Interleague Play

So, in full disclosure, I will be going to the Ballpark in Arlington today for Rangers vs Astros, but just because I go to the interleague games doesn't mean that I like them.

I feel like interleague play is unnecessary and as currently constructed completely useless.

I understand the theory, you get a chance to see the players from the other league. Fans in American League cities can get a chance to see Albert Pujols, Derek Lee, and Lance Berkman (stars who have played their whole career in the NL) and fans in National League cities can get a chance to see Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, and Vladimir Guerrero (you get the idea).

The only problem is, it doesn't work that way. Due to the way that the series are set up, chances are that you won't get to see any of those players at your ballpark.

The only matchups that make sense are the natural rivalry series.

Sure, Yankees/Mets, Cubs/White Sox, and Giants/A's (and to a lesser extent Rangers/Astros, Marlins/Rays, and Indians/Reds) all are great fun bragging right type games, but other matchups don't really make sense. And if you're going to have interleague, fans from those areas will demand those matchups which means you've got less of a chance to see other teams, and other teams in your division might get easier matchups that change the equality of the division's scheduales, which isn't fair.

I think that if the MLB is going to stick with interleague, then it should be more like the NFL, NHL, and NBA where it isn't something special that happens only a couple of times a season, but something that happens throughout the year so that the scheduales can be more even within each division.

Ultimately, though, I think baseball was better off when teams didn't play outside their league. Especially since National League baseball and American League baseball are different (the DH actually causes a huge shift in the way the game is played).

The only teams not joining in Interleague Play this weekend are the Cubs and Pirates who are playing each other. The Cubs have faced the Pirates in two seperate three games series so far this season and the Cubs have won all 6 games. They look to make it 9-0 starting today.