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I read an article this morning and it mentioned this subject.  White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf was asked about the possibility of International expansion and he said if it was up to him, he would contract two teams and not expand.

My question is what do you think would help baseball more .... contracting two teams and maximizing talent or expanding overseas to draw more fans? 

I do not like expansion overseas (in any sport Mr. Goodell). The logistics of travel are too much of an issue. Especially considering how many games baseball plays in a week.

I wouldn't mind an expansion into a Central American country.  Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic come to mind.  I agree with Phish on overseas expansion.

I'm taking a guess that you did not do well in geography class.

Um, isn't Toronto already an international team?

I would think it would be less of an issue in baseball than football.  Although I might go with longer series.  E.g play 6-8 games in a row instead of 3 or 4.

^^^ Unless they change things up, I would think it is more of an issue. In football the amount of equipment and people are a problem, sure. I was thinking more along the lines of rest/practice time though. Football plays one game a week (unless you get on the Thursday game after a Sunday). Baseball has a couple series with different teams a week. There would be virtually no rest time if they had to fly from LA to (let's use anywhere in Europe as an example) for a three game series and then had to be back to the US for another three games that same week.

Than the scheduler needs to be fired. 

LA road trip to London.

Home
3 games @ Boston
4 games @ London
3 game @ New York
3 games @ Chicago
Home.

The flight from Boston to London is no worse than the flight from LA to Boston. 

^^ they do this now, that's why the east coast teams will go to the west coast and play the dodgers, padres, giants and rockies all within 2 weeks and then come home again.

^^^ exactly why it wouldn't be a big deal.  Particularly if you had a couple of teams near each other.  E.g. London & Paris

I think most people realize it can be done ... as with football. I just wonder if it would help the overall league or actually hurt it by diluting it further to a more broad audience? I don't know if Europeans jump on board which would increase revenue or if it would struggle to sell?

It can be done, but I'd rather see MLB contract before it starts with international expansion.  Plus where the hell are you going to get enough international players to make people in Paris and London come out for the games?  You'd be better off expanding into say the Dominican and Central America, maybe Japan and Asia than into Europe.  But now you have to have a 12 team playoff because eight isn't enough, they'll need to formulate a third league, and if you think the season is too long already, look out because we're now going to maybe 200 games instead of 162.

 :D

I thought the same thing.  "None of which are in Central America".

it would make more sense to contact 2 teams, since one league has 16 teams, and one league has 14 teams.

MLB has always had an eye on the D.R. on PR as a landing spot for a new team.  This is as "international" as they would ever think of becoming.  They are already in those regions now with winter ball, the fan base would not need a lot of grooming. 

I go back and forth with myself on contraction.  For every two teams you pick, I could come up with a very good presentation of why those teams should remain where they are (or, at best, relocated).  I know the "easy" targets are Miami and Tampa, however I really think the long term plan in Miami could work.  You don't need to sell out every night to have a successful franchise in MLB.  Tampa Bay couldn't put a better product on the field.  The fan base in that area isn't able to support that team.  Contraction of a very successful team makes no sense, especially when many factors come into play why they don't draw (including the stadium itself, the location, the economic factors of the region, etc).

I'm not worried about travel, because travel to the DR or PR would not be worse than a Boston to Seattle flight.  Anyone who has done that nightmare at 11pm knows what I am talking about.  I don't know if those regions could support a team (poverty wise), I'm a little under educated about both regions in this area.  I know the popularity of the game is sky high in both areas.

When it comes down to "let's get rid of two teams" talk...great.  Sounds good.  Which two?  Because, at one point in time, I could have made a stance for the White Sox to be in the mix for those discussions.

What say you?

Or expand by 2 teams giving each leauge 16

Actually, I did.  Staying in the same time zones won't affect you as much when travelling.  Which is why if baseball is going to expand internationally, they would be wise to do it into a Central American country.

I can give you two teams right now.  Baltimore and Milwaukee.

This is true.

But


None of the four contries you listed are in Central America. 

Then maybe you should have actuallly named Central American countries. You have sound reasoning, but a terrible understanding of geography I still say.

Some people include Mexico in Central America and some don't.  Caribbean countries are considered part of Central America. 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Are_the_Caribbean_islands_part_of_central_America

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101012023158AAdLNmn

Seriously?  Yahoo answers?  Seriously?

That doesn't even meet the low standards of review you find in wikipedia.
 

I would prefer they move a team from the NL central to the AL west.  Then, each side has 15 and 3 divisions of 5.  Done.

While you're at it, don't let batters leave the box between pitches unless they specifically ask and receive a time out from the ump.

If you do that, then there is an odd number of teams in each league which makes scheduling much more difficult.  Remember when the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999 after a four year hiatus?  For the next three years, one team had to have a bye every week until the Texans arrived on the scene.

Then some people are just as wrong as you are. Mexico is clearly in North America and is the cutoff to Central America in every lesson I ever had. Please do not believe everything you find on the Internet as there are many dumbasses making various claims. As a supposed teacher (do we need to get back into this again Tommy) you should know that and should teach your students as such. If the Carribean Islands should be considered Central American, then what actually makes up the Carribean?

1.  Again you're confusing me with someone else, schmuck.

2.  I'm a business teacher, not a geography teacher

Toronto is still in, North America as with any Canadian city.  Expanding to Canada is way easier on travel than say oh London ETC.

I think my opinion has shifted over the past few years...If I had a say I'd vote against expansion anywhere,in baseball. (Internationally,or nationally)

For me it's not about travel,or fan bases,it's quality of the talent of the game right now...I think in America,Baseball has lost a lot of it's luster to the youth.(especially in terms of making it to the Big leagues) just my random thought..

IMO Baseball seems to be the one sport,most players take a few years in the minor leagues to be ready for the major leagues...1st round draft picks in the NFL start the next year,Most Baseball 1st rounders play in the minors for awhile...I also look at foreign players that have been playing in other leagues,that come to the majors and struggle..

I think adding 2 or more teams with all the minor league teams,would dilute a fairly thin pool of players...