Yesterday, Main League Baseball formally introduced each workforce’s schedule for 2026.
And I’ll be sincere, the Pink Sox’ schedule form of sucks!
When Main League Baseball carried out the “balanced schedule” just a few years in the past, fan opinion was largely constructive. It’s nice that each workforce performs each workforce now. That’s genuinely good for the sport. Nonetheless, some had been a bit skeptical concerning the new scheduling quirks. The most important criticism persistently being that video games in opposition to your individual division had been basically minimize in half.
I’ll admit that I used to be one of many individuals who didn’t actually care about dropping divisional video games. I used to be merely excited that I might see each workforce in baseball play my Pink Sox, and even possibly get some enjoyable journeys with my associates out of it. However now, wanting on the schedule for 2026, I’m over it.
Two points stand out to me probably the most for 2026. First, the final weekend house sequence in opposition to an AL East opponent is the third weekend of JULY! And second, the Boston Pink Sox play solely TWO DIVISION OPPONENTS THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. What’s that!? Of the workforce’s eight sequence in September, three are in opposition to AL West groups, two are in opposition to AL Central groups, and the final sequence of the 12 months is interleague play in opposition to the Cubs! That’s insane!
I promise that you just don’t have at hand it to the Nationwide Soccer League, however one thing they try this has at all times appeared sensible is assure that each workforce’s ultimate sport is in opposition to a divisional opponent. Even a small change like that will go a great distance right here.
If this sort of schedule is the brand new actuality, then maybe it’s time for MLB to make divisions basically meaningless just like the NBA. Merely have your two leagues and one of the best six groups in every make the playoffs. Do I essentially need this? No, probably not. Nevertheless it simply could also be one of the best various if the toothpaste is out of the tube concerning “steadiness”.
On a extra private observe, the 2026 schedule can also be form of a bummer from a “Taking a visit” facet. I prefer to go on one, possibly two journeys a 12 months to a cool metropolis and see the sights to go together with watching my Pink Sox. Exterior of Opening Weekend in Cincinnati (which will probably be unbelievable), the remainder of the weekend away sequence are a bit underwhelming. Pittsburgh in August and possibly Atlanta in Might are the one two thrilling locations which can be cheap to make a weekend out of coming from New England. After all, this isn’t an excellent very important facet of the schedule, however I did wish to make observe of it.
Whether or not it’s drasticaly realigning the divisions, barely chopping again on interleague play, or one thing else completely, Main League Baseball must discover a solution to make the brand new schedule format work for everybody. Two divisional sequence in September can’t be the brand new regular, I don’t suppose anybody desires that. If it means not seeing Shohei Ohtani play the Pink Sox yearly, that’s a sacrifice I’m keen to make.
