Why are the Pirates in the NL Central and not East??

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Shouldn't Pittsburgh be in the Eastern division? Pennsylvania being as far East as it is? It just does not seem to make a ton of sense that a team whose state is on the East Coast is in the Central division.

I mean, it's not like there's no room. The NL Central has six teams (including the Pirates) and the NL East has five...

 

[Danny99]

I get what you mean, but do the Pirates really have a better chance in the East against the Phillies and Braves?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I don't know. Don't particularly care either. I'm just concerned with geographic location here.

 

[Starbreaker]

Just random when they moved to three divisions.

 

[SmoothieX]

Are there any teams west of Pittburgh in the East?

Not that I know of, so Central works for me.

 

[Starbreaker]

The Braves played in the west until they went to three divisions. That was always weird. It's not like it really matters in the long run, they're still several years away from competing.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

I don't know. Don't particularly care either. I'm just concerned with geographic location here.

So look at a map, see that Pittsburgh is the furthest west team that used to be in the NL East.

When they went to 3 divisions, lines had to be drawn.

 

[SmoothieX]

Hell, if they went by NFL geography, the Rangers would be in the East...

 

[Starbreaker]

And they would play in Florida, New York, or California... what state needs three football teams?

 

[SmoothieX]

And they would play in Florida, New York, or California... what state needs three football teams?

If memory serves, NY only has one football team.

 

[Starbreaker]

Yeah, I guess you're right. I always forget they play in New Jersey.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

And they would play in Florida, New York, or California... what state needs three football teams?

If memory serves, NY only has one football team.

I'm not following... The Giants and Jets *both* play in Jersey.

 

[Starbreaker]

Buffalo

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Oh. Right.

Pittsburgh is the furthest west team that used to be in the NL East.

When they went to 3 divisions, lines had to be drawn.

They couldn't have just kept the Pirates in the NL East and put some other teams in the Central?

 

[Starbreaker]

The divisions were even based on location until the Brewers joined.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

It makes far more sense than the Braves being in the west. It's not like anyone in the NL East misses playing the Pirates (well, except maybe to pad out our win column, but we have the Nationals for that).

 

[mimic]

Are there any teams west of Pittburgh in the East?

Not that I know of, so Central works for me.

Yep - Atlanta is further west than Pittsburgh.

Culture-wise, Pittsburgh does not have a whole lot in common with the east coast and fits in much better with the midwest.

 

[Ruaidhri]

Are there any teams west of Pittburgh in the East?

Not that I know of, so Central works for me.

Yep - Atlanta is further west than Pittsburgh.

Culture-wise, Pittsburgh does not have a whole lot in common with the east coast and fits in much better with the midwest.

I would also bet that historic rivalries have something to do with it as well. The Pirates and Reds had quite a rivalry in the 70's. In fact, I don't think the Pirates have a bigger rival than Cincinnatti.

 

[Skywalker]

Hell, if they went by NFL geography, the Rangers would be in the East...

Of course, the only reason the NFL has a Texan team in an East division is because that whole division is one giant historic rivalry.

 

[SmoothieX]

Then call it NFC A, B, C, and D and leave the geography out altogether.