfred could become a reality. Teams and players are furious about the lack of punishment for Astros’ players and despite mandates from some teams, players have now become vocal about their opinions.

Cody Bellinger’s words were strong, as were Trevor Bauer’s

MLB is now on a collision course with a strike after the 2021 season, something that team owner’s can ill-afford. The owners need to step up, realize that extending Manfred was a terrible mistake, and remove him from office. Only then, can the game be reclaimed.

Institute a Salary Cap

Rules concerning salary get a little dicey, due to the pros and cons. To impose a salary cap could infringe on a player’s right to sell his services for the highest price, however, the luxury tax threshold does nothing but punish owners for wanting to add talent. Most owners shy away from mega-deals anyway, as they wish to avoid the tax penalties.

The current luxury tax ceiling is $208M (with annual raises). If owner’s could be given a salary cap with a higher threshold, it could prove to be beneficial for everyone involved. Based on average annual value (AAV), put the cap at $210M to start, then add a yearly 1% increase. At 1%, that increase would be worth an additional $2.1M the following year. Superstars could still get their mega-deals, and owners (who wanted to) could spend more, without completely crippling their rosters by adding one big contract.

Expansion Teams

I’m not opposed to adding expansion teams, but it’s got to be done in a manner which doesn’t completely upset the balance of a already geographically condensed division. Most cities would love to have the revenue generated by having an MLB team. The team’s going to pay taxes, fans are going to need motels and restaurants, while local shops and city owned parking lots should also thrive.

So, how many and where do you put them? Unless divisions are realigned to become just east and west, you’d have to add six (one for each of the six current divisions). That’s quite a stretch, so eliminate the Central divisions from both leagues. Add two teams (one AL, one NL), thus making two, eight-team divisions.

Well, I certainly wouldn’t suggest Cheyenne, Wyoming or Anchorage, Alaska as starting points. Put them in states that have no teams, but those who still have a population and interest big enough to support a team. My suggestions: Las Vegas, NV, Oklahoma City, OK, Indianapolis, Indiana and/or New Orleans, Louisiana.

Realign the Divisions

Change the Regular Season Schedule

Keeping the schedule at 162 games, teams would play each team in their own division fourteen times (98) games. The remaining 64 games would be played against the eight teams from the other division (8 times each). Interleague play would be eliminated (it’s stupid anyway).

Revamp the Postseason

Manfred wants to increase the number of playoff teams to 14; I would suggest lowering it to eight. The four division winners would be locks – that much is a given. I’d then take the second and third ranking teams from each league and square them off in an AL and NL Wildcard series, consisting of three games.

Remove TV Blackouts

It hard to build an audience if they can’t utilize your product. Not everyone can afford a ballgame, so make TV viewing an absolutely accessible alternative.

Remove the blackouts, while providing complete coverage through a national carrier, such as MLB TV or MLB Extra Innings.

Sure, there’s probably some flaws in my theories, but things could always be tweaked. For now though, there’s seven ways to better improve MLB – a starting point if you will.

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