 |
 |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
June 07, 2004
Interleague Play
Interleague play kicks off today. Over the seven years it's been in effect, MLB has tinkered with the schedule to try to maintain the novelty that brought fans out to the ballpark. The system has developed into one where a team plays a different division each year, but a local rivalry always gets a home and home series (Yankees-Mets, Dodgers-Angels) if one exists. New teams come into a ballpark every year, and with the exception of the rivalry series, you get to see an opponent every six years or so. That's about the right length of time to keep these games interesting. (I do miss, however, the predictability of the old schedules.) Comments
In my view, interleague play has run its course. The novelty has completely worn off, and it completely screws with the balanace of schedules found in the leagues. Take for example, the American League East. During interleague play the Yankees play at home Colorado and San Diego. They travel to LA and Arizona with six games against the Mets in between. The Red Sox, on the other hand, play San Diego and LA in Fenway, and they travel to Colorado and San Fransisco. They also play three against the Phillies and three against the Braves. Considering the park effect of Coors Field and the differences between Arizona and SF right now, it seems that the balance of schedules between two fierce competitors is greatly upset. I think that for interleague play to really work outside of just being a marketing tool for Major League Baseball, the schedule of same-division competitors has to be fairly identical. Posted by: Ben at June 7, 2004 11:35 AMFor some reason, the Phillies' "natural rivalry" with the Orioles extends only so far as the O's visiting Philly this summer. The Phils have a series with the Red Sox this summer in lieu of trekking down I-95 and having Camden Yards fill 3/4ths with red-clad phans. Posted by: Michael at June 7, 2004 11:36 AMI don't mind interleague play, especially with mixing it up every year (Yankees - Braves every year, ugh). What I find annoying is the six "rivalry" games. Make it just one three game series, it is more special that way. Six games vs. the Mets sort of diminishes the spectacle. Completely unrelatedly, have two perfect game pitchers ever faced each other? With Wells on the shelf, it doesn't look like it'dl happen until possibly August or September. Posted by: Robert at June 7, 2004 02:25 PMi don't like interleague play at all, so i mostly agree with ben. but you can't do much about the scheduling problem cuz you set the schedule before you find out who's good that year. who thought that the reds would be on top the nl central? or the mariners on the bottom of the al west? so it's unpredictable. Posted by: lisa gray at June 7, 2004 09:18 PMMy one gripe with Interleague play would be with the home-and-home rivalries. Obviously, there are some no-brainers, like the Yankees-Mets, Cubs-White Sox and Marlins-Devil Rays. However, it has to be distressing for fans of teams without true rivalries. To this day, I wonder why the MLB moved the Brewers to the National League the exact same year they started Interleague play in 1997. That move setup a 16-team NL and 14-team AL, meaning that two NL teams would be leftover if true, concrete home-and-home series were ever set. That, in turn, has led to the rotation we see when it comes to teams that don't have rivalries. Interleague play won't be truly perfect until two new franchises join the American League, or a National League team switches leagues. That aside, I think Interleague play has been singled out too much. Over the course of a season, a team plays 18 interleague games. Well, look at any other sport. In Basketball, an Eastern conference team will play 30 games against the Western conference, more than a third of the team's overall games. Hockey is almost identical, while an AFC team in football will play the NFC four teams, basically a quarter of their schedule. Of the four major sports, baseball devotes the lowest percent of its schedule to playing the other league/conference. I don't think the 18 games of Interleague play