A radical realignment plan for MLB (plus Game 7 tonight)

Major League Baseball could be headed for an expansion to 32 teams while at the same time a reduction in games from 162 to 156.

That is the potential plan being considered as written about recently in this column in Baseball America. Author Tracy Ringolsby suggests we could see Montreal and Portland, Ore., recieve expansion teams.

That would lead to one league with four divisions of eight teams each. It would be a radical change for the Orioles, who would no longer be in a division with the Yankees, Red Sox or Blue Jays.

Here are the potential divisions, which would be structured much more by geography to cut down on travel costs:

East: Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Miami, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Washington

North: Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Minnesota, Montreal, both New York franchises and Toronto

Midwest: Both Chicago franchises, Colorado, Houston, Kansas City, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Texas

West: Anaheim, Arizona, Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle

The Orioles, and all teams, would play 12 games each versus the other seven division opponents and three games each against the other 24 teams in the other three divisions.

This story does not address what happens to the designated hitter. Will all teams use one or will all teams now see their pitchers bat each game? A switch from two leagues to one would mean there would have to be some resolution here.

Beyond that, I am not a fan of losing the Orioles' longstanding rivalries with the Yankees, Red Sox or Blue Jays. The Orioles would go from playing those teams 19 times per year to three times each. That is a big, big difference and I think it would take some real getting used to.

This would make the Orioles and Nationals division rivals. But they would now be rivals with the Reds, Pirates, Braves, Marlins and Phillies. Their new division would consist of six clubs that are currently in the National League. That doesn't sound very exciting to me.

There is no indication that this plan is anywhere close to coming to fruition. But Ringolsby writes that there is a "building consensus that baseball will soon be headed to a 32-team configuration."

MLB has not expanded in nearly 20 years - since 1998 when Tampa Bay and Arizona were added. Charlotte and Mexico City have also been mentioned as possible future expansion cities for MLB.

I'm also not a fan of a 156-game season. Since 1962, both leagues have played a 162-game schedule, up from 154 games. We've had more than 50 years worth of records set during a 162-game season and reducing the number now doesn't make much sense to me, although the math certainly works better for 32 teams to play 156 games.

This is all interesting to discuss and debate, but it doesn't seem to be on the horizon for MLB anytime soon. But I vote against. Having the Orioles go from 19 games per year versus the Yankees and Red Sox to three is a radical change. It also means that, rather than see those clubs make three trips each year to Camden Yards, they would make one trip of three games every other year.

So, for me, that's a hard no vote to this specific expansion and realignment plan.

Game 7: This year's World Series was the first since 1970 featuring two teams that won 100 games during the regular season. It has been a great World Series. After the Dodgers won 3-1 last night, they'll host the Astros in Game 7 tonight. Of course, in 1970, the Orioles beat the Reds in five games.

More notes on this World Series and tonight's game:

* There have been 38 winner-take-all World Series Game 7s. Home teams are 19-19.

* This will be the first Game 7 in Dodger Stadium history.

* The last time back-to-back World Series went seven games was in 2001 and 2002. In the first year, the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees. In 2002, the Angels beat the Giants. Last year, it was the Cubs over the Indians in Game 7.

* This will be the fourth Game 7 in the last seven seasons and the third in the last four years.

* This is the first time since 1931 that two 100-win teams will play a World Series Game 7.

* Since 1985, teams going home down 3-2 in a best-of-seven are 14-2 when they force Game 7.