I just don’t see an ability to do away with divisions in North America when they’re essentially built on the idea of minimizing travel costs/time. If they set up a single table they would have to reduce the amount of games they play as well which would further complicate things for owners.
Not ideal but it could work.
The East isnt issue. Add 2 expansion teams; one to Utah and another to Portland.
But just split the map in 3 sections.
West: Seattle, Giants, Portland and Vegas
South West: Dodgers, Angels, San Diego and Arizona.
Mid North: Colorado, Utah, Minnesota and KC
Any time a team from the East/Central goes on the road to a team in one of those 3 sections, they will visit all teams in said section. So a team from the east will be on the road 3 times to meet all teams from the 3 sections. 4 teams from the east will go into the west and play series, once one series is done, you rotate opponents until everyone has played each team then head home. So you finish that road trip all at once at most it is a 14 game road trip. No need to pre plan trips for the West as they will be in the East frequently as well but the same concept could work if you want it. And same goes for the East teams visiting other East teams - no sections necessary as more than half the team is on the east coast.
I suspect it doesnt happen because the owners of central teams will cry that we dont have the resources as the teams on the coasts. Billionaires crying they dont have money to spend that rivals other billionaires. Give me a break.
They need to add two teams through expansions and then set up divisions the way the NHL does. AL and NL with and 8-team East and West in each... just don't make the playoff format as dumb as the NHL.
This is the best way. But i would just have conferences, equal schedules and do away with division winners. Teams with the best records make it; 1 through 8.
