BY CHRISTINA MARTIN

 

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

 

You're watching multisource global video news analysis from Newsy.

Recent news shows--realignment isn’t limited to college football.
ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian reports why the Houston Astros are leaving the National League.

TIM KURKJIAN: "Well, somebody had to go the American League in order to have the fifteen and fifteen setup so baseball could get to the restructuring that it wanted to get to, and that is with fifteen in each league, even though you’re going to have an inter-league game every day almost by definition, you’re going to get a more equitable schedule,a more fair and balanced schedule”

Businessman Jim Crane bought the team for a hefty price tag, and a Yahoo! Sports writer says moving leagues came at a price for previous owner Drayton McLane and MLB.

“In exchange for agreeing to switch circuits, Crane...will receive a break of about $70 million — half from MLB and half from previous owner Drayton McLane — from his $680 million purchase price. Not a bad coupon if you can get it.”

With Houston moving to the American League, the playoffs will change too--with the addition of another wild card team in each league. The two wild cards will play one sudden death game, but a writer for MASN Sports says that part of the plan is a hit or miss scheme.

“It adds additional drama to the postseason, but as the conclusion of the 2011 season - when four teams were still battling to reserve their playoff spots into the final hours of the regular season - proved, baseball often doesn't need help manufacturing drama.”

As for Astros fans, a Caller writer says all is not lost with the move to the AL--fans just need to give the team some time.

“Like it or not, the Astros are going to the Big Boy’s League, and when they’re good again, chances are excellent that folks won’t hate this move nearly as much as they do now.”

Love it or hate it, an MLB writer says going to the AL is a move in the right direction for the Astros.

“It doesn't take an in-depth analysis to note that a team that lost 106 games and traded away its two biggest stars this season has plenty of room for improvement. That's why, challenging as it might be, this is the perfect time for the Astros to make an imperfect leap. They are rebuilding, and now they can build a club fit for AL confines.”

The Astros will make their AL West debut at the start of the 2013 season.