Does anyone else HATE interleague play?

[YeAuldBroade]

When interleague play started it was to increase fan interest and much needed revenue. We all thought it was a fad and most of us enjoyed it in that vein. A necessary evil to raise the sport's profile and something new to have fun with for a short period.

 

Now don't get me wrong I too got a big kick out of watching pitchers hit (for a few games) until after a few games you got tired of the giggles and realised it just took offense out of the game and called for more substitutions.

 

These days, I'm just sick of it. It takes away games that could better be spent playing teams we rarely get to see, like the Twins or the Tigers, where there is rivalry or a history. It kills a bit of the thrill of watching the World Series. And as with everything, it's over-hyped because it's interleague - when in reality it's usually quite dull because it's two teams that have very little history and therefore no rivalry.

 

Do you like interleague play?

[Flynnatic10]

some are great like yanks-mets, angels-dodgers, cubs-whit sox and those close city rivalries but i dont like interleague play

[italstallianion]

I love interleague play. I love watching Dice-K at the plate and I love that the AL usually b****-slaps the NL annually. It's something rare that you can only see briefly and unless you're a WS team, it'll be the only real time you'll see it. I'd get rid of the All Star game before I get rid of Interleague play.

[redsoxrules]

I WOULD like it , if everyone got to play the same teams the same amount of time

 

not realy excited to play the phillies 6 times while the Yankee's play the Mets 6 times

[Palodios]

I actually think interleague play should happen more-- it doesn't make sense for the Sox to play 18 games against the yankees, and 0 against the mets who are right across the street. But at the same time, the DH rule is a big problem that needs to be made consistent. I don't care what decision they make, but I don't think the injury risk is fair for pitchers from the AL to hit in NL games. It seems like AL pitchers get hurt all the time because they're simply not used to it-- Bartolo Colon hurt himself batting because he's a flan, but he's not the only one.

[Flynnatic10]

But at the same time' date=' the DH rule is a big problem that needs to be made consistent. I don't care what decision they make, but I don't think the injury risk is fair for pitchers from the AL to hit in NL games. It seems like AL pitchers get hurt all the time because they're simply not used to it-- Bartolo Colon hurt himself batting because he's a flan, but he's not the only one.[/quote']

 

the NL should have DH's. even though its fun to see pitchers hit!

[italstallianion]

I actually think interleague play should happen more-- it doesn't make sense for the Sox to play 18 games against the yankees' date=' and 0 against the mets who are right across the street. But at the same time, the DH rule is a big problem that needs to be made consistent. I don't care what decision they make, but I don't think the injury risk is fair for pitchers from the AL to hit in NL games. It seems like AL pitchers get hurt all the time because they're simply not used to it-- Bartolo Colon hurt himself batting because he's a flan, but he's not the only one.[/quote']

 

I think that the NL should adopt the DH before the AL gets rid of the DH, but I think that it's much more important for both leagues to have the same rule. I think that it will even out the statistics a bit and make them more easily comparable by getting rid of an unnecessary variable. I think that Wang might be the best example of an AL pitcher getting hurt playing the NL.

[Chamomile]

I like interleague play. It's kind of fun to watch AL managers have to play by NL rules and it's a good boost to our record every year getting to play AAAA teams.

[redsoxrules]

I like interleague play. It's kind of fun to watch AL managers have to play by NL rules and it's a good boost to our record every year getting to play AAAA teams.

 

AL 1673 wins , NL 1534 wins

 

Red Sox record in interleague 127- 102

that's good but not great

 

its not that far appart

[italstallianion]

Recently it's been pretty bad though. Not as bad as the All Star game though.

[msubulldogs21]

I enjoy abusing inferior National League teams, although the teams in our division usually do the same so we don't typically gain a lot of ground during interleague.

 

I do think it's ridiculous that we play the Phillies the same amount of times as say, the Cardinals or Padres do. We've got the NL West this year minus San Diego. How did MLB end up matching us up with Philly not once, but twice? That is absurd. We used to play Atlanta twice because of the whole 'rivalry' thing, but now we're playing Philly every year. I'd just like to know the reasoning behind it.

[yeszir]

I enjoy abusing inferior National League teams, although the teams in our division usually do the same so we don't typically gain a lot of ground during interleague.

 

I do think it's ridiculous that we play the Phillies the same amount of times as say, the Cardinals or Padres do. We've got the NL West this year minus San Diego. How did MLB end up matching us up with Philly not once, but twice? That is absurd. We used to play Atlanta twice because of the whole 'rivalry' thing, but now we're playing Philly every year. I'd just like to know the reasoning behind it.

 

They want me to be able to watch the games

[artman556]

i love interleague play. i get to see teams we dont always face and i like teams in both the NL and AL

[VA Sox Fan]

I'm over interleague games.

[Dipre]

I

[YeAuldBroade]

I'm over interleague games.

Totally.

[DirtDog331724632256]

I like it because it gives us a chance to see good hitters face good pitchers.

 

Seeing a sox batter face cole hamels or tim lincecum is something i would watch.

[BOSOX11]

The fad is over. Dump interleague play and return to a balanced schedule. The Red Sox used to come West 3 times a year. Now, I get to see them for one three game series in Anaheim, if I'm lucky. They haven't played a regular season game against the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine since 2002.

[MDF3530]

I would be in favor of getting rid of the American and National Leagues altogether and setting up conferences and regional divisions. Eastern and Western Conferences and Northeast, South, Central and Pacific divisions (or similar alignment). And the DH would be included.

[DannyB]

It's easy to hate Interleague play for its hype, but I think it represents a kind of beautiful breaking down of a meaningless barrier while still maintaining each groups distinctiveness.