take away from the mystique of October. The Yankees played the N.L. Central last year, only to be stunned in the World Series by the NL East Florida Marlins. It's not like Interleague Play cancels out the chances for surprises and upsets. But I think the real value of Interleague play is the scenarios is creates. Take the AL East. Normally, it's a fairly boring division, with the Yankees and Red Sox always holding first and second place in some fashion. Now, because of Interleague Play, the Devil Rays have won eleven straight, and are actually WITHIN distance of the Red Sox. You're saying that's not good for baseball, when a matter of two weeks can take a fifth-place team within a few games of second place? I think it is. One complaint people often make about baseball is that once June hits, you can start saying who's out of the pennant race and who isn't. With Interleague play, those comments have to be held off until the All-Star break. An extra month of all the division titles up for grabs can't be bad for the sport. Posted by: Ken at June 22, 2004 03:59 AMMy one gripe with Interleague play would be with the home-and-home rivalries. Obviously, there are some no-brainers, like the Yankees-Mets, Cubs-White Sox and Marlins-Devil Rays. However, it has to be distressing for fans of teams without true rivalries. To this day, I wonder why the MLB moved the Brewers to the National League the exact same year they started Interleague play in 1997. That move setup a 16-team NL and 14-team AL, meaning that two NL teams would be leftover if true, concrete home-and-home series were ever set. That, in turn, has led to the rotation we see when it comes to teams that don't have rivalries. Interleague play won't be truly perfect until two new franchises join the American League, or a National League team switches leagues. That aside, I think Interleague play has been singled out too much. Over the course of a season, a team plays 18 interleague games. Well, look at any other sport. In Basketball, an Eastern conference team will play 30 games against the Western conference, more than a third of the team's overall games. Hockey is almost identical, while an AFC team in football will play the NFC four teams, basically a quarter of their schedule. Of the four major sports, baseball devotes the lowest percent of its schedule to playing the other league/conference. I don't think the 18 games of Interleague play take away from the mystique of October. The Yankees played the N.L. Central last year, only to be stunned in the World Series by the NL East Florida Marlins. It's not like Interleague Play cancels out the chances for surprises and upsets. But I think the real value of Interleague play is the scenarios is creates. Take the AL East. Normally, it's a fairly boring division, with the Yankees and Red Sox always holding first and second place in some fashion. Now, because of Interleague Play, the Devil Rays have won eleven straight, and are actually WITHIN distance of the Red Sox. You're saying that's not good for baseball, when a matter of two weeks can take a fifth-place team within a few games of second place? I think it is. One complaint people often make about baseball is that once June hits, you can start saying who's out of the pennant race and who isn't. With Interleague play, those comments have to be held off until the All-Star break. An extra month of all the division titles up for grabs can't be bad for the sport. Posted by: Ken at June 22, 2004 04:00 AM |
Navigation
EMail
Home About the Author Dedication Baseball Musings Radio Show Sporting News Columns Day by Day Database Lineup Analysis Defensive Charts, Probabilistic Model of Range Syndicate this site:  Full post feed: Robot Podcast Feed Terms of Service Mitchell & Ness Throwback Jerseys
Tickets and Other Links
Buy MLB Baseball tickets online including Boston Red Sox tickets, New York Yankees tickets, Baltimore Orioles tickets, Chicago Cubs tickets, San Francisco Giants tickets, Washington Nationals tickets, Los Angles Dodgers tickets, Florida Marlins tickets. San Diego Padres tickets, Cardinals box seats and premium astros tickets. We also carry concert tickets and theater tickets.
