MLB Realignment

With the announcement that the Houston Astros will move to the AL West in 2013, made me think that we need to just rip up the divisions we have now and start again. To begin, we need to decide if the DH is going to go all over or go away completely. I would prefer it to just go away, let the 9 on the field bat and not just have someone sit there all game to just hit but I go on. Also, we need new conference names and get the NL and AL out of there. I give you two suggestions on how to realign, one out of the box way and one smarter way. Let's begin with the smart plan with the wacky conference names....

Plan #1: The Geographic Plan

Mountain Landis Conference
California Division: Giants, Athletics, Padres, Dodgers, Angels
This is the easiest one to do, grouping the five teams in California together and you get the battle of LA and the Bay Battle multiple times per season

Western Division: Diamondbacks, Rangers, Astros, Mariners, Rockies
Obviously here, a group of random Western teams but you get the battle of Texas with it. You can also call it the three time zone division.

Southeast Division: Nationals, Orioles, Braves, Rays, Marlins
The Mid-Atlantic going down the coast are here. Battle of Washington, battle of Florida. It works.

Peter Ueberroth Conference
North Division: Twins, Brewers, Tigers, Cubs, White Sox
Boy the snow is this division will be epic...natural rivals are all over with Cubs/Sox, Cubs/Brewers, Brewers/Twins, Tigers/Sox. I love the thought of these teams together.

Midwest Division: Royals, Cardinals, Indians, Reds, Pirates
A group together in the Lower Midwest working north into Ohio. You get Royals/Cardinals for Missouri and Reds/Indians for Ohio. Throw in Pittsburgh for being close to the other four.

Northeast Division: Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Phillies
Yes, a murderer's row of teams here but if we are going with geographics, this is the best plan.

Plan #2: The Civil War Agenda

In this plan, it is North and South with no divisions.....

North: Mariners, Twins, Brewers, Tigers, Blue Jays, Cubs, White Sox, Indians, Pirates, Giants, Athletics, Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Phillies.
South: Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Rockies, Royals, Cardinals, Braves, Rays, Marlins, Nationals, Orioles,  Reds, Rangers, Astros, Diamondbacks.

So pass on what you think....