Are there any MLB, NFL, NBA fans that want contraction like there is in NHL fandom? Everyone who wants contraction wants the same teams to go away. If there were 30 teams above the mason Dixon, no one would be complaining. It would be a lot less annoying if they quit hiding behind the quality of play argument and were honest about why they want it.
I think there ARE fans who think that the leagues would be better if there were fewer teams:
If there were 24 teams in each league, the sport probably WOULD be better, because you'd have the best 600 players in the world in the league, and guys 601-to-750 are in the minors instead of spread out across the league to let six more teams compete.
But I think everyone gets that it's realistic.
My views on contraction is the same as my view on eliminating the DH:
- It's NEVER going to happen, so we might as well solve the issue of
asymmetry by going the other way (even though I'd much rather eliminate than add).
I think a 30-team MLB is stupid, because 15 teams per league and three divisions and two wild cards is dumb. In 1960, MLB had an 8-team AL and an 8-team NL. Add Montreal and Charlotte and you can have FOUR 8-team groups playing like old school baseball. And things would be better. And the rules should be the same, so you add the DH to all of it.
I understand that people think hockey was better with fewer teams, but I also think that the more teams there are, the more interest in the sport that can fill the new need for talented players.
The history of sports is littered with players who appeared to be mediocre or terrible players, and then seized opportunity.
The Islanders made the playoffs a while back with 11 guys on the roster that no other team wanted: For example, Michael Grabner and Matt Moulson were waiver pick-ups after not being able to crack the lineups of FLA and LA.
Or Justin Turner was a terrible utility guy with the Mets, and now is an All-Star in LA because he got a second chance.