Houston’s move to the AL will result in more interleague contests.
Out of sight, out of mind best describes baseball right now. With football in full swing, most fans and bettors are unaware that MLB general managers and owners will be meeting in Milwaukee during the coming week.
A lot of fans and bettors have forgotten last May's announcement by Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane that he had sold the club to a group headed by Jim Crane for a reported $680 million, and the official approval of that sale should come during the owners meetings (Nov. 16-17). When it happens, the change at the top of the Houston hierarchy will bring about some of the biggest changes to the game in over 40 years.
The approval was originally intended to be part of the owners meetings this past August, but it was delayed while Bud Selig and Crane negotiated moving the Astros to the AL West Division. Rumors have it that's a done deal now, with Houston's new owners receiving anywhere from $50 million to $80 million as compensation for the shift.
As someone who grew up an Astros fan from their inception as the Colt 45s, a move to the AL is definitely not something I embrace. And yes, part of it has to do with that silly DH rule. I mean, why stop at just one DH, why not a separate offensive and defensive lineup? I hear the argument all the time from AL fans that they don't want to pay to go see a pitcher batting .125 come to the plate. Well, I don't recall paying to go see Ozzie Smith and his .220-.240 average come to the plate in the early-80s myself.
Astros fans will argue that it should be Milwaukee moving back to the AL from whence the Brewers claim. That ain't happenin' while Selig's in power. This all could have been solved in 1997 when Arizona and Tampa Bay joined the MLB fun, with Arizona being an AL club from the outset. But it still would've meant a team moving from the NL Central to the NL West, and Houston would have been a logical target for that considering the Astros were just recently removed from that division.
If the mandate is for 15 teams in each league, Houston makes the most sense. One team that should be very happy with the Astros' move is the two-time defending AL champion Texas Rangers. They have been holding the dirty end of the stick since 1994 when the three-division alignment in both leagues took place. Go tell the Yankees or Red Sox they will be playing all of their division road games two times zones to the west and see what reaction you get.
Yes, Houston fans are going to have to endure more West Coast start times for divisional road games, but not as many as you might think. The Astros played 21 road games against NL West opponents in 2011. A move to the AL West would probably mean 27 away games against the Angels, A's and Mariners, plus 2-3 trips to NL West squads. Having around 40 percent of your road games starting in the 9-10 p.m. local time zone is a big hit, so it's a risky move for a club coming off a franchise worst 106-loss season.
That brings us to one part of the biggest overall changes to the overall game to come from Houston heading to the AL West in 2013, the schedule. Assuming approval of a new labor deal, which could come very soon, there is going to be a big increase in the number of interleague games all teams will be playing. A 15-15 split in the AL and NL will require at least one interleague series going at all times. Rumors have pegged the number at 30 interleague games for all teams under the new schedule that will include 72 games against teams within your own division and another 60 games against clubs in the other two divisions in your own league.
The new alignment and scheduling is also supposed to bring about an extra layer to the postseason with one more wild card team added to the mix. Exactly how long that extra round of playoffs might be remains a question. It could be a single play-in game between the two wild card entries from each league, or it could be a best-of-three.
Papelbon picks up big payday from Phillies
Philadelphia's MLB.com site is reporting the club has reached a four-year, $50 million agreement with former Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon. The deal includes an option for a fifth season and would be the largest contract ever for a reliever.
Papelbon had 31 saves and a 2.94 ERA this past season for Boston, the seven-year vet sporting 219 lifetime saves with a 2.33 ERA (1.01 WHIP). He became a target for the Phils after their negotiations with Ryan Madson and his agent Scott Boras fell through.
Madson rumors now include the Red Sox, but don't bank on that happening. Boston has been grooming Daniel Bard for the back end of the bullpen, and the BoSox will be one of many teams in the mix for free agent Heath Bell who had 132 saves the past three seasons for San Diego.
Happy ending for Wilson Ramos
Wilson Ramos is back at his home in Valencia, Venezuela after being rescued from his kidnappers who took him hostage on Nov. 9. The Washington Nationals catcher spent two days in captivity before Venezuelan commandos freed him.
The 24-year-old just completed his first full season in the majors, batting .267 with 15 HR and 52 RBI.