MLB Baseball Baltimore Orioles Tickets Boston Red Sox Tickets Chicago Cubs Tickets Chicago White Sox Tickets Houston Astros Tickets LA Dodgers Tickets New York Yankees Tickets Washington Nationals Tickets and St Louis Cardinals Tickets Get all your baseball betting needs at Bodog Internet Sportsbook! GET ME IN! is the leading marketplace for: Sports Tickets Football Tickets Rugby Union Tickets Rugby League Tickets Hong Kong Sevens Tickets MotoGP Tickets Grand Prix Tickets NBA Tickets NFL Tickets Theatre Tickets and Concert Tickets Ticketamerica.com MLB Tickets Chicago Cubs Cincinnati Reds Houston Astros Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Tampa Bay Devil Rays Premiership football tickets FA cup tickets Champions league tickets Football tickets Olympics tickets CHEAP MLB Baseball Tickets New York Mets Tickets Boston Red Sox Tickets Cheap Yankees Baseball Tickets Chicago White Sox Tickets More Sports Tickets For Sale MLB Baseball Playoff Tickets Broadway Play Tickets Las Vegas Show Tickets Concert Tickets Ninja Tickets indexes top ticket brokers so you can find great prices on Major League Baseball Tickets including World Series Tickets, National Football League Tickets, and National Hockey League Tickets. Find better seats at better prices with NinjaTickets.com. Front Row USA Ticket Brokers Sports Tickets MLB Baseball Tickets Boston Red Sox Tickets Washington Nationals Tickets New York Yankees Tickets Chicago Cubs Tickets Chicago White Sox Tickets Baltimore Orioles Tickets World Series Tickets Super Bowl Tickets Concert Tickets
US Cellular Field
Red Sox Tickets Boston Bruins Tickets Boston Celtics Tickets New England Patriots Tickets Boston Concerts and Theater Events Cricket Tickets Football Tickets Ashes Tickets Corporate Hospitality Wimbledon Tickets Grand Prix Tickets British Grand Prix Tickets London Theatre Tickets Concert Tickets AC Milan Tickets WWE Tickets Real Madrid Tickets Barcelona Tickets Football Tickets Premiership Tickets Manchester United Tickets Arsenal Tickets Chelsea Tickets Liverpool Tickets FA Cup Tickets Champions League Tickets Ticket Solutions Premium World Series Tickets MLB All-Star Game Online Concert Tickets Superbowl Football Tickets MLB Tickets New York Yankees Tickets Cubs Tickets Red Sox Tickets White Sox Tickets Cardinals Tickets JustGreatTickets.com Chicago Cubs Tickets Chicago White Sox Tickets Ohio State Football Tickets Notre Dame Football Tickets Wicked Tickets New York Yankees Tickets New York Giants Tickets Philadelphia Eagles Tickets Super Bowl Tickets World Series Tickets MLB Tickets Detroit Tigers Tickets Chicago White Sox Tickets Houston Astros Tickets NFL Tickets NCAA Football Tickets Dave Matthews Band Tickets American Idols Live Tickets Theater Tickets Sold Out Entertainments Football Tickets Premiership Tickets Arsenal Tickets Chelsea Tickets Liverpool Tickets Manchester United Tickets Champions League Tickets Rugby Tickets Concert Tickets Hard To Get Baseball tickets including Oakland Athletics tickets, Braves tickets, Dodgers tickets and even World Series Tickets along with other Sports tickets. You Can Buy MLB Baseball Tickets Online, Boston Red Sox Baseball Tickets. We Also Provide Los Angeles Angels Baseball Tickets, Premuim Dodgers Tickets & Cheap Chicago Cubs Tickets. Minnesota Twins Tickets Twins Baseball Tickets Buy Twins Tickets Cheap Twins Tickets wood bats wood baseball bats maple wood bats maple bats baseball bats wood baseball bats custom wood bats maple baseball bats pro maple bats professional wood bats White Sox vs. Cubs Tickets Dodgers vs. Angels Tickets Red Sox vs. Yankees Tickets Red Sox Tickets Yankees Tickets Throwback jerseys 
Calendar
Recent Entries
Maybe Mark Cuban Should By the White Sox
Hal Hype Holiday Gift More Phillies Surgery Nine Innings No Matter What Unhip The 40 Man Bullpen Changes Good-bye to Mike Winning 20 at Last
Search
Archives
By Category:
