A primer on the organization of soccer in Great Britain as well as a road map for MLB’s future—if owners will see beyond their current profits from their monopoly. It is a paradox of American capitalism that most public welfare goes to the rich. In 2024, it’s impossible that Ma Bell and airlines, and everything else, has been deregulated while MLB retains its exemption through leveraging its donations to elected politicians and its good will of loyal fans. Superlative analysis by Dentino that merits wide attention.
Great piece. I would assume the MLB would never take on a promotion and relegation structure. But maybe they can start by instituting penalties to the worst team(s).
Liga MX, the top-flight division of Mexican had a promotion relegation structure for many years, since its inception really. Since the league is smaller than the EPL, only one team from the second division would make the leap to top-flight football and one team from the top-flight would make its way down. Those championship/end of season games would be bonkers as you can imagine.
In 2020, Liga MX suspended the promotion/relegation structure for 5 years. The 18 Liga MX club owners voted in favor and cited covid (failing revenue) as the main reason. With the end of promotion/relegation, the bottom three clubs in the standings table would now pay a penalty fee anywhere from $2million to $6million USD. In turn you would get end of season games that were at least bearable to watch.
Fortunately, Liga MX and its new president just announced the promotion/relegation system is coming back in the 2024-2025 season, two years short of its expiration date.
Maybe the MLB can institute penalties for the worst AL/NL team? It could be a financial penalty, suspension of international signings for the offseason, or maybe blocking a move to Las Vegas?
Why pick on MLB. Is there any professional league in any major sport in the US that has relegation/promotion?
In order to mollify the MLBPA, the strongest union in the US and the sole reason there is no salary cap, is to add a meaningful salary floor. This guarantee of income will encourage competition by all teams. In combination with a real salary cap, the league would be much more competitive.
A primer on the organization of soccer in Great Britain as well as a road map for MLB’s future—if owners will see beyond their current profits from their monopoly. It is a paradox of American capitalism that most public welfare goes to the rich. In 2024, it’s impossible that Ma Bell and airlines, and everything else, has been deregulated while MLB retains its exemption through leveraging its donations to elected politicians and its good will of loyal fans. Superlative analysis by Dentino that merits wide attention.
Great piece. I would assume the MLB would never take on a promotion and relegation structure. But maybe they can start by instituting penalties to the worst team(s).
Liga MX, the top-flight division of Mexican had a promotion relegation structure for many years, since its inception really. Since the league is smaller than the EPL, only one team from the second division would make the leap to top-flight football and one team from the top-flight would make its way down. Those championship/end of season games would be bonkers as you can imagine.
In 2020, Liga MX suspended the promotion/relegation structure for 5 years. The 18 Liga MX club owners voted in favor and cited covid (failing revenue) as the main reason. With the end of promotion/relegation, the bottom three clubs in the standings table would now pay a penalty fee anywhere from $2million to $6million USD. In turn you would get end of season games that were at least bearable to watch.
Fortunately, Liga MX and its new president just announced the promotion/relegation system is coming back in the 2024-2025 season, two years short of its expiration date.
Maybe the MLB can institute penalties for the worst AL/NL team? It could be a financial penalty, suspension of international signings for the offseason, or maybe blocking a move to Las Vegas?
There’s no such thing as poor teams/owners. Just poorly incentivized teams/owners.
Great read!
Why pick on MLB. Is there any professional league in any major sport in the US that has relegation/promotion?
In order to mollify the MLBPA, the strongest union in the US and the sole reason there is no salary cap, is to add a meaningful salary floor. This guarantee of income will encourage competition by all teams. In combination with a real salary cap, the league would be much more competitive.