We have a sacred right to 162 games, so let's not start this venture with any heresy to the contrary. But we are stuck in a historical rut, and have a simple opportunity to invigorate the schedule and bring an increase of interest to the fans. (I only ask for a small percentage of the increase of ticket sales and Neilson ratings)
I will use America's team, the Braves, to lay out this plan. Differences in the leagues and divisions should find their individual solutions.
Division Play:
4 teams - 4 series (two home and two away) - 3 games per series: 48 games
League Play:
9 teams - 2 series (one home and one away) - 3 games per series: 54 games
Interleague Play:
14 American League Teams
2 series against each team (one home and one away) - 2 games per series: 56 games
This is a decrease in Division games to create opportunity across the remainder of the sport. In league and interleague play, each team plays one home series and one away series against every other team, an opportunity to provide a balanced strength of schedule with fans lining up to see new teams in town.
Play outside the Division is completely unbalanced, playing teams anywhere from 3 to 8 games, while your Division rival is playing the same teams anywhere from 8 to 3 games. Depending on who you are playing, one team receives an inappropriate soft-spot in the strength of schedule.
Interleague Play is currently based upon anticipated popularity and regional hoped-for rivalries. The result is a biased system - some teams Interleague battling against Yankees, while others get to feast on the Mets. The Win-Loss column is damaged and teams head into September with different strength of schedules even within their own Division.
Total 158 games - I suppose the 162 game schedule isn't so sacred after all. I believe the additional interest of the interleague games replacing the 24 yearly games between Milwaukee and Houston will cover the loss of the four games, as well as pave the time needed for Selig's 4th playoff round he's aiming for.
Balanced Schedule - Variety in Schedule - Opportunity for Fans to see Each Team
Make it happen.