 

Check out the argument in full here: Could the gritty world of baseball be a model for international relations? tinyurl.com/2dk4kzr

[Northern Star]

When interleague play started it was to increase fan interest and much needed revenue. We all thought it was a fad and most of us enjoyed it in that vein. A necessary evil to raise the sport's profile and something new to have fun with for a short period.

 

Now don't get me wrong I too got a big kick out of watching pitchers hit (for a few games) until after a few games you got tired of the giggles and realised it just took offense out of the game and called for more substitutions.

 

These days, I'm just sick of it. It takes away games that could better be spent playing teams we rarely get to see, like the Twins or the Tigers, where there is rivalry or a history. It kills a bit of the thrill of watching the World Series. And as with everything, it's over-hyped because it's interleague - when in reality it's usually quite dull because it's two teams that have very little history and therefore no rivalry.

 

Do you like interleague play?

 

I started out liking it, now I want it completely discontinued. It's outrageous that the Mets and Yankees get six game special treatment, and it's outrageous that we have an unbalanced schedule when teams are vying for the wildcard.

 

I look at the schedule in June for multiple teams and just see horrific matchups that I have no interest at all in seeing.

[YeAuldBroade]

The schedules this year for interleague play are completely unbalanced. This year is another great advertisement for killing it. It started out as exhibition and it should have stayed that way. Those 18 games could/should be spent playing the central and west divisions in the AL.

[Palodios]

The schedules this year for interleague play are completely unbalanced. This year is another great advertisement for killing it. It started out as exhibition and it should have stayed that way. Those 18 games could/should be spent playing the central and west divisions in the AL.

 

I really don't get the "we don't play teams we only see a few times a year" argument. I hear it all the time, but interleague play is all about letting teams play teams they rarely see-- and then people throw the argument out there the Sox don't play the Texas Rangers enough as it is. So the solution to not seeing some teams frequently enough is.... seeing some teams not at all? I'm confused by the logic here. Yes, the Sox are being screwed because they are playing tougher teams, but how is that any different from how the Orioles feel?

 

And seriously, when was the last time the Sox played the Pirates?

[YeAuldBroade]

I want to play the Twins, the Tigers, The Angels ... more than one series a year. These are teams I know, have watched for decades and there is some history with the Red Sox. I don't give a crap about the Phillies, Pirates, Braves... and people can "see" these teams on the 10,000 sports channels now available. They don't have to play the Red Sox for anyone to see them.

[Palodios]

10,000 sports channels cost money. So does traveling to see a team play. In other sports, you'd be lucky to get to see some teams several times in a year, and you don't think 5 games against the twins in one season is enough?

 

The Sox have more history with the Cardinals than Kansas City, and as much as I like Lester, that is a fact. To have a big World Series matchup one year, and ignore it the next would be a waste. To have teams who have stadiums in the same city never play eachother during the season makes no sense whatsoever.

[a700hitter]

The Yankees get to play the Mets 6 times every season and they usually suck. The Red sox have been playing the Braves for 6 times each year as they won Division crown year after year. Now, they get to play the Champion Phillies 6 times. The Rays get to play the hapless Astros. I think they should stop inter-league play for a while. The novelty has worn off.

[YeAuldBroade]

10,000 sports channels cost money. So does traveling to see a team play. In other sports, you'd be lucky to get to see some teams several times in a year, and you don't think 5 games against the twins in one season is enough?

 

The Sox have more history with the Cardinals than Kansas City, and as much as I like Lester, that is a fact. To have a big World Series matchup one year, and ignore it the next would be a waste. To have teams who have stadiums in the same city never play eachother during the season makes no sense whatsoever.

I get several baseball games a day with Comcast.

 

I'm not interested in watching the Pirates or the Astros or the........

 

How do the Sox have more history with the Cardinals that the Royals? How many years did they play the Royals?

 

The big World Series Matchup is all that matters, playing the next year cheapens the Series itself and is just a vain attempt at creating a rivalry that will last 19 minutes. Baseball didn't need it before... baseball was better before. This matchup is meaningless, unless it's the next World Series.

 

It made perfect sense for several generations to not play teams in the same city. This was just an exhibition "thing" that made money so they kept it. There's no purpose or logic behind it. It's all about the bling.

[Palodios]

 

How do the Sox have more history with the Cardinals that the Royals? How many years did they play the Royals?

 

The big World Series Matchup is all that matters, playing the next year cheapens the Series itself and is just a vain attempt at creating a rivalry that will last 19 minutes. Baseball didn't need it before... baseball was better before. This matchup is meaningless, unless it's the next World Series.

 

It made perfect sense for several generations to not play teams in the same city. This was just an exhibition "thing" that made money so they kept it. There's no purpose or logic behind it. It's all about the bling.

 

If you don't know who the Red Sox beat in the historic 2004 World Series, or realize the numerous good reasons for a team to play a team in the same city as them, I see no reason to continue this conversation.

[BOSOX11]

Bottom line for me is I get to see the Red Sox in person, at max, three times during the regular season. Even with interleague play, Boston hasn't been hosted by the Dodgers in eight years. I have to rely on ESPN/TBS/FOX for any televised games, which ain't too damn many.

 

Bud Selig can take interleague play and the unbalanced schedule and shove it where the sun don't shine.

[YeAuldBroade]

If you don't know who the Red Sox beat in the historic 2004 World Series' date=' or realize the numerous good reasons for a team to play a team in the same city as them, I see no reason to continue this conversation.[/quote']

Huh? Seriously how the hell did you get that? You need to read my entire post not look for a reason to get all pissy. I already commented on meeting World Series opponents the next season. No reason to get all pissy.