Saturday, April 19, 2008 00:53
Tomorrow marks Opening Day for the British Baseball Federation. The defending National League champion London Mets travel to last year’s runner-up Croydon Pirates for a doubleheader. This seven-team division is the highest in British baseball.
The reigning British AAA division (formerly the Premier League) champion Richmond Knights enjoy an early bye week before hosting the Oxford Kings on Saturday, April 27. Most of the other 12 teams in the division start this Saturday.
The 10-team British AA division (formerly Division 1) will crown a new champion this season as the Humber Pilots and Herts Falcons, winner and runner-up from last season, have been promoted. Bournemouth Sharks return as top contenders.
British A (formerly Division 2) continues its role as a developmental league for ten teams. The famous Old Timers Baseball Club joins the division this season.
The Midlands Division has only three teams, so the schedule includes interleague games with some British AA teams.
The schedule for the four-team Scottish National League is to be decided.
Too bad they don’t use a relegation system in MLB and the minor leagues. It would certainly make things a lot more interesting for the fans of the clubs near or at the bottom of the divisions.
Comment by SamM — April 19, 2008 @ 10:21 am
It would be terrific for the fans, but when was the last time Major League Baseball did _anything_ that was really _for_ the fans?
It would take some work to restructure the majors/minors to make them not affiliated, but once you sold the concept, it would not be too hard for people to get behind.
I think it would be great — crappy teams like Tampa Bay and Kansas City would get relegated. A successful Triple-A team like maybe a Charlotte could get promoted.
I know the concept really seems to work in Europe for soccer/football.
Comment by TheUmpire — April 24, 2008 @ 12:20 am