I don't know about you, but I am tired of interleague ballgames in Major League Baseball. As the Mets play the Los Angeles Angels this weekend at Citi Field, I feel no compulsion to go to a game. Even a matchup against the Oakland A's (long ago opponents in the 1973 World Series) does little to attract my attention. There is simply no reason for me to want to see these games and I think many people feel the same way.
Yes, I can see that regional rivalries could attract interest - St. Louis and Kansas City, Cleveland and Cincinnati and so on - but this would be limited at best to one three-game series a year. Here in New York City the luster of Mets-Yankees games has long worn off, making me long for the old Mayor's Trophy Game that was played once a year.
Let's look at the reality of it: American League teams are asked to lose the DH in a National League park and have their pitchers hit. This really highlights the incongruity of the two leagues (and reasons why people want to get rid of the DH). Conversely, National League teams have to find a guy to DH - which may be easier, but it is unnatural in the scheme of things for those teams.
In general, I think interleague play should be reserved for when it really counts - the World Series. Otherwise, let's get back to baseball the way it used to be played within the leagues for more games that really matter during the season. That is what puts this fan (and I'd say many more) in a seat at the park, and that should be what is most important to MLB rather than games that have as much appeal as hot chocolate during a heat wave.
Photo Credit: Daily News
Article comments
1 - charlie doherty
I agree Vic. Now that MLB finally rotated the schedule so that all teams are or be the end of this year's schedule, have played each other in home and away ballparks (i.e. the Cubs at Fenway Park), it's time to save interleague games for the World Series.
If MLB wants to continue interleague play, do it for a week at the end of spring training every year away from the teams' respective spring training facilities and at the teams' real home ball parks.
I remember all the buzz about the Red Sox going to play the Dodgers at the LA Coliseum near the end of a spring training a few years back. Something like that would work, both for fans and the teams' pocketbooks. Everybody wins!
2 - Tommy Mack
There are only two games today of interest to me: Marlins-Rays because I grew up in Tampa and Giants-Athletics because I live south of Oakland. The only other games of interest might be Met-Yankees, Cubs-Sox or Angels-Dodgers because they are market rivals; but they aren’t scheduled.
I agree with Charlie that as end of training fan fodder, interleague play might serve some purpose. But the operating word “might” begs your issue, Victor, on which you are right: So what?
Tommy
3 - Victor Lana
The only "bright spot" could be realignment, which I wrote about in the past. If that is the case, then every day will be interleague play. Divisions will change and MLB will resemble the NFL. Who knows what will happen then?
4 - Jon Sobel
I agree! We need MORE games between division rivals, not fewer.
5 - zingzing
the major problem is that makes schedules unbalanced within divisions. but, i root for an al team, and one that generally does well against nl competition, so whatever.