Cubs-White Sox Rivalry Could Be the Single Greatest Thing About MLB's Proposed 2020 Division Realignment

Crosstown rivalries make for some of the most volatile moments in a given MLB season, as the New York Yankees and New York Mets always seem to be one pitch away from a bench-clearing brawl. If there is one of those intra-city rivalries that doesn't get the same amount of hype as the others, however, it's the annual tussles beteen the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.

Windy City baseball fans who want to see the rivalry grow would be pleased to hear that part of the MLB's potential plan for a shortened 2020 season involves doing away with the AL and NL designations and combining the league into geographic divisions -- which puts the Cubs and White Sox in the "Central" division.

Despite the fact they play in different leagues, the Yankees and Mets manage to keep the hate alive, as do the Dodgers and Angels. Chicago's two teams, however, aren't exactly mortal enemies, as the Cubs are more concerned with the Cardinals while the White Sox are more worried about the Tigers.

Playing each other repeatedly throughout the season rather than in one token three-game series could help reignite a fire between these two squads that has largely laid dormant of late, save for Michael Barrett's famous brawl with AJ Pierzynski.

We might not see catchers punch anyone out during the 2020 renewal of this rivalry, but these two playing more often could help a largely dormant clash become one of the hottest and most contested in the sport.