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Originally posted by dbc

Elvis
No I read your previous comments about the schedule coming out first but I think they are two separate issues. As a minor league you want your schedule out as soon as possible because unlike the Cyclones very few teams own their building and the sooner you can book the dates the better dates you get. I respect your opinion that you don't think a release prior to the playoffs being over makes sense. I have no problems with it personally however and in fact would be fine if they released the 15-16 schedule tomorrow. I also don't have a problem with them being in the Western Conference or whatever name they want to use. It is just a convenient way to divide things up. The Reds played in the West for years under the old alignment of MLB

What I do have a problem with is the new divisional alignment and the lack of correlation it has in 14-15 with the Cyclone schedule. What I was trying to point out was that I believe it is a one year patch work solution as shown by the fact that the Cyclones are playing a schedule that fits perfectly with being in the Midwest Division with 36 of their games against that division while only 20 are against the east and 15 against the South (plus Utah for a game), and Colorado, which is in the Midwest Division next year, plays all of its games except three against the Pacific Division teams which fits perfectly with a team that was in that Division. Why would they do that to both teams if they did not intend to move those two teams in 15-16 back into the geographically correct divisions?

The reason they could not do so this year I believe is that they are short a team in the East in their attempt to mimic the NHL and AHL and have divisional playoffs in the first two rounds thereby building rivalries and cutting down on travel. To move Cincinnati and Colorado back into the Divisions in 15-16 where they play the majority of their games now and where they belong geographically, they need to add a team to the East next year and my guess is that that is their top priority for expansion.

While I understand it, it causes some real absurd scenarios. The most absurd and likely is that Colorado qualifies for the playoffs in the Midwest Division after playing only three games against the other divisional teams and then has to play two rounds against divisional teams it has never played!!. It might then win the Division and play the Pacific Division Champion where it has essentially played all year long. Oh well--lets hope it is only for one year

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