If Major League Baseball did promotion and relegation, like European soccer, this is how the six divisions would line up for 2014:
American League East: Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Durham Bulls (Champions of the International League Southern Division).
American League Central: Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Indianapolis Indians (Champions of the IL Western Division, although they’d have to use a new name, because we won’t put up with multiple team names in the same sport the way English soccer does with several Uniteds and Wanderers, because we can’t put Indy in the same division as their parent club, the Pittsburgh Pirates).
American League West: Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Seattle Mariners, Las Vegas 51s (Champions of the Pacific Coast League American South Division).
National League East: Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Pawtucket Red Sox (Champions of the IL Northern Division — can’t have them in the same division as their Boston parent club, can we?).
National League Central: St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Oklahoma City RedHawks (Champions of the PCL American South Division).
National League West: Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and a playoff to determine the last team, since they were the 2 lowest-seeded division winners in Triple-A: The Salt Lake Bees (Champions of the PCL Pacific Northern Division) and the Omaha Storm Chasers (Champions of the PCL American Northern Division).
Relegated to Triple-A ball, the 6 last-place finishers: Toronto Blue Jays (after being preseason favorites to at least make the Playoffs), Chicago White Sox, Houston Astros (though they’d probably be in Double-A or lower by now), Miami Marlins, Chicago Cubs (yes, both Chicago teams would be relegated), Colorado Rockies.
Yes, the Durham Bulls in the AL East. They’ve got a place in The Show. They need to hold onto that place. Hold it like an egg. Come on, Meat!
Uncle Mike's Musings: A Yankees & More Blog 