For the next month or so, American League and National League teams will co-mingle, bringing about entertaining regional matchups such as the Windy City series (Cubs/White Sox), the Ohio Cup (Reds/Indians), Freeway Series (Angels, Dodgers), Citrus Series (Rays/Marlins), the Subway series (Yankees/Mets) and my personal favorite, the Beltway Series (Orioles/Nationals).
As someone who comes from a family divided between Orioles fans and Nationals fans, it's always fun to see them play each other....giving someone bragging rights for a few days. Well, if we cared enough to brag about which one of our mediocre teams happened to win the series (I do, for the record....I'm so that girl).
And my New York fans out there (hi Dave Bailey!)...Fuggetaboutit! It's on like Donkey Kong when the Mets and Yankees battle it out.
I also personally love the fact that the Os don't have to worry about playing AL East opponents week in and out for a month or so. The Birds need all the help they can get, am I right? I'm right. Teams just need a break from the same old, same old, and a chance to play in someone else's sandlot.
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| We get to play teams other than the Red Sox and Yankees this month? High Five! |
So why all the fuss about playing with the kids from the other side of the tracks? Well, some folks out there feel strongly that the AL and the NL shouldn't meet up unless it's an All-Star game or the World Series. Supposedly it takes the "special" out of the occasion. Umm, ok. That's stupid. This rule doesn't apply to any other sport. I also discount the argument that injuries to American League pitchers becomes an issue, because they aren't used to batting and base running. These guys are professional athletes, and there is always the chance that they'll get traded to or signed by a National League team at some point in their career. Do they not train for this other than those few weeks of interleague play? If not, that's a problem with the teams' management, not a problem with the situation.
I DO see the validity in the argument of scheduling inequities (ie a good Cubs team playing a good White Sox team six times a year while a good Cardinals team gets to play a crappy Royals team six times). But let's be real, sports aren't about being fair....the BCS set up and the Yankees payroll come to mind. It is what it is, so deal with it. Man, I sound like my mother right now....so uncool.
Interleague Play. So it's controversial. I like it. And you should too. If you don't, well...who asked you anyway? Just kidding! Let me know your feelings on the matter!
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Photos (from top to bottom): MLB.com and Zimbio.com
2 comments:
I don't know why they don't just have every American league team play every national league team once a year. I'm all for seeing the Yankees play Red Sox but do they really need to play each other 17 times a year and have almost half thier games versus divison opponents. It doesn't hurt the product for the NFL or NBA to have opposite conferences playing each other during the regular season. Plus you would get more interesting/marquee matchups during the year and no matter what you would see a increase in ticket sales. Yeah the orioles would get hit because the Yankees and Red Sox were not there a extra two series a year but every other team would see a increase in ticket sales because of it.
No, I think that there is too much interdivision play (mostly because my team sucks and plays in the hardest division). I see where the naysayers are coming from (cough *Jim Leyland* cough)....I just don't agree with it.
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