Advertising (7) Agents (11) All-Star Game (173) All-Time Greats (206) Army Strong (8) Attendance (174) Authors (3) Awards (168) Base Running (76) Baseball (1580) Baseball Jerks (212) Blogs (721) Books (109) Broadcasts (551) Charity (41) Cheating (573) Collectibles (14) Colleges (3) Commissioner (36) Conditioning (1) Contests (10) Crime (88) Cuba (1) Deaths (150) Defense (358) Demographics (8) Discipline (12) Division Races (721) Draft (62) Equipment (21) Fan Rant (44) Fan Violence (10) Fans (56) Fantasy Baseball (38) Feats (3) Films (2) Free Agents (575) Games (5548) History (93) Hit Streaks (22) Humor (56) Ice Cream (4) Illnesses (125) Independent Leagues (16) Infrastructure (3) Injuries (1052) International (70) Interviews (162) League Championship Series (1170) League Division Series (923) Little League (2) Management (1206) Mascots (4) Matchups (698) Mechandising (43) Minor Leagues (11) Movies (9) News Media (87) Oddities (1) Offense (209) Old Timers (4) On Base (18) Opening Day (210) Opening Day Impressions (19) Other (295) Owners (58) Pennant Races (32) Pitchers (2850) Players (1441) Podcasts (185) Post Season (59) Power Hitting (5) Pranks (1) Predictions (134) Probabilistic Model of Range (102) Public Relations (8) Records (151) Rivals (2) Rookies (44) Rules (23) Salaries (8) Scheduling (21) Scoring (5) Series (61) Simulations (5) Sluggers (752) Spring Training (104) Stadiums (243) Standings (25) Statistics (981) steroids (1) Strategy (167) Streaks (14) Superstitions (16) Team Evaluation (894) Team Movements (58) Tickets (47) Trades (663) Transactions (254) Umpires (52) Uniforms (16) Union (19) Welcome! (3) women (3) World Cup (147) World Series (656) By Month: November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002
Credits
  
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Advertise on the Baseball Blogosphere!
Baseball Musings Fantasy Games
Sports Books
Fan Store
Jack Spellman
Baseball Info Solutions The publisher of the Bill James Handbook and a great source of stats.
ESPN.com's baseball page.
STATS, Inc. You'll find great baseball books and fantasy games here.
Baseball Direct Scoreboard This is powered by STATS, Inc. Good box scores, and good situational stats.
Baseball Reference.com It's like having Total Baseball and the Big Mac online!
Baseball Prospectus.com Wonderful commentary and analysis.
Baseball Primer Baseball for the Thinking Fan.
The Hardball Times Baseball. Insight. Daily.
Takkle High School Sports
Minor League Spilts Database Up-to-date minor league statistics, broken down by situation.
Inside The Book A blog by the authors of The Book.
Baseboogle A search engine for baseball research sites.
Win Shares From Major League Baseball Graphs.
The Transaction Guy A baseball transactions blog.
Japan Baseball Daily An English language site for Japanese baseball news and stats.
Doug's Business of Baseball Weblog A blog with a focus on the economics of the game.
Why I Like Baseball A Yankee fan writes about her favorite team.
Skilton's Baseball Links Links to numerous baseball sources.
Dan Lewis A blog about all sports.
Birds in the Belfry A site about the Orioles. Articles and research.
Only Baseball Matters A baseball blog by a John J. Perricone.
Jocksalot Lots of sports links.
Al's Ramblings A Brewer's blog.
Futility Infielder Jay Jaffe's baseball site. More than just a blog.
Mike's Baseball Rants Mike Carminati's baseball blog.
Aaron's Baseball Blog A general interest baseball blog.
Boy of Summer Travis Nelson on baseball.
Baseball Crank Dan McLaughlin's blog on baseball, the war and politics.
Bambino's Curse Edward Cossette's blog about the Red Sox.
Oakland Athletics Blog David Levens writes about the A's.
Ducksnorts Articles and Blog by Geoff.
Boston Sports Media Bruce Allen's roundup of the Boston Sports Media.
The Diamond Angle An online baseball magazine.
The Cub Reporter A Chicago Cubs blog.
Bronx Banter A baseball blog by Al Belth.
At Home Plate Articles by Jonathan Leshanski.
Dodger Thoughts Jon Weisman on the Dodgers.
The Clark & Addison Chronicle A Chicago Cubs web log.
Baseball Writing Joe Zibell's essays on baseball.
The Eddie Kranepool Society A Mets blog.
Mariners Weblog The Seattle Post-Intelligencer's weblog written by Shannon Fears
PortlandSoxFan.com A Red Sox blog from Portland, CT.
