Posted by: Mr. Budweiser
- [3534512] Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 12:46
IMHO, interleague play has run its course and is no longer a viable option for MLB. Sure it was fun when it first began a few years ago but not now. I realize they meddled with the schedule a bit more to provide some "never-seen-before" matchups but c'mon, who's kidding whom?
I won't even start with the absurd notion that A.L. teams visiting a N.L. park have to use their own pitcher to bat. Why can't they just leave the National League to play their own brethren and the American League to play their own? That's the way it should be....forever!
1
Khahan
ID: 12432113 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 12:52
Dissenting voice here. I live in a NL city and my favorite team is Boston. The only time I've ever gotten to see Boston play in larger than life was when they visited Philadelphia. I got to meet Nomar and Pedro. Of course the game I went to the other year, Pedro was supposed to start and pulled himself for some type of injury just before the start. A pulled muscle or something? ;) What I do disagree with is the way they are doing interleague play. Honestly, I think interleague should be peppered throughout the season. Not clumped together at a specific time.
2
Perm Dude Leader
ID: 22347210 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 12:52
I like interleague play. It's the only chance some fans have of seeing some of these players in the other league.
Granted, the matchups could be better, but as a baseball fan I think it's great to get a chance to see players from the other league sometimes.
pd
3
walk Leader
ID: 214581016 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 12:55
I like it. It's nOvel. I get to see match-up's I would not normally see. I could care less if the yankees play the royals each year or the tigers, so why am I bothered by playing the giants, expos, mets, etc. As a matter of fact, I range from being modestly intrigued to being delighted.
And us NYers love seeing the Yankees vs. the Mets. Very NY-centric here, I know, but I don't care.
;-)
walk
4
Stuck in the Sixties Leader
ID: 12451279 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 12:56
I used to be more in favor than I am now. The main problem I have is with weighted schedules and the consistency they're supposed to bring.
Although there are real-world examples out there, let's suppose that teams A and B are locked in a tight race in their division. Team A plays two first-place teams from the other league while Team B plays two cellar-dwellers. Seems to me there's a huge advantage here that could actually determine the outcome of a divisional race.
5
Catfish Sustainer
ID: 515239 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 12:57
I love interleague play. I've specifically chosen games to attend based on seeing new teams -- this weekend my AL East Jays play Colorado and SF, giving me the opportunity to see Larry Walker and all the Todds, and Barry Bonds.
I'll pay for that rather than another loop of Randy Winn's best hits.
The Jays/Expos games are among the season's best games as they get a great turnout and a great atmosphere.
I love watching AL pitchers run the bases.
So there.
6
Go Easy Donor
ID: 5155058 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 12:57
I don't care whose playing who. As long as they are playing games and my fantasy players are going off.
7
Slow Stick Sustainer
ID: 27544510 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 13:03
I think the NBA has the right idea. 2 games (Home and Home)with the other league. (conference… whatever) sprinkled throughout the season. (ex mutual-off-days)
8
biliruben Sustainer
ID: 3502218 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 13:26
I like it. I would never see the Dodgers otherwise.
9
JeffG Sustainer
ID: 40451227 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 13:49
I am not a fan of interleague in it's current form, but can accept the fact that it is here to stay and am not that opposed to it. Agreed, it is good to see a few different teams come to town from time to time and like the fact that this is now in addition to more intra-divisional games. It is also good to see the AL teams bat their pitchers and the NL teams DH. It would be nice to toss the DH once and for all, but that is for a different thread.
As a Yankee fan, I like the fact that they are finally getting around to rotating the divisional match ups (Friday, I finally get to see Barry Bonds play in a game on person other than in an all star game, and my seats are just beyond the RF fence a few rows back, and then next Tuesday will see the Big Unit throw). However, the flip side is these visits are at the expense of a Mariner visit where the league should be trying to build up this rivalry with the Yankees since they were in the ALCS the last two years. Instead, the M's are done in the Bronx for the year after a quick 3-game series in May.
But one thing about interleague I do not like that the 'box office' match ups like the Yankees/Mets etc are preserved and doubled up every year, even though those games are pretty electric, they definitely are losing some of it's novelty.
Lets tweak it one last time like the NFL has it where one division plays one series against each of the teams in another division, and one series a season against your regional rival if they must, and then lets get it over with and back to the intra-league.
