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Realignment Links: D'Backs, Balanced Schedule

Buster Olney's report that Major League Baseball and the Players' Association was discussing eliminating divisions and realigning the leagues has generated quite a bit of discussion, even though as Olney heard from a source, there is a "less than 50-50" chance of this plan actually happening.  Still, here are a few items concerning how this proposal could work, including which NL team might make the jump to the Junior Circuit.

• The Diamondbacks may be the most likely candidate to join the American League, reports USA Today's Bob Nightengale.  Olney mentioned the Astros and Marlins in his initial story, but Drayton McLane doesn't want his club to move.  Houston would still be affected by this proposal, since the Astros would likely replace Arizona in the NL West while the Snakes jumped to the AL West, giving every division an even five teams.
• Derrick Hall, Arizona's president and CEO, said the D'Backs would consider switching leagues if asked, reports MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.  "I personally am a National League fan -- from the pace of the game and from the strategy that is involved without the designated hitter," Hall said. "However, we would certainly gauge the interest of our fans, our season-ticket holders, to see if this is something that we should look into if asked."
• Fangraphs' Dave Cameron is a big fan of the realignment plan but points out the logistical problems of having a balanced schedule, such as TV networks having lessened ratings due to teams playing more games outside their time zones and the toll that increased travel could take on the players.

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