The Detroit Tigers Weblog Two Tigers fans and their take on the Motor City team.
A Rookie's Life The blog of Cleveland Indians' rookie Jody Gerut.
The Baseball Desert An Englishman living in France writes about the American game.
ChiSox Daily Mike Lubuda writes about the White Sox.
Shallow Center A blog mostly about the Phillies.
The House that Dewey Built Jeff Kuhn writes about the Red Sox.
SethSpeaks.net A blog by a Twins fan.
Frank's Field of Dreams News about Asian players in the United States.
Jay's Giants Blog William Jay blogging about the Giants.
Baseball Savant Cutting edge baseball news and analysis updated everyday from all aspects of the greatest show on dirt!
Athletics Nation Blogging about the A's.
Red Reporter JD Arney writes about the Reds.
Dominican Players Raul Tavares writes about players from his home country.
The Pearly Gates An Anaheim Angels Blog.
Red Sox Haven Randy Booth on baseball.
Tigers Weblog The Detroit News weblog on the Tigers, written by Tom Gage.
Management by Baseball Jeff Angus writes on how business can learn from baseball.
The View From the Bleachers A Chicago Cubs blog.
Cubs Now! Brian Hipp on the Cubs.
Honest Wagner A Pittsburgh Pirates weblog.
All-Baseball.com A collection of excellent baseball weblogs.
Soxaholix A comic strip blog about the Red Sox.
Most Valuable Network Blogging all 30 teams.
Baseball, Etcetera Andrew Godfrey's baseball blog.
Most Valuable Network, Astros Lisa Gray and others write about the Astros.
fenwayfanatics.com A Boston Red Sox blog.
Balls, Sticks & Stuff A sports blog with an emphasis on baseball.
Phillies Nation Brian Michael writes about the Phillies.
Batgirl Less stats, more sass.
Sabernomics Economic thinking about baseball.
Fire Brand of the American League A blog about the Red Sox.
Ivy Chat Chicago Cubs and other rants.
Baseball Evolution A group website writing about baseball.
The Cubdom.com Byron Clarke blogs about the Cubs.
Red Sox Stats Sabermetric numbers for the Red Sox system.
DRays Bay A blog devoted to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Baseball Analysts Rich Lederer and Bryan Smith combine their baseball expertise into a single site.
Over the Monster A Red Sox blog by Randy Booth.
Viva el Birdos Ghosts of the St. Louis Cardinals past, present, and future.
Black Sox Blog A look at the current and historical teams of the South Side of Chicago.
Redleg Nation A group blog about the Cincinnati Reds.
Barry's Journal Barry Bonds' web log.
Hardball Dollars Keeping track of major league salaries.
Clem's Baseball and it's "Green Cathedrals" The resource for baseball stadiums on the web.
The Baseball Zealot Looking at the game of baseball from all sides of the spectrum .
Was Watching Laconic commentary from a Yankeeland zealot.
Bleed Cubbie Blue A Chicago Cubs blog.
Beaneball A's baseball from the heart of New York City.
The Writers A collection of sports writers express their opinions.
Yard Work What the Baseball Tonight crew would write if it could.
United States of Baseball Peter Handrinos' baseball columns.
Beer Leaguer Alternative veiwpoints on the Philadelphia Phillies.
Red Sox Connection Links to everything Red Sox.
Baseball Pilgrimages Stories of visits to baseball parks.
Fangraphs Multi-year charts of player stats.
Roto Authority Unique fantasy baseball information.
Yanksfan vs. Soxfan A Yankees fan and a Red Sox fan battle it out in the blogosphere.
Sawxblog.com A Red Sox fan writes about the home town team.
Oriole Magic An MVN blog about the Orioles.
The Baltimore Chop Joseph Jackson on the Orioles.
Lookout Landing A Seattle Mariners blog.
Sons of Bart Brush A blog about the Harvard baseball team.
Base Blogging A resource for sports and baseball bloggers.
Three True Outcomes A group blog by on major league baseball.
