My humble suggestions on how to fix America's pastime.1.) Implement an NFL style revenue sharing platform. Small market baseball is the heart and soul of baseball. When they have no chance against NY, Boston, and LA...then no one cares and the game dies. Good management and baseball strategy should be rewarded...not just deep pockets.
2.) Give a ban on performance enhancers real teeth. I'm encouraged by the early steps taken recently. Make the consequences for doping harsh enough to be a true deterrant and to show fans MLB means business.
3.) Get rid of the wild card. The regular season means nothing now. The Red Sox would not have broken the curse without the help of the wild card. Second place should not be given a chance to compete for the trophy with many flags.
4.) Go back to the American League and National League being in seperate offices with seperate buildings. Baseball has more character and is much more interesting when both leagues retain some of their unique quirks and distinct characteristics. I like the fact that one league has DH and the other doesn't. I used to like the fact that one league featured junkballers and small stadiums with grass while the other featured fastballers with turf and speed demons on the basepaths. Different is good!
5.) Scrap interleague play. For all the reasons listed in #4. Keep the leagues distinct.
6.) Go back to two divisions for each league. Baseball used to have the purist playoff system in professional sports...two teams playing for the league pennant. Then that winner playing the winner of the other league. Clean, simple, and elegant.
7.) No more expansion! Expansion is seriously diluting the talent and making the game sloppy. Quality control people!
8.) Get a real commissioner with real autonomy. Get a guy who can be neutral and not just a puppet for one side or the other.
