Fans Support Realignment

Baseball fans support realignment by a 2-to-1 margin, even though many have reservations about losing a century of tradition that distinguished the American and National leagues, a nationwide Associated Press poll shows.

Fifty-four percent of those polled favored the plan that would switch as many as 15 major league teams between the AL and NL, with 27% opposed to reshuffling the leagues geographically.

However, 48% said ending the traditional distinction between NL and AL teams makes them like the plan less.

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The Colorado Rockies acquired infielder Brian Raabe from the Seattle Mariners for right-hander Donnie Schmidt.

Raabe, 29, hit .352 with 14 home runs and 80 runs batted in this year at triple-A Tacoma. Schmidt, 22, was 4-2 with a 4.97 earned-run average in 22 relief appearances for Class-A Portland.