Cardinals Diaspora A blog for Cardinals fans living away from St. Louis.
Where Have You Gone, Andy Van Slyke? A Pittsburgh fan chronicles life in the Grand Canyon.
Brew Crew Ball A blog about the Milwaukee Brewers.
Getting Paid to Watch Posts by a former trainer for the NY Mets.
The Gas House Gang An historical St. Louis Cardinals Blog.
6-4-2 An Angels/Dodgers double play blog.
El Guapo's Ghost Rambles on about the Red Sox Baseball and the Red Sox.
Baseball Etc
Tiger Tales A Detroit Tigers web log.
The Baseball Card Blog A blog about baseball cards.
Sox1Fan A Red Sox blog.
Out of Left Field Another Red Sox blog.
New York Yankees Update A Yankees blog with lots of photos.
Liberty Ball A current and historical Phillies blog.
Crawfish Boxes A Houston Astros blog.
MLB Rumors Clearinghouse News from around the majors.
Roar From 34 A group blog about the Orioles.
Blogging Baseball All-time baseball highlights and real-time commentary.
Rubber Arm A group blog about major league baseball.
Fenway Nation More news about the Red Sox.
Rays of Light A Devil Rays blog.
Fantasy Baseball Chronicle Information for fantasy players.
American Legends A sports blog.
Duffy's Cliff An interactive Red Sox site, featuring a lexicon of the Red Sox.
Oriole Post - The World of Baseball and Beyond An Orioles blog.
DRays Bay A Devil Rays blog.
Mets Heads A blog about the New York Mets.
The Soul of Baseball Joe Posnanski promotes his book on Buck O'Neil and blogs about baseball.
My Baseball Bias A blog about East Coast baseball.
Sports Business Radio Articles and talk about the business of sports.
The Game of Baseball A blog about Major League Baseball.
Baseball Hot Corner Opinionated observations for the thinking fan.
FantasyDope.com Fantasy baseball news.
Peter's Red Sox Forever A Red Sox blog.
Sox Nest Commentary on the Red Sox.
The Big Oz A Florida Marlins blog.
Baseball Reflections Where old school baseball meets sabermetrics.
The Sommer Frieze A Yankees blog.
Fenway Nation A Red Sox fan site.
In-Between Hops A Milwaukee Brewers blog.
Right Field Bleachers Another Milwaukee Brewers blog.
On Baseball and the Reds Another Cincinnati Reds blog.
Crooked Pitch A fantasy baseball blog.
Bless You Boys A Detroit Tigers blog.
Cubs f/x Pitch f/x and the Chicago Cubs.
The Hot Corner
Eephus Pitch Tossing pure junk about New York baseball since 2006.
It Is High, It Is Far, It Is Caught A tribute to John Sterling.
Baseball GB Baseball from a British perspective.
Nick and Nick's Twins Blog A couple of Nicks write on the Twins.
SkyKing162 Baseball with a hint of lime.
Center Field A Red Sox blog.
Empyreal Environs Writing about the Red Sox.
Trophy League Planet Aggregating the baseball blogosphere.
Cardinals Best News Links Aggregating St. Louis Cardinals news.
Zell's Pinstripe Blog A Yankees Blog.
HSAC Blog Official Musings of the Harvard College Sports Analysis Collective.
The Baseball Fix A general baseball blog.
MLB Roundup A baseball video blog.
Fantasy Dope Fantasy Baseball News.
The Cubs Brickyard Hilarious fake news.
Spitting Seeds A blog about Major League baseball.
Infield Chatter A blog covering all aspects of baseball.
Instapundit Politics and the law. This site inspired me to start blogging.
Wild Treasure Treasure hunts through the blogosphere.
San Diego Ticket Finder San Diego Ticket Information.
Prize Sports.net Baseball Collectibles.
Fantasy Sports R Us The #1 Fantasy Baseball Leagues site on the web.
RotoRank - Fantasy Baseball Draft Guides Customized For Any Fantasy Baseball League.