10
Mattinglyinthehall
ID: 1832399 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 14:18
I like interleague play. Peppering it throughout the season is an interesting idea, too. My gripe is with the unbalanced schedule. That the Yankees and Red Sox have the two best records in the league doesn't mean squat if they get to play the Blue Jays, Tigers and Devil Rays the same number of times that other teams are playing the Mariners, As and Angels.
11
Ref
ID: 28045169 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 14:27
Well ole Bud has done a good job in one aspect of the Commissioner and that is to get rid of the league presidents and league umpires and house them both under MLB. I think if the DH goes away, the entire league can be housed under MLB. If they could play everyone at least a 2-2 home and home it would be more like Hoops and everyone would get to see all of their stars. So I am dissenting in the complet oposite direction. I don't believe in AL and NL stats. It should be MLB stats IMO.
12
Perm Dude Leader
ID: 22347210 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 14:35
The DH certainly isn't going to go away. So, as soon as the NL adopts the DH, the entire league can be MLB.
pd
13
Ref
ID: 28045169 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 14:45
PD, hence the impasse. I think the Dh has a better chance of going away before the DH will go into the NL. I think they are going to have to compromise to the MLBPA like adding another roster spot etc. to even have the opportunity to remove the DH.
14
BillB Sustainer
ID: 33522410 Wed, Jun 05, 2002, 21:49
Well, I think it will be refreshing and interesting to see some of the matchups play out. World Champion D-backs at Fenway against my Red Sox (with a Schilling/Pedro tilt Saturday afternoon), Clemens vs. Barry Sunday in the Stadium.
Sure as heck beats out interleague matchups in past years (D-rays/Expos? Yeech...should be labeled the Contraction Bowl).
15
JohnnySue
ID: 235401312 Thu, Jun 13, 2002, 14:09
Found this topic and thought I'd throw in my thoughts. I love the aspect that many teams can now face other teams that they've never faced before. CWS-NYM, ATL-MINN, etc. come to mind.
What I don't like is how unfair it is from a scheduling advantage to some teams when compared to others. ARI-BOS was definately a great series and worthy of seeing but I don't think that TB-SD, for example, quite fits the phenomenon of "must-see-TV".
If they're going to play interleague, then MLB should schedule it fairly for all clubs. Every team should be allowed at least 3 games each annually against teams from the opposite league. Quit this idiotic NL Central vs. AL West, for example. I know this would force them to reconfigure the schedules and possibly create more of a balanced schedule but so be it. Let's just make it fair!
16
Ref
ID: 28045169 Thu, Jun 13, 2002, 14:16
The only way to make it fair is for everyone to see all the same teams--which means you would play every team every year. The amounts of those games would vary by division. But travel costs would be up as there would be some teams having to play a team 2 at home and 2 on road outside of their League and Division. This would be similar to NBA scheduling and be trule MLB and less focus on AL and NL. Can you imagine having a different rule in NBA West and NBA East? It's 6 on 6 in Western Conference or using the International 3 point line or you have a designated free throw shooter on the bench to shoot all free throws. Interesting.
17
Mattinglyinthehall
ID: 1832399 Thu, Jun 13, 2002, 14:19
Johnnysue, Part of the problem with your idea is that you can never know for sure at the time that the schedules are made which teams will be contenders. Would you have picked Cincinatti and Anaheim as the formidable teams they are at this stage back in the offseason? Would you have picked the Mets to have a sub .500 record?
18
tomegun
ID: 525144 Thu, Jun 13, 2002, 14:53
Interleague is alot of fun, Bonds at Yankee Stadium. Forget about it! In a 162 game season it doesn't matter, everything is about consisantancy, endurance, and health. Also, talent helps too. There is too much crying about who's playing who. Shutup and play. Every season is different, teams do not have the same players year after year.
What we need to do is find a way to let MLB know that we the fans are not going to put up with another strike/lock up situation. Baseball is our game. We pay for it. We play it. We argue and play fantasy games for it. Maybe we should go on vacation for a week or something...
19
Mattinglyinthehall
ID: 1832399 Thu, Jun 13, 2002, 15:05
we the fans are not going to put up with another strike/lock up situation.
You gotta speak for yourself on that one tomegun. I'm all for a lockout if it fixes what I see as some of the wrongs in baseball.
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